As the "Burgh" celebrates its 250th Anniversary, it introduces new and improved facilities and attractions for visitors and residents alike.

When I booked a trip to Pittsburgh to visit a friend in the winter of 2008, I was incredibly excited to finally visit a city that has been on my to-go list of destinations. I wanted to check out the Andy Warhol Museum, spend an afternoon in Point State Park to see the merging of three major rivers (the Ohio, Allegheny and Monongahela) and visit the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University.

Of course, like any good travel writer and vacationer, I starter researching my journey before I left and I realized that 2008 marked the "Burgh’s" 250th Anniversary. Suddenly a city that already seemed to have a good number of museums and sites was exploding with promotions, festivals and cultural activities to commemorate its birthday.

But, the best thing about Pittsburgh's birthday bash is that the city is giving away presents in the form of completed projects, better museums and grand openings. The changes going on for Pittsburgh's quarter-of-a-millennium anniversary did not just last for one year, but instead, Pittsburgh will be new and improved for years to come. There are grandiose "Signature Projects" that will make the city more refined and beautified, and also smaller projects done internally by various attractions throughout greater Pittsburgh. All of which make a fun and family-friendly city all the more enticing.

Signature Projects

The Allegheny Passage
Bicycle enthusiasts and nature lovers from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to Cumberland, Maryland to Washington, DC will be thrilled to know that in February 2009 the final segments of the 150-mile Great Allegheny Passage were laid down. Upon completion, the path connects with the C&O Canal Towpath thus creating a 334.5-mile-long pedestrian roadway connecting the nation's capital to Pittsburgh, the Gateway to the West. Now that the "Gap" is closed, locals and travelers alike re able to walk, run, bike and rollerblade their way up and down one of the most accessible trails in the world. According to the Allegheny Trail Alliance, the pathway will lead families through the "backbone" of America, passing through cities and towns of all different sizes and histories.

Point State Park Restoration
Native Pittsburghers think of Point State Park as the "front door" of the city and no one wants a doorway in need of repair. Although currently a beautiful 36-acre state park and National Historic Landmark, Point State Park is in desperate need of a makeover, especially with the population of downtown Pittsburgh exploding, adding on an additional 3,200 people in the last year alone. Thus in celebration of 250 years and in hopes of providing residents and visitors with a green and lively outside get-a-way, the city has begun a $4.5 million transform. It will include: restoring electrical and plumbing conditions, adding new lights and waterfront outlooks, providing a great lawn for lazy afternoon and evening concerts, and even renovating the fountain in the promenade at the narrowest tip of the park. All renovations are expected to be completed by late 2010.

Small Changes Mean Big Things

Kennywood Amusement Park Expands
Although not as old as Pittsburgh, Kennywood has been around since 1898 and has the reputation of being one of the best roller coaster amusement parks in the nation. Although the coasters Jack Rabbit, the Exterminator and Phantom's Revenge are already keeping the crowds pleased, the park just recently started a $60 million expansion. Now 92-acres in area, Kennywood plans on spreading out to 140-acres, an area where bigger and faster (if that is even possible) roller coasters will be rolling out upon completion. Also, in hopes of expanding operations year-round, Kennywood will open a hotel and an indoor waterpark within park grounds as well.

New Exhibit at the Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium
It is hard to imagine making a 77-acre zoo and aquarium with over 400 species of beautiful creatures (22 of which are endangered) bigger and better than it already is. But upon completion of the new Water's Edge exhibit in late 2007, it became possible. New polar bears, sea otters and even walruses are just in time for Pittsburgh's Birthday bash and each of these sea animals are on display in the most up-close-and-personal way. The most thrilling part of this expansion is the New Underwater Polar Bear Tunnel, in which guests stand below a huge aquarium tank with an 800-pound polar bear diving right above their heads. If you are lucky, you may even get the chance for to look Koda and Nuka (the resident polar bears) right in the eye. But even if they do not get that close, with every swift move they make through the wavy waters, you will feel the vibration as you gaze up from underneath them.

Even More Dinosaurs at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History
Apparently Pittsburgh is not the only one celebrating its Birthday. In 2007, the former Dinosaur Hall, originally built by Andrew Carnegie in 1907, celebrated its 100th Anniversary. But instead of just revamping what was already there, the Carnegie Museum of Natural History is completely re-doing the Dinosaur Hall and is working on reopening what will now be called "Dinosaurs in Their Time." The entire $36 million project has been going on since 2005 and the final portion opened in June of 2008. When finished, it will contain over 103,000 Jurassic specimens and will have the most scientifically accurate T-Rex model in the world. Additionally, there will be a three-story glass atrium with recreations of a prehistoric habitat with landscape, rivers, plants and all, from the time of the dinosaurs.

It appears that whether you visit Pittsburgh in 2008 or during its 260th or 270th Birthday, these transformations will stick around for years to come and help family's experience all this city has to offer. The slogan for the 250th Anniversary is, "Imagine What You Can Do Here." With expanding and new attractions like these, I imagine you can pretty much do anything in Pittsburgh.

For more information check out visitpittsburgh.com or imaginepittsburgh.com. Until then, Happy 250th!

Thanks to VisitPittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Zoo for all images.