Mid-Point Pittsburgh/Philadelphia: Off the Beaten Track

[ScranBarre]

Hmmm...I'll have to check out this "Ligonier" someday for a photo tour if it happens to be this popular. I've never been there.

[pinetar10]

Originally Posted by ScrantonWilkesBarre

Hmmm...I'll have to check out this "Ligonier" someday for a photo tour if it happens to be this popular. I've never been there.

its a nice little town. it has a nice downtown, a very nice circle in downtown, a lot of nice shops, a few small restaurants. i do not think there are any chain stores/restaurants in downtown ligonier, which makes it even nicer. it also has idlewild park nearby, which is a nice old type amusement park. its on route 30 about 10 miles east of latrobe.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by pinetar10

its a nice little town. it has a nice downtown, a very nice circle in downtown, a lot of nice shops, a few small restaurants. i do not think there are any chain stores/restaurants in downtown ligonier, which makes it even nicer. it also has idlewild park nearby, which is a nice old type amusement park. its on route 30 about 10 miles east of latrobe.

So it is closer to Pittsburgh than Philly. That's what I thought, but didn't want to haul out the map!

[CaptainObvious]

Originally Posted by pinetar10

its a nice little town. it has a nice downtown, a very nice circle in downtown, a lot of nice shops, a few small restaurants. i do not think there are any chain stores/restaurants in downtown ligonier, which makes it even nicer. it also has idlewild park nearby, which is a nice old type amusement park. its on route 30 about 10 miles east of latrobe.

In fact, Scranton, if you are in the mood to check out Ligonier, I would suggest checking out all of Route 30. It could be a great 3 day weekend road trip with stops along the way. Route 30 was the first highway that connected Philadelphia and Pittsburgh...back in the Model T days. Many small hotels and restaurants popped up along the way...many still exist today. Gettysburg, Chambersburg, McConnelsburg, Breezewood, Bedford, and the aforementioned Ligioneir are all neat little towns that owe much of their existence and development to the "Lincoln Highway". The history of the road is quite amazing. With ever expanding lanes and dozens of traffic lights being added each year, it seems to have lost a bit of the historic luster that it once had. The stretch between Bedford and Ligionier is still mostly preserved though and is truly beautiful. It parallels the Turnpike in this area, so is not heavily traveled anymore either!

Cap

[Summering]

I wonder if you would like Riegelsville in Bucks Cty Pa.
It is an old town and includes the Riegelsville Inn.
You can bike or hike along the Delaware River Tow Path.
There is a 5,300 acre State Park.
You would be close to wineries, and the galleries and small shops of New Hope.
One hour 15 min. to NYC.
The museums and wonderful restaurants of Doylestown. ( my favorite town)
There is a wonderful campground in the area called Colonial Woods.

[rural lady]

Clearfield County is nice. It would really work for your price range, you are 2 hours from Pittsburgh (not that your care-neither do I), being you are not going to work it would be fine, there are some beautiful homes here. Towns like Brockport, Brookville, Brockway, Dubois, Clearfield, Clarion, Treasure lake

Walmart is in dubois, a regular walmart
A supercenter is in Clearfield a 15 min or less drive from Dubois and also in Punxsy about an hour from Dubois.

In this Clearfield area you are right by I-80, which you can use to go to Clarion, Brookville or go west to connect to I-79 or to the east to Phily. NY is about maybe an hour away to go to gamble, and if you do not like the interstate there are our rural routes like 322 and 219 and 119. I usually take the slow roads, more scenery, and slower traffic.

[teoteodore]

I very much appreciate all this information ...

My wife and I will start planning our road trips and keep you posted ...

[RowJimmy]

If you like the mountains and the outdoors try Latrobe, Connellsville, Somerset, Ligonier (great little mountain town, tons of character), and maybe even ebensburg if that isnt to far out there. These are all east of Pittsburgh most in the Laural Highlands. I lived in Philly for about 2 and a half years, but never got to know the little towns away from the city there. I couldn't help you with the eastern end.

Ebensburg has a Sprawlmart outside of it, but its downtown is nice and it is a cool town.

[tremontpa]

I would reccomend Pottsville Pennsylvania. It is two and a half hours north-west of Philadelphia on the Schuylkill River and it is in the heart of the Pennsylvanian Appalachian Mountains. There are many state parks, county parks, and state forrests near by with miles upon miles of hiking land. The place of life is layed back; there is no hustle and bustle. Furthermore, th downtown is semi-big, the city's population is 14,000. There are many elegant victorian era store fronts and many stores still.
In relation to homes, there are rather nice ones on 209 by Garfield Square of on Mahantango Street. On Mahantango street there are 1890-1920s era mansions that go for anywhere from 200,000 to 400,000 thousand dollars. The cost of even nice old homes is less here because the loss of the coal industry 40 years ago still hurts the area.
Also, the city has a symphony, a performing arts center, a YMCA, a YWCA, and countless other great things. (Yeungling Brewery) You should take a visit and see for yourself the charming city of Pottsville. Its not much of a city though.

P.S. I have much more information if you want any.