Because of its long industrial past, Pittsburgh offers a rich mixture of local communities, built up through successive waves of immigration. These have retained much of their traditional character and offer a rich array of ethnic cuisines, folk arts, and cultural activities. Neighborhoods such as the Strip District, with its wonderful wholesale food markets, add interesting variety not found in many younger U.S. cities. Two new stadiums are being built. Although it is only 300 miles from the Atlantic Ocean, Pittsburgh is midwestern in its character.
People are friendly, unpretentious, and hardworking.
Drivers are among the most courteous in the nation. Crime rates are low. Travel from Pittsburgh is easy. Washington, D.C., New York, Toronto, and Chicago are all within a day's drive. Pittsburgh's international airport is a major hub city for US Airways.