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At this time of year, it’s easy to get distracted by thoughts of flying south and sunning yourself on an exotic beach.
But there are a host of amazing destinations in the U.S. that are well worth your attention over winter, not least to mention because they will be a lot quieter and cheaper than at peak times.
One such place is Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This easily accessible, historic, and fascinating city is making a bid to be your next solo travel stop-off.
Often solo travelers are seeking a destination that’s interesting, a little different, and safe – and Pittsburgh ticks all those boxes and more.
Here are five reasons why solo travelers will love this surprising city:
Voted One Of The Safest Cities
A recent report from Visit Pittsburgh revealed that the downtown of the city is one of the safest in the whole of the United States.
The study showed that Pittsburgh’s downtown area ranked among the top 10 safest cities in the U.S. for property crime and inside the top 15 safest for violent crime.
It also revealed that out of more than 12,500 reviews of downtown hotels gathered in 2023, less than one percent noted safety as a topic of concern.
Safety is always one of the primary considerations for solo travelers, so knowing that it’s not considered a major issue in downtown Pittsburgh makes it all the more appealing a place to explore.
A Busy Winter Calendar
Nobody is heading to Pittsburgh for winter sun, but thankfully, the colder season is a time when a lot happens in the city – both from a cultural and an educational standpoint.
Museums such as the Andy Warhol Museum and the Carnegie Museum of Art will be running special exhibitions throughout the winter that will showcase the city at its artistic best.
Meanwhile, the Pittsburgh Cultural Trust has a full program of shows and musicals that run right through until the end of the year, including favorites such as Mrs. Doubtfire and a Holiday Variety Show.
For sports fans, the Pittsburgh Penguins ice hockey team will be playing almost non-stop fixtures from now until the spring – a great way to sample how locals get behind their team.
Affordable Attractions Aplenty
Solo travelers are some of the shrewdest when it comes to budget management, so it helps to know that Pittsburgh can be an affordable destination to visit.
For starters, there are a host of interesting free attractions, such as the world’s largest bicycle museum and the Allegheny Observatory.
You can also take in some of the impressive sights of Pittsburgh for free on foot.
Try heading up the 700 outdoor steps to view the city from atop Mount Washington or download one of several self-guided downtown walking tours from Visit Pittsburgh.
Hotels are normally reasonably priced in Pittsburgh in the winter – with a bit of searching, you can find one in a decent location for around $120 a night.
Eat To Explore
It might not be the first place that springs to mind when you think of good food, but Pittsburgh has a very decent track record in this area.
It was the only American city to make a BBC Food Top 10 Destinations For Foodies list back in 2019, and not much has changed since then.
From low-key eats at places such as Mike’s Beer Bar or Shorty’s Pins x Pints to more high-brow dining experiences such as LeMont Restaurant or Monterey Bay Fish Grotto – Pittsburgh has enough to keep your tastebuds satisfied for many days and nights.
The City Next Door
Another great thing about Pittsburgh that solo travelers will love is that it’s quick and easy to get to from all over the country.
It’s within a two-hour flight of Baltimore, Washington D.C., New York, Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia, and Cincinnati.
In fact, it’s actually located within 500 miles of almost half of the U.S. population, and it’s not unfeasible to consider driving there from many of the surrounding cities.
This convenient location means that you can plan to visit just for a weekend, which is the kind of flexibility that many solo travelers enjoy.
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This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com