\u2022 In the distance, you can see New York City, so it\u2019s not that far away.
\u2022 The Devils are sneaky fun to watch.<\/p>\n
Negatives<\/p>\n
\u2022 In the distance, you can see New York City, which is a cruel tease more than anything.
\u2022 Newark isn\u2019t my favorite place for an afternoon walk.
\u2022 The Prudential Center is sterile and boring.
\u2022 The Penguins usually lose here.
\u2022 There\u2019s little fun to be had, unless you just go to New York.<\/p>\n
Insider tip<\/p>\n
Driving around Newark and looking for landmarks from \u201cThe Sopranos\u201d is actually a lot of fun.<\/p>\n
Final word<\/p>\n
I can\u2019t, in good faith, recommend that any Penguins fan make this trip unless you\u2019re already in the area for another reason.<\/p>\n
31. San Jose Sharks<\/strong>Positives<\/p>\n \u2022 Easy to get tickets these days. Negatives<\/p>\n \u2022 There isn\u2019t much going on in San Jose. Insider tip<\/p>\n Fly home from San Jose. Even though it\u2019s not a direct trip, it\u2019s less trouble than driving to San Francisco for said direct flight, and cheaper. San Jose\u2019s airport is super nice.<\/p>\n Final word<\/p>\n If you want to do the California swing, have at it. I\u2019ll join you. But be warned, the Southern California trip is generally more fun than the San Jose swing. There\u2019s just not much going on in San Jose, and I can\u2019t say I recommend it. I\u2019m always very bored here.<\/p>\n 30. Philadelphia Flyers<\/strong>Positives<\/p>\n \u2022 You\u2019re a mere hour away from Chef Vola\u2019s, the greatest Italian restaurant I\u2019ve experienced, which is in Atlantic City. Negatives<\/p>\n \u2022 The arena stinks. Insider tip<\/p>\n If you\u2019re wearing Penguins colors, don\u2019t be afraid to trash-talk with the locals. They smell fear there. Stand up for yourself. Be assertive if necessary.<\/p>\n Final word<\/p>\n You have to do it once. It\u2019s a wild experience. Still, knowing that friend of the Penguins Rick Tocchet will be behind the bench stings a bit for everyone.<\/p>\n 29. St. Louis Blues<\/strong>Positives<\/p>\n \u2022 Direct flights. Negatives<\/p>\n \u2022 The arena is located in a part of town that I wouldn\u2019t otherwise recommend visiting. Insider tip<\/p>\n Try the toasted ravioli. Along with BBQ, it\u2019s what they do best in St. Louis, and they do it very well.<\/p>\n Final word<\/p>\n Believe it or not, you might have to go. Do you love Evgeni Malkin? Well, the Penguins\u2019 last game of the season is in St. Louis. Assuming the Penguins don\u2019t make the playoffs, and assuming this is Malkin\u2019s last NHL season \u2014 we don\u2019t know if it is, but I\u2019m betting on it \u2014 this could be Malkin\u2019s final game. Will he play in this game if it\u2019s meaningless? Or would he rather end his career against Alex Ovechkin and the Capitals? I don\u2019t know. But this one is worth keeping in mind for the hardcore Malkin fan.<\/p>\n The spectacular, $1.1 billion UBS Arena opened in 2021. (Sarah Stier \/ Getty Images)28. New York Islanders<\/strong>Positives<\/p>\n \u2022 UBS Arena is quite impressive, one of the NHL\u2019s best. Negatives<\/p>\n \u2022 By air or car, reaching this neck of the woods from Pittsburgh is a pain. Insider tip<\/p>\n Parking is obnoxious there. I\u2019d recommend staying in Manhattan and going the Uber route. Not cheap but more relaxing, and this way you still can enjoy the big city.<\/p>\n Final word<\/p>\n The arena is great, but I can\u2019t say that the rest of the trip is all that worthwhile.<\/p>\n The \u2018Weather Dependent\u2019 Division<\/strong>27. Winnipeg Jets<\/strong>Positives<\/p>\n \u2022 Probably the best fans in the league, and it\u2019s great to experience the atmosphere there. Negatives<\/p>\n \u2022 It\u2019s just a miserable day of travel to get there. Insider tip<\/p>\n It\u2019s a great poutine city. Treat yourself.<\/p>\n Final word<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know that you\u2019ll have that much fun on this trip, but there is something cool about saying, \u201cI\u2019m in Winnipeg watching a hockey game.\u201d<\/p>\n 26. Ottawa Senators<\/strong>Positives<\/p>\n \u2022 Downtown Ottawa is great, especially for you architecture lovers. Negatives<\/p>\n \u2022 Canadian Tire Center is in the middle of nowhere. Insider tip<\/p>\n Stay downtown, but keep in mind that traffic gets bad on the drive to Kanata. Still, you don\u2019t want to stay in Kanata for any particular reason. Downtown is the way to go. It\u2019s beautiful.<\/p>\n Final word<\/p>\n I can\u2019t say I recommend this trip. I like it because my kids don\u2019t live far from there, but unless you have children in that area \u2014 I\u2019m guessing I\u2019m in the minority \u2014 there\u2019s not much going on here. Go if you have a reason, but you won\u2019t be blown away by the building, and the logistics are tough.<\/p>\n 25. Edmonton Oilers<\/strong>Positives<\/p>\n \u2022 You get to see Sidney Crosby versus Connor McDavid in person. Negatives<\/p>\n \u2022 Getting there is a nightmare. Insider tip<\/p>\n The restaurant at the downtown Courtyard Marriott is incredibly good. Random, I know, but trust me.<\/p>\n Final word<\/p>\n I don\u2019t particularly like this trip, though it\u2019s better than it once was because you get to see McDavid and the arena is nice. The Alberta trip is fun and worth doing. You\u2019ll probably like Calgary better, but Edmonton is OK.<\/p>\n 24. Minnesota Wild<\/strong>Positives<\/p>\n \u2022 Three words: Mall of America. Negatives<\/p>\n \u2022 The weather tends not to be a great attribute of this area. Insider tip<\/p>\n Stay close to the airport and thus close to the Mall of America. Get that Christmas shopping done early.<\/p>\n Final word<\/p>\n This trip has grown on me over the years. I used to find it a little boring, but I\u2019ve really started to like it during the past couple of trips there. Great airport, too, which helps. I should probably have it ranked higher, but it\u2019s tough. Lots of great trips on this circuit.<\/p>\n 23. Buffalo Sabres<\/strong>Positives<\/p>\n \u2022 So long as the weather isn\u2019t a nightmare, it\u2019s a very easy drive from Pittsburgh. Negatives<\/p>\n \u2022 Interstate 90 in February is scary. Trust me, I\u2019m on it all the time. Watch the weather reports. Insider tip<\/p>\n Bring your passport and stay in Niagara Falls. It\u2019s a fun little getaway and only 30 minutes from Buffalo. Hotels are also super cheap there during the winter months.<\/p>\n Final word<\/p>\n I like the people of Buffalo. Nothing about the trip is special, but it\u2019s not far, it\u2019s cheap and the Niagara Falls aspect adds some potential fun. It can make for a romantic weekend with your significant other, or an opportunity to make questionable decisions. Either way, life is about fun and choices.<\/p>\n 22. Detroit Red Wings<\/strong>Positives<\/p>\n \u2022 Little Caesars Arena is the NHL\u2019s best building. Negatives<\/p>\n \u2022 The rivalry isn\u2019t what it once was. Insider tip<\/p>\n If you care only about hockey and not experiencing the city, stay in Toledo \u2014 about an hour south \u2014 and make the 60-minute drive to Detroit on game day. It\u2019s cheaper and less hassle that way. (Come to think of it, because the Penguins play in Detroit on a Saturday afternoon, you can do a day trip from Pittsburgh if you don\u2019t mind waking up early.)<\/p>\n Final word<\/p>\n Let Detroit into your heart. I wouldn\u2019t have said this 15 years ago, but I\u2019m telling you, it\u2019s on the way back. Plus, Red Wings fans (and Michiganders in general) are as friendly as it gets. Fun little trip.<\/p>\n The \u2018Enigmatic\u2019 Division<\/strong>21. Boston Bruins<\/strong>Positives<\/p>\n \u2022 If history is your thing, you could do worse than Boston. Negatives<\/p>\n \u2022 The Penguins play there in January and early March, so prepare to be very cold. Insider tip<\/p>\n Check out some college hockey while you\u2019re in the neighborhood. It\u2019s always worth it.<\/p>\n Final word<\/p>\n I\u2019ve always liked Boston well enough, but have never quite loved it. Much like Chicago, I like it substantially more in the summer months. That said, it\u2019s a very important American city and a wonderful sports town, so you may love it.<\/p>\n Seattle\u2019s Climate Pledge Arena is the renovated former home of the NBA\u2019s Seattle SuperSonics. (Steph Chambers \/ Getty Images)20. Seattle Kraken<\/strong>Positives<\/p>\n \u2022 Climate Pledge Arena might be the NHL\u2019s best barn \u2014 a marvelous cathedral to catch a game. Negatives<\/p>\n \u2022 While we do have direct flights there from Pittsburgh, which is great, it\u2019s still a long day of travel to get there. Insider tip<\/p>\n I would strongly urge you to use public transportation or Uber to get to the game. Before last season\u2019s game, I asked Seattle PR for a parking garage recommendation. The one they gave me was very nice. It was also $75.<\/p>\n Final word<\/p>\n I want to like Seattle, and I don\u2019t hate it. But I haven\u2019t fully embraced it just yet. I think perhaps my expectations were unfairly high when I arrived there for the first time, thinking it was on Vancouver\u2019s level. It\u2019s not. But that doesn\u2019t mean it\u2019s not a beautiful place that you\u2019ll enjoy. The arena is spectacular.<\/p>\n 19. Columbus Blue Jackets<\/strong>Positives<\/p>\n \u2022 It\u2019s less than three hours away from Pittsburgh, and Interstate 70 in Ohio is much better maintained than Interstate 70 in Pennsylvania. Negatives<\/p>\n \u2022 Even though the Blue Jackets are much improved, they don\u2019t exactly excite the hockey fan in you. Insider tip<\/p>\n When the Blue Jackets take the ice, and when they score goals, the good people at Nationwide Arena set off a very loud, intrusive cannon. It will startle you. If you think it won\u2019t, you\u2019re wrong. It will startle you. You\u2019ve been warned. If you have heart issues, keep this in mind. No joke.<\/p>\n Final word<\/p>\n I always say it\u2019s a great first trip for a Penguins fan who has never gone on the road. It\u2019s like a starter home. It\u2019s not exotic. There aren\u2019t many bells and whistles. But it\u2019s cheap, it\u2019s easy to get to and it\u2019s a fun place.<\/p>\n 18. Washington Capitals<\/strong>Positives<\/p>\n \u2022 The Penguins play there on a Sunday afternoon in April, and you won\u2019t find a better city for a weekend trip. Negatives<\/p>\n \u2022 This game, on Sunday, April 12, is right in the middle of Masters Sunday. Insider tip<\/p>\n I\u2019ll be very clear about this. There\u2019s a real chance this is the last time that Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin and Evgeni Malkin are ever sharing the same sheet of ice. This is likely Malkin\u2019s final season. There\u2019s a chance it will be Ovechkin\u2019s, too.<\/p>\n Final word<\/p>\n In a schedule quirk, it\u2019s the only time the Penguins play in Washington all season (good job, NHL). Malkin\u2019s final home game could be the day before, also against the Capitals. This could be the end of the road for him and perhaps Ovechkin, too. The Penguins-Capitals battle over the best two decades has been remarkable theater. The Capitals won the final battle, but I\u2019d say the Penguins won the war. Either way, it\u2019s captivated all of us. I strongly suggest you make this trip.<\/p>\n 17. Utah Mammoth<\/strong>Positives<\/p>\n \u2022 Much like Denver and Calgary, the mountain scenery will blow you away. Negatives<\/p>\n \u2022 The nightlife won\u2019t exactly blow you away. Insider tip<\/p>\n Check out the Utah practice facility, which is connected to the U.S. Olympic speed skating training facility. Cool place.<\/p>\n Final word<\/p>\n I ranked it in the middle because I\u2019ve only been there once. I have to say, I liked it. Not as much as Denver, but I liked it. Beautiful place, friendly people and I loved how easily walkable it was. It\u2019ll be interesting to see how far it climbs in future rankings.<\/p>\n Thanks for reading and daydreaming. Part 2 is coming Wednesday.<\/p>\n (Top photo of Utah\u2019s Delta Center: Bruce Bennett \/ Getty Images)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The dog days of summer are here. 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\u2022 It\u2019s one of two remaining NHL buildings where the Penguins claimed the Stanley Cup (Bridgestone Arena in Nashville is the other).
\u2022 San Francisco is an hour away, and there is much culture to enjoy there.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Despite this, they sure charge you a lot of money to do anything in this city.
\u2022 The building is getting quite old.<\/p>\n
\u2022 It\u2019s Penguins-Flyers, so something interesting is certain to happen.
\u2022 You\u2019re almost guaranteed to see Sidney Crosby enjoy a big night.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The citizens are less than friendly, and that goes for the whole city, not just the hockey fans.
\u2022 The drive is a menace through the mountains, and American Airlines charges an arm and a leg for direct flights.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Cheap hotels.
\u2022 Maybe the Cardinals will be in town.
\u2022 There\u2019s a museum under the Arch! (I never knew this, and it\u2019s really cool.)<\/p>\n
\u2022 I always find the Blues to be kind of boring.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-1354501228-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\u2022 Manhattan is nearby.
\u2022 Tickets aren\u2019t hard to get.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Long Island has its charm, I suppose, but it\u2019s just far enough away from Manhattan to be logistically annoying.
\u2022 You\u2019ll have to watch the Islanders play hockey.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The Penguins play there on Nov. 1, so you may only need to wear about seven layers.
\u2022 What a friendly place.<\/p>\n
\u2022 There is very little semblance of nightlife.
\u2022 Other than the Human Rights Museum, there isn\u2019t much to see or do.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Tickets aren\u2019t hard to come by.
\u2022 Seeing Crosby play in Canada is always a cool experience.<\/p>\n
\u2022 It\u2019s probably the NHL\u2019s worst arena \u2014 outdated to the core.
\u2022 The Penguins almost always lose here.
\u2022 The weather will not be great.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Everything you need \u2014 hotels, restaurants, casinos, bars and the arena \u2014 is downtown and within walking distance of each other.
\u2022 The arena is larger than a spaceship but very nice.
\u2022 The Sherlock Holmes Pub is a fine place to spend some time.<\/p>\n
\u2022 It will be very cold.
\u2022 There isn\u2019t much to do.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Xcel Energy Center remains an outstanding building.
\u2022 The Twin Cities are America\u2019s most underrated sports region.
\u2022 Direct flights on Delta aren\u2019t cheap but are frequent.
\u2022 Hotels are cheap, which helps balance the cost.
\u2022 Outrageously friendly, diverse place.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The Penguins play here on a Thursday in late October, which is a little random and not conducive to weekend travel.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Tickets are cheap and easy to get.
\u2022 Buffalo is a fine town, and the locals like to have a beverage or two; you\u2019ll enjoy the people there.
\u2022 Niagara Falls is 30 minutes away.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The negativity in that arena these days might be enough to bring you down.
\u2022 Not exactly a great hockey game on paper.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Easy drive, though the weather can get nasty in the winter.
\u2022 Detroit is on the upswing and a very underrated town.
\u2022 The Penguins play here on a Saturday afternoon, which makes for great convenience.<\/p>\n
\u2022 This isn\u2019t a tropical trip.
\u2022 The Penguins are missing the annual car convention in Detroit by a week, which is bad timing.<\/p>\n
\u2022 If lobster and good seafood are up your alley, you\u2019ll be pleased.
\u2022 It\u2019s a great sports town and a great hockey town, and you can feel it the whole time you\u2019re there.
\u2022 You\u2019re already in New England, so you\u2019re a quick drive from beautiful places such as Vermont and Maine.<\/p>\n
\u2022 These are two potentially bad teams.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/GettyImages-1488267442-scaled.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
\u2022 The areas around Seattle are as picturesque as it gets.
\u2022 Sensational food city.
\u2022 There is plenty to see and do, and for fun, Vancouver is only a two-hour drive.<\/p>\n
\u2022 There are expensive cities, and then there is Seattle.
\u2022 The actual downtown area is kind of blah, in my opinion.<\/p>\n
\u2022 Nationwide Arena remains elite, a wonderful place to see a game.
\u2022 The much-hyped bar district around the building is indeed outstanding, giving you a fun place to drink it up before and after the game.
\u2022 It\u2019s a totally manageable Black Friday drive for the game, and most of you are likely off work that day.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The Penguins have always been Big Brother in this rivalry, so this season could serve up some humble pie.<\/p>\n
\u2022 You should be there for the tail end of cherry blossom season.
\u2022 You might be witnessing history (more below).
\u2022 It\u2019s an easy, fairly pleasant drive.
\u2022 There are cities with good museums, and then there is Washington. It\u2019s the gold standard.<\/p>\n
\u2022 D.C. is great in terms of things to see, but the area around Capital One Arena has seen better days.<\/p>\n
\u2022 It\u2019s a friendly place and very walkable.
\u2022 The airport is new, spectacular, and Pittsburgh has direct flights to and from Salt Lake City on Delta.
\u2022 Everything is inexpensive here.<\/p>\n
\u2022 The building is presumably much better for basketball. It\u2019s not so great for hockey.<\/p>\n