Pittsburgh arose as an important city of the Industrial Revolution, and is today clean and cosmopolitan. The last steel mills were closed in the 1980’s, allowing the city’s natural beauty to shine through and even making it a popular location for film making. There are also a growing number of good national travel deals.
Getting there
Pittsburgh International Airport receives numerous daily flights from most major cities in America and eastern Canada, with a few long haul flights. The airport is located 25kms southwest of the downtown area, with transport provided by the 28-X Airport Flyer bus and the Airport Express, as well as taxis and rental car to Pittsburgh. Amtrak provides daily rail service here from Philadelphia (eight hours), Washington, DC (7 hours, 30 minutes), Cleveland (3 hours, 30 minutes), and Chicago (ten hours).
Pittsburgh is easily reached by car rental via the interstate highway system. Major routes into the belt roads around Pittsburgh are I-76 from the northwest (Cleveland) and east (Philadelphia); I-70 from the west (Columbus) and southeast (Washington, DC); and I-79 from the north and south.
Key attractions
Pittsburgh has many interesting cultural sights, including the Andy Warhol Museum, and the world famous Carnegie, which consists of the Carnegie Library, Music Hall, Museum of Art and Museum of Natural History. The Benedum Center features operas, Broadway musicals, and performances of the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.
The city’s compact downtown area, called the Golden Triangle, is pedestrian friendly. The highlight here is Point State Park, the historic site of Fort Pitt. Interesting architecture abounds in the area. The Strip District is home to Pittsburgh’s traditional waterfront market and popular plaza. Warehouse buildings along cobbled streets house the city’s best butchers, bakers, and vendors of Greek and Italian speciality foods. Also here is the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center, housed in a renovated 1898 warehouse.
Out and about
Ninety-six kilometres to the southeast of Pittsburgh by car rental is the Laurel Highlands, offering a plethora of outdoor activities, including serious white-water rafting along the Youghiogheny River. There is also hiking, biking and fishing available in Ohiopyle State Park. Additionally, Idlewild Park in Ligonier is one of America’s great old amusement parks. Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1936 masterpiece, is another premier draw, and the nearest accommodation, in the tiny villages of Farmington and Chalk Hill, is quaint.
Leisure options
For entertainment, try the Kennywood amusement park, Sandcastle water park and the Pittsburgh Zoo. Pittsburgh is home to an ethnically diverse population, reflected in the many choices of cuisine, including Mexican, Italian, Chinese, Indian and Spanish, as well as Portuguese and Russian. A good place to check out the nightlife is the Strip District, with brewpubs and rock-concert halls like Rosebud.
Safety
Travelers can put themselves at risk when driving across long distances by rental car in Pittsburgh. Additionally, participating in outdoor activities could result in accidents. Beware of carjackers and pickpockets as well. The cost of medical care in the US is high and you would not want to be without insurance if something were to occur. We highly recommend you take out travel insurance for you and your family. National travel deals should also be sought out in advance.