Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania Travel Guide 2025
Laurel Highlands (LH)
2024-11-28 12:42:50
Roaring rivers, breathtaking waterfalls, a 68-mile scenic byway, and a 150-mile cycling and hiking trail promise sightseeing splendor from every angle. These spectacular mountains host world-renowned architectural marvels, plentiful libation locations, storied historical sites, and some of the best whitewater rafting around. Come for the culture and the great outdoors, and soak up the charm of small towns with a dazzling backdrop every season of the year.
Adventuring in Ohiopyle + Surrounding Forests
Tucked into a bend in the Youghiogheny River, the tiny town of Ohiopyle is at the center of rugged forests, wild rapids, and dramatic waterfalls — plus plenty of surprising attractions in the surrounding forests.
Start your journey at the breathtaking Ohiopyle State Park, boasting 79 miles of hiking trails to suit all levels. Here you’ll also find the botanically diverse Ferncliff Peninsula Natural Area and the 20-foot Ohiopyle Falls, which can be viewed from an ADA-accessible observation deck. In summer months, cool off in the natural waterslides, or whoosh down thrilling rapids with a guided whitewater rafting tour by Laurel Highlands River Tours and Outdoor Center.
For attractions that make the most of the area’s natural beauty, tour Frank Lloyd Wright’s organic architectural masterpiece, Fallingwater (a dramatic home perched along the edge of a waterfall in Mill Run) and Kentuck Knob (a home designed on a hexagonal module that integrates the natural landscape in Dunbar).
To explore earlier history, walk the battlefield and hiking trails of Fort Necessity National Battlefield in Farmington, where the opening action of the French and Indian War took place in 1754.
Stay Close
Ohiopyle might feel like a world away, but there’s no shortage of excellent accommodations.
For rustic stays packed with family fun, Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in Mill Run comes with everything the kiddos could want: rides, water slides, games, and playgrounds. Pop up your tent in the campground, bring your RV, or make your vacation extra easy by booking one of the cozy cabins.
Need something more luxurious? Nemacolin in Farmington offers a sumptuous resort experience with all the amenities to match. Stay in one of the many plush suites (or even private estates), and spend your days enjoying spa treatments, golfing, horseback riding, and fly-fishing — as well as gourmet dining options including the Forbes Five-Star and AAA Five-Diamond restaurant, Lautrec.
Exploring Somerset
Nestled in a hub of outdoor recreation, Somerset is an ideal home base for hiking, biking, and enjoying nature. Bring your tent or RV to camp at Pioneer Lakes RV Park, or reserve one of the cabins that come with modern comforts including private bathrooms, air conditioning, and a kitchenette. Either way, you’ll have access to all the amenities. We’re talking a game room, swimming pool, tennis court, and miniature golf.
During the day, make your way to Laurel Hill State Park to spend time sunbathing on the sandy swim beach (a beach wheelchair and ADA-accessible restroom is available) on Laurel Hill Lake. The park also offers canoe and paddleboat rentals, as well as 15 miles of hiking trails.
If you’re visiting in winter, don’t miss Hidden Valley Resort (part of the Epic Pass network), where 26 slopes and trails lattice across 110 skiable acres. All year, every season, an outdoor adventure is just around the corner.
Making Maple Syrup
In the crisp days of early spring, Somerset County sugarhouses stoke their fires as the smell of boiling sap fills the air. Experience this cherished tradition during the Maple Taste & Tour Weekend (March 1–2 and 8–9, 2025) to sample freshly made maple syrup. Learn more about syrup production with educational exhibits at the Pennsylvania Maple Festival in Meyersdale (April 5–6, April 9–13, 2025). Or visit Brantview Farms Maple in Berlin any time of year for a tour of a family-run sugar camp.
History & Culture in Ligonier + Nearby Towns
Rolling hillsides, rich history, and a quaint downtown with galleries and shops earned Ligonier the title of one of “The Most Charming Small Towns in America” by Country Living magazine.
For a dose of culture, explore the exhibits and sculpture garden at Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art or watch a play or a movie in the 1930s-era Diamond Theatre. Stock up on artisan-made wares — everything from hand-poured candles and crocheted accessories to specialty dog treats and local fruit wines — at the seasonal Ligonier Country Market. Then, experience early America at Fort Ligonier, a reconstructed British fort that saw battle action during the French and Indian War.
In nearby Greensburg, discover more history at Historic Hanna’s Town, a constructed colonial community with a reconstructed Revolutionary War-era fort, log cabins, and a wagon shed, plus educational programming and events.
Greensburg is also home to a vibrant cultural scene, with permanent and special art exhibits at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art and live concerts and dance productions inside a grand, historic space at The Palace Theatre.
Nearby Polymath Park in Acme features four architectural icons that reflect the style of Frank Lloyd Wright — the Mäntylä, Duncan, Balter, and Blum houses. Make a reservation at the on-site TreeTops Restaurant for a multicourse menu amid the serenity of the forests.
HISTORY NEARBY
Experience important moments of American history in the area. At Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown, reflect on the 40 heroes lost during the Flight 93 plane crash on September 11, 2001. The Tower of Voices monument features 40 distinct chimes for each person. Quecreek Mine Rescue Site in Somerset commemorates the miraculous rescue of nine trapped miners in 2002. For more local stories, peruse exhibits in the Meyersdale Area Historical Society, housed in a restored train station. Then stroll or ride your bike along the adjacent Great Allegheny Passage, a scenic rail-trail stretching 150 miles that passes by historic towns.
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