Travel Guides > Pittsburgh, PA

Pittsburgh Travel

Pennsylvania's 2nd largest city (after Philadelphia) was long touted as one of the top steel-producing cities in the United States, a fact that gave the town a rather cloudy reputation. Modern Pittsburgh, however, is no longer that dull, smoky city that was once considered an undesirable place to live or visit.

One look around this modern, attractive city reveals little in common with the Pittsburgh of old and you'll be hard-pressed to find any remnants of the industry that once dominated this town. Instead, guests to the city, surrounded by three rivers, will find pretty waterfront areas, modern office buildings, numerous museums, excellent fine arts venues, and enough diverse activities to make Pittsburgh a must-see destination.

Visitors who have only a day or two to spend in the city will have a difficult time deciding which attractions to visit. Museums are abundant and the natural beauty of the city is so striking that you'll want to just spend some time strolling the areas near the Allegheny, Ohio, and Monongahela Rivers.

Many of Pittsburgh's top attractions are named after its most famous industrial baron, Andrew Carnegie. Carnegie Museum of Art offers a fine collection of contemporary works, as Andrew Carnegie wished to profile the "old masters of tomorrow" rather than those of yesteryear. This museum's Hall of Architecture is spectacular.

Carnegie Museum of Natural History provides visitors with the opportunity to explore dinosaurs, wildlife, ancient cultures, minerals, gems, and much more. The museum's Earth Theater, with its wrap-around screen, puts guests right in the middle of the action.

The Carnegie Science Center is one of those places that children will love. Visit the miniature railroad and village, check out a real submarine, stop at the planetarium, or learn how movies are made in their fascinating movie-making exhibit hall.

Also part of the Carnegie Museum collection but not bearing the name of the wealthy industrialist, the Andy Warhol Museum is a tribute to the Pittsburgh native who has left his indelible mark on the art world. View more than 4,000 works of Warhol's art done in a variety of media, including examples of his quirky film and video productions.

Outdoors, the Three Rivers Heritage Trail provides joggers, walkers, and cyclists with a 37-mile trip around the city, past historic attractions and along the shores of the city's rivers. Even if you don't choose to walk or ride the entire path, it's a great way to see the city.

Similarly, the recreational waterways provided by the three rivers offer a myriad of watersports for the Pittsburgh visitor. Go fishing, canoeing, or kayaking or, if you prefer, choose a leisure or dinner cruise on one of the rivers.

If you're here during football season, you'll just have to take in a Pittsburgh Steelers game. Steelers fans are among the fiercest devotees in the world and you're sure to have fun watching this championship team in action.

Guests who are classical music fans will need to make a stop at the very elegant home of the Pittsburgh Symphony, Heinz Hall, with its magnificent Italian marble walls and gigantic crystal chandeliers.