Everyone has some story about an experience with moonshine, or stuff their friend or uncle used to make in their garage. Take that tradition and add in an expert distiller with a passion for experimentation and quality, and you get Country Hammer Moonshine. We recorded this month's podcast with Tim Baureis, owner, and Kerri Bright, general…

Can it really be the end of March already? It seems like we just released our Fish Fry Blog, and now we are ready to share all of the amazing Easter plans our partners throughout the Laurel Highlands region are getting ready for you to enjoy. As always, we recommend calling ahead and contacting these locations ahead of time to ensure you have the…

Here in the Laurel Highlands, specifically Somerset County, late winter and early spring signal Maple Season! Our region’s maple sugar producers take great pride in the tradition of tapping maple trees and producing maple syrup and other goodies. Their efforts make Somerset County the largest producer of maple products in the state.…

The Laurel Highlands is one of only a few regions in the United States that celebrates the Catholic Lenten tradition of fish fries. Each Friday during Lent our church basements, restaurants and fire halls start dropping baskets of hot oil for a community celebration of deep-fried goodness. Whether you're a fish fry aficionado or are a guppy…

This year’s Valentine’s Day Week in the Laurel Highlands looks quite different than last year; in fact, this holiday is the final major holiday that we were able to celebrate pre-pandemic in 2020. If that doesn’t make your mind bend a little bit… well, you’ve adjusted better than I have! We have very good news:…

Supporting local restaurants and small businesses has become a passion project of mine throughout the past several months. These establishments have met the most unimaginable challenges with perseverance and creativity, and as community members, we should support these organizations as often as possible. If you’re finding yourself in a…

It's Good to Bee Kind. After a wild 2020, I think the closing words of this podcast resonated with me a lot more than they normally would have. Maybe it's the sincerity of Bee Kind Winery Ligonier owner Joe Kendrick and manager Sharon Palmer, who repeatedly stressed their thankfulness for the welcome they received in the area from other…

Eat Locally Locally-owned restaurants need your help more than ever. Because they aren’t corporate chains or franchise locations, they don’t have the benefit of a large marketing budget or operations support. For drool-worthy inspiration for your breakfast, lunch, or dinner order, peruse our delicious dining partners here. Support the…

The definition of a hidden gem, Tall Pines Distillery is tucked in one of the farthest corners of the Laurel Highlands and practically in another state. For those who make the drive, however, they often cite Tall Pines as their favorite stop of their entire trip. View this post on Instagram A post…

Fall is here, or as I like to call it, stout season. If you're like me, that means it's time to put away the IPA and Shandy and get into fall favorite beer styles like Oktoberfests, porters, stouts and pumpkin beers. Follow our guide to see what's on tap this fall at breweries throughout the Laurel Highlands! Be sure to bring your…