When Jeremy and Angie Jones launched Discover the Burgh in 2015, they didn’t set out to become Pittsburgh’s go-to guide for everything from hidden waterfalls to hole-in-the-wall eateries. They were simply trying to explore their hometown the way they had explored the world. A shared curiosity led the couple to discover over a thousand unique attractions across the Steel City. It’s not surprising, then, that they’ve cultivated a devoted local following and national recognition.
At this year’s TBEX (Travel Blog Exchange) North America conference, Discover the Burgh was named Best Local Lens for its comprehensive coverage of Pittsburgh’s neighborhoods and attractions. The win and the nomination were a complete surprise for the Joneses.
Discover the Burgh, and Jeremy and Angie, have stuck to their blogger roots instead of tapping into influencer marketing like so many others. And perhaps that Yinzer authenticity is how they became, and continue to grow as one of Pittsburgh’s best reader-driven local media brands.
Courtesy of Jeremy Jones
Starting Discover the Burgh
Jeremy and Angie first created Discover the Burgh after returning home from a year and a half of world travel. They realized that, while they’d explored countless destinations abroad, they’d never fully explored their own city.
Their mission to “play tourist in our own town” evolved into a sprawling catalog of attractions, restaurants, and events across Pittsburgh. The site grew from a part-time passion into his full-time job for Jeremy by 2018.
Over the last decade, Jeremy and Angie Jones have visited about just under 1,500 unique attractions, parks, restaurants, breweries, events, and more. Jeremy tells Pittsburgh City Paper, “I don’t want to use the term complete guide, but you know, we’re a really robust resource for finding things to do in Pittsburgh, and we cover pretty much almost all the major categories in the travel tourism landscape.”
Courtesy of Jeremy Jones
Authenticity and reader trust
The Joneses have proven that not every blogger needs to bend to the trends of influencer culture. Jeremy and Angie have built their reputation by staying true to their original voice.
“I think I’m probably reluctant to change more than anything,” says Jeremy. “So much of the industry has changed around us in the last decade, like influencer marketing and the approach of how people post on Instagram and on social media. We actually are pretty true to our original vision — how thoughtful criticism, when offered with care, can earn reader trust.” From readers who say “Instagram lied to me” to others who use their reviews to gauge personal taste, Discover the Burgh’s vast and growing fanbase proves that integrity and transparency still matter in digital storytelling.
Another thing that makes Discover the Burgh special is that it focuses on Pittsburgh and not the people behind the blog. Jeremy Jones tells CP, “We really wanted most of our site and our content to focus on the particular attraction, restaurant, or experience.”
And since the Joneses are not paid Instagram influencers, they can give honest critiques, but not without some anxiety. “Sometimes we second-guess ourselves, like when we give an honest opinion about something,” says Jeremy. “We feel like, oh God, are people going to be upset about this? But then we get a comment where someone agrees with us, and we feel we need to keep being honest about what we think.”
Courtesy of Jeremy Jones
Best Local Lens
The award was a huge surprise for Jeremy, who attended the TBEX Travel Creator Awards Ceremony this year. He learned about Discover the Burgh’s nomination for Best Local Lens when it was announced on Oct. 3, less than 24 hours before winning.
“A friend of mine, like, tapped me on the shoulder, turned her computer at me, and was like, ‘Is this you?’” says Jeremy.
The other blogs nominated for Best Local Lens were This is Raleigh, Wichita By E.B., Gulf Coast Journeys, and Arkie Travels. Jeremy is still not certain who nominated Discover the Burgh. An independent, impartial panel of judges decided on the winners in each category.
What’s next for Discover the Burgh
Looking to the future, the Joneses hope to balance ambition with sustainability. Jeremy and Angie are putting the finishing touches on Discover the Burgh’s first printed guidebook. Details of its upcoming release have not yet been announced, but they’re hoping to get it out for the holidays.
They’re also considering whether to expand their two-person operation.
“We’re kind of at a weird inflection point where if we want our business to grow, we need to have staff, but then that would require a change from what people are used to seeing, since it’s been only me and Angie for the last 10 years,” says Jeremy. “So we’re kind of at that point where we have a decision to make and we’re not quite sure which way we’re going to go yet.”
Growth, he notes, brings new responsibilities — especially when it comes to hiring and paying ethically and maintaining the site’s distinctive, personal tone.
Courtesy of Jeremy Jones
Pittsburgh in the spotlight
Pittsburgh has received some pretty amazing accolades lately — being named one of the best places in the world to travel to in 2026 by National Geographic (the only city in the continental 48 states on that list), and one of the best places to retire by Forbes. So it’s just the cherry on top that Discover the Burgh brought home the TBEX Best Local Lens award this year.
For Jeremy, the recognition of this award also feels like a win for Pittsburgh. “I think that there’s so much character in each neighborhood that really makes Pittsburgh a really fun place to explore because it’s so unique everywhere you go.”
This article appears in Nov. 5-11, 2025.
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