Masterpiece And Manor- Frank Lloyd Wrights & More

Day 1

Today, Wolf's whisks you away for a 3-day getaway to experience and explore the beauty of PA's Laurel Highlands featuring 4 homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and more. Your journey begins with a short coffee stop at your expense enroute to the small town of Ohiopyle, PA to have lunch on your own and at your expense. As time permits, visit the visitor's center and if you are able, view some of the natural sites that make Ohiopyle a scenic area. Next, you depart for admission included at Fort Necessity: Museum and Interpretive Center, a historic stockade that served as the backdrop for the opening battle of the French and Indian War in the summer of 1754. Learn about its importance in history and the extreme pressure by a young Lieutenant Colonel George Washington and his men to built this small, crude, circular palisade only 53 feet in diameter. Afterwards you depart for a tour of Kentuck Knob, a home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright when he was 86 years old, and it was one of the last homes he ever designed. The structure stands just below the crest of a hill and almost appears to be part of the mountain itself, which incorporates Wright's principle of organic architecture blending naturally with its surroundings. The home is constructed of native sandstone and red cypress from North Carolina. Just beyond the back terrace stretches a breathtaking panorama of the Youghiogheny River Gorge and the beautiful Laurel Highlands. You then board the motorcoach and depart for check-in at the Hampton Inn Uniontown (724-550-4321) for a two-night stay. Guestroom amenities include a microwave, mini refrigerator, coffeemaker with supplies, hairdryer and complimentary high-speed internet access. The hotel offers guests an indoor pool, fitness center and complimentary Wi-Fi. Dinner this evening is on your own with various choices in the local area. The remainder of the night is yours to relax and unwind.

Day 2

Begin your day with a deluxe continental breakfast included at the hotel before you board the motorcoach and depart for Polymath Park in Acme, PA, the home to several Usonian-style Frank Lloyd Wright and apprentice-designed homes. First, enjoy a guided tour of Wright's Lindholm Mantyla house which was originally built in Cloquet, Minnesota, but due to commercial development encroaching on its original site, it was meticulously dismantled and relocated to Polymath Park for preservation purposes. The home is approximately 2,300 square foot, L-shaped with a carport forming a "T" shape, features natural light streaming in from walls of glass and carefully placed windows, with social spaces opening onto the forest. Materials include painted concrete blocks, a red roof interlocking Ludowici tiles, and tidewater cypress used for cabinetry, built-in furnishings and trim. Next, you will tour the Duncan House, also designed by Wright and originally located in Lisle, IL. It too was painstakingly dismantled and relocated to Polymath. This home was one of Wright's attempts to create a cost-effective, easily reproducible house. The single-story layout features natural materials including local stone for the fireplace core, signature Cherokee Red floors and red laminate countertops that provide a bold mid-century modern aesthetic, as well as large expanses of glass and ribbons of windows that allow significant natural light and views of the surrounding woodland. After your visits, you depart for lunch included at Treetops Restaurant in Polymath Park. Then, you depart for a guided tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece, Fallingwater. This iconic house was designed to rise above the waterfall over which it is built and offers an unparalleled view into organic architecture and modern design, with its earthy tones beautifully contrasted by the vibrant reds, golds, and oranges of the mature oaks, hickories, and maples that line the Bear Run gorge. (Please Note: Please wear comfortable shoes because there is a walk along uneven ground to the home. A small shuttle is provided for those who have mobility issues.) Following your visit, dinner is included with a local historian who will provide an interesting history and film of the area while you dine. You then return to the hotel to turn in for the night.

Day 3

A deluxe continental breakfast is included at the hotel before you pack up and depart for a self-guided experience of Old Bedford Village, an engaging living history museum that offers a charming glimpse into Pennsylvania's storied past, set against the rustic beauty of the surrounding landscape. Explore the nearly 40 structures including authentic 18th and 19th century buildings moved from original locations throughout our region to provide an historical depiction of what life was like then. Visit the general store, jail, blacksmith woodworking shops and more. Next, you have a lunch buffet and self-guided tour of the Omni Bedford Springs. Immerse yourself in the rich history of the natural mineral springs and the resort's role in American history that includes a long list of celebrities, dignitaries, and 13 U.S. presidents. You then depart for home with a fast-food stop enroute.

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ALL WOLF'S TOURS - TIMES AND ITINERARY SUBJECT TO CHANGE**

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, LB=Lunch Buffet, D=Dinner