With so many things to do and see in Pittsburgh, it's hard to figure out what to do first. We have compiled a list of cool things to do, places to visit and information just for you.

When you visit Pittsburgh and want to take a day off of your real estate hunt, we suggest some of the museums, the science center, the downtown shops and the Strip district. In addition, you can take in a Pirates game during the summer and fall, see our Super Bowl champions the Pittsburgh Steelers or see what hockey is really about watching Malkin and Crosby score goals for the Penguins.

No matter what you choose to do, you will have a blast, we promise. Surrounded by 3 rivers that converge, we are home to Pitt University, technology schools and Culinary institutes that are unmatched

• ALSO.....PITTSBURGH IS A CITY OF THE FUTURE

  
  Pittsburgh is on the verge of a medical and technological explosion. Pittsburgh is home to the new children's hospital in Lawrenceville, Heinz ketchup, Del Monte Foods, Con Agra and many other major corporations that supply great products for our great country. No longer is Pittsburgh just a city of coal, steel and iron, it is quickly becoming a cosmopolitan city with so much to do, see and buy. There are few cities in the world that can match the history, success and beauty of Pittsburgh. Come and see for yourself, you just might end up staying for a while.

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We're baaaaack! Pittsburgh again 'most livable'

By William Loeffler TRIBUNE-REVIEW Thursday, April 26, 2007 Pittsburgh, it's time to party like it's 1985. That was the last year we were rated the country's most livable city by Rand McNally's "Places Rated Almanac." Break out the Iron City and pierogies. The almanac's 25th anniversary edition has ranked us No. 1 again. Mayor Luke Ravenstahl was excited when he heard the news Wednesday. "I think Pittsburghers certainly love our city and know the things we have to offer, and it's just great that others outside our region know it as well," he said. "It's certainly great publicity for the city." And we did it by being average, said author and researcher David Savageau, who self-published the almanac for the first time this year. "Somebody quipped years ago that Pittsburgh scores no home runs, but makes no errors," he said. Pittsburgh was compared to 378 other metropolitan areas in nine categories, including housing, education and the economy. The lower the number, the better. We were ranked 21 in recreation and were the 69th safest city in the crime category. Pittsburgh's economy ranked 90th. "It's not as thriving as some areas in the Sun Belt, but it's certainly not the Pittsburgh that people remember from the '70s," Savageau said. While we couldn't compete with New York for cultural diversity or Portland, Ore., for the greatest use of libraries, our total score was enough to put the city ahead of Philadelphia, San Francisco and Boston. "Some people call Pittsburgh's showing as the triumph of the mildly good," said Savageau, recalling the skeptics who questioned Pittsburgh's No. 1 ranking in 1985. "It's mildly good all across the categories," he said. "Even the climate is kind of dead center. But for people who are looking for low stress, for normalcy, for affordability, for four-season climate change, for a modest crime rate, for big city amenities, that's Pittsburgh." "Great!" said Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato when he got the news. "What you're seeing here is the result of a lot of hard work. We were coming off a bad decade where there were a lot of financial issues in the city proper. "I think you're starting to see the result of development. We're investing money in the airport and investing in old brown sites, putting trails in and just making Pittsburgh a more competitive place to live and do business." Onorato credited the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust for helping to revitalize the Downtown area. "It's nice that Pittsburgh's recognized for what those of us who live here know and experience every day," said Kevin Joyce, owner of the Carlton, Downtown, and chairman of the Pennsylvania Restaurant Association. "We've got a wonderful place to raise a family. I wouldn't want to raise a family anywhere else," he said. "It's a great place for culture, a great place for sports, education and hospitals. The whole network is here in Pittsburgh. For a while, you wondered if the rest of the country would recognize that. " Savageau based his rankings on statistics gathered from more than 200 private and public agencies, including the U.S. Department of Education, the National Golf Association and AAA. He traveled to nearly all of the 379 metropolitan areas, except those in Alaska and Hawaii. Our worst score? What else -- weather. Pittsburgh ranked 135th in climate. "It's got a crummy climate, yeah," Savageau said.

SO LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FACTS OF PGH.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Nickname: Steel City, City of Champions, The 'Burgh, Iron City, Steel Town, City of Bridges, The College City, Football Capital of the WorldMotto: Benigno Numine ( "With the Benevolent Deity") Pittsburgh (pronounced [ˈpɪts.bɚg]) is the second largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It is the county seat of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. Built on land between the confluence of the Allegheny, Ohio and Monongahela rivers and the surrounding hills, Pittsburgh features a skyline of 151 skyscrapers,[3] 446 bridges[4], two inclines and a pre-revolutionary fortification. Residents of the city are called Pittsburghers. The downtown is a compact and walkable area located on the triangular land at the confluence of the rivers.

Pittsburgh was fueled by the manufacturing industry until the 1980s when the United States steel industry collapsed. The city's economy is now largely based on healthcare, education, technology and financial services.[5] Robotics, in particular, is a major sector of the local economy. The Wall Street Journal dubbed the city "Roboburgh." Despite a declining population,[6] Pittsburgh remains the principal cultural and economic influence in the eastern Ohio River Valley. Because of its low cost of living, economic opportunities, education, transportation and medical infrastructures, Pittsburgh is consistently ranked high in livability surveys. In 2007 Pittsburgh was named "America's Most Livable City" by Places Rated Almanac.[7] Established: 1758 City Population (2000): 369,879 County Population (2000): 1,281,666 Location: South Western Pennsylvania Average High Temperature (July): 82.5° F Average Low Temperature (January): 20.8° F Port: Pittsburgh is the largest inland port in the U.S., providing access to the nation's 9,000 mile inland waterway system. ** The average monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $450, for a two-bedroom, $575. ** Pittsburgh is the only city rated among the five most livable cities in the United States in the last three Rand McNally surveys.  ** Pittsburgh was once considered the "Steel Capital of the World". Andrew Carnegie, whose philanthropy, is well known throughout the world, owned and operated the largest steel manufacturing company, until he sold it to a group of investors in 1901. The group of investors led by J.P. Morgan formed a company that became known as United States Steel Corporation. Bridges: Allegheny County Pittsburgh is known as the city of bridges. It is believed that the metropolitan Pittsburgh area has over 2000 bridges that span 8 feet or greater. The reason for the many bridges is that the City of Pittsburgh is surrounded by three rivers. The Monongahela River from the south and the Allegheny River from the north, join to form the Ohio that goes to the West. All three rivers meet in front of the Golden Triangle. Pittsburgh's three rivers help to form the largest inland port in the country Media: Two Major Newspapers: Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Pittsburgh Tribune Review Thirty Two Radio Stations; and Five Major Television Stations: KDKA (CBS)WPXI (NBC)WTAE (ABC)WQED (PBS)WNPA (FOX) Colleges and Universities: There are 29 colleges and universities in southwestern Pennsylvania including Carnegie Mellon University University of Pittsburgh Duquesne University Point Park University Robert Morris University Geneva College Sports: Pittsburgh cheers for four major sports teams, the Penguins Pirates Steelers Riverhounds Airport: The Pittsburgh International Airport was ranked one of the top five U.S. airports by Conde Nast Traveler. Tourism: An average of 3.9 million people visit Pittsburgh annually. Pittsburgh ranked in the top five Most Livable Cities in the 1983, 1985 and 1989 editions of the "Places Rated Almanac." Pittsburgh Firsts First U.S. Public TV Station - WQED First U.S. Radio Broadcast - KDKA, Nov. 2, 1920 First U.S. Movie Theatre - 1905 First Ferris Wheel - 1893 First Retractable Dome - Mellon Arena First Night World Series Game - 1971 First Polio Vaccine - Jonas Salk, 1954 Baseball's First World Series Game: A 1903 showdown between the Pirates and the Boston Red Sox. The Pirates lost in nine games. Baseball's First Night World Series Game: Played October 13, 1971, between the Pirates and Baltimore Orioles at Three Rivers Stadium. Rookie pitcher Bruce Kison allowed one hit and no runs in six innings of relief. The Pirates win the series behind MVP Roberto Clemente. First NFL Team To Win Four Super Bowls: In a six year period between the 1974-76 and 1979-80 seasons, the Steelers won Super Bowls IX, X, XIII, and XIV. On Location in Pittsburgh Film crews are drawn to Pittsburgh for its architecture, neighborhood charm and great local support. Highlights include: The Mothman Prophecies The Deer Hunter Silence of the Lambs Lorenzo's Oil Hoffa The Wonder Boys Inspector Gadget Desperate Measures Milk Money Money For Nothing Kingpin Roommates Only You Boys on the Side Dominick & Eugene Striking Distance Sudden Death Night of the Living Dead Pittsburgh Food Pittsburgh's ethnic diversity inspires the region's local food. And while fine dining choices abound, visitors usually set aside at least one meal to experience a hometown favorite. The Big Mac, the world's most famous hamburger was "invented" in Pittsburgh by McDonald's franchise owner Jim Delligatti in 1968. Pierogies, found at restaurants all over Pittsburgh, are a product of Pittsburgh's Polish heritage. Cooked in butter, these delicious dumplings are stuffed with potato and other flavorings, depending on the creativity and tradition of the cook. Chipped Ham, a spicy lunch meat, made its debut in 1933 at Isaly's, a locally based family chain of dairy stores. Former Pittsburghers have been known to have it shipped across the country when they get a yearning for this hometown favorite. Klondikes, another Isaly's original, is a vanilla ice cream bar dipped in chocolate and packaged in a silver wrapper. When Sam Isaly invented them in 1929, klondikes sold for a nickel each. Wedding Soup, that delectable Italian broth with tiny meatballs and rich egg pastina, is served throughout the city. Fried Zucchini Strips, thin, crispy and savory, are a hometown original and popular as an appetizer. Pittsburgh Salad: take a salad, any salad, and top with french fries. Heinz Ketchup, invented here, by H.J. Heinz. Check out the full story at the Senator John Heinz Pittsburgh Regional History Center in the Strip District.