 Meet Indian Meadows– a semi-magical, totally-stunning hillside of flowers tucked away in a community park just east of Pittsburgh. I stumbled upon this golden beauty on my way to a family picnic and my eyes completely lit up when it came into view. This small section of Boyce Park is home to thousands of Black Eyed Susans, a common daisy-like flower with a deep yellow color. It’s truly breathtaking– especially if you’re as flower-obsessed as I am. Browse my Instagram for the evidence. If I haven’t made my point in the first 5 sentences of this post, you really have to get yourself out to Indian Meadows this summer. Boyce Park is a little bit of a haul from the city, but this hidden gem is well worth the 30(ish) minute drive out to Plum Borough. Yep, Plum is indeed a type of fruit and a suburb in Allegheny County. Fun fact: Several of my family members live in the Plum area and I even lived in Plum for a summer in college! (The more ya know) While it would be extra wanderlust-y to call this a field of wildflowers, that isn’t quite the case. The 6-acre field was intentionally planted by the Allegheny County Parks Foundation for environmental reasons. So while we’ll have to drop “wild” from flowers, everything about this place still feels like you’ve been transported to a rustic countryside. And who ever would have guessed it can be found just outside of Pittsburgh?! Pack a picnic, grab your camera, hit the road, and head to Indian Meadows for views and a dose of fresh summer air. Mom moment: While it is super tempting to wade into the posies to get the perfect Instagram shot (as I did), it’s very frowned upon by the parks foundation. I didn’t think of it in the moment, but trails left in the gardens take away from the natural feel and all around can be harmful to the health of the flowers. Not to mention there’s always a major risk of taking home a tick. Confession: One of the foundation’s employees caught me in the flowers during my visit. BUSTED. If you’ve read a lot of my posts, bending the rules seems to be a theme. Oops? 
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 Even if you’re not born and raised in Pittsburgh, I’m sure you’ve at least heard of “The Point”. Home to festivals, events, bikers, runners, picnickers, curious tourists, and photographers, Point State Park is a public park in downtown Pittsburgh that’s just as symbolic to The Burgh as our beloved black and gold. The Point is the physical point where the three rivers surrounding Pittsburgh meet and merge. If you’re a geography buff, The Point is where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers converge and form the Ohio River. That’s the boring stuff. The less boring facts are that The Point is home to a beautiful fountain, tons of green space, cool outdoor architecture, and some pretty epic views of Downtown and North Shore. So how do you make the most of this local gem? Find yourself a sunny day, text some friends, pack a bag, and just take it all in. Here’s what I recommend throwing in your bag: A blanket, a book, your favorite snacks, water, a bluetooth speaker, a frisbee, your camera (where my Instagrammers at?!), and some sunglasses. And…. I mean…. if you happen to sneak some wine or brews in there, I approve. (Be careful though because the city does not.) On nice days, it’s likely that the fountain area by the river will be a bit crowded. Just make your way back to the grass and there’s sure to be plenty of space to spread out. TECHNICALLY, you’re not allowed in the fountain either. But hey, if you want to dip your toes in the water I won’t tell. As you can tell, I’m all for bending the rules from time to time. While summer is my favorite time of the year, my fave time to visit this PGH staple is in the spring when the cherry blossoms start to bloom. As a millennial girl, I’m just obligated to appreciate this natural pink wonder. And it’s much-appreciated after the misery of our grey, lifeless winters. You’ll soon learn that I am not a fan of the cold weather, but Pittsburgh is pretty dope the rest of the year so I persevere. Pro Tip: If you don’t mind a bit of a walk, there’s lots of free parking in North Shore on weeknights and Sundays. Put it in park and head to the pedestrian walkway alongside the Fort Duquesne Bridge to make your way over to the park.  |
