Are you craving a fried deli sandwich that includes french fries and cole slaw?

Do you happen to be interested in seeing three rivers meet at a single point?

Architecture enthusiasts, would you enjoy checking out two relatively new stadiums and a state-of-the-art convention center?

If you happened to answer yes to any of the above questions, you may be hankering for one of the most enjoyable, albeit unusual, road trip spots in the immediate vicinity of State College: Pittsburgh.

A city with a murky if not altogether bleak past -- due to its beginnings as steel mill central -- Pittsburgh has eased its way into the new millennium, making changes both subtle and evident at the same time. The major changes -- the addition of PNC Park, home of the Pirates baseball team, and Heinz Field, home of the Steelers -- have outweighed the smaller ones in terms of hype, but not improvement. Additionally, the new David L. Lawrence Convention Center has become a major hub for the city, bringing in several limited events each year. And the city itself has cleaned up, brandishing its new image as a cleaner, more hospitable town than days of yore.

But enough about the talk of the city's improvements -- what I really should be telling people about this road trip is the many unique experiences that you can have when you're in the city of Pittsburgh. Not only do you get the chance to hear some of the most bizarre accents in the history of the English language, but you also find out what its like to go dahn 'er to Primanti Brothers n'at and get yourself a jumbo. If you have no idea what I just said, don't fret, answers are coming.Basically what I said was, when in town, you can go to the famous Primanti Bros. Restaurant -- known for sandwiches stacked high with what are traditionally side orders -- and taste the biggest sandwich in the metro area. With five locations in the city, it's hard to miss the one-of-a-kind Primanti's.

Pittsburgh is not without its landmarks either, the most popular being Point State Park, located right at the spot where the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers meet downtown. Known primarily for its famed fountain at the tip, Point State Park is an excellent spot to take a load off after eating all that Primanti's.If you're more of a sporting event kind of person, there are those two new stadiums that I referred to earlier. Since it's almost spring, the Pirates will be starting up a new season soon, and there's no better deal in town than paying $17 for a seat at the home of the 2006 All-Star Game, PNC Park.

But while you're in town, the most important thing that you'll want to do is check out the many diverse areas around the city. More towards the north side of the city, you have the Strip District, well-known to Pittsburghers for its array of Italian supermarkets, eateries, bakeries and just your basic art shops and bars. More party-prone travelers will want to check out the South Side of the city, notably East Carson Street, almost similar to State College because of its endless assortment of local watering holes. And if you're really missing the Penn State atmosphere while you're there, just head into Oakland and party with fellow college students from the University of Pittsburgh.

Should you decide to embark on the above road trip, I am guaranteeing that you will have an altogether rewarding time -- yes even you people out there from Philly. Pittsburgh has not only been my home for the past 22 years, but it has also been the place where I've learned to appreciate all the best parts of city life. You don't have to call it home, but it's definitely worth a visit.