In mid-May of this year our local car club decided to arrange a Spring driving tour for members. The destination was the Seven Springs Resort in Western, PA. A comfortable 3 hours from home, the route there took us into central Ohio (Cadiz, St. Clairesville) and along some fabulous twisty and scenic driving enthusiast roads. When we arrived at the Seven Springs Resort and picked up our welcome packet, we were impressed with the amount and diversity of things to do in the area!
Seven Springs Resort
The last time I visited Seven Springs Resort, I was about 10 years old and tagging along on some conference my parents were attending. Since that time a new wing has been added to the hotel but what struck me most was how little things like the main bar, indoor pool and game area had changed. It brought back some fun memories, for sure!
After a meet & greet at the Bavarian Lodge, we had dinner at one of the casual restaurants, Timbers, then wandered the grounds. We were surprised to learn that the resort also has an on-site bowling alley and a fantastic little sweet shop where we grabbed some dessert!
Frank Lloyd Wright Sites
Our first activity on Saturday was a drive out to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, named just earlier this week as an UNESCO World Heritage site. While not the biggest fan of his architecture, the setting and first views of the house are truly incredible. He was a genius at adapting the property so that you feel immersed in nature but the overall dampness and extremely low placement of all the furniture would take these old bones some getting used to! After the tour some of the group went to visit another Wright property, the nearby Kentuck Knob but Natty Guy and I decided to go explore a different site.
Nemacolin
We had been scheduled to stay at Nemacolin last year with some friends but had to cancel at the last minute so we were curious to check out what we had missed. We grabbed a lovely lunch at The Tavern restaurant and then made a quick tour around the grounds to see some of the museum-quality artwork, shops and more. Nemacolin is truly next-level and a return stay will be in order one of these days. But now it was time to head back to Seven Springs for our next appointment.
Trillium Spa at Seven Springs
The weather can be fickle in May so we decided to hedge against a rainy day by booking some late afternoon massages at the Seven Spring spa. As things turned out, the day was lovely but I’m still glad we had our appointments. I’d been fighting a severe cold throughout the weekend and the extra pampering felt great! We both opted for the Signature Trillium Massage which combines dry brushing with a traditional massage experience. After that and some time in the steam room, I was feeling relaxed, replenished and ready for dinner and some evening entertainment.
Helen’s Restaurant at Seven Springs
We enjoyed some drinks and sunshine on the patio before heading off to dinner at Helen’s – an onsite but detached property that is in the original historical homestead. We enjoyed their Laurel Highlands trout and duck along with some lovely selections from their Wine Spectator curated wine list. The meal was delicious, the service attentive and the setting both cozy and romantic. Highly recommend if you are staying on property.
We wound up the evening back at the Bavarian Lounge, one of two lounges that were offering live music that night. It seems that a lot of locals come to the lounges for weekend entertainment and we had a great time dancing and making new friends.
Flight 93 Memorial
After checking out on Sunday morning but before heading back home, we went out to pay our respects and the Flight 93 Memorial. If you go to visit, please note that the address given on most navigation systems and via road signage is incorrect. The only entry point is now at 6424 Lincoln Highway, Stoystown, PA 15563. Visiting the memorial is both worthwhile and heart-wrenching. We found listening to the voice mails left by those on the plane to their surviving family members particularly poignant.
Installation in Progress
Other Area Sites to Explore
From an event planning perspective, Seven Springs did an excellent job, providing us with private parking, a car wash area and many other niceties to ensure an enjoyable stay. The property is likely to keep you busy enough – mountain lift rides, clay shooting, fly fishing, golf, horseback riding and, of course, skiing in season, are all available at the resort. But, if you are looking for other possibilities, we have a few additional suggestions:
- Ohiopyle State Park – offers whitewater rafting, kayaking, rock climbing, biking and more and can accommodate a variety of experience levels
- Laurel Caverns – the largest cave in PA with over 3 miles of passages
- Lady Luck Casino – try your luck at this gaming venue located next to Nemacolin
- Somerset Historical Center – an outdoor living museum documenting the historical way of life in Southwestern PA, from first inhabitants to present day
Until next time…keep cultivating that simple, stylish and satisfying life!
