Leaves will start turning this month and be at their peak in early-to-mid October. Make plans now to admire Pennsylvania's bright-colored leaves on your way to these four getaways outside of Pittsburgh.
One of the best Ohiopyle activities is biking along the Youghiogheny River Trail — a crushed limestone trail that was once the rail bed for the Western Maryland Railroad. It’s nice and flat, and there are plenty of outfitters to rent bikes if you don’t have your own. Want to make a weekend out of it? There are plenty of campgrounds, cottages, hotels, and resorts.
Go back in time to the 1800s with a visit to McConnells Mill State Park in Portersville. The park has a deep scenic gorge, waterfalls, and a restored watermill that was one of the first rolling mills in the country. Stop by Cheeseman Farm (3 minutes away) for hayrides, corn mazes, and a pumpkin patch. You can rough it at a state campground or book a cabin or cottage at The Lodge at Water’s Edge.
The quaint little town of Harmony was founded in 1804 by Harmonists, a group of exiled, pious Germans that followed their prophet leader to Western Pennsylvania. Their settlement was a common trust where no one individual owned anything, and later in the 1800s, the society was worth $2 million. But their riches didn’t last; church leaders believed in strict celibacy, and well, eventually that came to its natural end. These days, you can grab a coffee or indulge your sweet tooth at Neff Haus, Wunderbar, or Lagerhaus; grab a bite and a bevvy at Union Brothers or The Harmony Inn; and wander the Harmony Trail along Connoquenessing Creek and Scholars Run.
