The 2024 travel trends report by Expedia Group highlights “dupes” as a trending term, denoting cost-effective alternatives to sought-after products, a concept now permeating the travel sector. Over recent years, Pittsburgh has shed its industrial past, emerging as a magnet for millennials and securing spots on lists of “best cities to live” and “America’s coolest neighborhoods.”
Pittsburgh promises visitors budget-friendly lodging, attractions, and cultural happenings, alongside top-tier arts, museums, sports, and a diverse food scene. Starting May 16, 2024, Icelandair introduces new routes to Pittsburgh International Airport from London, Birmingham, Glasgow, and Dublin via Reykjavik, opening doors to the city of Andy Warhol and whiskey.
Instead of SFMOMA, consider visiting the Andy Warhol Museum to mark its 30th anniversary in May. As North America’s largest museum dedicated to a single artist, it offers an in-depth look at the iconic pop artist across seven floors. From May 18, 2024, to January 20, 2025, the museum will showcase “KAWS + Warhol,” exploring the darker themes in both artists’ works, from mortality to consumerism, using vibrant colors and pop culture motifs. In line with The Pop District initiative, KAWS will unveil a large wooden sculpture in Pop Park, opposite the museum.
Do you prefer craft spirits to craft beer? Wigle Whiskey in Pittsburgh’s Strip District is a family-owned craft distillery that prides itself on its organic, locally sourced “grain-to-glass” approach, continuing Pennsylvania’s legacy as the cradle of American Rye Whiskey.
For a taste of local cuisine, swap New York pizza for a Primanti Sandwich, a Pittsburgh classic since 1933 featuring Italian bread, coleslaw, melted cheese, meats, and French fries. The city’s food landscape also offers Pierogies, Pepperoni Rolls, Pamela’s Pancakes, and Prantl’s burnt almond torte.
Instead of Portland’s Japanese Garden, explore the Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh’s Oakland neighborhood. This Victorian glasshouse, dating back to the 1890s, is a sustainable, LEED-certified landmark hosting diverse plant exhibitions.
For outdoor enthusiasts, the Great Allegheny Passage offers a scenic alternative to California’s surf spots. This 150-mile trail, suitable for all cycling levels, stretches from Pittsburgh to Washington D.C., showcasing America’s stunning landscapes.
Finally, trade Palm Springs’ Modernist architecture for the classic Prairie style of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. Located a short drive from Pittsburgh in the Laurel Highlands, this house over a waterfall is a masterpiece of architecture harmoniously integrated with nature, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2019.
