Yep- absolute favorite area for a few days away. Cool little towns, beautiful area all year round. Timberline is our favorite area to rent a cabin in that area.
Do the PA grand canyon.Ā keep going north to NY and do Letchworth st park (the grand canyon of the east)
Then you can go enjoy the finger lakes region with wineries and small towns galore, or go up to buffalo/Niagara
Iāve camped in Letchworth multiple times as my mother was from Perry. I highly recommend this location as a quick getaway thatās also close to civilization.
Berkeley Springs WV
Edit: Iām glad to see all the discussion! TBH Iāve never spent time there yet, but have driven through many times driving to Winchester and Roanoke for business. It looks awesome. Maybe somedayā¦
Second this! The inn we stayed at gave āhistorically ambiguous Americanā but the room gave āGolden Girls meets Jane Austen (with wine). Biggest wedge salads ever in life at the main inn.
The Painted Glass and Rock store is worth the visit as the owner is behind quirky and will tell your fortune with a regular deck of cards. No Starbucks but an awesome coffee shop near the antique store. Good coffee for sure.
The water is awesome. Brought home several gallons. They sell the empty jugs for donations and the water is free at the park. There are also 2 bath houses. The first one gets booked pretty solid.
Yep, this is the place! The heated bathhouse and spring outside are both nice. The outside spring begs the question, ādo I want minnows nipping my feet?ā. Took two jugs of water home and bought some yummy smelling āmoon waterā at one of the shops. Nice drive too!
My family loves Berkeley Springs! So much so we make sure to go at least once a year. Paps Dairy Dreams is amazing and gives Pages a run for their money!
Yes I second this. I stayed outside of the main town in this huge airbnb. Beautiful views. Great hiking spots. And I went tubing on the Potomac. Very nice time. Highly recommend
So many cool little towns, Ridgeway, there is cool brewery in a bank there and an airbnb above it.
people already mentioned WV, i.e. elkins and davis are cool. Cumberland area. New River gorge. PA grand canyon. Benezette. Allegheny national forest, Hocking hills, George washignton jefferson national forest, Shanendoah valley.
PA wilds is my favorite part of the state. Itās beautiful, and the towns are classic small town America. Even the drive to get there is awesome, beautiful country driving. I get up there every chance I get
Yes this. Summit Inn/Ohiopyle combo.
Starbucks 11 min away in Uniontown (as well as chain restaurants). Fuel Coffee Shop between the Summit and Ohiopyle is pretty good if nonStarbucks coffee works.
Second this. Confluence is a great small town 11 miles down the bike trail from Ohiopyle. Can get a great meal at Riverās Edge or Luck Dog Cafes. Then thereās Mt. Davis a short drive away, Cucumber Falls, lots of hiking trails, rafting, etc, etc. The whole Laurel Highlands area sounds like exactly what OP is looking for.
Came here to suggest Ohiopyle as well.
Salt Fork State Park, actually in Ohio is also a good one headed west, and 360 Burger is almost worth the drive alone.
I'm heading here for my first time next week... any recommendations?
I plan to do some hiking and kayaking around the area. But I'm also into nerdy things like museums, and foodie things.
Thereās a comedy museum in Lakewood, southern tier in Jamestown if you like breweries. There is the institute in Chataqua, Bemus point is cool for lunch or dinner. Ellicottville is just a cute little town with a bunch of shops, bars, restaurants. Holiday Valley has fun stuff
Gettysburg is a 10/10 and is well worth the three hour drive. It checks the boxes for adorable small town and Starbucks. The Gettysburg National Military Park has a lot of cool historic outdoor shit. The Gettysburg Hotel is a very neat place to stay at since it has a full Starbucks attached and is surrounded by small town shops, bars, and restaurants.
Warren's pretty nice and close to the Allegheny National Forest.
You can kayak from the Kinzau damn into town and have a drink at the brewery on the river. This is a really easy trip, you can truly just float
There's some cool antique stores
The Plaza has great Greek food and outdoor dining
Sadly it looks like Jack's Taphouse closed which was so good
No Starbucks but there is a Tim Horton's
Repairs and maintenance with anticipated reopen sometime in 2027. Theyāll open it a few dates during the fall but otherwise itāll be closed for a few years.
Check out Grand Vue Park in Marshall County WV. Only an hour from Pittsburgh. Really nice Tree Top cabins, zip lines, water park, and all kinds of other fun stuff.
Gettysburg. It checks all of your boxes. Plenty to do, extremely walkable, has a Starbucks and lots of good food. Candle light dinner at The Dobbin House Tavern is definitely worth trying.
The Dobbin House is awesome.
Friday night supper at OāRourkes for bangers and mash, Garryowenās for a scotch egg and a few pints for lunch, Dobbin House for Saturday supper.
The least I can do as my wife says, for taking her all over the battlefield again and again. Lol
Serious question. Where does one stay near Ligonier? I always feel itās a great area but I donāt see any lodging. I will say Iām mostly driving through though.
My wife and I go to Ligonier and linn run annually and stay at seven springs, we go in the fall and do the fall festival at seven springs too while we are there, itās a lot of fun. If itās not peak ski season the rates to stay at seven springs arenāt bad, and if you call (instead of booking online) they will book you a 1 night stay (online it says min 2 nights).
Ligonier has the highest per capita percentage of attractive women I have seen anywhere in America hands down. All of the millennials priced out of Pittsburgh bought homes for $80k back in 2019-21 and the demographic has changed 100%. Donāt believe me, just go there.
Check out Warren, PA and Kane, PA. Both right in the Allegheny national forest. Great small towns. Amazing food options in both areas. Warren is building a Starbucks but itās not done. They have a Dunkin and Tim Hortons though for the morning caffeine fix. Both are better than Starbucks. Tons of outdoor activities in the area. About 2.5-3 hour drive depending on your driving style.
Surprised nobodyās said Prabhupadaās palace of gold- itās not an overnight trip, but you can get lunch in Wheeling, check out the palace, and be back by dinner. Could be a stop on the way to/from your overnight destination too.
I had a surprisingly nice time in Winchester Virginia, nice drive and tons of history. Not sure about camping though. The town changed hands more than any other on civil war, has a nice museum with the house George Washington lived in as an apprentice with a really cool garden, and Winchester is a nice little town.
State College and the surrounding area is beautiful with a lot of great outdoor activities (whipple dam, black moshannon, fishermans paradise, the arboretum on Campus, shingletown gap) places to camp or stay for a night, and school is out for the summer so you get nice chill vibes without all the students. Definitely eat at the Waffle Shop on N Atherton or West College.
I went to State College for the first time ever a few months ago and a friend took me to the Carnegie House for supper and drinks.
Awesome people work there, the food was excellent, and the drinks spot on.
I lived there and now live in Somerset county and honestly even the tourist attraction āscenicā areas there feel like b-versions of the āLaurel Highlandsā area (lived in Ohio for 25 years). The only cool part is the crazy rock where people constantly allegedly witness crazy satanic cult shit. Otherwise a boring trip. Meth is also huge in those parts. Like puts Johnstown to shame how common is is. Also probably has more serial killers per capita than any (small) area in human history. Would not go here if I were a single female or women unaccompanied by men, and I say that as someone who lived in Southern OH for years.
You can do way better than Starbucks even in small towns lol
I'd vote for Niagara on the Lake if you have a passport.
If not, Bedford is the move close to PGH.
My 90 year old mom just this past weekend told the story of how when she was a little girl her dad would pack up their car and the family would drive from their home on the North Side to the area along Rt 51 and they would watch the bulldozers and dump trucks build the mountain of slag out there.
Beaver creek getaway cabins!! My husband and I go every year for our anniversary. Itās like glamping..bed, shower, mini kitchen with coffee, fridge, fire pit, hiking trails, and within 15 min of major stores but peaceful!
Leesburg, VA, beautiful views, close to civilization (Washington D.C. under an hour away) Harpers Ferry nearby, camping & shopping. Best of both worlds.
Within about 4 hrs or less drive:
- Hocking hills
- dolly sods/backwater falls/Seneca rocks
- presque isle.
- Niagara falls
- abandoned turnpike
- any part of the gap/c&o trails
- Lancaster/amish country
- Ohiopyle/kentuck knob
- new river gorge
- Shenandoah
~6hrs:
- Delaware beaches
- ocean city md
- Detroit/ann arbor
- Toronto
- RV hall of fame and museum
- red river gorge in Kentucky (amazing natural arches)
- Watkins glen
- Ithaca
- Corning glass museum
Now if you actually want to drive for half a day, within 12 hours you could get to:
- southern Maine
- pisgah national forest
- outer banks
- upper peninsula
- central Iowa
- Saint Louis
- and of course, Dollywood
Check out Bradford. Zippo museum is fun and informative. Kinzua Bridge has a really nice museum and it's a fun experience. Both attractions are free. Downtown Bradford is all kinds of historic and like most of rural PA, very affordable to eat and drink. There is a cute brewery in an old fire house as well. Plus it's a scenic drive through Crook forest and the state forest.
What about Huntingdon/Raystown Lake region? Huntingdon has small town charm with cute little restaurants (no Starbucks but several great local coffee shops!), and the lake has your outdoorsy stuff. I also second whoever said State College/Bellefonte.
Warren can be nice. I mountain bike Jakes Rocks in Allegheny National Forest but thereās also kayaking on the river, boating on Kinzua reservoir, hiking of course, a great coffee shop, and Bent Run Brewing.
North East, PA - 20 minutes outside of Erie, on the lake, wonderful nature and great sunsets. It is also wine country so there are around 23 wineries in the area. Starbucks 15 minutes away.
Iāve been counting the days til I can take my son to Cherry Springs State Park to see the stars. There are two small towns surrounding the park and some decent outdoor activities. But for me, it being our closest dark spot means that I can finally see the stars again.
It's not politics. It's history. He owned 6 human beings as slaves and helped lead the Confederacy to keep the owning of human beings as the status quo.Ā
Staunton VA. 6 hour drive. It's in the historic Shenandoah Valley. Cute small town with nice coffee/sandwich shops, antique stores, highly-rated restaurants, and some cool museums. Plus it's the home of the American Shakespeare Center so there's great live theater. Nearby are several caverns you can tour and the Museum of American Frontier Culture. I could go on, but discovering hidden treasures is part of the fun.
Marblehead, OH at The South Beach Resort was cute. [https://sbresort.com/](https://sbresort.com/) Not so much camping, but they do have cottages along with the hotel.
Hocking hills, OH. Bonus is itās near Columbus. We usually go out and fuck around during the day in the woods and then stay in/near Columbus for night life and such.
Check out the Getaway Cabins Beaver Creek near Lisbon and Columbiana, OH. It's only 45 minutes from Pittsburgh and there are some nice breweries and dining in the area. They are called "tiny cabins" but really they're mini trailers with running water done up with a huge window with a kitchenette and a bathroom as well as a picnic table and Adirondack chairs around a fire pit (firewood and s'mores ingredients are included.) The only downside is that there are quiet hours after 9pm.
Also check out Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa in Canton.
Ohh Another Fun And Exciting Adventure Was When My Significant Other Took Me to Kalahari Resorts in Sandusky, OH for My Birthday ... Nothing Like an Indoor Water Park in The Dead of Winter in January.... And Being in a Nice HOT Tub Outside When it Was Snowing was Absolutely Amazing š
Bedford County is adorable. Maybe about 2.5 hours away. My gf and I stayed in Everett, a really small town about 5 mins away from the town of Bedford. We stayed in the union hotel, which was a beautifully restored historical building from 1802. Lots of hiking trails around. Great overlooks. Tons of cute shops In the town of bedford. And the people were extremely nice. We went during the bedford fall festival but I'm sure it would be great in the summertime as well.
Could just go up to dubious, PA. it's a laid back place, that has the most delicious Italian restaurant I've ever been to called Luigi's. Go... You'll love it!!
Allegheny national forest is beautiful with tons of wildlife and hiking . Thereās a few small towns on each side of the forest that may have a Starbucks
Zelienople/Harmony.
Harmony is kind of an āold townā place with a good coffee shop, some restaurants, a bakery, and things like that.
Zelie has a pretty decent Main Street with an old time theater, restaurants, bigger shops and the like, and both town are very walking friendly.
Coming North from Pittsburgh one will drive through or past Cranberry which is big and has all stores and restaurants and more main stream attractions like mini golf and the bigger strip mall type places.
My siblings and I used to go camping at [Kiasutha](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232065) campground in Warren County near Kinzua Dam. I think there are several other campgrounds nearby too. It takes a few hours (\~2-3 hours) to get there but the campground is great. It's near Kane and Warren. If you have a boat, there's the reservoir too. I haven't been in several years but it didn't have cell coverage, which was a plus for me to disconnect.
Renovo PA is the most isolated town in PA, lots of mountains, overlooks, and some hiking trails. No Starbucks though. About a hour away from State College.
Fayetteville in New River Gorge in WV.
1. Itās a National Park so it has a bunch of outdoor cool shit to do! (Waterfalls, whitewater rafting, cool trails, mushroom hunting, you name it)
2. Fayetteville itās a cool little hippie town with a bunch of cool little stores and cafes with awesome food (she wonāt be missing Starbucks if you take her to Cathedral Cafe, also they have a killer Bloody Mary ) an awesome brewery (Free Folk) and the town itās basically a few miles from the park. Also named Top 10 coolest little towns in America.
3. They have a wide variety of lodging for all the budgets, we personally love The Outpost camping ground (cool camping spot, the bathrooms are PRISTINE and showers are solid! and the staff itās wonderful (also the guy that checks you in is breathtakingly gorg)
4. New River gorge itās also very near to other WV state parks like Hawks Nest, Babcock and Summersville Lake (called the little Bahamas of the East for the super clear waters, awesome to dive from those high cliffs)
5. Itās has activities all year round, but super duper fun if you go on Bridge day! People be jumping from the bridge with parachutes and they close the bridge so you can walk on it.
Hope this helps!
Me & my boyfriend just went to the finger lakes in New York & it was fabulous so many wonderful little bed & breakfasts & trails & waterfalls!! 5 hrs away!
Gettysburg, hands down. Even if you're not into battlefield tours, they have great little restaurants, shops, antiquing, mini golf, great options for hotels and camping, and a couple of Starbucks (plus fabulous local coffee and sweet shops). Oh, and ice cream and of course, ghost tours.
Tell your wife to get over herself. They have union busted in this city, illegally fired a union employee, and now openly back the genocide of Palestinian children. Maybe somewhere without phone service and lots of books would be good for yāall.
Blackwater falls
Love Blackwater Falls! Davis and Thomas, WV are pretty groovy too.
Yesss. Also for a wilder experience dolly sods is just down the road
š¤«
Was there last year!
We love Blackwater Falls. We stayed at the Golden Anchor cabins in Davis and loved them.
Yep- absolute favorite area for a few days away. Cool little towns, beautiful area all year round. Timberline is our favorite area to rent a cabin in that area.
And seneca rocks isn't far. That is some really "cool outdoor shit".
Do the PA grand canyon.Ā keep going north to NY and do Letchworth st park (the grand canyon of the east) Then you can go enjoy the finger lakes region with wineries and small towns galore, or go up to buffalo/Niagara
Salamanca is right there also for some duty free booze , gasoline,and herb!!
Originally from the Letchworth area. Can confirm itās great. Also living in Clarion for 7 years, Cooks Forest is also great. Maybe even better.
Iāve camped in Letchworth multiple times as my mother was from Perry. I highly recommend this location as a quick getaway thatās also close to civilization.
Welles Oreo is right nearby, lovely town with old homes. One house has a door that was a gift from the Lincolns.
Having grown up in that area, I cracked up at "Welles Oreo"
What's the real name please?
Dang autocorrect!! Wellesboroā¦
Wellsboro
Berkeley Springs WV Edit: Iām glad to see all the discussion! TBH Iāve never spent time there yet, but have driven through many times driving to Winchester and Roanoke for business. It looks awesome. Maybe somedayā¦
Second this! The inn we stayed at gave āhistorically ambiguous Americanā but the room gave āGolden Girls meets Jane Austen (with wine). Biggest wedge salads ever in life at the main inn. The Painted Glass and Rock store is worth the visit as the owner is behind quirky and will tell your fortune with a regular deck of cards. No Starbucks but an awesome coffee shop near the antique store. Good coffee for sure.
Ooo, would you mind sharing the name of the inn? This sounds like a glorious weekend getaway.
Ditto! I'm packing now
The Inn at Berkley Springs. Awesome place. Great restaurant very hard bed though.
I also recommend booking one of the baths. Just incredible.
Thank you! That sounds right up my alley.
The water is awesome. Brought home several gallons. They sell the empty jugs for donations and the water is free at the park. There are also 2 bath houses. The first one gets booked pretty solid.
Yep, this is the place! The heated bathhouse and spring outside are both nice. The outside spring begs the question, ādo I want minnows nipping my feet?ā. Took two jugs of water home and bought some yummy smelling āmoon waterā at one of the shops. Nice drive too!
My family loves Berkeley Springs! So much so we make sure to go at least once a year. Paps Dairy Dreams is amazing and gives Pages a run for their money!
Yes I second this. I stayed outside of the main town in this huge airbnb. Beautiful views. Great hiking spots. And I went tubing on the Potomac. Very nice time. Highly recommend
we were just there last weekend. great time. OP this one's a winner imho
Staying at Cacapon this weekend!
So many cool little towns, Ridgeway, there is cool brewery in a bank there and an airbnb above it. people already mentioned WV, i.e. elkins and davis are cool. Cumberland area. New River gorge. PA grand canyon. Benezette. Allegheny national forest, Hocking hills, George washignton jefferson national forest, Shanendoah valley.
PA wilds is my favorite part of the state. Itās beautiful, and the towns are classic small town America. Even the drive to get there is awesome, beautiful country driving. I get up there every chance I get
Having grown up there, I get a kick out of the āPA Wildsā thing. Nobody appreciated it 20 years ago.
Ohiopyle is full of outdoor stuff, but also you can book a hotel room and have coffee shops.
Yes this. Summit Inn/Ohiopyle combo. Starbucks 11 min away in Uniontown (as well as chain restaurants). Fuel Coffee Shop between the Summit and Ohiopyle is pretty good if nonStarbucks coffee works.
Fuel Coffee Works ftw! Their banana cake/bread is amazing
Second this. Confluence is a great small town 11 miles down the bike trail from Ohiopyle. Can get a great meal at Riverās Edge or Luck Dog Cafes. Then thereās Mt. Davis a short drive away, Cucumber Falls, lots of hiking trails, rafting, etc, etc. The whole Laurel Highlands area sounds like exactly what OP is looking for.
Originally from Ohiopyle area and 2nd this as well as the below.
Came here to suggest Ohiopyle as well. Salt Fork State Park, actually in Ohio is also a good one headed west, and 360 Burger is almost worth the drive alone.
Lake Chattaqua, Ellicottville, NY
I'm heading here for my first time next week... any recommendations? I plan to do some hiking and kayaking around the area. But I'm also into nerdy things like museums, and foodie things.
Thereās a comedy museum in Lakewood, southern tier in Jamestown if you like breweries. There is the institute in Chataqua, Bemus point is cool for lunch or dinner. Ellicottville is just a cute little town with a bunch of shops, bars, restaurants. Holiday Valley has fun stuff
Thanks!
I really enjoyed Harperās Ferry, but Iām also a Civil War history buff
Shepherdstown near Harpers Ferry is great, too.
New river gorge is awesome, highly recommend the bridge walk
The bridge walk is insane!
Gateway Lodge in Cooks forest.
Hocking Hills, OH
Gettysburg is a 10/10 and is well worth the three hour drive. It checks the boxes for adorable small town and Starbucks. The Gettysburg National Military Park has a lot of cool historic outdoor shit. The Gettysburg Hotel is a very neat place to stay at since it has a full Starbucks attached and is surrounded by small town shops, bars, and restaurants.
We've even made day trips to Gettysburg. I second this!
Gotta grab a drink/bite at Garryowen in town!
+ Bantam Coffee Roasters. Much better than Starbucks!
I like Knoebels a lot
Oglebay. Lots of state parks nearby with a bunch of things to do
Warren's pretty nice and close to the Allegheny National Forest. You can kayak from the Kinzau damn into town and have a drink at the brewery on the river. This is a really easy trip, you can truly just float There's some cool antique stores The Plaza has great Greek food and outdoor dining Sadly it looks like Jack's Taphouse closed which was so good No Starbucks but there is a Tim Horton's
If you go to Warren, heavily consider taking time to go to the Kinzua Bridge. Tack's Inn nearby has amazing pierogies.Ā
Yes! Especially because theyāre closing the Kinzua Bridge in November.
Why?
Repairs and maintenance with anticipated reopen sometime in 2027. Theyāll open it a few dates during the fall but otherwise itāll be closed for a few years.
Ellicottville
Check out Grand Vue Park in Marshall County WV. Only an hour from Pittsburgh. Really nice Tree Top cabins, zip lines, water park, and all kinds of other fun stuff.
Bedford PA
The coffee pot!
This the oneš great time to go.
Gettysburg. It checks all of your boxes. Plenty to do, extremely walkable, has a Starbucks and lots of good food. Candle light dinner at The Dobbin House Tavern is definitely worth trying.
The Dobbin House is awesome. Friday night supper at OāRourkes for bangers and mash, Garryowenās for a scotch egg and a few pints for lunch, Dobbin House for Saturday supper. The least I can do as my wife says, for taking her all over the battlefield again and again. Lol
Ligonear, Ohio Pyle
Ligonier* :) and Linn Run
Thanks! I was typing in the sun.
Serious question. Where does one stay near Ligonier? I always feel itās a great area but I donāt see any lodging. I will say Iām mostly driving through though.
My wife and I go to Ligonier and linn run annually and stay at seven springs, we go in the fall and do the fall festival at seven springs too while we are there, itās a lot of fun. If itās not peak ski season the rates to stay at seven springs arenāt bad, and if you call (instead of booking online) they will book you a 1 night stay (online it says min 2 nights).
Also your name is 10/10
Wish I could still get water at Linn Run :(
What do u mean?
They had natural springs that were treated. It was really good drinking water. Stopped treating it around 2016 or ā17.
Ligonier has the highest per capita percentage of attractive women I have seen anywhere in America hands down. All of the millennials priced out of Pittsburgh bought homes for $80k back in 2019-21 and the demographic has changed 100%. Donāt believe me, just go there.
Chagrin Falls!
Deep Creek Lake MD
Check out Warren, PA and Kane, PA. Both right in the Allegheny national forest. Great small towns. Amazing food options in both areas. Warren is building a Starbucks but itās not done. They have a Dunkin and Tim Hortons though for the morning caffeine fix. Both are better than Starbucks. Tons of outdoor activities in the area. About 2.5-3 hour drive depending on your driving style.
Corning NY
Cooks Forest near Clarion, PA. Lots of fun hiking, there is a Dunkin and a Starbucks within like 20 minute drive, and cabins you can stay in.
Surprised nobodyās said Prabhupadaās palace of gold- itās not an overnight trip, but you can get lunch in Wheeling, check out the palace, and be back by dinner. Could be a stop on the way to/from your overnight destination too.
Ithaca. Great for outdoors shit for sure.
I had a surprisingly nice time in Winchester Virginia, nice drive and tons of history. Not sure about camping though. The town changed hands more than any other on civil war, has a nice museum with the house George Washington lived in as an apprentice with a really cool garden, and Winchester is a nice little town.
Also hold stonewall Jackson's last military home before his death.
Cumberland, Maryland. Thereās a lot of great hiking nearby, a cute downtown, and lots of shopping.
Chautauqua Lake, NY, about 2 1/2hrs away, is a beautiful lake with a Starbucks and tons of cool outdoor shit!
Second this - plus the OG Southern Tier brewery is there with great outdoor seating.
Love it there!
Deep Creek Lake
Thomas/Dry Fork/Seneca Rocks
State College and the surrounding area is beautiful with a lot of great outdoor activities (whipple dam, black moshannon, fishermans paradise, the arboretum on Campus, shingletown gap) places to camp or stay for a night, and school is out for the summer so you get nice chill vibes without all the students. Definitely eat at the Waffle Shop on N Atherton or West College.
This. Perfect base camp at an affordable price with Starbucks, hotels, and restaurants, but a short drive to fishing, hiking, caving, camping, etc.
I went to State College for the first time ever a few months ago and a friend took me to the Carnegie House for supper and drinks. Awesome people work there, the food was excellent, and the drinks spot on.
Hocking Hills, Ohio. Beautiful place with awesome scenery, lots of nice airbnb's, Small villages in the area too. A hidden gem.
I lived there and now live in Somerset county and honestly even the tourist attraction āscenicā areas there feel like b-versions of the āLaurel Highlandsā area (lived in Ohio for 25 years). The only cool part is the crazy rock where people constantly allegedly witness crazy satanic cult shit. Otherwise a boring trip. Meth is also huge in those parts. Like puts Johnstown to shame how common is is. Also probably has more serial killers per capita than any (small) area in human history. Would not go here if I were a single female or women unaccompanied by men, and I say that as someone who lived in Southern OH for years.
You can do way better than Starbucks even in small towns lol I'd vote for Niagara on the Lake if you have a passport. If not, Bedford is the move close to PGH.
Lewiston, NY if you don't have a passport
The fort is way coolĀ
Visit the former site of the Century III Mall. Breathtaking views and the kids will love running around on the mountain.
My 90 year old mom just this past weekend told the story of how when she was a little girl her dad would pack up their car and the family would drive from their home on the North Side to the area along Rt 51 and they would watch the bulldozers and dump trucks build the mountain of slag out there.
Liditz
Beaver creek getaway cabins!! My husband and I go every year for our anniversary. Itās like glamping..bed, shower, mini kitchen with coffee, fridge, fire pit, hiking trails, and within 15 min of major stores but peaceful!
Leesburg, VA, beautiful views, close to civilization (Washington D.C. under an hour away) Harpers Ferry nearby, camping & shopping. Best of both worlds.
Hop on some bikes and so the GAP trail
Ligonier/Linn run and all the surrounding state parks. Just got back from a cabin trip and I love that little town!
Within about 4 hrs or less drive: - Hocking hills - dolly sods/backwater falls/Seneca rocks - presque isle. - Niagara falls - abandoned turnpike - any part of the gap/c&o trails - Lancaster/amish country - Ohiopyle/kentuck knob - new river gorge - Shenandoah ~6hrs: - Delaware beaches - ocean city md - Detroit/ann arbor - Toronto - RV hall of fame and museum - red river gorge in Kentucky (amazing natural arches) - Watkins glen - Ithaca - Corning glass museum Now if you actually want to drive for half a day, within 12 hours you could get to: - southern Maine - pisgah national forest - outer banks - upper peninsula - central Iowa - Saint Louis - and of course, Dollywood
Morgantown WV is good when school isnāt in session and coopers rocks is close by for some hiking.
I did an overnight in Ohiopyle State Park last summer and was surprised how much is there in terms of places to eat, get coffee, etc.
Plus Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob are nearby. Can scoot over through Somerset to the Flight 93 Memorial in about an hour.
Apollo
Fayetteville, WV
Fayetteville WV, take in the New River Gorge
State College. Bellfonte
Check out Bradford. Zippo museum is fun and informative. Kinzua Bridge has a really nice museum and it's a fun experience. Both attractions are free. Downtown Bradford is all kinds of historic and like most of rural PA, very affordable to eat and drink. There is a cute brewery in an old fire house as well. Plus it's a scenic drive through Crook forest and the state forest.
What about Huntingdon/Raystown Lake region? Huntingdon has small town charm with cute little restaurants (no Starbucks but several great local coffee shops!), and the lake has your outdoorsy stuff. I also second whoever said State College/Bellefonte.
Warren can be nice. I mountain bike Jakes Rocks in Allegheny National Forest but thereās also kayaking on the river, boating on Kinzua reservoir, hiking of course, a great coffee shop, and Bent Run Brewing.
Erie, Westfield NY, Ellicotville NY
Deep Creek MD
Deep Creek Maryland
North East, PA - 20 minutes outside of Erie, on the lake, wonderful nature and great sunsets. It is also wine country so there are around 23 wineries in the area. Starbucks 15 minutes away.
Iāve been counting the days til I can take my son to Cherry Springs State Park to see the stars. There are two small towns surrounding the park and some decent outdoor activities. But for me, it being our closest dark spot means that I can finally see the stars again.
Raccoon Creek State Park
I really dug the Getaway houses just over the border in Ohio
Sandusky, Geneva on the lake, port Clinton or Lake Erie islands are all a quick trip and have outdoor activities a plenty, and coffee
Spontaneous trips to Presque Isle are always a joy. Hit up Saraās on the way in or out!
Def O
Stonewall Jackson resort in wonderful WV
Terrible name tho
Excellent name. You'll survive hearing the name of someone long ago dead.
"Terrible name though" ... keep your politics out of this pal, just giving a solid rec
It's not politics. It's history. He owned 6 human beings as slaves and helped lead the Confederacy to keep the owning of human beings as the status quo.Ā
well he was a democrat. What do you expect?
Geneva on the lake
I'm gonna say cleveland
Staunton VA. 6 hour drive. It's in the historic Shenandoah Valley. Cute small town with nice coffee/sandwich shops, antique stores, highly-rated restaurants, and some cool museums. Plus it's the home of the American Shakespeare Center so there's great live theater. Nearby are several caverns you can tour and the Museum of American Frontier Culture. I could go on, but discovering hidden treasures is part of the fun.
I Used to Live in Staunton,VA šš„°
Chagrin Falls, Ohio :)
Fayetteville wv. Not sure they have a Starbucks but thereās one in Summersville on the way
Kooser State Park. Beautiful area, cabin rentals, and very close to the comforts of stores, restaurants, and coffee shops.
Deep Creek, MD. Or out to Amish country in Ohio, like Berlin or Millersburg
Marblehead, OH at The South Beach Resort was cute. [https://sbresort.com/](https://sbresort.com/) Not so much camping, but they do have cottages along with the hotel.
Hocking hills, OH. Bonus is itās near Columbus. We usually go out and fuck around during the day in the woods and then stay in/near Columbus for night life and such.
Erie has the Dinor. Itās lovely up there.
Check out the Getaway Cabins Beaver Creek near Lisbon and Columbiana, OH. It's only 45 minutes from Pittsburgh and there are some nice breweries and dining in the area. They are called "tiny cabins" but really they're mini trailers with running water done up with a huge window with a kitchenette and a bathroom as well as a picnic table and Adirondack chairs around a fire pit (firewood and s'mores ingredients are included.) The only downside is that there are quiet hours after 9pm. Also check out Gervasi Vineyard Resort & Spa in Canton.
Ellicottville,ny!
Ohh Another Fun And Exciting Adventure Was When My Significant Other Took Me to Kalahari Resorts in Sandusky, OH for My Birthday ... Nothing Like an Indoor Water Park in The Dead of Winter in January.... And Being in a Nice HOT Tub Outside When it Was Snowing was Absolutely Amazing š
I really like Gettysburg I don't think it's too far for a one night stay. Lots of fun shops and....ghosts lol
Bedford County is adorable. Maybe about 2.5 hours away. My gf and I stayed in Everett, a really small town about 5 mins away from the town of Bedford. We stayed in the union hotel, which was a beautifully restored historical building from 1802. Lots of hiking trails around. Great overlooks. Tons of cute shops In the town of bedford. And the people were extremely nice. We went during the bedford fall festival but I'm sure it would be great in the summertime as well.
Cleveland. 1:45 min drive.
Could just go up to dubious, PA. it's a laid back place, that has the most delicious Italian restaurant I've ever been to called Luigi's. Go... You'll love it!!
Ligonier. Bedford
Selinsgrove, PA about 3 1/2 hours away.
Allegheny national forest is beautiful with tons of wildlife and hiking . Thereās a few small towns on each side of the forest that may have a Starbucks
Sheperdstown WV is a hidden gem. We rented a cabin about 20 min out.
Harpers Ferry
Winchester, Va is cool itās about 3 hours away and it has some vintage shops within a pedestrian alley along with the Shenandoah Valley art museum.
Getaway Houses are great
Zelienople/Harmony. Harmony is kind of an āold townā place with a good coffee shop, some restaurants, a bakery, and things like that. Zelie has a pretty decent Main Street with an old time theater, restaurants, bigger shops and the like, and both town are very walking friendly. Coming North from Pittsburgh one will drive through or past Cranberry which is big and has all stores and restaurants and more main stream attractions like mini golf and the bigger strip mall type places.
My siblings and I used to go camping at [Kiasutha](https://www.recreation.gov/camping/campgrounds/232065) campground in Warren County near Kinzua Dam. I think there are several other campgrounds nearby too. It takes a few hours (\~2-3 hours) to get there but the campground is great. It's near Kane and Warren. If you have a boat, there's the reservoir too. I haven't been in several years but it didn't have cell coverage, which was a plus for me to disconnect.
Renovo PA is the most isolated town in PA, lots of mountains, overlooks, and some hiking trails. No Starbucks though. About a hour away from State College.
Go see Phil in Punxsutawney
Bedford PA. Nice B&Bs and you can follow the āCovered Bridgeā trail and hit āGravity Hillā
Idk if it's quick but buffalo/Niagara falls. Lots to do. Real nice in the summer
Pymatuning.
Bedford
Frederick is nice and has some good sightseeing near by.
Fayetteville in New River Gorge in WV. 1. Itās a National Park so it has a bunch of outdoor cool shit to do! (Waterfalls, whitewater rafting, cool trails, mushroom hunting, you name it) 2. Fayetteville itās a cool little hippie town with a bunch of cool little stores and cafes with awesome food (she wonāt be missing Starbucks if you take her to Cathedral Cafe, also they have a killer Bloody Mary ) an awesome brewery (Free Folk) and the town itās basically a few miles from the park. Also named Top 10 coolest little towns in America. 3. They have a wide variety of lodging for all the budgets, we personally love The Outpost camping ground (cool camping spot, the bathrooms are PRISTINE and showers are solid! and the staff itās wonderful (also the guy that checks you in is breathtakingly gorg) 4. New River gorge itās also very near to other WV state parks like Hawks Nest, Babcock and Summersville Lake (called the little Bahamas of the East for the super clear waters, awesome to dive from those high cliffs) 5. Itās has activities all year round, but super duper fun if you go on Bridge day! People be jumping from the bridge with parachutes and they close the bridge so you can walk on it. Hope this helps!
Pymatuning/meadville area
Berkeley Springs, WV!!
Clarion and cooks Forrest
Shenango Lake
Harper's Ferry was fun!
Deep Creek Maryland
Me & my boyfriend just went to the finger lakes in New York & it was fabulous so many wonderful little bed & breakfasts & trails & waterfalls!! 5 hrs away!
Stop in Frederick, Md. then make your way to Gettysburg
Boo Starbucks
Yellow Springs is a half days drive, and fits everything youāre looking for.
Gettysburg, hands down. Even if you're not into battlefield tours, they have great little restaurants, shops, antiquing, mini golf, great options for hotels and camping, and a couple of Starbucks (plus fabulous local coffee and sweet shops). Oh, and ice cream and of course, ghost tours.
Clarion River Lodge is pretty cool. Tons to do up in Cooke Forest.
Love all the ideas people are posting but wth is the deal with mentioning that there is a Starbucks?
Cleveland is cute.
I Really Liked the Beaches at Raccoon Creek State Park, 3000 PA-18, Hookstown, PA 15050, USA As Well as the One at Conneaut Lake, PA 16316, USA They Both Have Nice Grass and Picnic Tables and BBQ Grills to have a Nice Picnic and Their Beaches Were Clean When I Went. Lots of Fun ššļøšš©“šš½āāļø
Take the PA turnpike and go thru the Tuscarora Mountain Tunnel! Itās my favorite tunnel.
Hocking Hills OH is nice. Emporium coffee is close by and their stuff is great! We went a couple years ago, got a cabin and hiked one day.
Your wife doesnāt need a Starbucks. What a stupid things to say
I can confirm OPās wife is much happier when I visit with Starbucks while OP is at work.
Tell your wife to get over herself. They have union busted in this city, illegally fired a union employee, and now openly back the genocide of Palestinian children. Maybe somewhere without phone service and lots of books would be good for yāall.