LIGONIER, Pa. – For the seventh consecutive year, Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands region is among the nation’s 10 best destinations for fall foliage.
The region finished sixth in the USA Today 10Best Readers’ Choice Award for Best Destination for Fall Colors. Results of the nationwide contest were announced Wednesday.
“Autumn colors peak in this region of the Allegheny Mountains around mid-October, making for a stunning show,” USA Today 10Best wrote. “The plethora of hiking and biking trails, including a portion of the Great Allegheny Passage, mean it's easy to explore the highlands during the height of the season. Several fall festivals add to the welcoming vibes in this region each October.”
The recognition continues a remarkable run for the Laurel Highlands. This is the seventh consecutive year that the region or a destination within it has placed among the top 10 in a USA Today 10Best fall foliage contest.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Pennsylvania has a longer and more varied fall foliage season than any other state – or anywhere else in the world. The Laurel Highlands is an ideal destination for an autumn getaway, with nearly 200,000 acres of public lands. A diverse mix of trees – some with their own signature fall color – line the region’s mountain ridges and river valleys to provide a dramatic landscape.
The USA Today recognition follows additional national coverage of the region’s fall scenery. Condé Nast Traveler included the Laurel Highlands in its recent article, “Where to Find the Best Fall Foliage in the USA This Autumn.” TravelPulse also featured the region in “Best Destinations for Families to Enjoy a Fall Foliage Themed Getaway,” published Sept. 12.
“We know Mother Nature dampened many summer weekends, so we encourage visitors to turn those postponed plans into a Laurel Highlands autumn itinerary,” said Ann Nemanic, executive director of GO Laurel Highlands, the official destination marketing organization for Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland counties. “Book an extended getaway and start the morning with a Laurel Highlands Coffee Club stop, then populate the day with a few attractions or a festival or two. September and October are ideal months to relax and unwind with a craft beverage from the Laurel Highlands Pour Tour and end a full day with a cozy night stargazing from a Chestnut Ridge mountaintop.”
Fall festivals fill the calendar in September and October, with Laurel Highlands staples such as Confluence PumpkinFest (Oct. 1-4), Delmont Apple ‘n Arts Festival (Oct. 3-4), Fort Ligonier Days (Oct. 9-11) and Seven Springs’ Autumnfest, a nominee for USA Today 10Best’s Best Fall Festival.
“At Seven Springs Autumnfest, you'll be able to enjoy Pennsylvania's gorgeous fall foliage in person at this mountain resort,” USA Today wrote. “Over three weekends in October, you can gawk at the leaves, explore the pumpkin patch and hay maze, go on chairlift rides, and enjoy live music and the best of local food vendors and craft artisans in one of the state’s most stunning spots.”
About Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands
A magnificent mountainous region, the Laurel Highlands offer 3,000 square miles of scenic views and endless recreation in southwestern Pennsylvania. The beautiful four-season destination is located within an hour’s drive of Pittsburgh, attracting outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy outstanding skiing, hiking, biking and golfing opportunities. The Laurel Highlands is also home to remarkable historic sites and attractions, family activities and world-class resorts. Notable destinations within the region include four architectural masterpieces by Frank Lloyd Wright – Fallingwater®, Kentuck Knob, Mäntylä and Duncan House – as well as the Flight 93 National Memorial. Visitors flock to our world-class resorts including Nemacolin and Seven Springs Mountain Resort. Families enjoy the award-winning Idlewild and Soak Zone, whitewater rafting in Ohiopyle State Park and much more.
Located within 200 miles of the major metropolitan areas of Pittsburgh, Baltimore, Cleveland, and Washington, D.C., Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands can be easily accessed from exits 67, 75, 91 and 110 of the Pennsylvania Turnpike.
Information about the Laurel Highlands can be found online at GoLaurelHighlands.com or facebook.com/laurelhighlandsPA or by calling 724.238.5661.
Established in 1958, GO Laurel Highlands, formerly known as Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau, is the official destination marketing organization for Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland counties in southwestern Pennsylvania. GO Laurel Highlands is accredited through Destinations International’s Marketing Accreditation Program (DMAP), earning Accreditation with Distinction, the program’s highest level of recognition. Globally recognized as a benchmark for destination marketing and management, DMAP evaluates organizations against standards that emphasize strategic leadership, community-shared value, social inclusion and welcoming environments. The designation reinforces Laurel Highlands Tourism’s commitment to strong organizational practices and creating value for the communities, businesses and visitors it serves.
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