LITERALLY A GARDEN-VARIETY MUSEUM
That Pittsburgh's once-forbidding North Side is now a bastion of hipness is largely due to "outsider" artist Randy Gilson, who began planting mini-gardens here in the 1980s and later purchased a clutch of abandoned buildings, turning them into a wonderland of unique art and riotous color. Today, Randyland is an indoor/outdoor museum and urban garden of delights, well worth a visit.
RIVER RAMBLE
Get a watery perspective on the Steel City via the Gateway Clipper Fleet. Tours ply the Monongahela, Allegheny and Ohio Rivers and run from April through December; private events can be arranged.
EAT, DRINK AND KEEP DRINKING
With its soaring décor and modern take on rustic American fare, Butcher and the Rye is a sure bet for a bite in P-burgh's Cultural District. Master chef Richard DeShantz works wonders with roasted chicken, pan-seared halibut and even buttermilk fried rabbit, while the joint's famous Whiskey Wall is loaded (as you'll be) with more than 600 varietals.
STOCKED MARKET
Designed to resemble a European piazza, downtown's landmark Market Square is a colorful mélange of attractions, including the Farmers Market, craft shops, live entertainment and a clutch of restaurants ranging from fast food to fine dining.