This city hovers above the confluence of three large rivers, the Ohio, Monongahela, and the Allegheny. Citing recent mid-century cleansing, the riverfronts have been rid of old, disheveled factories and made much more accessible.

Though formerly sporting an unjustly poor reputation, Pittsburgh is steadily becoming a great city. If you keep an open mind, you will sense a distinct rejuvenation, evident in the downtown areas with classy contemporary architecture and across the river with the addition of two state of the art sports venues. Outside of the metropolitan area is Oakland, an interesting and historical borough where the college kids reside. The south side is a boisterous, quirky strip, highlighted by theme bars and pubs. The mattress factory provides the north side neighborhood with a rare twinge of current artistic trends. Just north of the city on 80 is Pennsylvania’s Allegheny National Forest, which is well worth a stop whether coming or going. In the summer, the thickly wooded grounds are great for extended camping trips.

So for a fresh Midwestern town, perhaps one should check out a city that had previously (and unfairly) been dismissed as dingy and dull.