Dubbed “The Woman Who Shut Up Simon Cowell” by ABC News, Susan Boyle has hitched a ride on a bullet train to internet stardom after her hit performances on “Britain’s Got Talent.”

The video of her singing “I Dreamed a Dream” from Les Misérables while shocking the heck of the usually blunt Cowell, is now ranked as one of the top five most watched viral videos of all time.

The Scottish lass hails from the “second city” of Scotland – Edinburgh. The city may be behind Glasgow in terms of population, but holds its own as the seat of the Scottish Parliament and playing host to the world’s largest performing arts festival, Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Things to Do in Edinburgh

A Performer at Edinburgh Fringe

Make sure to plan your trip to be there during the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It is held each year as an alternative to the Edinburgh International Festival and averages over 6,000 performances each day of the 23-day festival. Originally organized by students at the local University, you know this is the place to be. Largely made up of lesser-known performers, a few big names tend to show up like comedian Ricky Gervais and the now well-known Boyle.

Lucky for you, Edinburgh Castle, standing on the land of an extinct volcano, and Edinburgh Acting School, where Boyle caught the performance bug, are in close proximity. Hit up the Castle first to do a little exploring and then go see a performance over at the Acting School before heading over to the White Hart Inn, rumored to be the oldest pub in the area.

Make sure to check out The Vaults and Arthur’s Seat as well. Just stay away from the footie hooligans if you decide to take in a Hibs or a Hearts match.

Where to Stay in Edinburgh

The place to be in Edinburgh for young people is the Castle Rock Hostel. It is located right next to the giant Castle mentioned earlier in the post and oozes personality with a mix of antique charm and new school features like internet access and an 8-foot screen for movies. Indie Travel Podcast even included it in their top 10 hostels around the world.

If you prefer a hotel to a hostel, consider the Cairn Hotel. It is a traditional bed and breakfast style hotel that serves up a quintessential Scottish breakfast every morning. Maybe it’s time to find out what black pudding is.

Folk Music Sounds Better with a Beer

How to Get There

Unless you like really long boat rides, you’re going to have to fly to Scotland. You can fly directly into Edinburgh for under $500* from New York if you travel before June 1. If you prefer to fly into Glasgow, pick up a BritRail pass so you can not only get to Edinburgh, but take a few trips to other destinations in Scotland, England and Wales.

Where to Eat and Drink

If you really want a taste of Scotland, check out one of the four Howie’s locations in Edinburgh. They only use free range chickens and eggs and all of their bread, cheese and fish come from local Scottish producers. Plus, the food is a great value if you go for lunch.

The Scots are known for their whiskey and one of the best places to get a good selection (35+ on offer) is Sandy Bell’s. Just don’t ask for any haggis, because they don’t serve any food. Make sure to go at night, as the place is known for its live folk music every night of the week.

The Monster Mash gives you, “top nosh at half the cost,” according to their Web site. With a menu full of traditional British and Scottish foods including sausages, pies and tatties, you’ll get yourself good and ready for a night at the pubs.

Fringe Photo Credit: Shadowgate on Flickr
Sandy Bell’s Photo Credit: Irish Philadelphia Photo Essays on Flickr
* Fare quote accurate as of May 6, 2009. View any rules and regulations at STATravel.com and check on specific dates.