Forget Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania's reputation for smokestacks and steel, because today this underrated city is sparkling with pristine parks, architectural assets, and three rivers flowing into downtown's "Golden Triangle." Several museums – the Carnegie Museum of Art (www.carnegiemuseums.org) among them – are worth hitting, but don't miss the Andy Warhol Museum (www.warhol.org), featuring over 12,000 of his works. A treasure trove of used books is found on the city's South Side, while nightlife is suddenly sizzling in neighborhoods like Oakland and the Strip District, thanks to thousands of college students from Carnegie Mellon (among others) and young professionals dancing and mingling in the bars and clubs.

For more trip-planning information, see our Pittsburgh Travel Guide.