Travel Icons: Fallingwater, Pennsylvania

Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural masterpiece, Fallingwater, rests majestically above a waterfall in the woodsy, bucolic folds of Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains near Mill Run. Completed in 1939, the famous multi-tiered spread is the only Wright-designed home open to the general public, and it still holds much of the original Wright-designed furniture, as well as original artworks by the likes of Pablo Picasso and Diego Rivera.

Fallingwater is located about 65 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, making it an ideal day-trip destination. Go in fall to enjoy the area’s resplendent fall foliage, or in summer and early fall to take advantage of the excellent rafting in nearby Ohiopyle State Park. More than 14 miles of the Youghiogheny River Gorge lie within the heart of this fine state park. Visitors ply the Class III and IV rapids primarily in outfitter-guided rafts. The Middle Youghiogheny has Class I and II rapids and is more suited for beginners. This run is entirely inside the park, beginning at the Ramcat put-in and ending at Ohiopyle.

Photo credit: Fallingwater near Mill Run, Pennsylvania (Lykantrop/Wikimedia Commons)

Pittsburgh: Insider Secrets, From Funky to Fine Art

When people think of glamor, fine food, or fashion, you can be damn sure they don't generally connect the dots to Pittsburgh. Indeed, this city is pretty low-profile unless you're discussing the steel industry or you're in a room full of Steelers fans during an NFL game. But it's got more of a cultural scene than you realize... just check our insider picks for proof.

The Carnegie Museum of Art has been innovative in its acquisitions since Andrew Carnegie founded it. In the beginning, at Carnegie’s behest, it focused on acquiring the “Old Masters of tomorrow” instead of the tried-and-“name” painters. Now fast-forward to 2001, when it purchased some 80,000 photographs from African-American society photographer Charles “Teeny” Harris. Its Hall of Architecture is one of the only surviving collections of architectural plaster casts—stand in the hall and be surrounded by history in miniature. L.A. would love to have the Warhol Museum, but instead this pop-culture landmark is in Andy Warhol’s childhood stomping ground, North Shore Pittsburgh. Backed by the Carnegie Institute, this is a wonderful collection of Warhol’s works plus homages to him, and works inspired by him.