With Pittsburgh as its hub, Western Pennsylvania spreads west of the Appalachian divide and encompasses many of the state’s premier parks, mountains and rivers. Since 1932, the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy has protected some 225,000 acres of land in the region, much of which today is open to urbanites seeking an escape as well as outdoor enthusiasts looking for adventure.
Pittsburgh AREA
Long since shedding its steel gray image, Pittsburgh today touts its many layers of green, from its eco-pioneering David L. Lawrence Convention Center to its nature-studded surroundings.
"We are lucky to have the very unique topography of Pittsburgh, which is surrounded by water—the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers," says Meryl Hellring, tourism sales manager for VisitPittsburgh. "The downtown area is almost like a peninsula and it is also intertwined with almost 20 miles of biking trails."
A number of boat companies ply the city’s rivers.
"We have a wonderful pleasure boating fleet—the Gateway Clipper Fleet," Hellring says. "They can do everything from a one-hour narrated sightseeing cruise to a complete dinner and dancing extravaganza for groups."
The RiverQuest Explorer also offers group charters. For a river run sans motor, Kayak Pittsburgh leads downtown kayaking adventures for up to 30 at a time.
"You can view the city from the river, which is exhilarating. To see a skyscraper rise up above you from the river is very unique," Hellring says.
Two-wheeled outings are facilitated by Golden Triangle Bike Rental. A popular downtown option is the Eliza Furnace Trail, which is a segment of the Three Rivers Heritage Trail, a greenway system that spans 21 miles along both sides of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers. Its western end will eventually connect to Point State Park when it is complete.
Point State Park, which is undergoing a renovation that will be finished next year, is home to the annual Three Rivers Arts Festival and can also be used by groups.
Longer bike rides span the Great Allegheny Passage, a system of biking and hiking trails that connects Pittsburgh and Cumberland, Md., then goes to the C&O Canal Towpath trail, which runs to Washington, D.C.
To further explore the city’s architecture and neighborhoods, groups can organize custom walking tours with companies like Your Active City or the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation.
In Monroeville, a suburb located 12 miles east of Pittsburgh, the Monroeville Parks and Recreation Department runs some 850 acres of parkland, comprising 21 public parks. The 117-acre Monroeville Municipal Park can be used by groups and offers a botanical garden, bocce and tennis courts and volleyball courts. Boyce Park features hiking trails, tennis courts, ball fields, a wave pool in the summer months and downhill ski and snowboard areas.
Butler County
Sprawling nearly 800 square miles, Butler County is home to two state parks: the Jennings Environmental Education Center and Moraine State Park.
"Our centerpiece is our Moraine State Park," says Sandra Gadzia, sales director for the Butler County Tourism & Convention Bureau. "The park is one-stop shopping for everything outdoors —hiking trails and bicycling trails, horseback riding trails—and it is a great place for team building."
The 16,000-acre park features Lake Arthur, open for warm-water fishing, sailing and boating. Groups can book dinner and lunch cruises on Nautical Nature, a 45-passenger enclosed pontoon boat that runs trips on the lake.
During the winter, ice boating, sledding, skating, cross-country skiing and ice fishing are popular.
Pittsburgh-based Venture Outdoors can arrange for various activities in Moraine State Park, such as an introduction to geocaching, kayaking and disc golf.
Washington County
Washington County boasts some 6,000 acres of parks, including picnic areas, biking and hiking trails. The county’s trademark is its collection of over 20 well-preserved covered bridges.
"Several are in our county parks, and events can be planned surrounding those bridges," says J. R. Shaw, executive director of the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency.
Examples include the Ebenezer and Henry bridges in Mingo Creek County Park, which have amenities that cater to groups. Another bridge is located at the Meadowcroft Museum of Rural Life, a 275-acre outdoor museum that is home to the re-created, 19th-century Meadowcroft Village.
Groups can also ride antique trolleys at the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum.
Laurel Highlands/Johnstown
Known as the home of Frank Lloyd Wright’s famed Fallingwater, the Laurel Highlands also draws visitors to its mountains, including Mount Davis, the highest point in the state. The area features Ohiopyle State Park, a hub for the Great Allegheny Passage trail, kayaking, canoeing and hiking, including the 70-mile Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail.
"We are also really known for white-water rafting," says Julie Donovan, director of marketing and public relations for the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau.
The main draw is the Youghiogheny River. Outfitters offer various trips, from relaxing floats to more extreme white-water adventures.
Fly-fishing is also popular on the river and can be customized for a team-building event for groups.
In winter, there are downhill skiing options at Seven Springs Mountain. Nemacolin Woodlands Resort also has a ski area and caters to groups with a team-building ropes course and outings to the Shooting Academy, a sporting clays facility.
Close to Johnstown, the Stonycreek Whitewater Park offers white-water adventure rafting and kayaking. The outfitter Coal Tubin’ can accommodate groups for tubing trips down the Stonycreek River. Groups can also arrange fishing and boating outings on the Quemahoning Reservoir.
Winter options include snowmobiling, ice fishing and cross-country skiing in Prince Gallitzin State Park and Laurel Ridge State Park.
Erie
The spotlight for Erie rests on Presque Isle State Park, a 3,200-acre sandy peninsula along Lake Erie that is a draw for its shoreline as well as its activities, including swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, bicycling and even scuba diving. The gateway to Presque Isle is the Tom Ridge Environmental Center, which offers meeting space and serves as a meeting point for groups to link up with a park naturalist for hikes.
Groups can venture out on Lady Kate for a 90-minute narrated boat tour of the Presque Isle Bay and the lagoons. The Victorian Princess, an old-style paddle wheeler, seats up to 100 for dinners and sunset cruises on Lake Erie or Presque Isle Bay.
Another possibility for an outdoor team-building experience is aboard the U.S. Brig Niagara, one of last remaining ships from the War of 1812.
"Groups can sail on the lake, learn the inner workings of the ship or do something hands-on like getting the sails up," says Christine Pennsy, director of communications for VisitErie.
