I wanted to delve a bit more into the inspiration for this collection. I’ve talked a bit about Woodhill here, but felt like there is more to discuss. Woodhill encompasses my best feelings and memories of home. Since Woodhill was conceptualized and designed during the pandemic, it now makes sense that feelings of home would be woven through the collection.
I consider Pittsburgh my hometown. I spent the majority of my life there, which is kind of hard to believe since it’s now been over 15 years since I’ve lived there. I lived on an idyllic street and, in retrospect, had a picturesque childhood – playing outside, running around with our neighbors, exploring all the nooks and crannies.
I get quite nostalgic thinking of Pittsburgh. It’s an underrated city and I highly recommend that you visit it, if you can. It’s such an eclectic and fun place to go, and has something for everyone.
On that note, I wanted to share some of my favorite places to visit if you ever find yourself in the Steel City:
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Point State Park – The Point is literally the point where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers meet to form the Ohio River. The park has a big, beautiful fountain and a lovely walking path around it that will give you great views of the North Side, South Side, and Downtown (“Dahntahn”) parts of Pittsburgh.
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Duquesne Incline – Also, iconic Pittsburgh! Back in the day, Pittsburgh had at least 20 inclines, but now there are only two left. I recommend visiting the Duquesne Incline because it’s the one we always took people to when I was growing up. It’s red, and it gives you an amazing view of the city from Mount Washington.
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PNC Park – If you go to the Burgh during baseball season, you must go to a Pirates game at PNC Park. I may be biased, but I think it’s the most beautiful park and it affords such a great view of the city.
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Carnegie Science Center – Whether you have kids or not, I’m sure you’ll have fun here! They have a very cool model train exhibit and lots of interesting, interactive exhibits with lots of information.
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Shadyside – The Burgh is full of really cool neighborhoods and this is one of my favorites. This is a great stop for boutique shopping and cute restaurants.
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The Strip District – Not what it sounds like it is! This is the best neighborhood to shop for interesting foods and any Steelers/Pirates/Penguins gear. Make sure to stop by Pennsylvania Macaroni for their cheese and bread selections, and other hard to find foods!
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Soergel’s Orchards – If you go to Pittsburgh in the fall and you have time to drive a bit north of the city, stop by Soergel’s and try their apple cider. In my opinion, there is no better cider than Soergel’s. Also, check and see if they’re still selling their lemon pies – they used to be my favorite!
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Carnegie Museum of Natural History – If you enjoy museums and natural history, this is a great stop for you! I have fond memories of going to see the dinosaurs as a kid at this museum.
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Phipps Conservatory – Every time I’ve been to Phipps, I’ve left in awe of all of the beautiful plants in this conservatory. Even if you’re not really a plant person, this is a very cool stop. The building is beautiful and there is such a wide variety of flowers and other plants.
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Valliant’s Diner – Located in the North Hills, Valliant’s is a 50’s style diner that is only open for breakfast and lunch. We used to go with my grandparents all the time, and they’ve got a very loyal following. I recommend getting the pancakes – they’re delicious!
There is so much more to see and do in the Burgh, so this is just a starting point! Putting this list together has made me want to plan my next trip!
