Allegheny Region PA/NY

[Mass Tim]

Hello, all!

Well, plans for a trip into WV have been scrubbed due to scheduling changes at my job (grumble). We have instead elected to travel to the Northwestern/North central portion of PA (along the NY border) to explore for a week. I know there are a lot of state parks in the area, and the hiking and biking looks to be in good quantity. I have been through some of the area in the past, but never with enough time to poke around.

This area seems rich in history with regards to the early oil industry and, by extension, railroads.

Anybody have any favorites they'd like to share? We're into hiking, biking, historic towns, and of course, scenic drives.

How about places that you haven't been to that you'd like to know more about - I'm always willing to investigate an area based on the simple premise "It sounds interesting!"

We're probably not going to go up to the Lake Erie region this trip, though anything is possible. With any luck, a couple of friends from OH will be joining us for the first weekend of our trip.

TIA
Tim

[Robert Schaller]

I've never driven that section of PA -- but looking at my atlas, I see that US62 follows the Allegheny R between Franklin and Warren, then SR59 and US6 east from there, and these are all marked as scenic roads. If I were planning, I'd try to work these in if I could. Bob

[AZBuck]

The one nice thing about this area (I've mentioned this before) is that it's almost impossible to find a non-scenic drive. It's not spectacular in the way that many of the drives through the Rockies are, but it's all very nice. I'm more familliar with southern NY (the 'Southern Tier') than I am with northern PA. In particular consider taking a hike up through the gorge at Watkins Glen State Park. There are also several wineries in the area that make for very relaxing breaks. The southern end of the Finger Lakes offer some nice drives and the tallest waterfall in the northeast (Taughannock Falls) is just north of Ithaca at the end of a very nice 1 mi hike in from the western shore of Cayuga Lake.

In the realm of places I haven't visited, but look and sound intriguing (and I'd love to get a report on) consider the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania - Colton Pt State Park on the west and Leonard Harrison State Park on the east just south of US-6 and Ansonia, PA.

AZBuck

[Mass Tim]

Thanks for the replies so far!

I have made the Grand Canyon (of PA) area an item on my to-do list. My parents actually brought this to my attention a couple of years ago, but it has come in and out of my streams of conscience.

US-6 is also on the list. I will be travelling most of the length of this highway in the state, and this will be the first day (the trip in).

http://www.paroute6.com/

Thanks again!

[Mass Tim]

Well, all, we're getting ready to get out there and take our annual two-week trip starting this Saturday. We're heading out to Western PA for a week, followed by a week in Eastern VA. We are planning on hiking and biking in the Allegheny areas of both PA and NY, seeing the sites, and just having a good time. In VA, we are going to be exploring the Eastern part of the state, as well as Washington, DC..........the scheduling changes have changed since my last post, and now I'm getting two weeks now and another week in August (which will be the subject of another thread at another time!)

I have quite a bit of experience with VA (having an intention to move South at some point in the future), but not too much with the Western part of PA. I plan on exploring US-6 and the small towns it passes through, maybe going to the Zippo museum. I'd really like to get into Pittsburgh, having just read a book about Carnegie & Frick (called "Meet You in Hell", really an interesting read.)

Any last minute ideas, specifically food-related would be most welcome!

Mark - I will try to get to Quaker Steak & Lube while I'm out there!
Bob - US-62, PA-59 are on my list

Thanks yet again!

[Mark Sedenquist]

Well, all, we're getting ready to get out there and take our annual two-week trip starting this Saturday. We're heading out to Western PA for a week, followed by a week in Eastern VA.

There are some new exhibits at the Casemate museum at Ft. Monroe -- have you ever walked around the walls? It is very, very cool. Just off the point is where the Monitor and Merrimac duked it out during the Civil War.

I have quite a bit of experience with VA (having an intention to move South at some point in the future), but not too much with the Western part of PA. I plan on exploring US-6 and the small towns it passes through, maybe going to the Zippo museum. I'd really like to get into Pittsburgh,

Pittsburgh is one of our favorite cities -- click here for a field report from Thurman on his most recent visit. Also gotta check out the strip and the inclines.

There is another little-known musical treat awaiting visitors in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The next time you are in that fair city, go to Point State Park and proceed to the SW corner (just beyond Ft. Pitt Museum) to a small, concrete amphitheatre located directly under the interchange of I-376 and I-279. The supports for the bridge include large wooden timbers that resonate with booming tones when vehicle traffic passes overhead. It is like listening to the largest marimba you could ever imagine. The range of sounds is remarkably diverse and is one of our all-time favorite places to eat lunch and enjoy free "musical" entertainment.

Mark