Phipps Conservatory

It's said that almost any garden, if you see it at just the right moment, can be confused with a paradise. This is no truer than for the elaborate, eco-friendly Eden that is the Phipps Conservatory. Each year, thousands of visitors are drawn to the grounds like insects to pollen.

The 14-room conservatory of glass-domed gardens stretches across an entire hectare of land. A journey through the Tropical Fruit and Spice Room will send your senses into overdrive. You'll feel like you've stepped into an oil painting as you make your way through the vibrant colours and forms of the flowers in the Orchid and Desert rooms.

If you want to spend some time in the open air, nip outdoors to the Aquatic Garden with its colourful water lilies or the Japanese Courtyard abounding with bonsai trees. One of the most popular and spectacular exhibits is the Butterfly Forest, which runs from April until September every year. Caterpillars go through their metamorphosis in hundreds of chrysalis to emerge as beautiful butterflies in a specially-designed, exotic-looking environment.

In 2003, the centre expanded and is now one of the "greenest" tourist attractions in America, so much so that it has become known as the Green Heart of Pittsburgh. Staying true to the conservatory's environmentally friendly mantra, Café Phipps offers visitors an abundance of organic meals with all waste being disposed of in the most ecological way possible - no Styrofoam in sight!

Many different displays are on show throughout the year, so make sure to check the website to see exactly what's on offer when you plan to visit. The conservatory is located in Schenley Park, close to the Carnegie Museums, with free parking available along Schenley Drive in the evening and all day on Sundays. It is open throughout the year, except for Thanksgiving Day and Christmas Day.