Fall foliage will be at its peak in early-to-mid October. Admire Pennsylvania's bright-colored leaves on your way to these four getaways outside of Pittsburgh.
Lead Producer Mallory Falk
🚙 80 minute drive east of Pittsburgh
Mallory’s favorite Ohiopyle activity is biking along the Youghiogheny River Trail — a crushed limestone trail that was once the rail bed for the Western Maryland Railroad. Get your thrills and chills this Friday at two Legends of Ohiopyle guided hikes with haunted stories. Want to make a weekend out of it? There are plenty of campgrounds, cottages, hotels, and resorts.
Water cascades from the restored mill at McConnells Mill State Park. (@dustinmcgrew)
Newsletter Editor Francesca Dabecco
🚙 40-minute drive north of Pittsburgh
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 the Breakneck Campground or book a cabin or cottage at The Lodge at Water’s Edge.
Go spelunking to admire geological beauty at the Laurel Caverns. (@laurelcaverns)
Audio Producer Sophia Lo
🚙 90 minute drive southeast of Pittsburgh
We love a cool, underground destination — literally. You can explore rock formations in Farmington, Pennsylvania, home to the largest cave in Pennsylvania. Take a guided or self-guided tour, and don’t forget your layers! The cave is 52 degrees Fahrenheit all year round.
The entrance to the Harmonist Society's cemetery courtesy of Old Economy Village. (Explore PA History)
Host Megan Harris
🚙 30 minute drive north of Pittsburgh
The quaint little town of Harmony has interesting old buildings, restaurants, and an even more fascinating history. The town was founded in 1805 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 in the 1800s, the society was worth $2 million. But their riches didn’t last; church leaders called for a celibate period, eventually dissolving the group after 100 years.
Check out the cemetery where they buried their dead without markers, and learn more about the bygone society at Harmony’s Sleepy Hollow Festival on Oct. 14.
