I DIDN'T EXPECT Pittsburgh to take my breath away. This was, after all, a city once so full of smokestacks and soot that, in his 1868 travelogue for the Atlantic Monthly, biographer James Parton described it as "hell with the lid taken off." But as my taxi emerged from the Fort Pitt Tunnel on a Friday afternoon in June, I was taken aback by the panorama of rivers and bridges that unfolded before me. In the distance, sunlight glinted off the mirrored façade of PPG Place, the skyline's crown jewel, its neo-Gothic spires piercing a bluebird sky.
Pittsburgh's tale of Rust Belt revival is hardly new-the city spent decades reinventing itself after the steel industry collapsed in the 1980s. And since 2006, starting with Google, more tech companies have been setting up shop among the vibrant arts and cultural venues, while boundary-pushing chefs have brought the food scene on par with some of the country's hottest culinary hubs. The result? A next-gen 'Burgh that is simultaneously youthful and old-school, fresh and gritty, cutting-edge and delightfully retro.
FRIDAY
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Denne historien er fra November 2024-utgaven av Travel+Leisure US.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prÞveperiode pÄ Magzter GOLD for Ä fÄ tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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EARTHLY DELIGHTS
Come fall, the Italian region of Umbria is a lush, fertile inland oasis. Peter Terzian reaps a bounty of culinary and cultural pleasures.
RUNNER'S HIGH
Some travelers like to move at a faster clip. Alexandra Kleeman crosses the peaks and pastures of Ireland with a group of women who take life in stride.
THE WILDEST ISLE
Compared with its neighbors, the island of Hawaii is bigger, more untamed-and, at times, unpredictable. With her family in tow, Flora Stubbs finds the perfect balance between relaxation and rugged adventure.
A ticket to the top of the world
On a luxurious train tour of Peru, Lake Titicaca and Machu Picchu are the headline acts. But, as Monisha Rajesh discovers, witnessing everyday life from the rails can be every bit as memorable.
Bonjour la France
When an American writer retires in Brittany, she learns how to belong again.
Chills and Thrills
On an Alaskan wilderness adventure, Sarah Manguso and her son learn the elements of survival.
Wheels on Fire
With its blazing fall colors and picturesque villages, the Japanese island of Kyushu was made for cycling.
Down to Earth
Pottery runs deep in Santa Fe, from hallowed Pueblo collections to clay-throwing pubs.
Steel City Shining
A tech boom; a thriving cultural scene; destination dining. Can this be... Pittsburgh?
HOPE SPRINGS ETERNAL
This cute Pennsylvania town is brimming with artistic and cultural energy.
