SUMMER Itinerary
|
Day 1
Lawrence County 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. Day 2 Butler County Continue east to delightful and diverse Butler County. As you travel along Route 422, you’ll be surrounded by the beauty of Moraine State Park which offers biking, hiking, stand up paddleboarding, kayaking, fishing, picnicking, sailing, geocaching, scheduled sightseeing pontoon cruises and much more. Want to learn new tricks? SurfSUP Adventures provides standup paddleboarding lessons, guiding, eco-tours, and board rentals at Moraine State Park. Standup paddle boarding, also known as “SUP,” is a beginner’s way to experience Pennsylvania’s beautiful waterways. All the necessary equipment is provided along with SurfSUP Adventures’ expert guides and instructors. All of that outdoor activity is sure to work up a thirst on a warm summer day. That’s OK. It just gives you a reason to make a few stops along the Butler Beer Circuit, which is a group of 11 outstanding craft breweries located throughout the county. As you head out on the circuit you’ll also be able to explore some of the county’s charming small towns like Harmony, Zelienople, Evans City and Mars. Each has a unique history, quaint shops and tasty eateries. At the other end of the spectrum is Cranberry Township, a bustling area packed with shops, restaurants, plenty of top-notch hotels, and easy access (20 minutes) to Pittsburgh. And if you’re heading to Butler during the summer it’s almost guaranteed that you’ll be there during one of our great fairs or festivals. The Big Butler Fair, which predates the Civil War, is a nine-day affair that runs over the Fourth of July, while the Butler Farm show takes place each August. Communities throughout the county celebrate the summer in their own way all season long, including Zelienople which has been hosting its Horse Trading Days each July since 1965. Also in July, the Jennings Environmental Education Center in Slippery Rock honors the state’s only prairie! Celebrate the Bloom is a festival that includes bird, butterfly, and the blazing star - a spectacular prairie flower! To make the most of summer before it officially ends in late September, head to Saxonburg for Minglefest – a can’t miss arts and crafts show – and Sprankle’s Octoberfest. No matter which part of the journey you find yourself tired, there’s always a scenic campground, cozy bed and breakfast, or comfortable hotel nearby. Day 3 Armstrong County Summer is where you can experience Armstrong County at its best! So, head east on 422 to “The Heart of Western Pennsylvania,” Armstrong County, where your summer adventure awaits! Start your day with coffee at 1833 Coffee & Tea and grab an amazing beverage, a muffin or cookie! Then head to the fresh outdoors at Crooked Creek Lake and Park. Visit the Crooked Creek Environmental Learning Center located in a quiet wooded setting. Hike the marked trails and wet your line at the spillway. Take a picnic basket and cookout on a grill in the Crooked Creek Lake Park while the kids enjoy the play area and beach. What’s an afternoon without ice cream..Speedy’s Tasty Treats is just a stone throw away. Gourmet Ice Cream & Sherbert. Soft Serve Ice Cream, novelties, and Ice Cream Cake Rolls. Speedy’s is also famous for the best burgers, wings and hot sausage around. Last but not least, you can hang out in downtown Leechburg, visit some shops that will leaving you there with some great treasures, – and for dinner, stay in town with the some of the newest restaurants in the area. But this is just the beginning! Visit armstrongcounty.com for more! Day 4 Indiana County Complete your Route 422 excursion in the unique and beautiful Indiana County. The county is home to the Ghost Town, Hoodlebug and West Penn Trails, totaling more than 69 miles of rails-to-trails bike riding as well as 18 miles of single-track mountain biking at Yellow Creek State Park. A must-see natural site includes the 45-foot Buttermilk Falls. Enjoy a variety of annual summer-time fairs and festivals, such as the Star Spangled Celebration at Mack Park (July 4, 2024), First Commonwealth Bank's Taste & Tour (July 11, 2024), Indiana County Day - Christmas in July at Idlewild Park (July 19, 2024), Life Rocks Festival at Freedom Church (August 3, 2024), Knotweed Festival (August 10, 2024), Downtown Indiana's Italian Festival (August 11, 2024), Festival at Blue Spruce Park (August 24 & 25, 2024) and Indiana County Fair (August 25 - 31, 2024). Indiana is the hometown of Hollywood icon Jimmy Stewart and a museum displaying memorabilia from his military, personal and Hollywood career. There's never a fee to stop and shop the gift shop! Relax and enjoy fresh crafted beverages at one of our 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 one of our four covered bridges. Stay overnight in a charming B&B, full-service hotel or campground. Discover why we say "It's A Wonderful Life" 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! |
Get the ride of your life on a camel at Living Treasures “WILD” Animal Park.
SurfSUP Adventures stand up paddleboarding class at Moraine State Park on Lake Arthur.
Concertgoers on the Allegheny River in Kittanning, Armstrong County.
Harness Racing at the Indiana County Fair.
|
