If you’re in Pittsburgh, you can jump in your car and take about an hour drive through the gorgeous Laurel Highlands to one of the coolest houses you’ll ever see.

Fallingwater was designed by famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright and built in 1936-37 for the Kaufman family. Considered one of Wright’s most important works, it looks completely modern, even 80 years later.

The hour-long tour explored every corner of the dwelling, with our tour guide, Matt, taking care to note the many ways in which Wright connected the home to the natural elements surrounding it (which, sadly, did not include colorful leaves. We were just a bit too early).

Even for someone whose appreciation for architecture extends as far as, “Ooh, that’s a neat building!” I was truly impressed.

But the wonders didn’t stop in the Kaufmans’ house. I made it back in time to appreciate another engineering wonder. For the cost of a mile walk from our hotel and $5, you can take a trip up the Duquesne Incline, which rewards you with stunning views of where the Allegheny and Monongahela Rivers meet to form the Ohio.

Some lucky folks get to call this their evening commute and they patiently indulged my tourist gawking. This little cable car has been hauling Pittsburgh commuters up and down Mount Washington since 1877!

And after such a day, you can then write about it the next morning from a brilliantly lit Bruegger’s Bagels in Market Square.