Laurel Highlands Near Pittsburgh Is One Of 2020's Top Travel Destinations - Here's Whyla
By Beth Price-Williams|Published February 07, 2020
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
Most of us would likely agree that Laurel Highlands near Pittsburgh is a gem to which we can easily drive for a day trip or a weekend getaway. Those outside of Western PA, however, might not be quite as familiar with the area, keeping it a secret among Pittsburghers. That’s about to change. Laurel Highlands was recently named one of the “Top Emerging Travel Destinations” by readers of Travel Lemming.
Just over an hour from downtown Pittsburgh, Laurel Highlands is making quite an impression on visitors from outside of Western PA.
Travel Lemming readers, in fact, named the area the third top emerging travel destination, behind Lausanne, Switzerland, and Prince Edward Island, Canada.
Laurel Highlands earned props, in part, because it offers so much to do for everyone, and it covers a pretty diverse space. Stretching over 3,000 square miles, Laurel Highlands encompasses Westmoreland, Somerset, and Fayette Counties.
If you’re an outdoor enthusiast, you’ll have eight state parks on your must visit list – Laurel Ridge State Park, Linn Run State Park, and Ohiopyle State Park, for example. (It’s also home to two state forests.)
Ohiopyle State Park is arguably the most popular state park in the region, boasting three waterfalls, campgrounds, and a full menu of outdoor activities. If you like hiking, whitewater rafting, kayaking, canoeing, and rock climbing, Ohiopyle State Park is for you.
If you’re on the lookout for family-friendly fun, you’ll find everything from Living Treasures Wild Animal Park to Idlewild Park & SoakZone. Laurel Highlands is also home to…
Seven Springs Mountain Resort, Hidden Valley Resort, and Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. Each offers fun activities all year around. You might also want to check out some or all of the 20 wineries in the area.
You’ll find a ton more to do, too – dining out at quaint restaurants, exploring Laurel Caverns, marveling at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, and meandering through Bushy Run Battlefield.
Seems like a lot, right? It is, and this is just the tip of the proverbial iceberg. For a full list of everything there is to do in Laurel Highlands, visit the official website of the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau.
What’s your favorite part of Laurel Highlands near Pittsburgh? Join the conversation in the comments! Ready to explore more of Pittsburgh and Western PA this year? Here are 12 Unforgettable Day Trips Around Pittsburgh to add an extra helping of fun to your year.
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