THE US PITTSBURGH destinations
Pittsburgh’s industrial heritage has given way to Steel pop art, diverse cuisine and sports, the show discovers Jo Cooke
ot one but three rivers run the odd factory smoke stack in arts scene, cutting-edge w Art of the Action Nthrough it, hills surround the distance: odd now, but once a culinary culture and a trio of Andy Warhol, the pop art it, and 446 bridges link the dominant feature. Pittsburgh was showstopping sports teams. powerhouse, hails from land lying in between. It makes a city built on steel mills and the Pennsylvania’s second city Pittsburgh. A museum dedicated for a spectacular skyline, with coal mines that powered them. has a small-town-meets-big-city exclusively to him starts with a high rises at the centre of When the industry collapsed feel. With a population of around touchingly tender account of Pittsburgh marking downtown in the 1980s, the city began to 300,000, no traffic issues and his early years before bursting and neighbourhoods of vintage reinvent itself. Now it leads the walkable neighbourhoods, you into life with floors of giant houses peeping out from behind way in robotics and medicine, can see a lot in a short time, screen prints, movies and trees on the inclines. and the cash generated, then as quickly finding your favourite celebrity images (adults $20, Look carefully and you’ll see now, supports a groundbreaking spots and soon feeling like a local. children $10; warhol.org).
TOP TIP For more information about Pittsburgh, see visitpittsburgh.com k c o t s utter PICTURE: sh PICTURE:
3 May 2018 travelweekly.co.uk 55 destinations PITTSBURGH THE US
While installation art doesn’t float left: The everyone’s boat, you’re bound to Mattress Factory get swept up in the optical illusions and abstract exhibits of The Mattress Below: Factory, where international artists PNC Park, work with mirrors, plants and music home of the to challenge your perspectives (adults Pittsburgh Pirates $20, children $15; mattress.org). Nearby Randyland is a more down- to-earth artistic statement, bringing discarded objects together to create a whimsical backyard to wander around (admission free; randy.land). If classical is more your bag, The Frick Pittsburgh should give you your fix. The Frick family were industrialists and among the founding fathers of the city, and spent a chunk of their fortune on fine art, much of which can example, can cost as little as $12. You District that backs the old railway be seen when touring Clayton, their can tour the ballpark too, getting a lines and waterfront where freight was 19th-century home, and neighbouring peek behind the scenes. unloaded. Art Museum (adults $15, children $8; Pittsburgh’s football team is pretty It’s still thriving, with the offspring of thefrickpittsburgh.org). handy. The Steelers scooped the Super early settlers continuing the tradition. If all that has you itching to unleash Bowl four times between 1975 and Get a taster of ethnic foods, from your own creative urges, head to the 1980 and again in 2006 and 2009. cured sausage to hummus, pastries to Glass Center where a workshop on A Penguins hockey game is also an pizza rolls, on a Burgh, Bits and Bites glassblowing sees visitors fashion a all‑American must-do. A thrilling family Food Tour ($43; burghfoodtour.com). paperweight or flower within an hour atmosphere surrounds a testosterone- For those who dig catching sample ($35; pittsburghglasscenter.org). fuelled battle on blades. up-and-coming chefs before they product hit the big time, there’s Smallman w Team Tactics w Feed Me Galley. An open-plan dining room Sports fans are in for a ball in Pittsburgh’s thriving industries with four kitchens gives punters the North America Pittsburgh with three arenas in the attracted a ream of migrants from chance to order dishes from would‑be Travel Service heart of town and ticket prices a snip. across Europe. The workers sought restaurateurs, who showcase their offers four nights’ Last-minute bench seats at PNC Park, home-from-home cooking and concepts and boost their coffers before room-only at home of the Pirates baseball team, for eateries sprung up around the Strip taking the plunge to go it alone. the Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh from £944 per person, including flights from Heathrow, for a September departure. northamerica travelservice.co.uk
Funway Holidays offers an 11-day fly-drive starting in Pittsburgh. The Appalachian Adventure includes flights, car rental and hotels, and costs from £1,890 for an October departure. funway4agents. co.uk
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Meanwhile, the stylish 185‑room left: Distrikt hotel, boasting a green Bicycle Heaven Pittsburgh has a wall and mid-century furnishings, Museum is scheduled to join the Curio gritty-meets-quirky Collection by Hilton in June. charm. Eat well, get Staying in central Pittsburgh cultured and cross provides a springboard from lots of bridges! which clients can explore the main attractions and distinct neighbourhoods. You’ll find a ream of big names, from the swanky Fairmont to the boutique-style Kimpton Hotel Monaco (review, facing page) and Holiday Inn Express. You can walk from all of the above properties to the Three For those after fine dining with Breakfast in America is w Stay central Rivers Water Trail, where renting w The Price is Right Holidays, says: “Pittsburgh has a a panoramic view, it’s hard to legendary and Pittsburgh With a growing bed count and a bike, kayak or paddleboard Anyone looking for an excuse to gritty-meets-quirky charm. Pack top Monterrey Bay Fish Grotto. doesn’t let the side down. For a exciting openings and upgrades, gives you a chance to pootle book a long weekend stateside comfy shoes for a few days of Take the Duquesne Incline to retro setting, head to Pamela’s downtown Pittsburgh has all client along the Allegheny River. need look no further than eating well, getting cultured and get there. This funicular, dating Diner in the Strip District, or groups covered. A 111‑room Hotel Bike enthusiasts should also Pittsburgh. A fare of just £120 crossing lots of bridges!” back to 1877, was originally built the contemporary Geppetto’s Indigo is slated for downtown in check out the phenomenal one-way gets you there, thanks Ruby Briggs, managing to ferry workers between the in trendy Lawrenceville. Both 2018, while the 160-room Even Bicycle Heaven, a warehouse to Wow Air (wowair.co.uk), the director for North America Travel hilly suburbs and the mills in the offer sweet and savoury crepes, Hotel is due to open this month stacked with historic and iconic low-cost Icelandic carrier. Service, adds: “Pittsburgh is a riverside valley (adults $2.50, waffles and french toast to write with an emphasis on fitness and cycles and bike parts (admission The flights from Gatwick, much underestimated city and a children $1.25). home about. in-room gym equipment. free; bicycleheaven.org). via Reykjavik, are surprisingly great short-break destination for palatable: a stop in Iceland to the whole family with parks, kids’ stretch your legs leaves around activities, festivals and events.” six hours before you touch down in the US. The smaller aircraft that Wow Air operates have been kitted out with sleek, light, bright Tried & Tested cabins that give an illusion of kimpton hotel monaco space, and although extras such as blankets, headsets, seatback entertainment and hold luggage A complimentary wine hour in must be purchased as add-ons, a lounge adorned with diverse, that just means clients can be chic furnishings, and a beer clear over exactly what they’re garden serving craft beers and paying for. bratwurst? Hospitality at the Pittsburgh International Monaco reflects Pittsburgh’s Airport (flypittsburgh.com) is arty, Europhile vibe. Beds are also geared up to make arrival sumptuous, bathrooms big, and immigration as smooth as and service cheery, making possible. No long lines as at this 248-room property a good some East Coast hubs, which choice for the cultured and is a huge plus for families, and the gregarious. reconfiguration plans starting in Book it: From $109 a night. 2019 should further improve the monaco-pittsburgh.com passenger experience. Traditional carriers such as American Airlines, United and Delta also serve the city with non-direct flights from London, n while UK operators, including trade favourites Trafalgar, Travel 2 millir o and Great Rail Journeys are singing the city’s praises. Malcolm Davies, destination
product manager for Funway PICTURE: adam
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