I recently photographed a wedding at the Scenic View. The grounds are really beautiful and the…read morelookout trumps all. There's a tower up a long, winding road, but you don't even need to go up into the tower to see the gorgeous mountain view. The landscape is breathtaking, I'm sure, during any time of the day. But we went up at sunset after a storm and it was nothing short of spectacular. I cannot wait to get back to Penn's Scenic View for the view alone!

Penn's Scenic View is such a beautiful place. My large family would go up every year and rent out…read morethe Stable Lodge there. Of course, I loved being with my family. However, I loved going for walks in the area. It's such an amazing experience. Peace, quiet, utter bliss... what more could you ask for? If you walk up this dirt road, you'll encounter a wooden tower on a hill. If you walk up the tower, you can take in the breathtaking view. A full 360° of trees. It's all picture-worthy. You truly won't be disappointed. You can continue to walk around to discover new things. There's a lake next to the Lakeside Lodge. I would always see weddings take place at the lake from the Stable Lodge. It was really nice to see something like that. Unfortunately, this place is private property. You can't just walk in willy-nilly. We rented out a cabin, that's the only reason we were granted access. The place is being sold. It's up for around $1.3 million dollars. Therefore, we can't rent out the Stable Lodge anymore. The whole place is gated off. I wish I could go back up there, just one last time. It's truly amazing. That place means a lot to me. My family has been going up there since I was a baby, and I'm 17. A lot of memories are kept there. It's also the place where I found myself. I would do whatever I could to go up there just one last time. I want to share the experience with my girlfriend. I would pay that $1.3 million to go back up there. If you're lucky enough to visit the 18 acres of pure scenery, you won't be disappointed for even a second.

Located in the Town of Somerset, Somerset Co., PA on the corner of Centre and Union Streets. Built…read more1904-1906 architect was JC Fulton. Sits on 1 acre of land measures 146 ft x 112 ft and 135 ft tall. Made of Indiana Limestone, sits on Sandstone with terra cotta roof and copper dome on center tower. Gorgeous and free to go inside and look around. Beautiful building

I had recently heard that the Somerset County Courthouse is the highest court in all of…read morePennsylvania, elevation speaking. Makes sense as Mt. Davis, highest point in Pennsylvania, lies within Somerset County as well. It is quite the beautiful building, one of the first things you see when you drive into the area, proudly sitting on top of Somerset. Listed on National Registry of Historic Places and part of the Uptown Somerset Historic District basically tells you about the age of the structure. Inside you are greeted by security guards and metal detectors like you find in every government building today. Once you pass the checkpoints you are greeted then by the grand staircase that takes to exactly where you need to be. Three courthouses are housed within; one on the first floor and two on the second floor. All three are grandly ornate and distinct from one another. The biggest of the three is magnificent. I'm no architect, but I can respect the beauty of a nicely laid out building. The staircase is made of marble and splits at mid-level. If you cannot traverse stairs, you will be able to use the elevator in the building. Bathrooms are spread throughout with the main one being on the bottom floor. Also located on the bottom floor is a room with some vending machines, if you are here for an extended period of time that is a good thing to know. Many offices are located here that you would expect to find in a county courthouse. What you can't find in here they do have an annex building located across the street. The county jail is also located across the street. Everything from criminal and civil cases to jury selection happen here. I just so happen to have had the pleasure of serving jury duty and being able to do that here made my civic duty that much easier.

This place has been here since the whiskey rebellion. It has a deep historic roots involved with…read morethis place. In the 1770s, tracing ownership through the Swart and McDonald families. An ancestor named John Henry built the stone house between 1817 and 1823 on what was then called a plantation. An old will also refers to the dwelling as "the mansion house." They've since put a deck on the back of the place and redid the inside of the house. It's incredible and nicely snuggled inside of Mingo Creek Park and worth a visit.

A great addition to our trip to Ohiopyle and the beautiful Laurel Highlands. We did the…read morearchitecture tour that included access to the entire house, guesthouse and grounds. The information provided on the site is excellent and the check-in easy. Our guide was very engaging and knowledgeable about the history and home. I enjoyed learning about how FLW integrated the design into the natural surroundings and his inspiration for some of the features. I was also impressed by the art collection within the home. Tours are tightly timed and ours had a slight delay at one point to accommodate a couple of visitors slower pace up stairs because of mobility. This is a hilly area and the home is not fit with an elevator. There are stairs and tight passageways. My mom and I walked the grounds after our tour, enjoyed a pastry and latte in the cafe and did some shopping in the store. Don't miss the exhibit of old photos of the Kauffman family, owners of Fallingwater when it was a residence. Overall, an enjoyable way to spend half a day and well worth admission.

A great visit if you're into architecture or FLW in particular. There's a pretty large and nice…read morevisitor center including indoor and outdoor spaces plus restrooms, etc. then a bit of a walk to the house. Be aware there's no air conditioning in the house which normally isn't an issue due to the elevation and normally decent temperatures but in a big summer heat wave it can be an issue for many. Do a tour and upgrade if you can, we splurged for a Focus Tour and it was awesome despite crazy hot temperatures. Everybody at Fallingwater was so friendly and knowledgeable, it gets very busy but is a great visit for those who will appreciate it.

This place is epic! EPIC!! you could literally spend an entire weekend here exploring and you still…read moreprobably wouldn't get to see everything! It's truly a colossal piece of history. We went on a Saturday..got there around 3pm and left at 5pm. We barely ran into anyone while exploring..which was great. 2hrs was obviously not enough time. When we got there we checked in at the table..you get a wristband while on the property. Purchasing your tickets ahead of time..it makes life for the employees a lot easier. It's dark and there isn't power..so using the iPad to check out is a pain for them. They give you the rules and what not to do..where to stay out of..and they let you explore all on your own. We literally had so much fun. Make sure to bring plenty of flashlights and warm clothes if you're going during that winter season like we did. There are tunles that run from building to building..awesome! The chapel is incredible, the cell housing areas are just as cool..just so many things..the prison barber school..the cobbler shop. So many nooks and crannies. We learned theyll have overnight explorations in the spring/summer/fall in 2023. There will be a hydroponics building as well. The place is just spectacular, and the drive to keep this place open for people to come see history and not let it wither away is amazing. Thank you! Truly appreciate places like this. Please don't leave trash and break things here and ruin it for people who have an appreciation for places like this.

History is worth looking at. This is an interesting spot if you're a Washington fan. Get to know…read morehis early days.

Borrowed from the below site:…read more www.mdmountainside.com/listing/george-washingtons-headquarters/2042/#:~:text=The%20Headquarters%20of%20George%20Washington,the%20United%20States%20of%20America. "The Headquarters of George Washington is a historic site, located at 38 Greene Street, in the historic downtown district of Cumberland, Maryland. The centerpiece and primary attraction at the site is a historic log cabin twice occupied by George Washington, the first President of the United States of America. The cabin resides in an area known today as Riverside Park but was originally built about 2 blocks away. The original site is located nearby at 16 Washington Street. The cabin was originally built by General Edward Braddock's men, between 1755 and 1758, for then Colonel George Washington's use during his service in the French and Indian War. He later returned and used it briefly during 1794, then as the Commander in Chief, in order to review the troops gathered to put down the Whiskey Rebellion. This site is notable, as it signifies Washington's first military command. The original site lies on a hill that overlooks Wills Creek and the Potomac River. It was once the location of Fort Cumberland (Maryland) and today, The Emmanuel Episcopal Church (Cumberland, Maryland). The headquarters was part of Fort Cumberland during the French and Indian War, and it is the only building to survive from the original Fort. Though closed to the public, the cabin has windows visitors can peer into and see historical displays and artifacts of what the cabin may have looked like including a bed, desk, and fireplace as well as a life-size wax replica of Washington." If you come here, parking in the area is somewhat tight. During our visit, Greene and Baltimore Streets were under a lot of construction so we parked two blocks away for a buck in a pay lot near Basecamp Coffee. If you're so inclined, you could also park on the other side of the creek at the visitor center and walk over the bridge to get here. We came, read the placards, took a few pictures, walked a short distance to read a few more of the placards that go under 68 but then saw a few loud locals (i.e. homeless-hobo-vagrant) and thought better of going any further. With that said, this is by no means a stop that you're going out of your way for. At best, this is a few minutes passing curiosity just to say that you saw it. If you want something more substantive about Washington's time in the general area as a British officer, the NPS site Fort Necessity is the place. Tons of stuff there that George did including surrendering to the French. www.nps.gov/fone/index.htm

This is the quintessential Brownsville historical attraction. If you are looking for a prize of…read morelocal history you cannot find anywhere else then look no further

I have heard of Nemacolin Castle, but had thought it was near the resort by the same name. It…read morewasn't until I entered the address into the GPS that I learned it is located in Brownsville. Husband and I decided to visit when the Christmas tour was offered. We got a history lesson on the man who founded a trading post and built the castle. The Bowman family was quite influential in the area. It is impressive to be made aware of the history behind the family and the home. The home is managed by the historical society and volunteers. It would be great if they would get some additional funding for restoring the home. Right now, they rely on donations and admission fees to maintain the upkeep. There are areas of sagging floors and peeling wallpaper. It is fortunate that most of the furniture items were actually owned and used by the family. The piano is beautiful and one of the first to come to the area. The home was decorated for the Christmas holiday. Admission is $15 for adults and tickets may be purchased online or at the door. On busy times, I would recommend reservations. Our guide was knowledgeable and friendly. We were in a tour of about 18-24 people which was too large of a group. The some of the rooms were small and we were crammed in to hear the guide. Still, it was a nice way to spend a rainy Saturday before Christmas. I want to return when they have a haunted tour next fall.

George Washington is credited with dreaming of the building of a road that would connect the east…read morecoast with the Midwest. The National Road was the first government funded road in the U.S, connecting Baltimore, Maryland with St. Louis, Missouri. I've travelled most of the National Road over the years, visiting historical sites. This week, I travelled through Western Maryland and Southwest Pennsylvania. A number of inns and taverns along the route provided shelter and food for early settlers traveling by stage coach. The Mount Washington Tavern was one of the upscale taverns and is today a museum managed by the National Park Service. The tavern was built in the late 1820's by Nathaniel Ewing on land once owned by George Washington. The museum has been restored with furnishing similar to what travelers would have encountered in the mid-1800's. The museum is a self guided tour with an audio tour available using a mobile phone. I walked through the tavern and saw the dining room, tavern, parlor and several of the guests quarters. I was able to imagine being back in time 200 years. If only these walls could talk, the stories they would tell. The parking lot is nice with steps or paved ramp leading to the tavern. On the grounds of the tavern is a stable that holds a Conestoga Wagon and memorial to early travelers. Several historical markers describe the National Road and tavern. Restroom and other amenities can be found at the Fort Necessity Visitor Center, a short walk or drive down the hill. There is no charge to visit the museum which is opened daily from 10 am - 4:00 pm. I highly recommend for history buffs.

Pleasant little trip into 1830's roadside tavern history (and more history of the National Road,…read morecomplimenting some of the history at next door's Fort Necessity visitors' center), such as what sort of people traveled, how they traveled, what they could afford to eat, and how they slept (uncomfortably and sharing space with strangers).

Mr. Furley has his own statue in Morgantown! OK, it's actually Don Knotts, but to me, he will…read morealways be the landlord in Three's Company, on his way to the Regal Beagle to pick up some hot chicks. Don Knotts was born and raised in Morgantown, went to school at West Virginia University, and started his career as a ventriloquist at the Metropolitan Theatre in downtown Morgantown. His statue sits outside of the theatre building. Correct me if I'm wrong, but I would guess that Don is probably one of the most famous people to come out of this West Virginia town. Certainly the most famous person from Morgantown to wear ascots and polyester leisure suits on television. The statue is on a busy one-way street, but you'll need to park across the street at one of the metered spots, or in one of the parking lots. This is a busy college town, so finding parking can be a chore, but Ralph Furley is worth the little bit of effort.

Any fan of Don Knotts should make the trek here in Morgantown, which was the TV legend's hometown…read more It was unveiled here in 2016 in front of the theatre where he started out as a ventriloquist. He of course would become best known for his roles on "The Andy Griffith Show" and "Three's Company" and others. But he always had the goofy look that even though no one took very seriously, was still lovable and is a reminder of how he always made us laugh. It's on a busy downtown street, but its not far from a paid lot.