2022 Destination Guide by GO Laurel Highlands unveiled

GO Laurel Highlands announced the release of its 2022 Destination Guide to the tri-county region in southwestern Pennsylvania. The free 64-page full-color piece serves as the principal promotional brochure for Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland counties’ tourism information.

“The Laurel Highlands Destination Guide is a tool to enlighten the visitor of the people and places they will encounter in our beautiful region,” said Ann Nemanic, GO LH’s executive director. “We can never capture all there is to do in our region within the pages of the guide, but we can hint at the magic that can be found across our 3,000 square miles. This edition is filled with some of the most spectacular images — from parks and pierogis to marriage and milkshakes, there is something new I am sure readers will discover. We are confident visitors and residents will be happy to have our new guide in hand to map out their next getaway to the Laurel Highlands.”

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Nemanic said each year the staff begins with several planning meetings to discuss copy and photo ideas for the guide. With 3,000 square miles to cover they could never include all of the regional highlights, "but we can certainly hint at the fun a visitor can have once they arrive in the Laurel Highlands.

"In our 2022 Destination Guide, we included several Somerset County tourism assets including Jennerstown Speedway, our snowmobile riding trails and Mountain Ridge ATV Park. Showcasing the fact the region has ATV trails was a first for us and we feel brings in a new demographic for exploration."

Kentuck Knob

The guide’s cover features a photo of Frank Lloyd Wright’s House on Kentuck Knob captured by local photographer Alex Byers. The unique perspective of Kentuck Knob showcases the architect’s affinity for angles and the gilded leaves of fall that helped the Laurel Highlands earn two USA Today 10Best designations for Best Fall Foliage Destination.

“Everyone at Frank Lloyd Wright's House on Kentuck Knob is thrilled to see the house featured on the cover of the region's premier guide,” said Timothy Fischer, manager, Kentuck Knob. “We are so proud to be the featured representative of this beautiful region to every visitor who picks up this perfectly produced volume. For 25 years, we have welcomed travelers, architecture enthusiasts and local folks from the area to enjoy this Frank Lloyd Wright-designed treasure in its blissful, natural setting. With a little bit of luck and a lot of hard work, we will continue to be an integral part of this thriving region for another 25 years and beyond.”

Inside, the 2022 Laurel Highlands Destination Guide’s content tells the story of some of the region’s iconic attractions, as well as some of the region’s hidden gems and newest locations.

“We know that in the world of tourism marketing, strong visuals are everything,” said Kristin Ecker, senior director of marketing. “Visitors need to envision themselves here, to feel compelled by what they’re seeing. When we’re crafting the Destination Guide, we know that the imagery will sell the story, and the story will sell the Laurel Highlands and inspire the visit. Our process is ultimately finding the balance of unique storytelling paired with stunning photos or even vice versa. Sometimes a strong image lays the groundwork for a good story. This year, we looked for the uniqueness of the region and you’ll see that in the variety of content throughout.”

Features

Feature stories include:

• “The Greatness of Gobs” and “Pierogi Perfection,” share two of the region’s iconic comfort foods and local purveyors.

• “Touchstone Center for Crafts” celebrates Pennsylvania’s premier craft school’s 50th anniversary in 2022.

• “Mud, Motocross, and Windmills” and “Epic Rides” showcase the region’s ATV and snowmobile trails.

• “Coal Mining History Meets Progressive Mosaic Art at the Ruins,” features renowned mosaic artist Rachel Sager and her newest canvas — an abandoned coal mine.

• “Small Town Charm,” welcomes visitors to explore inviting Irwin, home to Lamp Theatre, an array of unique family-owned restaurants and fun special events.

• “Fast and Furious Family Fun at Jennerstown Speedway,” showcases the region’s largest racetrack.

• “Back Roads Bliss” takes readers for a ride along the Laurel Highlands’ winding country and mountain roads.

Readers will also find traditional favorites including a 2022 calendar of major festivals and events, a regional map and nearly $200 in coupons at 15 partner locations.

GO Laurel Highlands publishes 100,000 copies of the destination guide for distribution at numerous consumer travel shows, Pennsylvania Welcome Centers, Pennsylvania Turnpike Visitors Centers, regional brochure racks, Arnold Palmer Regional Airport, Laurel Highlands visitors centers, regional chambers of commerce and at GO LH tourism partner businesses.

"The Destination Guide is a wonderful opportunity to spark interest in Somerset County and the Laurel Highlands. We all know visitors do not recognize county lines, so enticing someone to expand upon their initial reason for coming is critical," said Nemanic. "For instance, someone with the sole purpose of a tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater will soon realize the Flight 93 National Memorial could easily become part of their itinerary. GO Laurel Highlands utilizes the guide to share lesser known attractions, eateries, and fun outing experiences to either expand someone’s stay or to plant the seed for a return visit. Luckily, the Laurel Highlands has four seasons to explore and we take full advantage of this with magnificent photo images throughout the guide."

To order a free copy of the 2022 Laurel Highlands Destination Guide, call 724-238-5661, ext. 101, or request online at golaurelhighlands.com/guide.

This article originally appeared on The Daily American: 2022 Destination Guide by GO Laurel Highlands unveiled