Spring Itinerary
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Day 1
Lawrence and Butler Counties It’s always a beautiful day to visit Pennsylvania! Your adventure along Route 422 begins close to the Ohio border at Nova Cellars Winery, one of four wineries in Lawrence County. Grab a bite to eat and some unique handcrafted wines, and start your journey on Rt. 422 off… the right way! Walk the Labyrinth at the beautiful and unique Villa Maria to find that special balance in your life. Travel east to New Castle, Fireworks Capital of America, where you’ll learn about the community’s fireworks history at the Greer Mansion, home of the Lawrence County Historical Society. View the beautifully-restored Victorian homes on New Castle’s North Hill, the third largest historic district in Pennsylvania. Tour the Magnificent Hoyt Mansions and Scottish Rite Cathedral, both cultural jewels. Demonstrate your patriotism while visiting two western Pennsylvania Statues of Liberty replicas. Dine at one of many family-run ethnic restaurants. It’s been said “You can’t get a bad meal, here!” Local hotels, B&B’s and Campgrounds will make sure you are rested up in style to continue your adventure! Get up close and personal with over 400 animals of 70 different species at Living Treasures “WILD” Animal Park. Enjoy fishing at one of the many rivers and streams, or kayak/canoe at McConnells Mill State Park. Your visit wouldn’t be complete without the “world’s largest banana split” at Mister C’s Fun Spot. Travel a few miles north to the Amish Countryside, south to Wampum to hike a portion of the North Country Trail or explore Ewing Park in Ellwood City. As you follow 422 east into Butler County (right before it interchanges with I-79), you’ll see signs for Cooper’s Lake Campground. Plan your visit for the second weekend in June for Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival if you’re a Jeep enthusiast or join us the second weekend in July for The Band Jam to celebrate local music and art. You can take a small detour North on Route 19 on May 20th for the Portersville Steam Show for a family fun day with everything from tractor rides to flea markets. Next, you’ll come upon one of the county’s biggest treasures: Moraine State Park! A visitor favorite in the spring is biking the scenic seven-mile paved bike trail, and if you don’t have your own bike there is a bike rental shop. The National Scenic North Country Trail is also accessible from here as well as the fourteen mile Glacier Ridge Trail. After you’ve worked up an appetite, exit 422 at Butler/Lyndora for a bite to eat at Lyndora Hotel, known for their jumbo whole wings and hot sausage sandwiches. If you’re a golfer, you’re not far from Aubrey’s Dubbs Dred Golf Course, which has been rated by Golf Digest as one of the “Best Places to Play” in North America. Try to make a stop at the Senator Walter Lowrie House, the home of Butler’s only U.S. senator, or a stop at Butler County Historical Society, the county’s largest repository for historic artifacts, photographs, family collections, and original documents about our ancestors. If you enjoy learning about Asian culture, visit the Maridon Museum, the only museum in the Western Pennsylvania region with a specific focus on Asian Art and Culture coupled with German Meissen porcelain. Relax in Diamond Park and admire the county seat’s courthouse and take a pit stop at the Jeep commemorative stone set up in the park. In Butler, get yourself a sweet treat at Pennie’s Bake Shop & Espresso Bar. On Hansen Avenue, you can also spot the historical marker for Butler as the Jeep’s birthplace. Treat your family to an evening of fun at Family Bowl-A-Way just west of town before you turn in for the night at the Butler Hampton Inn or Holiday Inn Express. When you can get back on 422, you’ll be able to visit Old Point Alpaca Park in Chicora and stop off for a dinner at Anne Marie’s Winery for a delicious pizza and glass of wine. Day 2 Armstrong Co. Head east on 422 to “The Heart of Western Pennsylvania,” Armstrong County, where your summer adventure awaits! Take in the nature with some intense mountain biking on the Roaring Run Trail. From here you can head down to the River’s Edge Canoe and Kayak for a kayaking excursion on the Kiski River! Find the treasure on the Armstrong County GeoTrail with each geocache placed at a local historical attraction. Get back on track in Schenley, PA with a scenic ride on the Kiski Junction Railroad. After all this activity you’re sure to be hungry, but don’t worry we have some great restaurants to refuel at. During the summer months Arts on the Allegheny hosts concerts at the Kittanning Riverfront Park, check with the Tourist Bureau for their schedule. Finish up with some rest at one of our quaint B&Bs, hotels, or campgrounds before you head out on your next adventure! Day 3 Indiana Co. Complete your Route 422 excursion in the unique and beautiful Indiana County. Home to the Ghost Town, Hoodlebug and West Penn Trails, it offers 64 miles of Rails to Trails bike riding and 18 miles of single- track mountain biking. Couple that with the many fairs and festivals for a great outdoor getaway. Indiana is the hometown to Hollywood icon Jimmy Stewart and his museum displaying memorabilia from his military, personal and Hollywood career. Relax and enjoy fresh crafted beverages at one of our new microbreweries, artisan distillery or local wineries. Just off 422, is the Smicksburg Amish area where visitors can shop for primitive crafts and share the road with horse-drawn buggies. History buffs will enjoy a stop at the Underground Railroad or one of our four covered bridges. Stay overnight in a charming B&B, full-service hotel or campground. Discover all of this in the Christmas Tree Capital of the World! Call each county’s tourism bureau for a free visitors guide. There’s so much to do on Route 422! |
New Castle Fireworks Festival featuring Arts on the Riverwalk.
Plan your trip in early June to experience the Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival at Coopers Lake Campground, Butler County. The festival jeep invasion is on Main Street in Butler (shown above).
The Armstrong Folk Festival.
Enjoy the 4th Annual Northern Appalachian Folk Festival in downtown Indiana, PA. Three days featuring live music, craftspeople, children’s alley, educational workshops, vendors and more!
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