Fallingwater - Lodging between Pit & NJ?
 

My husband and I are considering taking a 2-3 night trip from NJ to see Fallingwater. From what I can tell, it will be about an 8-hour drive from the Jersey Shore. We would like to stay in a nice place (Marriott/Westin type) but not as stuffy/sophisticated as the Nemacolin Resort appears to be. We would also prefer not to have to drive as far as Pittsburgh, only to have to drive east again for Fallingwater - are there nice hotels between Fallingwater & NJ - but obviously, closer to Fallingwater?

Thanks!
Lisa

Wanted to suggest that you also visit Kentuck Knob http://www.kentuckknob.com/ another FLW house -- quite close to Fallingwater. Can't help with places to stay. When visitng that area I have stayed in Pittsburgh and also Nemacolin, which I didn't love, but it's not really stuffy or particularly sophisticated..its just a huge resort.

There are no Marriott/Westin type large business hotels enroute.

But how about this place?

www.bedfordspringsresort.com/default_.asp

LPOW
I live within about a 15 minute drive of Fallingwater. You have to keep in mind you are visiting a rural area, so Marriot and Westin type resorts don't really exist around here. If you are coming across from NJ, here are a couple of lodging/activity/sightseeing recommendations.
Deep Creek Lake, MD is a great mountainous but scenic activity area. No Marriots/Westins, but you will find some suitable accomodations since this is an area with lake and mountain region (skiing, boating, swimming). If you drive south from NJ (depending on where you live) to this area and are able to hit Route 68, the drive is wonderful and scenic. Just taking a guess, Fallingwater is only about 30 minutes from Deep Creek.
Other resort type areas that would find you driving across the PA turnpike in an westerly direction and accessible by the PA turnpike in Somerset would be Seven Springs Resort and Hidden Valley Resort. These are winter ski resorts with modest accomodations that also have some summer activities. Seven Springs would have more going on than Hidden Valley and both would probably be a 30-40 minute drive away, but on back roads.
There is another historic inn located about 10 minutes from Fallingwater called Mt. Summit Inn. It is located at the top of the Summit mountain. I haven't stayed here personally, but I would probably say the accomodations are quaint. http://www.summitinnresort.com/ It boasts the closest accomodation to Fallingwater. Also a nine hole golf course adjacent. If you want to actually stay in the vicinity of Fallingwater, this would probably be your best bet.
Another option are some B&B's located in Ohiopyle at Ohiopyle Falls State Park.
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/statepar.../ohiopyle.aspx
Would also be a short trip here to Fallingwater or from the Mt. Summit Inn...this is a neat but very small town with a couple of restaurants but lots of outdoor activities, situated along a very long section of rail trail (Yough River Trail and Allegheny Passage) that extends from eastern Maryland to Pittsburgh. http://www.atatrail.org
In addition to observing the falls, you can bike, hike, walk, picnic and white water raft.
The closest chain hotels would be about 10 minutes down the mountain from the Mt. Summit Inn in the city of Uniontown--Fairfield Inn, Holiday Inn, Hampton Inn, Super 8 and just another 8 minutes or so west of Uniontown is a B&B called Watson's Choice that gets good local reviews. http://www.watsonschoice.com/

Also, forgot to mention you may want to visit Fort Necessity while in the area.
http://www.nps.gov/fone

hugglynn, thanks for such great info. A road trip to Fallingwater has been on my "to do" list for a couple of years. I'm so glad to have this great information compiled in one place. Many thanks!

You could stop in Hershey and stay at the Hotel Hershey.

You can stay at the newly-opened Duncan House (a Wright house). Not cheap, but I think it's a unique experience!
http://www.polymathpark.com/index.asp

Another option is to stop at Gettysburg mid-way if you are a history buff. It's the largest battlefield shrine in America with over 1,000 monuments and cannon and over 40 miles of scenic avenues.

Thanks everyone!

We decided to stay at the Amish View Inn (GORGEOUS room has fireplace & whirlpool - Hotel has indoor pool & small fitness area and a wonderful free breakfast (we've been there before - and Tripadvisor reviews are still stellar) the next morning - get up very early and drive to Fallingwater & Kentuck Knob for the day (should be around 3 1/2-4 hours)- then drive back and stay another 2 nights.

Lisa

PLEASE do a trip report. I so want to go!

I second the trip report, please.

We live in NJ also and are always looking for places to go (as if you can run out of place in this area :) )

starrsville & zlaor -

If you folks want to read about FLW's Fallingwater & Kentuck Knob, feel free to read my recent trip report from July. I went the Pittsburgh for 4 days and did a day trip to see FLW's houses.
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...p;tid=35028729

Thanks! :-)

Curious as to why you decided to stay some place you had already been? Some of us gave good options. Why not try something new? I'm not trying to be confrontational, just curious.

SusieQQ - There are several reasons we opted to stay at the Amish View in Bird In Hand as opposed to other places:

As I had stated - it is a gorgeous, impeccably maintained property with wonderful amenities: indoor pool, fitness facilities, great full breakfast (free), many rooms have fireplaces and or whirlpools (very romantic ;-)) and kitchens/kitchenettes. While we have visited the Lancaster area many times and are repulsed by the many cheesy touristy attractions - we do love to drive around and see the people, farmland - go antiquing, art galleries, etc. (one year we witnessed a real barn-raising and were given permission to take photos!!).

Hershey Resort sounds lovely - but a little too stuffy for our liking - and do not feel as though there would be too much to do there for us.

As for B&Bs closer to Fallingwater - we are not the B&B type. We prefer the amenties listed above.

The hotels near Fallingwater do not seem to measure up to our needs (reviews and ameneties)... and we do not want to spend any time in Pittsburgh.

So, there you have it :-)

At the risk of also sounding confrontational, I am really confused by this whole thread.

First you asked for Marriott/Westin type recommendations and something closer to FW, then in the end you chose the Amish View Inn (not Marriott or Westin-like)for its impeccable & gorgeous property, but at the same time, Nemacolin Resort and Hershey were both classified as too stuffy but "the hotels near Fallingwater do not seem to measure up to our needs (reviews and ameneties)"--(I can assure you Nemacolin would probably live up to most people's needs.)
Amish View Inn appears to be just as sophisticated, IMO, so I guess at this point I am just totally confused about what you were requesting from the forum
because from my point of view, it seems as though you asked the forum for advice but in the end you already knew what you wanted (and where) and it was somewhere you had gone before...

lpowmacback, Have a great trip and enjoy Fallingwater and Kentuck Knob. Also, in the Laurel Higlands area, hope you have time to check out Ligoner and the two flood museums in Johnstown.

http://laurelhighlands.org/

hugglynn - you sound offended that I feel some of the options for lodging here do not measure up to me & my husband. I did not mean to offend anyone - they just don't fit the bill for us.

We did want a place like a Marriott - but there are none to be had right around Fallingwater.

Nemacolin Resort and Hershey Hotel do seem to be a bit more formal than we would like. The Amish View, while beautiful, etc, is not as ...hmmm... please don't be offended - but it does not seem to be as pretentious. While we have no problem spending over $550 a night (we do when we go to St. John, USVI - among other places), we do not want to spend $400 a night for a room without a fireplace, etc - and in a place we do not want to spend time (Hershey) or at a resort that doesn't strike me (Nemacolin) - Do you see - it's just our preference - please don't take offense - I was just trying to be honest and upfront about what WE like and do not like.

Lisa

Lisa, it looks like a great place to stay. I've bookmarked it. Have you taken the buggy ride?

Starrville - no - with all of the times we have been there, we have not taken a buggy ride. We had done a lot of the "touristy things" - many are wonderful and very informative, many are very corny and cheesy (not to offend anyone - just my opinion). The buggy ride does seem like a fun thing to do though :-). ... The last few times we'd been there, we got ourselves 'lost' in the farmland, did some shopping at the markets and wandered in some art galleries & antique shops - and of course ATE! Unfortunately, that area, as with many other touristy areas, have much of the same items in their "pseudo" craft shops: many imported items that people assume are locally made - often they are not even hand made either. Aside from that aspect and the puppy mills :-( they are known for - the farmland and charm of the people - and their simplistic - yet very difficult way of living is a wonderful thing to behold -

Not to keep this going, but have you been to Hershey Inn or Seven Springs? Both are about as informal as you can get. I think that we are having a hard time understanding why you would stay in Eastern PA to visit Western PA which has so much to explore and offer. and why you asked for reco when you already knew where you wanted to stay.

Lisa, I've only been in the area when helping a friend move and didn't get as much time in the area as I would like. Thanks for the info.

SusieQQ, my guess is that Lisa was looking for new ideas but decided to return to an old favorite. I do that sometimes? Do you?

Starrsvill, actually, I rarely return to the same place twice but that's my thing. But as I said ,why stay at one end of PA to visit the other end. Lisa is going to drive 4 hours then tour two major sites and drive back another 4 hours...doesn't make sense to me. Also, hugglynn put a lot of effort into her post and it looks like Lisa didn't even check them out. I hope that if you ever visit the Laurel Highlands you will explore all that it has to offer.

SusieQQ, isn't the inn they are staying at in between their starting point and Fallingwater? Apparently, they have decided to spend more of the weekend in Amish country than in the area around Fallingwater. Nothing wrong with that, IMO.

I hope to combine the two on my road trip. I have no idea where I'll end up spending the night. I can go to the mountains every weekend - but don't know of an equivalent of the Amish country near me. We have Amish and Mennonites living in my state and adjacent states (and operating bakeries and restaurants), but I've not seen anything along the lines of the area around Lancaster.

One of the most famous Amish restaurants in my state is built on my best friend's grandfather's former farm. But, I can tell you for sure, that area sure isn't a tourist destination :-)

Starrsville, I grew up in the Laurel Highlands where you also have many Amish, Menonites, Dunkards, etc. To me Lancaster County is filled with cheesy, tourist traps albeit along side Amish Farms. The Laurel Highlands has many historical sights and interesting things to see. Combining the two in a couple days isn't giving either one of them justice. Please when you go, take enough time to explore both areas. Before you go, check out this site .http://laurelhighlands.org/

Oh my goodness - this has become quite an odd little thread ;-)

You are right Starrsville, we opted on staying in a tried & true place - one that is midway between Fallingwater and hour home.

When we travel, we do like to try and experience new things. Actually, outside of staying at the same place in St. John - we do indeed like to go to new places - PROVIDED they seem to be an improvement - or are what we are 'needing' at that particular time.

In this situation, we want a specific type place (romantic, view, farmland, peacefulness... yet indoor pool, etc.) as well as what WE feel would be convenient to US.

I have looked at the Seven Springs website and do not like the room, or the type of place it is (I am a girl that grew up going to EVERY CATSKILL RESORT EVER! - and that is what it reminds me of - nice - but "been there, done that"). Hotel Hershey is an exquisite looking hotel - but it is not what we are looking for - and it is in an area we are not interested in. (I have been to Hershey in my youth).

Please - I asked for suggestions, I received them, and I read and appreciated all of them. I find it odd that SusieQQ has such a need to understand WHY I don't explore other parts of western PA...or WHY I don't go to a suggested place. SusieQQ - you do not know my experiences with travel, you do not know what makes me happy regarding a destination - (you do, however, know that I like an indoor pool & fitness facilities and we are not into B&Bs ;-)). I did not ask my intitial question for someone else to decide for me - or analyze why I chose what I chose.

One final (hopefully :-) ) note: Staying midway between our home & Fallingwater will actually work out quite well. We will only have a 3 1/2 hour drive to Lancaster area - then the following morning a 4 hour drive to Fallingwater - spend most of the day there -and enjoy - then drive back to Lancaster area and RELAX enjoying what WE FEEL WE NEED & will ENJOY for 2 nights - then an easy 3 1/2 hour drive home ;-).

THE END :-)

SusieQQ, since I changed jobs I am back to the starting point with vacation time. I have wanted to see Fallingwater for years. It will have to be a weekend trip with maybe one extra day taken off. It's either a short trip or no trip at all. (I'm saving my vacation weeks for "big trips" ) Lisa's trip is a 2-3 night trip from NJ. Unfortunately, we can't do it all sometimes. Thanks for the link and I'll do some more research.

Starrsville, This is my last post, I promise! But I just took a look at Amish View Inn website and the Inn does look gorgeous, but oh my, the Plain and Fancy Farm looks like a huge tourist trap. Certainly not the 'real" Amish! Please, there are better ways to learn about this lifestyle.

lpow-I am not offended at all. The Amish View Inn looks like a place I would like to stay.
However, after reading where you decided and why, I wondered why you asked the forum for advice, especially since you are basically making FW a day trip from Lancaster when you stated you wanted to stay somewhere closer to FW and it appeared as though that was the "destination", not Lancaster.
(Staying where YOU want and what meets your needs IS what gathering info here is all about--but many Fodor's posters go to great lengths to provide helpful info--in this case it was kind of a waste of (my) time, JMO, because your final choice wasn't what you asked for.)

Since you are traveling back and forth 3-4 hours in one day to lodge at the same place--maybe a better post would have been info about making a day trip to FW??

That being said, there are some great and historical sites around here, and the mountain area has natural, unspoiled beauty, is not touristy or cheesy and as laid back as you can imagine.
Anyway, I hope when you come to the area, first that you enjoy the sites and second, you might find a reason to return and consider it as somewhere to visit in the future for longer than a few hours.

Now I understand why GoT is going to use a travel agent for her group's travel needs :-)

Okay, not the end evidently -

SusieQQ - After more than 11 trips to the Lancaster area - at this point we are not looking to "learn about their lifestyle" -we just love the farmlands, gardens, etc.. (and shoofly pie & chow chow) and I am quite aware of all of the tourist traps overtaking the area - yes, right next door to the hotel we are staying in. It is just a nice clean place with a fireplace & whirlpool - lovely furniture, great view - yada, yada, yada... It is what we want.

Hugglynn, I asked my initial question because at that point, I did not know what was in the area. After finding out - via this forum and other information I sought out, it became more clear that the kind of place we wanted, was not in the area - so we constructed a plan that fit our needs and desires.

I also never inferred that the area in and around Fallingwater was cheesy or touristy. We just have no desire (at this time) to spend time in Pittsburgh, nor do we want to stay at a B&B - or at the Summit, Seven Springs - or Hidden Valley or Nemacolin.

We all have our comfort levels - what we find acceptable - and not acceptable in a hotel, restaurant, etc.

HECK, maybe we just should have gone to Mohonk Mountain House in NY instead!

:-D

Wow, this is a crazy thread, but for some reason, I'm going to get involved...

First, I live in Lancaster. And yes, most of the area is over-rated and touristy. But the OP seems to realize that so what is the problem? It's not like she's coming to Lancaster to see the sights.

Second, western PA is great and Pittsburgh is my fave US city, but the OP didn't seem to find what she was looking for there. She realizes she has to drive 4 hrs to see what she's coming to see, so what's the harm?

And third, what is the problem with the original question and her final decision? All she asked for was a nice/not stuffy place between NJ and Fallingwater...Lancaster and the Amish View Inn fit that bill.

So, finally, Lisa, if you want some recommendations on parts of Lancaster that you may not be familiar with (like the city...which is sooo far from 'Amish Country'), please let me know...I'd be happy to help you!
Starrsville...same goes for you if you ever make it here! :)

THANKS SuCo27!! :-)

Actually, I do have a question for you - I know there are some wineries in the area - any special ones you can tell me about? I'd be more interested in seeing the wine-making process than tasting - although hubby may feel differently - he's the wine drinker.

Thanks again!

Lisa

Hmm...wineries. That's actually something I've never done in the area, or anywhere in the US (Italy, but not here). I can tell you that the two most popular wineries around here are probably Nissley Vineyards in the western end of Lanc County and Chaddsford Winery which is actually in Chester County. I've had some Nissley wines and they're actually pretty good. Never had a Chaddsford wine, but you see them everywhere here. Both wineries would be about 45 mins to an hour from the Amishview Inn but in opposite directions.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help with this one! Although, you've got me thinking about doing a tour or two! :) Let me know if I can help with anything else!

bookmarking

Lisa, I grew up right outside of Pittsburgh and had thought of the same resorts and places other people mentioned. I understand your need to stay somewhere that is a known quantity. My only question is factoring in the driving. You'll be driving about 8 hours RT to see FW and KK. That is a long day for many people. I've been to FW in the winter and in the summer. It's a wonderful visit! Since you will be there over a weekend, be sure to buy your tickets in advance. Enjoy your trip!

This thread reminds me of that old saying, "Be careful what you ask for."