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Hidden Gems of Downingtown, Pennsylvania

Like so many American towns, Downingtown has experienced an economic renaissance over the past decade, with new businesses opening and the culture flourishing. This has been a wonderful development for residents and visitors alike, with an expanding number of retail options that provide alternatives to corporate chains and big box stores.

But, even if you live in town, you might not be aware of just how many hidden gems Downingtown has to offer! We understand — sometimes you get stuck in your routine and routes and rarely turn down certain streets, or find the time to try a neighborhood newcomer.

Here are a handful of our local favorites for you to explore:

East Branch Brewing Company

We heralded this exciting new brewery when it opened in late September in 2017, and judging from the reaction on social media, people in the community were thrilled with having more options for locally-made craft beer! The 10-barrel brewery creates a range of brews, from hoppy and bright double IPAs to easy-sipping, low ABV milds, to delicate and delicious kölschs. The talented brewing team sometimes collaborates on projects with other locals, like its recent rum barrel-fermented cider King in Arms, made with Dressler Estate , a Downingtown-based family-owned cidery. The modern, minimal space features a hand-poured cement bar atop a front created from reclaimed pallet wood. Enjoy a freshly made draft on site, and then take home your favorite in a crowler (large, sealed aluminum can).

Food trucks often pull up outside to offer beer-friendly bites, and plans are in the works for East Branch Brewing to add a restaurant space with a small, open kitchen to the second floor of its building! No date has been set for this yet, but stay tuned to PA Eats for updates on this exciting development. Also coming soon: Estrella Tacos y Mas , just a stone’s throw away from the brewery! Visit on Wednesday between 4–10 p.m., Thursday from 3–10:30 p.m., Friday from noon–11 p.m. and Sunday from noon–9 p.m. (closed Monday and Tuesday). 202 E. Lancaster Ave.; (484) 593-0815

Flowers by Jena Paige

Open since February of 2016, Flowers by Jena Paige  lends a burst of color and beauty to Downtown Historic Downingtown. Owner Jena Paige Barlow Kendra, who studied at the Art Institute of Philadelphia, brings an eye for design to all of her stunning floral creations .

Her full-service florist business and boutique specializes in lush arrangements ranging in style from classic to creative. She’s also curated a roster of unique gifts from fellow artisans, like elegant hand-poured candles from Brooklyn Candle Studio, adorable mugs and designer office accessories. Whether you need flowers for a prom, party or wedding or just want to send a smile to a loved one (custom bouquets can be delivered to the greater Downingtown area), Jena’s got you covered with gorgeous blooms. 111 E. Lancaster Ave.; (484) 364-4508

San Marco Ravioli and Macaroni

Fresh pasta is one of life’s great small pleasures. The next time you’re craving Italian food, check out San Marco Ravioli and Macaroni, a small shop that features many varieties of pasta, ravioli (try the lobster flavor, a fan favorite) and gnocchi, as well as meatballs, sauces and other ingredients. Everything is made from scratch, resulting in simple, rustic flavors that taste just like homemade, but without any of the work or dirty dishes.

The people working at San Marco are always friendly, welcoming and happy to answer questions or share cooking techniques with customers. This is old-school-meets-new-school food at its best! The shop is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m.–6 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m.–5 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m.–2 p.m.; closed Mondays. 275 Norwood Rd.; (610) 269-8642

Studio 3 Custom Framing

You can buy a readymade frame in any craft shop or department store. But, when it comes to treasured works of art, mementos of significant life events or anything else sentimental or special, only custom framing will do. Quality custom framing is a true craft that should only be entrusted to the pros, and in Downingtown, you need look no further than Studio 3 Custom Framing . Since 1965, this shop has changed hands a few times, but one thing has remained: the expertise, care and skill of its owners and staff to preserving the art and memorabilia of its customers.

In addition to extensive framing options, Studio 3 also carries a lovely selection of cards and gifts (many of them locally made and locally themed!) as well as art prints and posters. And, while you’re there, make sure to say hello to Ammo , the adorable shop dog!

Please note: due to the recent birth of their daughter, owners Kyley and Mike DiLuigi will be operating Studio 3 by appointment only during the months of March and April in 2018. Please call or text (484) 693-0072 to schedule an appointment. Regular hours of operation will resume in May: Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m.–5:30 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m–3 p.m.; closed Sunday and Monday. 1 Park Lane; (610) 269-2424

Kimberton Whole Foods

Whether you need specialty ingredients, trustworthy vitamins and supplements or you simply want to do your weekly grocery shopping in a place where transparency, quality and community are front and center, Kimberton Whole Foods is a Downingtown destination you don’t want to miss. Its shelves are lined with the best products — sourced locally whenever possible — ranging from beautiful, organic produce, to organic and raw dairy, to budget-friendly bulk ingredients , like dried beans and grains, to natural body care essentials, and everything in between.

The friendly, knowledgeable staff are ready and willing to help customers in any way, and the warm, inviting atmosphere is reminiscent of a time when markets were neighborhood gathering places instead of anonymous mega stores. While you’re there, don’t miss the delectable prepared foods section (perfect for nutritious lunches or dinners on those nights when you’re just too tired to cook) and locally brewed kombucha on tap!

The Downingtown location even has a comfortable, natural light-flooded café area, where you can enjoy a quiet morning with coffee and the newspaper, or you can catch up with a friend over lunch. Stop by Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m.–8 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m.–6 p.m. 150 E. Pennsylvania Ave.; (610) 873-8225

Kimberton Whole Foods also has locations in Collegeville, (484) 971-605; Kimberton, (610) 935-1444; Malvern, (484) 324-2800; Douglassville, (610) 385-1588; and Ottsville, (610) 847-2419.

• East Branch Brewing photo: East Branch Brewing Co.
• Ravioli photo: Bigstock
• Studio 3 photos: Studio 3
• Kimberton Whole Foods photo: Kimberton Whole Foods
• Flowers by Jena Paige photos: Jena Paige

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• Rainy Day Activities

Indoor Activities in Downingtown, PA

• TripBuzz found 120 things to do indoors in the Downingtown area. From Victory Brewing Company to Palace Bowling & Entertainment Center, Downingtown offers a variety of rainy day activities and other fun things to do indoors — including 158 indoor attractions with ratings over 90%.
• There are 62 different types of things to do inside in or near Downingtown, Pennsylvania. Some of the most popular types of these activities include: Bowling, Movie Theaters, Breweries and Theaters.
• There are 3 indoor activities in Downingtown, and 117 indoor attractions in nearby cities within 25 miles, including: Wilmington , West Chester , Norristown and Media.

Victory Brewing Company

Palace bowling & entertainment center, regal cinemas downingtown, tioga central railroad, the wine guy, national voice of america museum of broadcasting, kreutz creek winery, west chester railroad, american helicopter museum & educational center, helicopter museum.

Home » Travel Guides » United States » Pennsylvania (PA) » 15 Best Things to Do in Downtown Pittsburgh

15 Best Things to Do in Downtown Pittsburgh

Downtown Pittsburgh, the city’s financial and business core, is three-quarters of a square mile stacked to overflowing with impressive skyscrapers. At first glance, Downtown appears to be an ultra modern metropolis, but Pittsburgh was founded in the mid-18th century, and still retains many of its original historic features.

The district is bounded by two rivers, the Allegheny and the Monongahela, which merge on the western point of the Downtown peninsula to form the Ohio River. With ten bridges in Downtown Pittsburgh alone and over four hundred more within the city limits, Pittsburgh has rightfully earned its nickname – the City of Bridges.

Surrounded by water as it is, there’s an abundance of diverse aquatic activities as well as lots to do on dry land. Don’t miss any of these fifteen best things to do in Downtown Pittsburgh because they’re all fantastic fun.

1. Just Ducky

Explore Downtown Pittsburgh by land and water on a Just Ducky amphibious vehicle. The tours depart from Station Square on the city’s South Shore which is reached from Downtown by crossing the Smithfield Street Bridge.

Hit the Monongahela River to float past Downtown’s stunning skyline before emerging onto terra firma once more to drive around the streets taking in the mainsights.

The tour takes around one hour and is narrated by the driver-guide. Expect some duck and quack-themed jokes along the way; they’re all part of the Just Ducky fun.

Another fun way to get around:  Pittsburgh Segway Tour

2. Benedum Center For Performing Arts

The Benedum Center For Performing Arts on 7th Street is the place to go to see a Broadway show, opera, ballet or top artist.

The Center is a renovated cinema with tiered balconies and has a seating capacity for almost three thousand spectators.

Expect world-class performances of dance classics like the Nutcracker Suite or the contemporary version Hip Hop Nutcracker as well as international stars like Celtic Woman and Mariah Carey to be gracing the stage.

3. Fort Pitt Museum

Step back in time to the founding days of Pittsburgh at the Fort Pitt Museum in Commonwealth Place in Point State Park.

The museum has both indoor and outdoor exhibits demonstrating the city’s important role in America’s independence. A first-floor gallery allows visitors to experience life in the 18th century with interactive exhibits and live military reenactments.

Adjacent to the museum in Point State Park is the Fort Pitt Blockhouse which is the only part of the original fort remaining.

4. PPG Place Plaza

No matter what time of the year it is, there’s always something happening at the PPG Place Plaza.

In the summer, the plaza’s central focus is a cooling display of one-hundred and forty water jets shooting fifteen feet up in the air. The fountain is illuminated in the evenings and the jets dance to a choreographed light show.

In winter, from November through to the beginning of March, the plaza is turned into a spectacular outdoor ice rink with skate rental on site.

5. Andy Warhol Museum

Cross the Andy Warhol Bridge from Downtown Pittsburgh to the city’s North Shore to visit the Andy Warhol Museum.

The museum only exhibits works by the late twentieth century master of pop art. The prolific collection of Andy Warhol works at the museum fill seventeen different galleries spread over seven floors covering a total exhibition space of over eighty thousand square feet.

The museum also houses several interactive workshops which invite visitors to try their hand at using some of Warhol’s famous techniques to create their own unique artwork.

6. Olive Or Twist

The Olive or Twist is a classy cocktail bar on 6th Street. The bar’s specialty is the Martini and adding unusual twists to traditional cocktail blends.

The two-story bar has an upstairs lounge with a VIP area and is decorated throughout with bare brick walls and dark wood furniture making it both warm and stylish.

The Olive or Twist present live music at the weekends and have a food menu featuring up-market pub grub.

Related tour : Pittsburgh Brewery Tour with Lunch or Dinner

 7. Bike Pittsburgh

Pick up a bicycle from Golden Triangle Bike Rental on First Avenue in and explore the district on two wheels.

Cycle along Downtown Pittsburgh’s traffic-free Three Rivers Trail which runs through the district for several miles starting at the Monongahela Wharf Landing all the way to the Riverfront Plaza Convention Center. If that’s not enough mileage, the trail also runs along the adjacent North Shore.

For those who don’t want to cycle solo, Golden Triangle Bike Rental run organized tours lead by a qualified guide.

Prefer driving by bus? Try the hop-on hop-off: Hop On & Hop Off Tour Pass

8. Heinz Hall

Heinz Hall on Penn Avenue is home to both the city’s Symphony Orchestra and the Pittsburgh Youth Orchestra.

The venue originally opened as a luxury cinema in the late 1920s, underwent extensive renovations in the mid-1990s and although the building is externally plain, inside it’s the height of opulence.

Heinz Hall hosts around two hundred live performances annually which include solo artists, entertainment stars and stand up comedians as well as orchestral works.

9. The Original Oyster House

The Original Oyster House on Market Squarehas been serving food to the DT community for almost fifteen decades. Any restaurant open for nearly one hundred and fifty years survives for one reason – a top-notch reputation for first-class food and hospitality.

While the restaurant name may lead customers to believe oysters are the main item on the menu, they’d be mislead, as cod and shrimp take prime place though a Key West Oyster Dinner does star as a special.

It’s not just good food which draws people to the Original Oyster House, the premises have been used as film set locations in twenty-five movies including Night Of The Living Dead.

10. PPG Paints Arena

The PPG Paints Arena on 5th Avenue is a multi-purpose indoor venue for major league sports events and live concerts.

The arena serves as a home base for Pittsburgh’s NHL Ice Hockey team the Pittsburgh Penguins who regularly fill the nineteen thousand seat stadium to maximum capacity.

A plethora of international stars have performed at the arena including Paul McCartney, Lady Gaga, and Katy Perry since its opening just under a decade ago.

11. Mellon Square

Mellon Square on Oliver Avenue when it first opened in the mid-1950s was an innovative green space the likes of which had not been seen before. The one and a half acre garden plaza was created on the rooftop of a subterranean parking lot and after extensive renovation work in 2014 has become a mini social hub where locals and visitors gather to relax outdoors.

The square has geometrically patterned pathways, illuminated fountains, and benches ideal for sitting down to read the latest bestseller. Throughout the summer months there are regular meditations sessions in Mellon Square, plus Tai Chi and Yoga classes, live music sessions and line dancing classes.

12. City Lights Segway Tour

Ride a Segway through Downtown Pittsburgh at night to see the district in all its nocturnal splendor.

Meet the guide on Station Street Drive on DT Pittsburgh’s South Shore and have a brief instruction session before heading back over Smithfield Street Bridge to explore the best parts of Downtown at night.

Tours last for around ninety minutes, and there are several daytime options available too.

13. Lock and Dam Dinner

Enjoy a barbecue while floating past on a one hundred and twenty-foot long paddlewheel riverboat.

Experience passing through a lock while tucking into the Gateway Clipper’s tasty spice rubbed pork ribs and Texas Mop chicken legs with some mac and cheese on the side. Then take in the Downtown sights as the dessert of cinnamon spiced apple pie is served.

The barbecue cruise lasts for about two and a half hours, has a full on-board bar service plus a DJ playing dance music.

14. Howl At The Moon

For a fun night and drinks by the bucketful, drop in at the Howl At The Moon on 7th Street. Be prepared for a lively night out in a spacious and modern venue.

Howl at the Moon is a dueling piano bar, with lots of other instruments too, which favors party and popular music animated enough to get all their customers up off their chairs and boogying along with the songs.

Cocktails in Howl in at the Moon are served in buckets. Don’t leave without trying Sex on the Moon or Adios Mofo. A good night is guaranteed.

15. Duquesne Incline

If there’s one thing everyone should do when it has to be the Duquesne Incline.

Head over to the South Shore to take a ride on a funicular railway which has been in operation since 1877. The track is less than eight hundred feet long, and the cars move at just six miles per hour, so it might not sound like the most exciting thing to do, but believe it, the views of Downtown Pittsburgh from the Duquesne Incline are seriously breathtaking.

15 Best Things to Do in Downtown Pittsburgh:

• Benedum Center For Performing Arts
• Fort Pitt Museum
• PPG Place Plaza
• Andy Warhol Museum
• Olive Or Twist
• Bike Pittsburgh
• The Original Oyster House
• PPG Paints Arena
• Mellon Square
• City Lights Segway Tour
• Lock and Dam Dinner
• Howl At The Moon
• Duquesne Incline

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