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.

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.

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.

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).

A beautiful example of a bygone era of rural road construction. This covered bridge is very well…read moremaintained and beautiful too.

The Lower Humbert COVERED Bridge built 1891 near Confluence, Somerset Co., PA. This lovely…read moreCOVERED bridge is 126.6 inches long. It crosses Laurel Hill Creek. There were several out in the water flyfishing for trout. Water looked so beautiful and clear. Sunday, May 19th, 2019, Tony and I was driving back home from our short overnight get away. We saw a few COVERED BRIDGES in PA this weekend and they were all painted Barn Red. This is Free of course to enjoy! Hope you get to see this lovely bridge from yester year, one day soon and enjoy it. Can you believe this beauty is 128 yrs old!!!

A great place to stop and do some unique shopping. This little village off I68 and 219 has lots to…read morelook out. The restaurant has some wholesome food and also a gift shop. They have done quite a few improvements since a few years ago a big storm knocked down alit of trees. The Savage river runs right next to it. Unfortunately right now 6/25, you cannot go on the stone bridge over the river due to repairs. Just down the road is Candy-land that has a nice assortment of loose candy that you can mix and match. This is a definite rest stop if you are traveling I68.

A very cool place with a lot to offer…read more Funny thing is, I used to travel back and forth to Baltimore and DC for years for work and I would always pass by this place and I'd think, I wonder if that Penn Alps Restaurant is any good? I even had several of my customers who had businesses right up the road from this place who'd praise their food, but I have never once ate it. Hopefully one day :) Then not long ago me and a good friend of mine went on a little hiking adventure in the surrounding area with her kids and we decided to stop by here to look around and check things out. I was pleasantly surprised at all of the stuff they have here and the history tied to it all. It's such a cute little Swiss village and honestly has a decent amount of stuff to offer and learn about. Plus, there is a newer building behind all of this that looked to me like it was a super cool cafe at one time, but it was closed when I was there. It did have a sign on the door that said it would be reopening soon. The Cornucopia Cafe, which I hope to try soon as well. There is a lot to do and see here. Take your time and look around, buy some local merchandise, learn some history, and eat some good food. If you're on 68 heading East or West take a little break here to check it out and learn about a time period in which George Washington was a part of. Enjoy :)

The 1908-feet long Salisbury Viaduct is a spectacular crossing of the Casselman River Valley. My…read morehusband Rick and I rode across it as part of our Cumberland-McKeesport ride on the Great Allegheny Passage Trail. It was one of the scenic highpoints on the ride. Of course Salisbury Viaduct wasn't originally built to take cyclists and hikers across the valley. It was built in 1912 for the Western Maryland Rail Company. The construction of that rail line through mountainous Somerset County required numerous bridges, tunnels, and viaducts--nearly all of which you can ride your bicycle on or thru today. The construction of the viaduct took many years, a lot of men, and even cost a few lives. Remember that back in 1912 a lot of the work had to be done with mules, wagons & wheelbarrows. When the viaduct opened on January 18, 1912, hundreds of local families gathered to watch the first train cross. Newspaper reporters and photographers from all over Pennsylvania and Maryland were there too. Company officials and the spectators all cheered when the first train crossed. In 1975, the rail company abandoned much of its line and on May 21 of that year, a special passenger train operated over the viaduct giving company officials, railfans, and the general public one last ride over the line and the viaduct. Twenty three years in 1998, Salisbury Viaduct was renovated for trail use, with a special deck being added for cyclists, hikers, and equestrians. Today it provides an incredible view of the Casselman River Valley. It spans the river, old US #219, the modern four-lane US #219, and the CSX Rail Line, which Amtrak's Capitol Limited train runs on (you can see the viaduct from the train). Rick and I stopped and enjoyed the terrific view when we crossed.

Definitely the highlight of our 10-mile walk-about in either direction of the Meyersdale Train…read moreDepot/historical society. You can see for miles and miles..... Awesome! Unless you're freaked out by bridges and heights...in which case I would not recommend the Salisbury Viaduct! The little Meyers family cemetery at the one end of the viaduct provides an interesting historical resting spot!

The National Park Service has done a superb job of preserving the history of several important…read morehistoric sites along the National Road in Southwest Pennsylvania. Fort Necessity was the site of one of the first skirmishes that began the war between the French and Anglos. George Washington and his men did not fare well in the battle where they were outwitted and overpowered by their opponents. The primitive fort, composed of wood posts, was destroyed by the Indigenous army after Washington's surrender. Archeologists recreated a replica of the fort at the site that visitors may explore and contemplate the history. We walked the trail back, taking our well travelled dog for a walk. The trail is an easy walk with several historical plaques along the way. The setting is picturesque with a meadow surrounded by trees. An audio tour is available using your mobile phone. The Visitors Center is upscale and filled with information about several sites along the National Road. The Park Rangers are welcoming and knowledgeable about the local history. They provided me with an informative brochure about the sites with maps. A twenty minute film depicts the historic events that took place and shaped the war and early days in the colonies. Exhibits explain the tales of the battle that took place at the fort and other life in the area. Cases with artifacts are interesting. Information is well balanced. The gift shop inside supports the park and offers books, shirts and other nice souvenirs. The site also includes the historic Mount Washington Tavern, preserved as it would have entertained guests in the mid 1800's. The self guided tour of the Tavern is free. The staff offers several special programs throughout the year such as reenactments. A schedule is available on their website. The Park is filled with amenities including a pavilion with picnic tables, an outdoor classroom, nice parking and accessible walkways. The restrooms inside the Visitors Center are immaculate. Dogs are not allowed in the Visitors Center, but are allowed leashed outside. There is no charge to enter and explore the Park (thank you, tax dollars). Fort Necessity offers a truly unique experience and glimpse into the past. Plan two hours for the visit.

We were very impressed with the National Park Service presentation on the battle at Fort Necessity…read moreand George Washington role in this important piece of history. The visitor center has a lot of good information with a 20 minute film which gave a great overview. We then join a park Ranger for a walk to the fort, he was truly passionate about his job and very Knowledgeable. At the end of the talk a period dressed employee talked about the uniform, how to load and shoot a gun which he did at the end of the talk. Walked down to the fort, which I was surprised how smaller it was. It really gave a perspective of what the soldiers experienced. This was a wonderful stop in our National Parks journey. I recommend. stopping at Fort necessity and learning about this important. chapter of American history.

Kings Covered Bridge is an absolute gem of a historic stop in Somerset County! Since it's closed to…read morecars, it is completely peaceful to walk through and admire the incredible, old-school woodwork and architecture up close. The surrounding park-like setting right next to Laurel Hill Creek is incredibly scenic, and the picnic pavilion makes it the perfect place to pull off the road, stretch your legs, and soak in a little bit of Pennsylvania history.

This covered bridge is one of 10 covered bridges that currently exist in Somerset County…read more I included it on my list for a day trip driving from West Mifflin, PA (outside Pittsburgh). You can't drive through the bridge but there is space to park near it and you can walk inside it. It is a good photo opp, especially was on this blue sky day. It is within a quick 2 mile drive of Barronvale Covered Bridge so make sure to include that one while you are in the area.