SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION:
Vacation Travelers' Guide
Catch a last-minute break before Old Man Winter arrives
Fall is arguably the most beautiful of the seasons in our region. The wooded rolling hillsides are ablaze with rich hues of golden amber, fiery crimson, and russet orange that sparkle in the intense sunlight that warms the Indian Summer.
The days may still be hot, but the crisp evening air reminds us that winter is on its way. There are still plenty of places to go and things to see before the cold weather chases us indoors.
Leaf peepers from near and far flock to our region during the autumn months to take in the natural beauty of this all-too-fleeting season as the trees put on their end-of-season swan song. What better time to hit the road and enjoy the annual show? With the breathtaking scenery for company, who would mind a long drive?
Within a day's journey you can find trails to explore, top-rated resorts, family-friendly activities, even sandy beaches along the Eastern Shore. Whatever your idea of fun, you won't have to look too far to find it.
Here are some ideas to help you start planning your fall fun getaway:
Grab a GPS device and take part in the worldwide, high-tech treasure hunt in one or all of the ten counties in Pennsylvania known as the Allegheny Geo Trail (Oil City, Pa.; 814/677-3152, alleghenygeotrail.com). The coordinates for the AGT can be found at www.alleghenygeotrail.com. All you need to get started is to obtain your FREE passport. Once you have located a minimum of six finds and stamped the passports in any one of the counties, you may present it for validation and receive your county geocoin award. When a cache is discovered, its finders take an item from the container and leave another in its place. Some of the caches are easy to find, while others are hidden in trees, on mountain peaks or beneath rocks. This is a fun sport to spend time outdoors with your family members.
Allegheny National Forest (Bradford, Pa.; 800/473-9370, visitANF.com) is nearby, but a world away. It's time to leave the city behind and get back to nature. Enjoy a scenic drive along Route 6 as you travel through the lush forest. Fall is bigger there. Late September and early October provide the best colors for leaf peepers. Trail highlights include 13 hiking trails, 10 interpretive trails and a variety of public and private trails for ATVs. Boating, fishing, campsites and cabins are all available at Willow Bay along the Allegheny Reservoir. Historic sites, more than 70 local restaurants, and a choice of accommodations from the plush to the primitive are available in McKean County. For more information, visit the Web site.
Framed by the spectacular Allegheny Mountains, Canaan Valley Resort (Davis, W.Va.; 800/622-4121; canaanresort.com) is a four-season resort nestled inside West Virginia's premier state park. Enjoy championship golf surrounded by breathtaking West Virginia countryside, mountain biking and hiking on the park's challenging terrain, scenic chairlift rides to spectacular views, wagon rides for some old-fashioned family fun, and Geocaching is available for the contemporary treasure hunters. Summer tubing, Eurobungy, 25-foot climbing wall, paintball arena and skate park are also available for the young and young at heart. In the winter months the resort offers 39 slopes and trails, an 850-foot vertical drop, airboard and tubing park.
The mountains, rivers and lakes of Garrett County, Maryland (888/387-5237; visitdeepcreek.com) and the Deep Creek Lake area offer an abundance of activities in every vacation season. Skiing, hiking, whitewater kayaking, camping, or simply curling up by the fire - the area's natural beauty is the perfect destination whether you seek days full of activities or just plain relaxing. Welcome the fall season with the 41St Annual Autumn Glory Festival, chosen as the number one fall festival by MSN.com. This year's festival is set for Oct. 8 -12. Celebrate the fall season and marvel at the spectacular fall foliage in Western Maryland while enjoying hometown events including the Wednesday Night Kick-Off Dinner, Grand Feature Parade, Oktoberfest Celebration, the Maryland State Banjo & Fiddle Championships, the No-Hands Ice Cream Sundae Eating Contest and so much more. A full Autumn Glory website with detailed event listings is coming soon.
Hilton Head 360 (hiltonhead360.com) is your complete resource for real estate, vacation rentals, activities, events and more. Whether you are planning your vacation, relocating to the area, or a local resident looking for additional information, there is a wealth of information just a mouse click away. Are you looking for a vacation rental in Hilton Head? Hilton Head 360 now has the largest single database of rental homes, condos, and villas on the Internet. Whether you are looking for an oceanfront villa, vacation home or golf condo, it's easy for you to find your perfect accommodations. All rental listings feature multiple photos, and many contain virtual tours and videos. Within the site you can also find the latest news items and press releases submitted by local businesses and organizations. Registered users may submit articles for publication as well as post on a blog. Are you tired of surfing Web site after Web site looking for homes and property? Look no further - Hilton Head 360 has all of the hot listings from the top Hilton Head real estate agents and Realtors. See photos, virtual tours and more. The interactive map also allows you to visually search for homes by location. Searching the listings is easier than ever. Search by price, location, property view and more. If you find a home that grabs your interest, you can also save the listing as a favorite, as well as send an e-mail directly to the agent.
Save money, time and your sanity in Mercer County (800/637-2370; visitmercercountypa.com). It's that maddening time of year. The kids go back to school, and it'll take a second mortgage to buy clothes and supplies. You're stressed out thinking about the gas and time it will take to drive all over searching for bargains. Relax! Mercer County is a short "hop" away. Mercer County offers unbelievable deals at the Prime Outlets in Grove City and "world's largest stores" in Sharon. When you're hungry and tired, dine at one of the top-shelf restaurants and stay the night at an award-winning hotel or bed & breakfast. There's plenty to do for the entire family in Mercer County, from golfing to touring. Visit the website and request a free Escape Plan Coupon Book that has more than 40 money-saving offers.
Looking for the perfect getaway? Niagara USA (877/FALLS US; niagara-usa.com) is the "place to go" for falls, foliage and fun! First, stop at Niagara Falls State Park for an "up-close-and-personal" Falls experience at the legendary Cave of the Winds at the base of the American Falls or board the world-renowned Maid of the Mist to touch and feel the power of the mighty waters. Try your luck at the Seneca Niagara Casino and Hotel, where you can also enjoy world-class entertainment and premier dining. Spend an afternoon shopping in boutiques in the quaint village of Lewiston or at one of the 150 designer stores at Fashion Outlets Niagara Falls USA. Explore the award-winning wineries along the Niagara Wine Trail. Learn about the Niagara region's role in the Underground Railroad at the Freedom Crossing exhibit at the Castellani Art Museum or visit the oldest buildings on the Great Lakes at Old Fort Niagara. Or take a leisurely cruise along the Erie Canal. Fall is the season for Niagara Frights and Sights with dazzling events and festivals like the Niagara International Kite Festival, haunted ghost walks and hayrides set against a backdrop of breath-taking autumn colors. For more information or to book your fall vacation package, call or visit the Web site.
Now is the time to discover, or rediscover, 1,700-acre Oglebay Resort (Route 88, Wheeling, W.Va.; 800/624-6988, oglebay-resort.com) in nearby Wheeling, West Virginia. The 271-room Wilson Lodge at Oglebay has just been transformed with the addition of 59 new premium rooms and the existing 212 rooms have been completely remodeled. A new spa (opened in August 2008) provides relaxing and therapeutic services utilizing the finest products and equipment. The lodge has two dining rooms plus banquet and meeting facilities able to accommodate up to 400. Oglebay has 53 cottages, including three new eight-bedroom cottages (opened July 2008), perfect for large families and groups. The resort features 72 holes of golf, including the newest championship course designed by Arnold Palmer. There are also seven specialty shops, gardens, two museums, a lake area with fishing and pedal boats, horseback riding, skiing and a zoo featuring the new Outback Exhibit with kangaroos. Oglebay is located 3 miles off Interstate 70, just one hour from Pittsburgh.
When you think of the ideal vacation, what comes to mind? Is it the simple pleasure of spending time with the family or is it sneaking away on a romantic getaway for two? Whatever your intentions, the Ohio State Park Resort (800/AT-A-PARK; atapark.com, xanterra.com) vacation lets you spend precious time with those who mean the most to you, doing what you like to do. With seven unique family-oriented resorts open year-round, planning a vacation, meeting or special event in Ohio is easy. From the rolling hills of Salt Fork to the forests and lakes Shawnee, the Ohio State Parks are giant playgrounds with no age limits attached; where acres of lush wilderness tell stories of Native Americans and glaciers, and Mother Nature isn't just something you see, it's something you feel. The resorts have everything you could possibly imagine and never forget. Hike under a canopy of reds, greens and golds. Cast your line into a calm lake. Listen as crickets and cicadas sing you to sleep. Look out over the endless rolling hills and dream. The "Magnificent Seven" - Burr Oak, Hueston Woods, Mohican, Maumee Bay, Punderson Manor, Salt Fork and Shawnee - are magical playgrounds where friends and family find adventure and make memories that will last a lifetime.
In Pennsylvania's Great Outdoors Region (800/348-9393; visitpago.com), experience the part of Pennsylvania, unspoiled, unhurried, unforgettable recreation in the Pennsylvania Wilds. Canoe the liveries along the wild & scenic Clarion and Alleghenies rivers for an unforgettable soft adventure. Enjoy special events in Pennsylvania's award-winning destination communities of Foxburg and Ridgway as well as Clarion, Punxsutawney and Emporium. Stay in furnished modern family cabin rentals in Cook Forest and in the midst of Pennsylvania's free-roaming Elk Herd at Benezette. Have fun and visit Brookville's baseball bat factory or St. Mary's eternal tap at Straub's Brewery or Punxsutawney's new weather discovery center. Call for details and a free visitor's guide.
Visit Pittsburgh International Airport at FlyPittsburgh.com. Click! Save! Fly! At Pittsburgh International Airport, new airlines are landing every day bringing some of the lowest airfares that have been seen in years, even with today's fuel costs. It was the first major airport with free Wi-Fi for passengers; the first to offer e-mail fare alerts; the first airport shopping mall. Get Pittsburgh fare alerts at the airport's website, FlyPittsburgh.com. Click! Save! Fly!
Live the Life in Virginia Beach (800/VA-BEACH; vbfun.com), where the salty sea air invigorates the senses and the whole ocean teems with life. Soak in the sun while enjoying lazy days on the beach, embark on a wild seafaring adventure or indulge in exquisite seafood, artfully prepared by Virginia Beach's most inspired chefs. Grab a surfboard and hit the waves or paddle a kayak along the tranquil waters of Back Bay National Wildlife Refuge. More than 18,000 acres of state parks and a wildlife refuge beckon visitors to explore the outdoors and take in Mother Nature's greatest gifts. For an up-close and personal look at fascinating marine life, delve into the Virginia Aquarium and Marine Science Center, where 700,000 gallons of aquariums transport visitors to an undersea adventure where interactive exhibits and breathtaking sea life allow imaginations to soar.