Friday, September 5, 2008

… Buttermilk Falls in Indiana PA

A waterfall on land where Mr. Rogers used to frolic? Yea, buddy.
Buttermilk Falls – the seemingly most popular name for waterfalls ever – flows just off Route 22 in Indiana County.
The stream drops a good 20 feet (my est.) over a cliff. It’s possible to move behind the water and view the falls from there.
The path provides easy access and the wooden deck, a good view, but for the best view, try standing right on top like crazy girl, my partner in adventure, does. Actually, don’t try this; it’s dangerous.
You could slip and fall and then your partner would have to explain to your family why you ‘let them walk out there.’ Is it worth it?
What is worth it, is a quick hike upstream where a much smaller man-made falls drops in the midst of some sort of ruins (foundations only). And even further upstream another waterfall cascades over shale foundation.
The whole area is on land donated by a relative of Mr. Rogers (the won’t you be my neighbor guy), and is where he spent some of his childhood.
Ironically, nearby is Horse Thief Road, which doesn’t sound much like friendly neighbors, right?
But still, check it out.
Larry

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

... the Center of the World?

Who knew? Just over the PA line, near Boardman Ohio, is the Center of the World.
No offense to Jules Verne, but the journey didn't take that long. Just a skip and a jump from the I-Hop.
The Center of the World is an actual Ohio Department of Transportation sign near the area where many years ago a savvy businessman declared his stage coach stop and Inn was indeed the center of the world.
He gained some notoriety, enough to make his Inn successful, at least until the railroad bypassed him.
If you travel to the Center of the World, remember, not too far away, are these:
A giant rocking chair (pictured there behind my giant head, which should give you a better idea of how big that chair is)
And a replica of the statue of liberty.
Larry