Hidden Gem: Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is an easy city to stereotype, so I really was not expecting much when I visited recently. Pittsburgh conjures images of steelworkers and burly football fans, coal mines, smokestacks and steel production plants, railroads and robber barrons, and perhaps even a few slam-dunking fish. However, after spending a few moments in Pittsburgh, it is immediately apparent that tucked away in the western part of Pennsylvania is a hidden gem.

One of the first things that you will notice about Pittsburgh is that it has a magnificent, photogenic skyline which looks great from a number of angles. For a particularly good view of the city, take one of two funiculars (cool, old, ski-lift like trams) to the top of Mt. Washington. Another thing you will quickly notice is that it is a city surrounded by bridges, hence Pittsburgh's other moniker, "City of Bridges", which is befitting for a city that is triangular in shape and bordered by the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers (that then form the Ohio River).

Once you have had a chance to walk around Pittsburgh, you will see that the architecture too is also a pleasant surprise that is not at all dominated by its industrial past and actually quite unique and captivating. Two buildings of note are One PPG Place, which literally resembles a castle complete with turrets, and one of the Midtown Towers buildings which looks like it is capped with a velvet crown. Walking around downtown is definitely worth your time if you are a fan of interesting architecture.

Pittsburgh has a number of good museums, but if you can only see one, make sure it is the Warhol Museum, and be sure to check out the Silver Clouds exhibit which gets a lot of praise from visitors. The nightlife in Pittsburgh also has a lot to offer. There is a great selection of bars and restaurants to choose from throughout the city, but some notable places to find them are in the Strip District, the Waterfront, the South Side, and the North Shore. Pittsburgh folks enjoy live music so you will find much of it at many of their restaurants and bars. The new Rivers Casino which just opened in August is one of the latest hot spots and also a great place to spend an evening.

There are plenty of hotels in and around downtown, but I personally stayed at the Omni William Penn and can vouch that it is a top tier hotel, especially if you enjoy old world charm and impeccable service. It is the perfect location to set up your base for seeing the city and is very convenient to the Lawrence Convention Center. Word on the street is that the Westin, also located nearby, is a good place to stay too, if you prefer something more modern.

There is, of course, much more than this to Pittsburgh, but this is what stood out for me on a short two day trip. For more information, check out the Visit Pittsburgh website, and, of course, give us a shout below if you know of any other must sees in Pittsburgh, and, or have any good restaurant and hotel recommendations.