By Ryan Lucchesi
Rivers Casino in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and the surrounding area offer a lot of entertaining options to players outside of the poker tournament while they’re here for the WPTDS Pittsburgh Main Event. Here are a few things the WPTDeepStacks crew recommends checking out if you have some free time at this tournament stop.
If you have a few hours: The Carnegie Science Center, Heinz Field, and PNC Park are all in the same neighborhood as the casino. Or you could just simply stroll along the banks of the Ohio River on a tournament break for great views of downtown. The Andy Warhol Museum is also just a few blocks away near PNC Park, which is considered by many to be one of the finest MLB ballparks in the country. North Shore restaurants and bars a short walk from the casino include Southern Tier Brewing, Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse, Burgatory, and Jerome Bettis’ Grille 36.
A little further afield: Downtown Pittsburgh and the rest of the city is home to many great attractions and culture just across the river from the casino. The Carnegie Museums of Art and Natural History can both be found on the University of Pittsburgh of campus, and while you’re there be sure to check out the Tower of Learning, too (42-story tower in the middle of campus). No culinary visit to Pittsburgh would be complete without a visit to Primanti Brothers for one of their iconic sandwiches, and if you need something to wash that meal down then look no further than The Church Brew Works, which is a brewery housed in a former cathedral. You can also take the trip up the Duquesne Incline for the quintessential view of the Golden Triangle with the Pittsburgh skyline in the background.
If you have your family along for the trip: The Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium are sure to entertain the little ones, and Pittsburgh is also home to the National Aviary. There is also the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh to keep the kiddos happy. If you want something a little more distinctly Pittsburgh, then the Rivers of Steel tours would be an interesting option to learn about the Steel-producing heritage that turned this city into an industrial powerhouse.
If you bagged your Day 1 flight, and have a day off: Frank Lloyd Wright’s architectural masterpiece Falling Water is just over an hour away from the casino, and tours are available daily. If you’re a really big fan of Groundhog Day (and the Bill Murray movie by the same name), then you can visit Punxsutawney that is also just over an hour away from the casino to see the city that hosts America’s quirkiest holiday. Just a half-hour from the city center is Kennywood Amusement Park, which is open most weekends during the offseason.
If you’re looking to watch the game: Head to the new $5 million BetRivers Sportsbook right in the middle of the casino gaming floor. This 5,500-square-foot space is the perfect place to take in all of the sports action at Rivers Casino with 24 flat-screen, high-definition 86-inch monitors, 33 self-service betting kiosks, and six betting windows.
And in addition to all these options, Rivers Casino has a huge selection of poker games, and the casino also offers blackjack, craps, roulette, and many other games. Dining options include the newly-opened Flipt, where players can order food quick from the walk-up counter on short breaks. Other options include Andrew’s Steak & Seafood, the Wheelhouse, Grandview Buffet, and Ciao, which is where players can get their caffeine fix just a few steps from the poker room. Whatever you choose, there is definitely a lot to do here while you’re in town for the WPTDS Pittsburgh Main Event.