Visit Western Pennsylvania, an unofficial region with a strong sense of identity and traditions. With Pittsburgh at its heart, the area combines its industrial heritage with wide stretches of stunning rural terrain extending across the Appalachian Mountains.
Learn about 19th-century industrialist Andrew Carnegie and the steel trade that dominated this area. See Carnegie’s philanthropic influence first-hand in Pittsburgh, where you’ll find the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University and several other prominent institutions bearing his name.
Get a sense of the local culture by watching a football game at Heinz Field, which features a giant ketchup bottle on the scoreboard.
Along the southern bank of the city’s three rivers is South Shore, where the 19th-century Monongahela Incline carries passengers to the summit of Points of View Park. Head east along the Mt. Washington district and South Side Slopes for spectacular views of the cityscape.
Travel through the outskirts of Southwestern Pennsylvania, joining the Historic Lincoln Highway that runs through several states.
A little southeast of Pittsburgh is Fallingwater, an iconic structure built across a waterfall by architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Relax with a picnic at nearby Cucumber Falls in Ohiopyle State Park.
Head to Northwestern Pennsylvania and enjoy the serenity of Allegheny National Forest. Marvel at the imposing Kinzua Dam, one of the largest dams in the U.S. A little west is Pymatuning State Park, with gorgeous lakes and campgrounds.
This part of Pennsylvania encompasses roughly the western third of the state, bordering Canada, Ohio and West Virginia. Fly to the Pittsburgh International Airport and rent a car to get around the area.
While you’re in this part of the U.S., visit other nearby natural gems such as Moshannon State Forest, Cuyahoga Valley National Park and Rothrock State Forest.
