kcapuani

Just to piggyback on the Buffalo suggestion, it would be around a 5.5 hour drive from Fallingwater. Here is a link detailing the FLW homes in Buffalo:
http://ah.bfn.org/a/archs/wright/buff/index.html

Also, the city just broke ground on the FLW Boathouse. I'm not sure when it is scheduled for completion.

Buffalo has great architecture (I live about 8 miles away). East Aurora, a suburb about 15 miles southwest of the city, is a town built around the leader in the arts and crafts movement - Elbert Hubbard. The Roycroft Inn is a beautiful B&B if you end up in the area:
www.roycroftinn.com

There are many other things to do in the Southern Tier of NY - the Chautauqua Institute, Letchworth State Park etc.

cabovacation

Also Buffalo has several - (maybe 7?) parks designed by Frederick Law Olmstead, who designed Central Park. If you go to Chautauqua this year, you can stay at my empty house.

pollyvw

I saw a tv documentary once about a church in Pittsburgh with outstanding stained glass windows. mrwunfl or others in the know, do you know the name and/or location? I believe the glass was Tiffany; the church was located downtown; and one of the points of interest in the documentary was that a nearby building was being 'imploded'; therefore, there was concern about saving the windows (which they did!). I would love to put that location on my list for when I make it to Pittsburgh.

Cher

My husband and I just visited Fallingwaters ... We stayed at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort (in The Lodge), which I would highly recommend. It will really make your stay very enjoyable. You've gotten some great suggestions from posters here ... should be enough to enjoy the area.

One suggestion -- Be sure to get tickets for the extended Fallingswater tour (which you need to reserve ahead of time) -- It's around $55 per person, but well worth the cost.

Also, in addition to the above, you're not too far from the memorial site for Flight 93 that went down in Pennsylvania on 9/11/01.

Definitely plan on Oct versus April ... The area will be absolutely beautiful with fall colors.

fun4all4

I only live a a few hours from Falling Water and Pittsburgh and have never been. I was just thinking it might be a nice long weekend fall getaway (probably next year) so thanks for the helpful post!

mrwunrfl

Sorry, I don't know the name of the church. I grew up in Pittsburgh and have family that live there but have not lived there myself for 27 years. I have never visited Fallingwater, but maybe the next time I visit my sister in Chalk Hill I will.

starrsville

pollyw, would this be it?

First Presbyterian Church, Sixth Avenue, Downtown, 412-471-3436. Tours include 13 Tiffany stained-glass windows, available after Sunday service at 10:45 a.m. Group tours by appointment. Free.

source = good website with lots of ideas for things to do in Pittsburgh

tuscanlifeedit

I think it's Calvary on the North Side of Pittsburgh that has those famous windows. Here's an article from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about them:

http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/20020...ws0922fnp1.asp

Calvary Methodist is not far from the National Aviary in Pittsburgh. Andy Warhol Museum and the stadiums, as well as the very cool Mattress Factory gallery, where they show installation art, are all on that side of Pittsburgh. If you add St Anthony's Chapel, you have a full day of sightseeing just on the North Side.

I have had the opportunity to show a lot of folks around Pittsburgh in the past year, and it is really a great destination in combination with Fallingwater and the mountains.

pollyvw

starrsville...I think you've got it! And tuscanlifeedit, looks like you found a winner too. Bookmarking them for future reference. Thank y'all so much!

gaegrand

I suggest you visit Shanksville, PA., where United Airline Flight 93 crashed on 9/11/01.

It is an undeveloped historic site, staffed by volunteers from the area, and full of tributes. A very unorganized place and therefore the most inspiring site I have ever visited.

Visit before the Park Service ruins it with their $100 million interpretive center.

starrsville

Wonderful suggestion gaegrand.

You know, I've been talking about driving up to Fallingwater for a year or so. I just did a mapquest route - and adding Shanksville is the impetus I need to make this trip.

Thanks.

bjboothman

Well, it always takes me the better part of two hours to get from the south hills of Pittsburgh to Fallingwater - it's not like there is a highway to take you there, lots of 35 mph roads and considerable traffic near the city of Pittsburgh.

For anyone who plans to visit Fallingwater, I can't emphasize enough the already mentioned suggestion to visit Kentuck Knob - even though it is less architecturally "important", I enjoyed the tour even more than Fallingwater.

Another vote for a fall visit rather than a spring visit - it's likely to be cold and wet here in April.

MrsKiss

Not McConnellsville, it is Connellsville....live near...very near.

MrsKiss

Oh, posting about Connellsville lead me to think about Dawson, PA. Linden Hall is a wonderful historic place to visit. It is 38 miles South of Pittsburgh. It has a rich history with a mansion to tour, golfing, dining, recreation, and lodging. Also, connected with the mansion and the history is a beautiful victorian home in Dawson, and a church: Cockran Memorial Methodist Church in Dawson that is unbelievable. You have to see it to believe it. www.lindenhall.com

MrsKiss

Oops. www.lindenhallpa.com

mrwunrfl

Connellsville! My mother was from Connellsville (Dutch Bottom) and her sister and sister's DH still live in Connellsville. Dad was from Scottdale.

BlackandGold

The Ohiopyle area is beautiful. My absolute favorite place in PA. We live close so we spend a lot of time camping there. The river has incredible trout fishing and a wonderful bicycle trail that can be walked easily if you aren't into biking. I'll second Ligonier as a quaint little town. Although Pittsburgh is not a small town, there are many scenic neighborhoods and it is only about 1.5 hours away. I would vote October since the leaves will be turning, and it's usually drier.

orangetravelcat

Never got to take the trip to Fallingwater as my husband had alot of medical problems. But now, I have some time off fromOct 29-Nov 4, and FW is one of the options we are looking at. I know the weather probably is not ideal then, but that's the only time we would have available to go this year.