This blog post is a follow-up to yesterday’s lunch date at Brady’s Restaurant in Acme.
Pennsylvania Route 31 has many attractions to offer, as does Westmoreland County if you look hard enough. Anytime that my family and I venture out to the Laurel Highlands, we get there by way of PA 31. Occasionally, when we go to Somerset, we’ll take US 30 past Ligonier and up the mountain to Jennerstown. Weather permitting, it’s a nicer drive than taking the Pennsylvania Turnpike. You can find many wonderful roadside attractions and places to eat when you take the scenic route.
The scenic route we took made me appreciate these moments that I have with my family. I was grateful for the opportunity to have lunch at Brady’s and catch up with my Somerset family. We thought about one of our loved ones on my Gramma’s side of the family who just passed away last week.
After lunch, we had some extra time on our hands and my mom drove through the foothills of the Laurel Highlands. We passed through the communities that make up Mount Pleasant Township. This little detour was nice and I enjoyed the time in the car spent with Mom.
Lesson learned: Cherish the moments you have with your family.
We passed by the Westmoreland County Fairgrounds, thinking about summertime and the county fair as well as the Christmas lights at Overly’s. We saw the beautiful Pitt-Greensburg campus and prefer that campus over the busier main campus in Oakland. Greensburg has some nice colleges and the coffee shops get great business from the students. We came through Southwest Greensburg and then made our way home. I took advantage of the afternoon to take a rest after that time well spent.
I spotted some nice attractions along that scenic ride home. Highlighted in the blog are three of them plus a few additional places.
Donegal Highlands
This wonderful course is set in the foothills of the Laurel Highlands and is not far from the Pennsylvania Turnpike. In fact we were three minutes from the Donegal interchange on Friday. This course has two nines which are different from one another. The front nine is links-style and the second being more parkland-style. Because it’s lower level, the course is prone to flooding and poor drainage following a major rain event. But, it has a relaxed atmosphere and is very scenic.
Copperheads Restaurant and Pub
Copperheads is a popular stop for those visiting the mountains or looking for a night out. Open until late, they serve standard pub fare in a casual setting.
Stone Villa Wine Cellars
This is a picturesque winery set on 150 acres in the foothills of the Laurel Highlands. The main highlight is the outdoor space which is perfect for those who love live music or who have a free weekend afternoon. I witnessed the large pond as we traveled home yesterday through the small towns. My mind was blown at how nice this place was. The wine selection includes a lot of sweeter, fruit-based varities. They also have a lot of reds and whites, as well as Chardonnay and Cabernet.
This was before we drove through Kecksburg and other non-incorporated communities.
Other attractions include the Norvelt Golf Club, Hillbilly’s (located in Donegal), and Laurel Valley Golf Club in Ligonier (which has hosted major golf tournaments in the past).
Stylish 🍒 