SPEND A DAY IN WESTMORELAND BY KAREN PRICE Whether you like to spend your downtime having fun with the family, walking battlegrounds, looking at art or riding a bike, there is plenty to do in Westmoreland County. From museums to historic sites to outdoor fun, the options are plentiful in this slice of Western Pennsylvania. With all there is to do here, there’s certainly never a reason to be bored. In fact, if you wanted to pack a lot into just one day, you could do that, too. Below, we present Westmoreland Three Ways. We’ve come up with a full day of activities for outdoors lovers, families, history buffs and arts and culture aficionados with ideas for morning, afternoon and evening plans all relatively close to one another so the time spent getting from place to place is minimal and the time making memories is plentiful. The Outdoors Lover Morning – Start your day with a bike ride along the West Penn Trail, a 17-mile rail trail between Saltsburg and Blairsville. Recognized as a National Recreation Trail, the West Penn Trail is also part of the 320-mile Pittsburgh-to-Harrisburg Main Line Canal Greenway. The trail is broken down into five sections, and parts of it can be somewhat challenging depending upon the direction in which you’re traveling, but with 50 markers along the way signifying vari-ous points of interest and historical importance, you’ll want to stop often. Ride past the remnants of days past, from old railroad tun-nel entrances from the 1800s to what’s left of the canal and railroad lines that once followed the Conemaugh River. You’ll even pass the area where towns once stood before being razed and flooded with the construction of the Conemaugh Dam in the 1950s. It’s an op-portunity to experience beautiful scenery while learning something about those who lived and worked in the area in yesteryear. For more information, visit www.conemaughvalleyconservancy.org/recreation. Afternoon – Trade pedaling for paddling in the afternoon with a trip down the river. Conemaugh Connection, based in New Alex-andria, rents both kayaks and canoes and will shuttle you to dif-ferent stops along the Conemaugh River for trips that can last from one hour to more than three. Don’t forget to bring your sunscreen, bug repellent, a swimsuit, change of clothes and a towel (you never know) and boat shoes or sandals with straps or other footwear you won’t mind getting wet. For 2016, canoes rent at $35 per day dur-ing the week and $42 per day on the weekend, and kayaks rent for $25 per day during the week or $32 on the weekend. Paddleboats and group rates are also available, as is shuttle service and launch service if you own your own craft. Visit www.conemaughconnec-tion. com for more details. Evening – What better way to top off a full day in the great out-doors than by pitching a tent and settling in to your campsite for the night? Nearby Keystone State Park, located in Derry Township approximately 10 miles south of Conemaugh Connection, is open for camping from the first Friday in April until the third Sunday in October, and sites are available either by Keystone Lake (no pets allowed) or further back in the Hillside Campground (pets are allowed). Both sites have water and showerhouse/restrooms. A handful of cottages and yurts are also available, and modern cabins are available year-round. The park also offers eight miles of hiking trails and a swimming beach, among other amenities for those who delight in mother nature. Pull up the camp chair, build a fire and get your marshmallow roasting sticks ready. 62 | Discover Westmoreland 2016 Family Fun Alle-Kiski Valley Morning – Begin your day with a paddle down the Kiskimenetas River. The River’s Edge is located just outside Leechburg, and they rent both kayaks and canoes and will shuttle you to one of several drop-off points for a peaceful float back downriver. Some of their most popular trips include Vandergrift (a two-hour trip) or Roaring Run (a four- to six-hour trip). Don’t forget sunscreen and snacks, and keep your eyes peeled for wildlife along the way. Blue heron, hawks and even bald eagles are among the birds you might spot as you make your way back to the River’s Edge. Canoes rent for $48 for the day during the week and $50 per day on the weekend. Kayaks are $38 during the week or $40 on the weekends. Afternoon – Wind down with a late lunch or early dinner picnic or simply playtime at North-moreland Park in Apollo. At 548 acres, it’s the largest park in Westmoreland County and offers playgrounds, pavilions, trails and a lake. Take a stroll the 1.1 miles around the lake, which is stocked by the PA Fish and Boat Commission and includes warm water fish and trout, making it a popular fishing spot. The park also boasts a BMX track, tennis courts, soccer and baseball fields, a basketball court and several “creative play” areas, as well as a model radio-controlled airfield. Evening – Cap your day of fun with a game of mini golf at Stoney Creek Golf Center in New Kensington. The 18-hole course is fun for children and adults of all ages, and everyone will love the natural landscaping, waterfall and cascading Stoney Creek. Each hole is a little different and the whole family will find something unique on each turn. Admission for children 12 and under is $4, and $5 for everyone else. Family Fun Laurel Highlands Morning – What better place to start a day of family fun than at Idlewild Park and SoakZone? Story Book Forest, Jumpin’ Jungle, Olde Idlewild, Hootin’ Holler, Raccoon Lagoon, Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and SoakZone all await you at this Ligonier family fun institution. There’s plenty for younger tots as well as older kids, including kids’ shows and activities in addition to all the rides. It’s all about the kiddos at Idelwild, which stays open on a limited basis through October. Ticket prices vary. See their website at www.idlewild.com for details. DISCOVER FUN
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