Randyland

Recognized as one of the country's most colourful landmarks, Randyland is one man's art  passion project turned into a locally recognized exhibit in the heart of his very backyard. 

In 1995, Randy Gilson purchased a couple of dilapidated houses on the north side of Pittsburgh with the vision of transforming these lifeless structures into colourful works of art. Over the years, Randy has transformed his house and surrounding yard into a magical adventure akin to something out of a Dr. Seuss book. 

I hadn't heard of Randyland prior to travelling to Pittsburgh, but the colourful and unique designs can be spotted a mile away and definitely piqued my interest. Randyland is a perfect spot for artists, tourists and anyone needing to be cheered up on a gloomy day. Once you enter Randyland, all your worries are left at the door - quite literally. Randy has a box where you are able to write down all of your current worries and then he will burn the papers at the end of the day, dissipating your stresses into thin air. 

You can spend hours looking at all the painstaking detail on the buildings and surrounding yard. Randy has put so much care and thought into the space, it's hard not to leave with a big smile on your face. 

While it is free to enter, donations are encouraged and Randy also offers merchandise for sale. Also worth noting is that Randyland is almost always open, weather dependent. However, even if it's closed, you will still be able to view the art on the main building from the street.