Weekend in the Laurel Highlands

We used The Lodge at Chalk Hill as our base for the weekend. From here, you are minutes away from Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Ohiopyle State Park, Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater, and many other attractions. The scenery in the area is beautiful as well, especially in the fall.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

In order to see all the attractions the Laurel Highlands have to offer, I recommend driving.

While the room rates were a little high (I try not to spend much more than $50/night), the convenient location was well worth it. The lodge was within minutes of Fort Necessity National Battlefield, Ohiopyle State Park, Fallingwater, and many other attractions.

At the same time, the Lodge is located in a quiet and peaceful setting. Our room had a private deck off the back which viewed a lake and woods. There was a volleyball net set up on the property and volleyballs were available at the front desk. Fishing rods for fishing in the lake were also available.

Finally, the rooms at the Lodge were very clean. The service was friendly as well. Also, a free continental breakfast was available in the lobby area. I recommend making a reservation on weekends, since the lodge was full while I was there.

Before starting our day in the Laurel Highlands, my husband and I had breakfast at the Braddock Inn Restaurant. The restaurant is located on Route 40 (I'm not really sure whether it's considered Chalk Hill or Farmington, PA) next to the General Braddock Grave and Monument. Eventhough the Braddock Inn has a bar section, I would consider it a family-type restaurant. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are served.

The Braddock Inn Restaurant is VERY popular with the locals. We arrived there at about 9:45 am on a Sunday morning and had to wait at least 10 to 15 minutes for a table. Even after we were seated, the service was on the slow side. The breakfast prices were very reasonable. However, we didn't get that much food for the money.

In the center of the park are overlook platforms to view the waterfalls on the Youghiogheny River. Also, there is a path for walking that follows the river. A gift shop, snack bar, and restrooms are also located in this area.

Being a popular spot for whitewater rafting and kayaking, there are several outfitters located along SR 381. Since I am expecting a baby, rafting was out for me. However, my husband and I enjoyed walking along the river, looking at the waterfalls, and taking in all the beautiful fall scenery.

If you're looking for a casual place to eat, there is a Dairy Queen on SR 381 next to the park. Outdoor dining is available on the deck and we were able to view people in kayaks on the river. Dairy Queen is open seasonally--the day we were there was the last day for the season.

Fallingwater was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in 1936. The most impressive feature of the house is that it is "built" over a waterfall.

A guided tour of Fallingwater will cost you $15/adult and $8/youth (6-8 yrs.) on the weekend. The cost is lower on weekdays, so go on a weekday if you can. Children must be at least six years of age to tour the house. Child care is provided for $2/hour for children under six.

Make a reservation if you plan on touring the house. Since our visit to Fallingwater was unplanned, we did not have reservations and were unable to tour the house. However, we were able to take a self-guided tour of the grounds for $6/person. The beautiful grounds proved to be just as impressive as the home itself. We were able to walk alongside the house and take pictures of the exterior.

A gift shop, cafe, and restrooms are available. Hours vary depending on the time of the year. Call 724-329-8501.

Fort Necessity National Battlefield is part of the National Park System. There are four sections to the park: the fort itself, Mount Washington Tavern, General Edward Braddock's Grave, and Jumonville Glen.

Start your visit at the Visitor Center. The nominal admission fee is payable there. Admission is free with a National Park Pass. From the center, it is a short, level walk to the reconstruction of the fort built by George Washington in 1754.

After seeing the fort, walk back to the Visitors Center, and beyond the center there is a fairly short, but steep path to Mount Washington Tavern. If you're out of shape like I am, you can drive to the tavern (also located on US 40.) Mount Washington Tavern is a restored 19th century stagecoach inn that contains exhibits about the National Road.

About one mile west on 40 is General Edward Braddock's Grave. This is also worth seeing.

Finally, Jumonville Glen, site of a skirmish between French and British forces, is located 7.5 miles west of Fort Necessity. Follow the signs from US 40.

Unfortunately, we ran out of time in the Laurel Highlands. There are a lot of other attractions there that we were unable to see: Frank Lloyd Wright's Kentuck Knob, Laurel Caverns, and Christian W. Klay Winery, just to name a few. Fortunately, we live only a little over an hour away in Pittsburgh. So, hopefully we will be able to take another trip to the Laurel Highlands soon.