Discover Westmoreland 2016 | 63 Afternoon – Head up Route 30 just past Fort Ligonier and take a dip in the refreshing natural spring waters of Ligonier Beach. The historic pool is perfect for the late afternoon hours when the mercury’s at its highest, and the atmosphere is relaxing enough to put down a blanket and take a snooze after a few hours on your feet exploring Idlewild. Swimmers and bathers have been enjoying the waters here for 91 years. Admission is just $8 for ages eight and up and $4 for kids under eight (under one is free). Admission is cash only, and because they have a restau-rant and bar on premises, coolers are not allowed. Evening – Feeling refreshed after lounging by the pool, head back toward Ligonier then south to Donegal and ramp the fun back up with a visit to Caddie Shak Family Fun Park. With go-kart tracks, miniature golf courses, bumper boats, batting cages and more, there are lots of options here for kids of all ages (and mom and dad will have a good time, too). If you’d like the togetherness to last through the night, plan to stay over at Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Park in nearby Mill Run. With both cabins and campsites available, the campground has plenty in the way of family entertainment with mini golf, water attractions, play-grounds and rides. Weekends require a two-night stay, but with all there is to do both on the grounds and nearby, you may want to stay even longer. Prices vary. Visit www.caddieshak.com and jellystonemillrun.com for more details. History Buff Morning – Start your day with a visit to Bushy Run Battlefield in Jeannette. Begin at the visitor center and link up with a certified guide for a tour to learn all about the significance of the August 1763 battle during Pontiac’s War. The British victory at Bushy Run was not only a turning point in the war, but also prevented the capture of Fort Pitt and helped to keep the gateway to western expansion flowing. It is the only historic site or museum that deals exclusively with Pontiac’s War. Self-guided tours are also available, as are interpretive programs and exhibits that help visitors to envision how the battle unfolded. The visitor center is closed Mondays and Tuesdays and during the winter, so be sure to begin your history buff day trip while the weather’s nice. Ticket prices vary. Visit bushyrunbattlefield.com for details. Afternoon – After you’ve finished immersing yourself in the battle between the British and the Native Americans, head down the road to historic Hanna’s Town to explore its importance to the Revolutionary War and visit the site of the first English courts west of the Allegheny Mountains. It was here that residents of the very first seat of Westmoreland County declared they would take up arms to defend themselves against oppression by the Brit-ish in 1775. The town was later important in recruiting men for the Continental Army and ultimately was attacked and burned in 1782 by British and Seneca allies. Tour reconstructed and relocated buildings, homes, a fort and a wagon shed managed by the Westmoreland County Historical Society. Perhaps you’ll even catch a reenactment if the timing is right, and stop by the museum shop before moving on. Admission is $5 for adults and $4 for students, seniors and AAA members. Active military get in free. Visit www.westmorelandhistory.org for more details. Evening – Now that you’ve filled your day with tales of battle, war and some of the earliest history of Westmoreland County, it’s time to fill your plate and your belly at the Supper Club in Greensburg. Enjoy dinner in this historic train station, which dates back to 1910. Owned by the Westmoreland Cultural Trust, it has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1977. Enjoy farm-to-table dining in the spot where travelers still come and go, if not in the same volume and frequency as they once did. If it’s Italian food you’re craving, head to Latrobe for dinner at DiSalvo’s Station Restaurant. Also set in an historic train station, you can imagine life when train travel carried peo-ple and goods in and out of Western Pennsylvania on a regular basis while you enjoy pasta dishes and other entrees. Be sure to check out the restored train car from 1901 before you leave. Arts Enthusiast Morning – Begin your day in late morning with a visit to the Westmoreland Museum of American Art. This museum, which reopened in late 2015 following a two-year, $38 mil-lion renovation, strives to be a leader in the preservation and presentation of American art. The museum has been collect-ing important pieces of American art since its establishment in 1959 and also features traveling exhibitions in addition to the permanent collection, which includes paintings, portraits, decorative arts and sculpture. Guided tours are available for groups of six or more and can be customized to focus on spe-cial areas of interest. Plan to grab lunch at the museum café, and check out the gift shop before you leave. Visit thewestmo-reland. org for details. Afternoon – For a museum of a different focus, plan to make an afternoon stop at The Foster and Muriel McCarl Coverlet Gallery at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe. The non-profit is dedicated to collecting, preserving, interpreting and dissemi-nating the history of weaving and folk traditions in the North-eastern region. The gallery houses more than 300 19th century jacquard bed weavings that were part of a $1 million gift from the McCarl’s of Beaver County. Woven by predominantly male weavers in the Middle Atlantic and Midwest, these coverlets were often created for special occasions, such as a marriage or birth, and provide a unique look into American history while also al-lowing visitors to appreciate the craftsmanship and detail of the art form. Admission is free. Please visit the website at mccarlgal-lery. org for hours and other details. Evening – End your day of culture and the arts by taking in a performance by the Westmoreland Symphony Orchestra. Under the artistic direc-tion of Daniel Meyer, the WSO performs at the beautiful Palace Theater in Greensburg throughout the calendar year. Some of the 2016-17 offerings include an evening featuring brass instruments and trumpet player Brandon Ridenour per-forming Arutiunian’s Trumpet Concerto in October, a holiday performance featuring the All-Star Choir of Westmoreland County in December and an evening with the Russian compos-ers featuring pianist Orior Weiss performing Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 3. COUNTY FUN
SSM_X001XXC07312016_Discover Westmoreland
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