Winter, Spring, Summer or Fall, the Pittsburgh region has it all! These tours embrace the beauty of all four seasons, and celebrate the special activities and events that come around just one time of year.
Seasons in Southwestern Pennsylvania
Celebrate the Season in Southwestern PA
Tour Length: 3 Days / 2 Nights, Customizable | Seasons Available: November & December
Activity Level: Light Impact
With big city sparkle and small town charm, the winter holidays are magical in southwestern Pennsylvania. Ranked no. 5 on WalletHub’s Best Places for Christmas celebrations, Pittsburgh offers seasonal shows in the Pittsburgh Cultural District, a beloved outdoor holiday marketplace, and the Pittsburgh crèche—the world’s only authorized replica of the Vatican’s Nativity display. Currier & Ives scenes come to life when you venture to Ligonier’s town square, Canonsburg’s main street, or to Indiana, PA’s month-long It’s a Wonderful Life Festival in Jimmy Stewart’s hometown—also known as the Christmas Tree Capital of the World!
Ice Rink in PPG Plaza. Image by Kurt Miller.
It’s a Wonderful Life in Indiana, PA
Tour Length: 2 days/1 night suggested, Customizable | Seasons Available: Anytime, with special options in November & December
Activity Level: Light Impact
A visit to Hollywood actor Jimmy Stewart’s hometown in Indiana, PA, reveals where he developed the all-American values that were ingrained in his 80-film career. This tour includes a tour of Vinegar Hill where Jimmy was born, the church where his family worshipped, and a fascinating museum dedicated to preserving his life. Dinner includes a visit from a Jimmy Stewart performer who will perform some of his most beloved scenes. And because Indiana is also the Christmas Tree Capitol of the World, groups can tour a local tree farm with a ride through the fields to learn about growing and harvesting pine trees, with a visit to a holiday gift shop. In late November and December, groups can plan to attend the annual It’s a Wonderful Life Festival, and can even participate in the parade down the town’s charming Main Street!
The Jimmy Stewart Museum
Escape to the Laurel Highlands
Tour Length: 5 days/4 nights, Customizable | Seasons Available: Fall
Activity Level: Light Impact to High Adventure
Leaf peepers welcome! With 3,000 picturesque square miles, The Laurel Highlands are located just an hour southeast of Pittsburgh. The region’s scenic and historic roadways wind across three mountain ranges to reveal rolling hills, roaring river gorges, and the highest peak in Pennsylvania, one of the most beautiful places to take in the splendor of Autumn! This itinerary blends Rockwellian small towns with world-renowned architecture (four Frank Lloyd Wright homes, including the iconic Fallingwater.) Brimming with history and heroism, groups can follow in George Washington’s footsteps at the first battlefield of the French and Indian War, and feel the power of patriotism at the Flight 93 National Memorial. This tour has a sweet side, with a visit to a local family-run maple syrup camp.
Kentuck Knob, courtesy of the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau.
