AROUND Grandma's Gift
Whether you are looking for relaxing indoor activities, or outdoor adventures -- whether you're visiting during the full bloom of spring, the colorful fall, or the magical winter there is PLENTY for you to do while you are here. And if you want to do nothing but curl up with a good book, Grandma's Gift can accommodate that too!
Frank Lloyd Wright's world famous architectual masterpiece
Some of the best white water rafting in the country
Explore western PA in quite tranquility
Frank Lloyd Wright's world famous architectual masterpiece
“One of the 12 landmarks that will change the way you see the world” says Travel & Leisure Magazine, designated “Place of a Lifetime” by National Geographic, and considered by many to be the most famous private residence ever built. People travel from all over the world to see this magnificent house, which seems to float over a waterfall! Lucky for you, this architectural masterpiece is less than 5 miles away from Grandma’s Gift.
Historical Attractions
About 30 minutes from Grandma's Gift sits two historical sites -- Fort Necessity National Battlefield and Fort Ligonier. The first, Fort Necessity, was built by a young lieutenant named George Washington and in 1754 it would see the opening action of the French and Indian War. Built in 1758 Fort Ligonier was a British fortification built for the French and Indian War. Today, the sight has been preserved and visitors can walk among the cannons and fortifications as well as the dwelling quarters of this historic fort.
Hiking + Nature
Grandma's Gift is close to eight state parks in the Laurel Highlands region spanning more than 90,000 acres, plus a nature reserve covering another 5,000 acres. We can't begin to cover all the hiking options so we'll just list the four closest parks to Grandma's Gift in order of proximity: 1) Bear Run Nature Reserve 2) Ohiopyle State Park 3) Laurel Ridge State Park and 4) Laurel Hill State Park. Happy trails!
River Rafting
Less than 10 miles from Grandma's Gift is the Youghiogheny River, home to some of the best white water rafting in the country! Whether you want a relaxing family friendly float trip, or a wet and wild soak filled adventure, a variety of outfitters can help you find the trip that is right for you. During peak season it is always a good idea to try and book your reservation at least one or two days a head of time.
ZIP LINE/ROPES COURSE
Experience the gravity-defying thrill of flying through the trees 25 feet up at the Ohiopyle Zip-line Adventure Park -- just 10 minutes away from Grandma's Gift. Fun for the entire family ages 4 and up!
Most of the surrounding state parks offer exciting mountain biking trails of varying levels of difficulty. Check with the state parks to get a map of the trails that allow mountain bikes. If you are looking for easy and family friendly biking be sure and head to Ohiopyle State Park. If you didn't bring a bike, no problem, because most of the outfitters at Ohiopyle rent bikes by the hour and by the day.
Mountain Biking
Cross country skiing
Whether you're a veteran cross-country skier, or a first-timer, the Laurel Highlands offers the perfect opportunity to get out and enjoy a heart-pumping trek across snow-covered trails of varying degrees of difficulty - all while taking in the natural beauty of the mountains of Western Pennsylvania.
Horseback riding
Trail-Side Stables is the official equestrian trail ride outfitter for Ohiopyle State Park. No matter the level of your riding experience, the outfitter has horses to fit every type of rider. Rides vary in length so it is up to you if your horseback riding adventure is to last for an hour or all day.
Nemacolin offers 36 holes of championship golf along with some of the most breathtaking scenery Pennsylvania has to offer. Against the backdrop of the Laurel Highlands Nemacolin's two courses (the PGA Tour-tested Mystic Rock, and the tricky par-70, The Links) provide striking contrasts in design and promise to challenge every aspect of your golf game.
Golf
Grandma’s Gift is situated in between two ski resorts -- Hidden Valley and Seven Springs. Seven Springs is the larger of the two resorts, with more lifts, more runs, more places to eat, and a ½ pike for the die-hard snowboard enthusiasts. While Hidden Valley is smaller, its charm is that it tends to be less crowded on the mountain, and the lift tickets are less expensive. Both resorts offer rental equipment.