Pittsburgh Flights And Sights

A city once known for billowing steel factories, Pittsburgh wows first-time visitors today with crystal-clear rivers and a first-rate arts scene. The city's Golden Triangle sits at the junction of three rivers, a favorite location for anglers and kayakers. Natural history and art are on display at the Carnegie Museums while the Andy Warhol Museum hails Pittsburgh's most famous artist. A testament to the city's history and cultural vibrancy, Station Square's turn-of-the-century furnace sits front and center -- as part of a musical fountain.

Things to Do

Pittsburgh's finest cultural attractions are housed in the Carnegie Museums; fossilized dinosaur bones and glittering geodes are among the natural treasures in the Museum of Natural History, while the human creations of Picasso, Georgia O'Keeffe and Frank Gehry draw attention at the Museum of Art. Pop art reigns supreme at the Andy Warhol Museum, which houses the work of the groundbreaking hometown darling.

Nightlife and Entertainment

Neon lights and public artworks illuminate the night sky in Pittsburgh's Theatre District, with performances ranging from African-American dance troupes to Arthur Miller classics and the symphonic sounds of the velvet-and-crystalline Heinz Hall. Homegrown alternative music bands and DJ mixers fill the clubs of Pittsburgh's Strip District. Sip a drink late at night anywhere in Station Square, set high on the riverbank overlooking the well-lit downtown.

Restaurants and Dining

Pittsburgh's Strip District is the place to go for richly sauced pastas and Parmesan-crusted fish dishes inspired by the city's Italian immigrants, while Deutschtown features authentic German eateries and breweries. The local favorite Primanti Brothers sandwich, also in the Strip District, is the lunch of choice. Go hungry, as Primanti is famous for including French fries and coleslaw inside their sandwiches, along with chopped meat, cheese, and sliced tomato.

Active Pursuits

Three rivers -- the Monongahela, the Ohio and the Allegheny -- join to form the Golden Triangle, a favorite spot for kayaking and fishing downtown Pittsburgh. Look down onto the city's watery center from the steep hillsides overlooking Pittsburgh from the Duquesne Incline plane railway. Sports lovers head to PNC Park or Heinz Field to enjoy an afternoon of fresh air, hot dogs and cheering for Pirates baseball or Steelers football against the sparkling, glass-and-steel skyline.

Find American Airlines flights to Pittsburgh and make plans to discover this multifaceted Pennsylvania city. From family-friendly museums and local attractions to the performing arts, festivals and sports, there are many things to do in Pittsburgh that will keep you fascinated.

We can't start a list of activities in Pittsburgh without mentioning its splendid natural setting. Pittsburgh's 22-mile-long Three Rivers Heritage Trail System lets you explore along the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio Rivers. You can walk, jog, bike or rollerblade your way through this lush and diverse landscape. And if you want to get even closer to the water, launch a kayak from the North Shore.

Families in particular find that the list of things to do in Pittsburgh is almost endless. To start, there are about 1,700 acres of parks in the city. Frick Park is the largest, stretching from Point Breeze to the Monongahela River. Kids will love the Blue Slide Playground, and there are tennis courts, baseball fields and even a bowling green -- the only public one in all of Pennsylvania.

More activities in Pittsburgh that kids will enjoy (as will everyone else) include a tour of the city's impressive museums. The Carnegie Science Center features an actual submarine and a miniature railroad in addition to hands-on exhibits and live demonstrations. The Carnegie Museum of Art houses a great collection of contemporary art while the Carnegie Museum of Natural History has an outstanding dinosaur exhibit. In fact, this is the home of the first discovered Tyrannosaurus Rex and approximately 21 million other objects and specimens. The Children's Museum of Pittsburgh features a large number of interactive exhibits and often there are also live performances.

If you're still looking for fun things to do in Pittsburgh, try the Duquesne Incline. You can ride up in an incline car that's more than 100 years old to an observation deck, where the views of the city will take your breath away. There are also historical exhibits on display. If you'd like to watch something a little closer to sea level, the performing arts scene here is alive and well. Listen to the Pittsburgh Symphony at Heinz Hall, hear the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh, enjoy the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, the Pittsburgh Opera or any of the many cultural attractions you'll find here.

And, of course, the city is known for its love of sports. Many would say your trip here is not complete without experiencing activities in Pittsburgh such as watching the NFL Steelers, the MLB Pirates or the NHL Penguins. There's even a Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum at the Senator John Heinz History Center filled with artifacts and interactive exhibits devoted to athletics in the region.

It's easy to see it all when you fly to Pittsburgh with convenient flights on American Airlines. Browse flights and start planning your trip today.