LIGONIER — Summer is a special time on the Laurel Plateau, and national publications are taking notice.
USA Today announced Monday that a panel of experts and 10Best editors have selected Laurel Highlands as a Reader's Choice Award nominee in the “Best Summer Destination” category. Voting will be held online until May 13th at 11:59pm at https://10best.usatoday.com/awards/travel/best-Summer-travel-destination-2024/.
In addition to outdoor recreation on the Youghiogheny and Stony Creek rivers, Laurel Highlands offers eight state parks (Keystone, Cooser, Laurel Hill, Laurel Mountain, Laurel Ridge, Laurel Summit, Lynn Run, and Ohiopyle) and two There are state forests (Forbes and Galitzin). ).
Architecture buffs flock to Laurel Highlands to see Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater House, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Mantilla and Duncan Houses in Polymath Park, and Kentuck Knob. History buffs will be drawn to Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Fort Ligonier, and Flight 93 National Memorial.
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Families are especially popular in this area, which is home to Idlewild and Soak Zone, Laurel Caverns, Jennerstown Speedway, and Seven Springs Mountain Resort.
Ann Nemannick, executive director of GO Laurel Highlands, the official destination marketing organization for Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland counties, said the area's diverse activities and experiences make it perfect for a summer getaway. Ta.
“Summer is a season full of anticipation,” she said. “Her three months are simply not enough, packed with family gatherings, celebrations, parades and vacations.
“Laurel Highlands has always been a summer destination, as this area ticks a lot of boxes for visitors,” Nemanik said. “Spend a week full of outdoor experiences, like hiking the many trails, biking the Great Allegheny Passage, kayaking in the calm waters, and screaming with excitement over the Class IV rapids of the Youth River. The mix of historical and cultural assets is appealing to many, with museums and artist studios scattered throughout the area.For young children, Idlewild and Soak Zone are their first amusement park experiences. Eating pepper at the farmers market and taking home some fresh produce is the perfect escape this summer.”
Other candidates include Bar Harbor, Maine; South Dakota's Black Hills and Badlands. Capitol Reef Country, Utah. Catalina Island, California. Cody, Wyoming. Door County, Wisconsin. Finger Lakes, New York. Gulf Shores and Orange Beach, Alabama. Juneau, Alaska. Mackinac Island, Michigan. Ocean City, Maryland. Ocean City, New Jersey. San Juan Islands, Washington. Sandusky, Ohio. Sevier County, Tennessee. South Rim – Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona. Space Coast, Florida. Swain County, North Carolina. Virginia Beach, Virginia.
Somerset County Commissioner Brian Fochtman said, “Exposure and recognition in publications like USA Today is a testament to what those of us who live here already know about the Laurel Highlands: It just confirms what a beautiful place we live in.”
The popularity of Pennsylvania's Laurel Highlands has been featured multiple times by USA Today 10Best. USA Today 10Best provides users with original and unbiased experiential travel content, including top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants from popular destinations in the United States and around the world. . Its staff is made up of local travel experts who specialize in the regions and cities they write about.
Ohiopyle wins:USA Today readers name Ohiopyle the best small town in the Northeast.
On April 10, Ohiopyle Borough was named the best small town in the Northeast. Last year, Keystone State Park was named America's Best Fall Foliage Spot, and Seven Springs Mountain Resort's Foggy Goggles was named North America's Best Apres Ski Bar. Ohiopyle's travel company Wilderness Voyagers was named one of the top 10 whitewater rafting tours, and Greensburg's El Diablo Brewing Company was named one of the nation's top new breweries. I got it. Recently, Great His Allegheny Passage was entered into a competition for America's top recreational trails, and Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Mill Run is currently nominated as Favorite His RV Campground.
