rose's blog

Since 1949, the beautiful colors and views of Fall are celebrated at the PA State Flaming Foliage Festival.  Great food, crafts, parade and a queen's coronation area all part of the festivities. Join the celebration on October 9-11, 2015 in downtown Renovo.  For more information about this year's festivities, call 570-923-2411.

There is no better way to experience the beauty of Fall then from atop a bike. And, the best place to see spectacular reds, oranges, and purples is the Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) located in the Laurel Highlands. The trails runs 150 miles through southwestern Pennsylvania connecting Pittsburgh, PA to Cumberland, MD. The cool thing about the GAP is its trail towns each with their own unique character. The trail town of Connellsville is known for its coke factories that once fueled the regional economy.

Experience history as you stroll through the streets of 1863 Gettysburg with an experienced historian. A variety of walking tours are available. Every Saturday at 11:00 am you can walk in Lincoln's footsteps, who  was a key figure in a conflict that defined our nation. Learn about his visit to Gettysburg on November 18-19, 1863 including the Will's House, the procession and the dedication ceremonies at the National Cemetery.

Enjoy the autumn beauty and charm of historic downtown Bedford. This year, Bedford's Fall Foliage Festival celebrates its 51st anniversary held the first two weekends in October (October 3-4 & 10-11, 2015). More than 400 crafts exhibitors and demonstrations will line the streets.  Listen to great entertainment presented from the gazebo on the square and down by the river. Excellent festival foods abound at the Festival, including locally made apple cider, kettle korn, candy apples and more. 

The castle gates swing wide open on August 2 at the Mount Hope Estate for the 34th annual Pennsylvania Renaissance Fair.  It is 13 weekends of mirth and merriment amidst jousting knights and royal delights. A cast of hundreds of colorfully-costumed characters fill the Shire with music, dancing and more.

The B.F. Hiestand House Bed & Breakfast is now offering PA wine tours to their guests. Located in the midst of South Central Pennsylvania's wine country, the area is rich with wineries each offering a unique ambiance and surprising quality. Enjoy a relaxing tour experience lead by fun loving innkeeper Dallas, you will show you sprawling vineyards, boutique tasting rooms and welcoming winemakers. As you travel from winery to winery, you'll learn about he history of the region.

The City of Pittsburgh is a maze of ridges and valleys. It sits at the intersection of three rivers: the Monongahela River from the south and the Allegheny River from the north to form the Ohio River.  Pittsburgh is known for its steep hillsides covered with houses and streets which have steps for sidewalks. With this type of topography, the city is loaded with bridge history. You'll find a total of 446 bridges in the Steel City and officially has the most bridges in the world, three more than Venice, Italy. There are arch bridges, beam bridges, and suspension bridges. 

The Bark Peelers' Convention offers attendees a chance to witness and discover the impact the Pennsylvania lumber industry had on the Commonwealth.

More than 200,000 motorcyclists are expected when the annual Thunder in the Valley roars into Johnstown. They come for the chance to safely smoke their tires in the burnout pit, to buy the latest gear from hundreds of vendors and to celebrate their machines with one another.

Every year, some of the best professional actors appear at Totem Pole Playhouse. Nestled in the woods of Caledonia State Park, about 13 miles west of Gettysburg and 10 miles east of Chambersburg along historic U.S. 30, you will be treated to award-winning or nominated productions that are simply magical.