Into the Woods - Pennsylvania's Southwest
Updated: Oct 7
"There are no shortcuts to any place worth going." – Beverly Sills
Southwest Pennsylvania turned out to be one of those trips that had a little of everything: covered bridges, mountain streams, Frank Lloyd Wright architecture, a moving visit to Flight 93, and more than a few rookie RV mistakes along the way.
Our home for the next couple of days was Laurel Hill State Park near Somerset, east of Pittsburgh. Nestled among the hills and hollers of southwestern Pennsylvania, the park was built by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Depression. It offers hiking trails and a lovely waterfall along a well-marked path.
Site 178 backed up to a stream and was one of the more peaceful sites we've enjoyed. The sound of moving water quickly became our evening soundtrack. From here we explored the area and enjoyed a visit from family who drove up from Virginia.
This was also our first time needing heat as new RVers. Of course, everything we learned during that two-hour orientation a month earlier suddenly disappeared. What followed was pure rookie comedy as we tried to figure out our options.
With overnight temperatures around 40 degrees, I first tried the heat pump, which runs off shore power. It kept kicking off—apparently it has a built-in limit and only works under certain conditions. Even when it ran, it was about as loud as the air conditioner and would have drowned out the peaceful sound of the brook behind us.
Next I mistakenly thought we needed the generator to run the furnace, so we fired it up and turned on the heat. We got warm, but we didn’t want the generator running all night. We eventually settled on the chassis heater for a bit of warmth. The following night, parked at a Walmart, we were still in full rookie mode and used the chassis heater again.
It wasn’t until a couple of nights later that we finally realized the propane furnace runs on its own and does an excellent job.
Looking back, those early mistakes still make us laugh as we remember our rookie year on the road.
We also discovered the Lotus Grill and quickly became fans. It uses a small amount of lump charcoal (different from regular briquettes) and heats up fast with a battery-powered fan. The sides stay cool to the touch, and cleanup is easy thanks to the shiny chrome interior that helps contain the juices. It packs into a zip-top canvas bag, and the smallest of the four sizes fits neatly in the Wonder’s front left lower storage bin. Salmon in a foil pouch, anyone?
Lotus Grill Salmon on the grill
One of the highlights of the trip was Frank Lloyd Wright’s iconic Fallingwater (see opening photo). The tour was both enjoyable and fascinating—a remarkable blending of structure and nature. Several tour options are available, and the docents clearly love sharing this innovative home.
Nearby in Ligonier, we had a wonderful meal at The Kitchen on Main and finished with a special cheesecake. Sue and I couldn’t decide on a topping, so they kindly made us a split version to share. Ligonier itself is a delightful historic town with boutique shopping, Fort Ligonier, and plenty of charm. We’ll happily return the next time we’re in Pennsylvania.
The following day we visited the Flight 93 National Memorial near Stoystown. The National Memorial was one of the most moving stops of the trip. We spent more time there than we expected, reading the stories and walking the grounds in near silence. It is difficult to visit
and leave unchanged. Marble walls carry each name, and the black walkways reference the coal fields of this reclaimed land. The angle of the memorial wall aligns with the split in the Visitor Center to mark the final path of Flight 93. Inside, the exhibits offer a riveting account of that day.
From there we continued to the Johnstown Flood National Memorial Visitor Center. Another excellent museum, it features many photographs of the aftermath and a compelling film about the 1889 flood that claimed 2,209 lives in less than an hour.
On our way home to Indiana, we made one last stop in Grove City, Pennsylvania—a lovely college town in the northwest part of the state. We were looking for a rather unusual landmark: a street corner that shares my name. A friend had told us about the intersection, and we couldn’t resist checking it out. Since my names aren’t all that common, it’s been fun to discover I have a landmark of my own. Now I can say I’m truly at one with myself.
Nice wooded campsites at Laurel Brook behind our campsite at Laurel
As our first autumn RV adventure in Pennsylvania, the trip delivered far more than we expected. From covered bridges and mountain streams to architectural masterpieces and important pieces of American history, every day seemed to uncover something new.
We left with greater confidence as RVers, a new appreciation for southwestern Pennsylvania, and a few stories that still make us laugh years later.
Until the next stop we hope to find you... Along the Pooka Trail.
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Campground Favorite: Laurel Hill State Park, Site 178Road Lesson: Learn your heating systems before temperatures drop into the 40s.
Best RV Purchase: Lotus Grill. Compact, easy cleanup, and perfect for campground cooking.
Most Scenic Stop: Fallingwater and the surrounding Laurel Highlands.
Most Meaningful Stop: Flight 93 National Memorial.
Hidden Gem: Historic Ligonier, Pennsylvania.
Trip Score: 9/10. History, scenery, architecture, and a few memorable rookie mistakes.
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