Winter Itinerary
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Day 1
It’s a beautiful day to visit Pennsylvania! Your adventure along Route 422 begins in 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 Hoyt Mansions and the Scottish Rite Cathedral. Demonstrate your patriotism while visiting western Pennsylvania’s only two Statue of Liberty replicas. Dine at one of many family-run ethnic restaurants. Spend the night enjoying the nightly simulations of fireworks in Zambelli Park. Take a camel ride at Living Treasures Animal Park. Enjoy rock climbing and kayaking at McConnells Mill State Park or relax while fishing the Slippery Rock Creek. Travel a few miles north to the Amish Countryside or south to see the scarecrows in Wampum or the water feature at the Ellwood City Community Plaza. Route 422 will lead you over Moraine State Park shortly after entering Butler County. During a winter visit, you can experience a plethora of outdoor activities. You’ll be met with opportunities to ice skate, snowshoe, cross-country ski, sled ride, and more. If you’re lucky, your visit will fall on the weekend of WinterFest. Winterfest is a celebration of all Moraine has to offer outdoors throughout the winter, including a chili fest, live music, and sleigh rides! If your trip happens to fall in November take a short trip south on Rt 19 to Harmony. During The Harmony Museum annual German Christmas Market, you’ll be one of the thousands that visit from all over looking for handcrafted German imports. From mid-November through December, Drive through a festive light show while listening to some of your favorite holiday tunes at the Shadrack’s Christmas Wonderland that takes place at Big Butler Fairgrounds in Prospect. As you near Butler, take an excursion a few miles up Route 8 to explore Playthings, Etc. The store is housed in a one-of-a-kind, stealth-bomber-shaped building and has live demonstrations of the toys where you’ll be sure to find the perfect holiday gift. To do the rest of your holiday shopping go to the Clearview Mall that has many stores to pick from. After your afternoon of fun, taste the delicious hearty meals at Rachel’s Roadhouse, located at the intersection of Route 8 and Route 422, or the more eclectic flavors of Dr. Sous Chop Shop, located on Main Street downtown. Winter is the perfect time to take advantage of the special shows at Butler Little Theater, located downtown. It has been in continuous operation since 1941! You can also visit The Maridon Museum, the only of its kind to focus on ancient Asian art and culture, or the Associated Artists of Butler County, a local, fine art gallery. If you love sweets, be sure to stop at Dolce Mia’s Bakery on Main Street in downtown Butler, where you can find cream puffs, cupcakes, pies, and much more! Warm up with a cold brew from Butler Brew Works or Reclamation Brewing. Shoot back up Route 8 north just a bit to stay at the Fairfield Inn Butler. Day 2 Head east on 422 to “The Heart of Western Pennsylvania,” Armstrong County, where your Winter adventure awaits! Take in the beautiful white scenery with a Horse Drawn Sleigh Ride through the snow-dusted landscapes at Dragon Run Forge and Livery. Enjoy a fabulous lunch at Dizzy Lizzies in Downtown Kittanning before you head over to Lenape Heights Golf Resort. At Lenape you can take your sled and enjoy some family fun playing in the snow, they also have hot cocoa for the kids and malted wine for the parents. In the evening take a trip to Check's Radio Museum for a FREE tour and learn about the history of radio with 1200 plus radios displayed in a beautiful setting along the Allegheny River. Head on back to your cozy room at the Grand Estates at Hidden Acres and rest up for your journey to Indiana County the next day! Day 3 Complete your Route 422 excursion in Indiana County and experience the beautiful fall foliage that blankets the scenic countryside. Enjoy a hike or bike ride on the 64 miles of rails-to-trails or stop by any of the 5,452 acres of parks that showcase a recreation haven for the outdoor enthusiasts. Visitors can make a stop at the Jimmy Stewart Museum in his hometown of Indiana. Artifacts from his childhood, military and movie eras are on display and a life-size statue is a great place for a family photo. In the Smicksburg Amish area, visitors can shop for primitive crafts, furniture, pottery and local wine and share the road with horse-drawn buggies. If you enjoy entertainment, Indiana County is the place to be with a variety of festivals and fairs throughout the year. History buffs will enjoy a stop at an Underground Railroad Museum or one of the 24 attractions listed on the National Register of Historic Places, including 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! |
Hoyt Mansion in Lawrence County.
Enjoy the multitude of winter activities at Moraine State Park, Butler County during the annual Winterfest.
Take a Horse Drawn Sleigh Ride at Dragon Run Forge and Livery!
Visit the Jimmy Stewart Museum in his hometown of Indiana.
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