USA • Riverview Park 🌳

My daughter has often mentioned the observatory in Pittsburgh, which only opens a few times each year and requires reservations to visit—she’s been there once. The observatory is located in Riverview Park, and today, with the sun shining brightly, we decided to take a walk there together. After transferring buses twice, we arrived near the park. Not far up the slope, we reached the main entrance, where an information board introduced the park. This is an ecological park that provides three major benefits to our living environment: 🌿 Cleaner, cooler air: Trees absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen through photosynthesis while reducing air pollutants. 💧 Cleaner water: The park’s green spaces help reduce rainwater runoff and prevent river pollution. 🏙️ A more livable city: The park offers recreational spaces and natural scenery, making urban life more enjoyable. That’s why Pittsburgh has over 2,000 acres of urban parks, and Riverview Park is one of the most famous. Soon, we reached the observatory. Although we couldn’t go inside, it was still interesting to walk around and explore. The weather was quite hot, and the sun was so bright I could barely keep my eyes open. 😅 The Allegheny Observatory is one of the oldest astronomical observatories in the United States, established in 1859. It is renowned for measuring stellar distances and remains an important institution for astronomical research, contributing significantly to global advancements in astronomy. 🔭✨ The observatory is affiliated with the University of Pittsburgh and offers many public night events. Tickets can be reserved for free, and public night visits are available from April 1 to November 1 each year. The park also has a children’s playground where kids were having a great time. The swings flying high made me want to join in, too! 🎢 We followed a hiking trail downhill, then switched to a road before entering the woods again. Along the way, we saw fallen trees and picnic spots. Tired from walking, we sat down on a fallen log to rest. Sunlight streamed through the trees, creating a dazzling yet soothing atmosphere. ☀️🌲 My daughter asked me, “If you stayed in the U.S., would you like it? There’s almost no one to speak Chinese with, and you’d have to communicate in English all the time. Would you feel lonely?” She said she’d feel uncomfortable if she didn’t speak Chinese for even a day. It’s a difficult question for me. Although I’ve been to the U.S. nearly ten times, it was always for short business trips or vacations. This time, I spent three weeks traveling in the western U.S. and five weeks in Pittsburgh—the longest stay so far. For someone like me who’s just passing through, everything feels fresh and interesting. I told my daughter that in Pittsburgh, you can enjoy clean air and pure nature. The population is small, the pace is relaxed, and it’s very comfortable. For someone like me who’s used to life in Shanghai, it’s a soothing change—no crowds, no disturbances. As we talked and walked, we got a bit lost and couldn’t find our way back. Eventually, we had to trek through the forest to make our way up the hill. Finally, we reached the road again—it was quite an adventure! 🗺️🌿 #RiverviewPark #Pittsburgh #TravelDiary #NatureWalk #USAParks #Observatory #FamilyTime #Wanderlust #EcoFriendly