Pittsburgh comes in 4th best travel destinations for 2017!

[ForYourLungsOnly]

Originally Posted by bmantz65

Its great the city makes these lists, but they just seem so..random: "Best Places to Retire" "Best Places to have a beer" "Best Travel Destination" Its almost like what top category would Pittsburgh NOT be in? If I may don my tinfoit hat, I would say the city is paying these publications to talk about Pittsburgh.

The clickbait fad of "lists" over the past several years has been ridiculous. Cleveland was recently rated "America's best foodie town" by some list... I'm sure many people in Cleveland told all of their friends about it, then their friends clicked on the link, generating lotsa cash for whatever website published the list. Does anyone really think Cleveland is the BEST foodie town? No...but it sure is fun to talk about it

[corpgypsy]

Originally Posted by gg

Imagine in 1980 thinking Pittsburgh would be a destination for any tourist. You would get laughed out of the room. Perspective here.

37 years post 1980, I have no difficulty envisioning the same reaction.


*( I am a native Pittsburgher, and proud of my hometown, but I am a realist.)

[DaisyDaisy]

Originally Posted by bmantz65

Its great the city makes these lists, but they just seem so..random: "Best Places to Retire" "Best Places to have a beer" "Best Travel Destination" Its almost like what top category would Pittsburgh NOT be in? If I may don my tinfoit hat, I would say the city is paying these publications to talk about Pittsburgh.

While that stuff can happen - it's usually mentioned that it's a sponsored article. I work with various publications and can tell you that there are paid opportunities but they are more obvious (ten restaurants to check out next month) and wouldn't be involved in most of the lists. It's also not like VisitPittsburgh can just call up Harpers Bazaar and all these other pubs and offer to pay. It's more that Pittsburgh may participate in some journalist tours or other promotional opps where they do their best to sell the city but it's not usually a paid thing. Sometimes you'll also see a listing of the criteria that they used (not in the travel one but others) such as job growth, housing costs, walkability, etc.

[Craziaskowboi]

You know what's interesting about traveling? If you're a well-rounded and open-minded person, you can find neat things everywhere you go. I've been to 34 states and four other countries in my lifetime, and I've found neat things in all of them. One of my most vivid travel memories is driving U.S. 19 in Florida from Monticello to Homosassa. It's almost completely flat, and the canyon of trees on both sides of the highway goes for miles and miles. Driving U.S. 50 in Missouri from Sedalia to Jefferson City was interesting as well, with the transition from the wide-open farmland of Middle America to the jagged, rocky bluffs near the Missouri River. Along the way is a town called Tipton which has a water tower painted like an 8-ball. Even Interstate drives can be picturesque, like the segment of I-15 that clips the northwestern corner of Arizona and passes through the Virgin River Gorge. I-64 is an interesting drive too, from the mountains and deep gorges in West Virginia to the horse farms in Kentucky to the miles and miles of farmland in Illinois.

I guess what I'm trying to say is not to get offended by Pittsburgh being on lists. People with open minds might actually give the city a try.

[_Buster]

It is really odd that there is a contingent of people (a lot of them ex-residents) on here that will get immediatly upset about anything that promotes Pittsburgh. I really don't think that is likely the case for any other city even Detroit on here. Bizarre.

[bradjl2009]

Originally Posted by _Buster

It is really odd that there is a contingent of people (a lot of them ex-residents) on here that will get immediatly upset about anything that promotes Pittsburgh. I really don't think that is likely the case for any other city even Detroit on here. Bizarre.

I saw it on Twitter too when DK shared this article. The amazing part too is those same idiots love to claim they're still the biggest Steelers fans even after they move while bashing things like this. If you're not going to be happy for things like this that mention your hometown you shouldn't even claim to root for anything Pittsburgh.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by bradjl2009

I saw it on Twitter too when DK shared this article. The amazing part too is those same idiots love to claim they're still the biggest Steelers fans even after they move while bashing things like this. If you're not going to be happy for things like this that mention your hometown you shouldn't even claim to root for anything Pittsburgh.

There's a lot of present 'burgh residents, although mostly transplants, who often show their disdain for the Stillers so maybe they're trying to make up for that.

[PghYinzer]

I dont understand why people say Pgh isn’t deserving to be on these lists. Perhaps I am a strange traveler, but when I visit a new city I walk around, eat, and drink. Perhaps I take a local brewery tour, or a museum if it is particularly interesting. All of those things can be had right here, so if I didn’t live here I would definitely visit for a long weekend.

[_Buster]

Originally Posted by PghYinzer

I dont understand why people say Pgh isn’t deserving to be on these lists. Perhaps I am a strange traveler, but when I visit a new city I walk around, eat, and drink. Perhaps I take a local brewery tour, or a museum if it is particularly interesting. All of those things can be had right here, so if I didn’t live here I would definitely visit for a long weekend.

On top of that, Pittsburgh also has a very interesting terrain, and the rivers , and an interesting history as well, which make a lot of US cities seem boring in comparison. a lot of first time travelers to Pittsburgh are actually blown away by how cool the city seems to them.