To the uninitiated, the thought of Western Pennsylvania brings to mind Pittsburgh and not much more. Those taking the time to explore, however, will find the entire region an enticing locale, with everything from captivating countryside dotted with covered bridges to high-caliber casino fun.
Pittsburgh
Those expecting a charmless industrial town when coming to Pittsburgh will have their perceptions quickly and unalterably changed by the city today. Active, attractive and bursting at the seams with venues and vitality, the ’Burgh offers planners a complete package of possibilities for meetings and events.
“Visitors from all over the world continue to be surprised at the city’s beauty, the friendliness of its people and the amazing amount of art, theater, outdoor adventure and great dining to be found here,” says Beverly Morrow-Jones, executive director of marketing and communications for Visit Pittsburgh. “Pittsburgh is a beautiful, walkable and safe city. Add to that nine theaters downtown, a robust Cultural District and many great restaurants, and you’ve got the recipe for a great convention or meeting.”
That’s before you even take the city’s varied off-site venues into account. One of the best is undoubtedly the Andy Warhol Museum, showcasing countless colorful creations from Pittsburgh’s most famous native son and event spaces for groups of up to 400, including a top-notch Film and Video Center hosting 100. But the Warhol is only the tip of the proverbial iceberg when it comes to great settings for groups.
“Our stunning David L. Lawrence Convention Center, which was the first Gold-LEED certified convention center in the world, is a standard setter,” remarks Morrow-Jones. “Not only is it filled with natural light, but the roof provides a beautiful setting for an event, and the view over the river is fantastic!”
She also suggests the Peterson Events Center at the University of Pittsburgh, Soldiers and Sailors [Memorial Hall/Museum], Carnegie Museum of Art, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, plus Heinz Field, PNC Park and the CONSOL Energy Center, respectively home to the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pirates and Penguins.
While Pittsburgh proper is loaded with meetings-ready properties, groups seeking team-building excitement in an elegant but outdoorsy setting will hit pay dirt about an hour south in Farmington, where Nemacolin Woodlands AAA Five Diamond resort showcases everything from ropes challenges to build-your-own-boat regatta races.
Monroeville
Groups seeking to combine the attractions and venues of a major city with the affordability of a lower-tier locale will greatly appreciate the allure of Monroeville, a friendly neighbor to Pittsburgh just 12 miles east.
“We are the gateway to Pittsburgh, and our convenience and affordability have been big pluses for groups,” says Karrie Burns, executive director of VisitMonroeville. “Visitors have been very surprised by our locale and how close we are to Pittsburgh.”
Burns adds that her organization works directly with Visit Pittsburgh, and that groups coming to town will frequently tie in some of the city’s lures for attendees.
“We just had a group do an event at our convention center that also went into Pittsburgh for a Pirates game,” she says. “And other groups like to do the Gateway Clipper [river cruises]. But they’re staying in our market and saving money.”
Monroeville also has four historical landmarks worthy of investigating—Old Stone Church, McGinley House, McCully Log House and McGregor Stone Bridge—plus the popular convention center, with over 100,000 square feet of space and an adjoining 191-room Doubletree hotel.
For groups with some downtime between meetings and events, the Monroeville Mall serves up plenty of options. Known to film buffs as the filming location for the 1978 cult horror classic Dawn of the Dead, the mall today is a lively and likeable hotbed of shopping, diversions and plenty of dining. Casual fare can be enjoyed at the substantial food court, and fine dining possibilities include Saga—a Japanese steakhouse with two private dining rooms.
Indiana County
A short drive east of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, Indiana County is billed as the “Christmas Tree Capital of the World” but offers indoor and outdoor possibilities for groups year-round.
“Our tourism attractions and education experiences are unique and will create great group memories,” says Penny Perman, executive director for the Indiana County Tourism Bureau. “Hollywood glamour at the Jimmy Stewart Museum, an Amish Wedding Feast in Smicksburg or visiting a Christmas tree farm while in the ‘Christmas Tree Capital of the World’ is exciting. Learning about the Eastern Woodland people at Naeskahoni Town or about the history of the Underground Railroad movement are all very educational for groups.”
Perman also expresses great enthusiasm for a new state-of-the-art meetings venue.
“Inside venues here include the brand-new Kovalchick Convention and Athletic Complex, located on the Indiana University of Pennsylvania Campus,” she explains. “This facility offers over 17,000 square feet of convention space, a 650-seat auditorium, a 5,000-seat arena and 6,000 square feet of conference center space. Inside, banquet facilities include Rustic Lodge, offering 8,500 square feet and 13 acres of wooded grove.”
Butler County
Due north of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, Butler County is a peaceful haven for events and has been for quite some time now.
“We have large groups that have been coming to Butler County annually for years,” says Sandy Gadzia, sales director for Butler County Tourism & Convention Center. “The Society for Creative Anachronism Inc. brings 16,000-17,000 people in annually for an event that lasts for two weeks and has been hosted here for 40-plus years.”
The outdoorsy locale is also host to its own events, including the Big Butler County Fair, which has been around for more than a century and even been featured in National Geographic. Meanwhile, August’s inaugural Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival, paying tribute to Butler’s status as birthplace of the Jeep, has instantly become another popular gathering. The event showcased more than 1,300 Jeeps from 24 states and four different countries.
“Even cold weather generates excitement,” Gadzia says. “Moraine State Park hosted its first-ever winter festival, including a chili cook-off, snowshoe instruction, ice skating and sleigh riding on the coldest Saturday of last winter—and more than 1,200 people came out and enjoyed the event.”
Lawrence County
Northwest of Pittsburgh, Lawrence County is a locale that is raring and ready to transport visitors back to Western Pennsylvania of yesteryear through culture, architecture and even its outdoors.
“Lawrence County is a perfect spot for small meetings and conferences,” says JoAnn McBride, executive director for Visit Lawrence County. “The Scottish Rite Cathedral, perfectly situated overlooking the city of New Castle, is an elegant venue for major events and meetings.”
The 1920s neo-classic wonder, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, is just part of the area’s old-time enchantment.
“Many of those who visit the area are intrigued by the Old Order Amish Community located in the Amish Countryside surrounding the villages of New Wilmington and Volant,” McBride says, adding that the Mill State Park is another ideal enclave to explore.
“McConnell’s Mill State Park offers tours of the historic Grist Mill plus other park amenities,” she explains. “Drive through McConnell’s Mill Covered Bridge, a registered National Historic Landmark—or hike to the Slippery Rock Gorge, a designated National Natural Landmark in 1974 and a State Park Natural Area in 1998.”
The town of New Castle is yet another great escape into the past, according to McBride.
“New Castle’s Historic North Hill, the third-largest historic district in Pennsylvania, includes an abundance of architecturally beautiful Victorian mansions,” she says.
Washington County
“Location, location, location,” remarks J.R. Shaw, executive director of the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency. “Washington County lies within a day’s drive of half the population of the U.S., plus groups enjoy easy airport access from Pittsburgh International. New state-of-the-art hotel meeting facilities, unique group activities for evenings and free time, local events and festivals, and a wide range of dining options make Washington County the new group option in Western Pennsylvania.”
While the county is hailed for its quintessential countryside dotted by no less than 23 covered bridges, there are also plenty of unique attractions and accommodations. A major fun-spot is the Meadows Racetrack & Casino, which has just announced the upcoming construction of a large multipurpose facility for groups and events, adding to their year-round harness racing, and a casino with slot machines and table games.
Shaw says a number of other local venues are ideal for event hosting or group visits, including the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, Meadowcroft Rockshelter & Historic Village, Tanger Outlet, downtown Canonsburg and Consol Energy Park, home to the Washington Wild Things minor-league baseball club.
Laurel Highlands and Johnstown
The Laurel Highlands region of southwestern Pennsylvania is a compelling blend of pastoral outdoors, off-beat architecture and unique historical sites.
“PA’s Laurel Highlands has signature attractions that can be found nowhere else,” says Linda Mauzy, group sales manager for the Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau. “These, along with our natural scenic beauty in our three-county region in the mountains of southwestern Pennsylvania, are sure to please any group with any desired interest.”
Mauzy says groups on the lookout for an impressive historical experience will be faced with a variety of choices.
“Whether exploring our past history with the remarkable remnants of the French and Indian War or more present with the new Flight 93 National Memorial or The Rescue at the Quecreek Mine site, groups leave with a powerful experience they will long remember,” she says.
Architecture buffs will enjoy three Frank Lloyd Wright-designed homes boasting a gamut of group possibilities. The trio comprises Fallingwater, the famous cantilevered home built over a cascading waterfall, with group tours and a historic barn for meetings; Kentuck Knob, with a variety of tours plus Sunday Brunch events; and Duncan House at Polymath Park Resort, providing the rare opportunity to lodge in a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home for groups of up to six.
Erie
Nestled along the shores of the eponymously named lake, Erie has more to see and do than you might expect from its remote locale in Pennsylvania’s northwest corner.
“Erie is experiencing quite a renaissance,” says Joe Holody, director of convention sales for VisitErie. “We have a newly developed Bayfront and a downtown that has seen an insurgence of wonderful restaurants, pubs and museums, not to mention really great shopping that includes tax-free purchases on clothes. And the Bayfront Convention Center has been the perfect addition to this city on the move.”
Aside from the convention center and its roughly 147,000 square feet of meeting space, planners will appreciate the adjoining 200-room Sheraton, plus other meetings-ready properties such as the Hilton Garden Inn and Courtyard by Marriott, both connected to the Ambassador Center event facility.
Off-site escapes range from Presque Isle State Park and its 65,000-square-foot environmental center to the massive Splash Lagoon Indoor Waterpark Resort.
