Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Top Destination for 2008

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; my hometown, once known for its black soot skies, thousands of steel factories, and one of the biggest productions of steel in the USA, is now ranking up with the top 13 places for people to visit in the upcoming year 2008. It's a great feeling to be ranked up with places such as Romania, and Nova Scotia!

Many people, all around the world, have a problem hearing that their city is one that people love to visit or even book at a vacation spot destination. Most people have the 'huh?' reaction and wonder what makes their city so great.

Well, here is the reason why my hometown is rated up with the best of them and why you should visit.

In 2008, this Steel City turns 250 years old. 250 years of amazing history and heritage thrive throughout the city limits. We've been very popular throughout history for our 450 bridges of all types, as well as our Allegheny, Monongahela, and Ohio River that meet together at a place we call, The Point. The Point can be identified by a wonderful, yet simple water fountain. You can't miss the city; we have over 150 skyscrapers that decorate our skyline in a glorious site to see.

From my perspective, Pittsburgh is a town that is full of must see museums. The Andy Warhol Museum is the largest museum in the world that is dedicated to just one specific artist. This museum has over eight thousand works of art from Andy Warhol. The Carnegie Museum of Natural History is one of my favorites. If you love dinosaurs, you got to visit this museum. It has the most amazing and finest collections of dinosaurs in the entire world! They also have many other exhibits other than the prehistoric ones. You can see and learn about ancient Egypt, Indians, and even there is a hall dedicated to minerals and gems.

If you're already at the Carnegie Museum then you have to see the Carnegie Science Center as well. This place is perfect for kids of all ages. It's a place where scientific theories are tested by you, you can tour the USS Requin Submarine, see real human bodies in a way you have never seen them before, a miniature railroad that is literally the spitting image of western Pennsylvania, and my all time favorite... the Buhl Digital Dome. The Buhl Digital Dome is a high definition full dome planetarium that will give you the experience of a lifetime learning about planets, stars, and nebulas that you can see with your own eyes!

There is also the Carnegie Art Museum, the Children's Museum of Pittsburgh, the Allegheny Observatory... and if you want to leave the kids at home, there is also the Penn Brewery that actively makes many styles of beer all year round!

Still need more convincing? How about our Pittsburgh Zoo and the PPG Aquarium? Over 70 acres of land that is home to over four thousand animals and over 70 species of them are endangered. The aquarium has an amazing two story shark tank with revolving tanks that give you a first hand look at giant octopuses, jellyfish, sea horses, and you can even crawl through a stingray tunnel and see the sting rays in their natural habitat. The aquarium is the only one of four zoos across the country that offers underwater tunnels.

When visiting, I highly recommend a visit to The South Side. It is home to many bars, clubs, and entertainment joints that will keep the fun going all night long. A recommended bar is Fatheads. Their foods, especially wings, are amazing! Don't forget the other eatery that Pittsburgh is famous for... Primanti Brothers! Whoever thought just adding coleslaw and fries to a sandwich would make it so good!

If your visiting time is the summer, you can't pass up visiting Kennywood. This historic amusement park has attracted people around the world since 1898. The Phantom's Revenge is one of the fastest roller coasters in the world topping out at a speed of 85 mph and a drop of 230 feet. Roller coasters, classic rides, dark rides, wet rides, thrill rides, kiddie rides, and we got it all! But if you don't make it in the summer, and end up coming around Halloween, Kennywood turns into a haunted hideaway of Phantom Fright Nights and haunted rides and houses.

If you still haven't heard enough, maybe this will put you at ease. Pittsburgh may be a big city to visit or live, but it is one of the safest cities in the United States.

There is so much to do and see in Pittsburgh that you couldn't write about everything even if you tried! So, just do yourself a favor and include Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on your list of places to visit in 2008.