Meyersdale: The Sweetest Place to Visit This Spring

In Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands, Meyersdale’s Maple Festival is about as universal a sign of the season as the mythical, spring-heralding groundhog. This year, you can see why our nation’s most unique sweet in all its forms—from maple candy, to maple baked goods, to maple syrup—is worth savoring, as well as all the sights and attractions of the Somerset area.

At the Meyersdale’s Maple Festival you can not only get your fill of the region’s golden elixir, but you can also get a taste of the history and culture of the area. Maple syrup may be the reason for the season, but there’s much more to do and see at this festival: the extensive schedule of events and selection of vendors allows visitors to experience a full range of local cuisine and traditions. To start your day off right, you can visit the Lions Club Pancake House for homemade pancakes, fresh sausage, and 100% pure Somerset County maple syrup. Then visitors can stroll through the Festival Park grounds, where an authentic Country Store allows one to munch on an apple from the barrel or try some of the penny candy, maple products, or homemade bread as in bygone eras. At Sit & Sip Garden, a variety of alcoholic beverages will be available for tasting from several local distilleries and wineries—including Maple Beer and Maple Rye Whiskey. On April 29th, Meyersdale’s extravagant Pennsylvania Maple Festival Parade will feature marching bands, floats, rescue trucks, and show horses. And for health enthusiasts who prefer to actively participate in festivities rather than just witnessing them, Maple Festival attendees can opt to compete in the Maple 5K Run or Walk earlier that same day. Admission to the festival is $5, as is admission to the Sit & Sip Garden.

While the Maple Festival is not to be missed, there are a host of other local attractions that should make the bucket list of any traveler. For those looking for ways to experience the great outdoors, the trail entrance for the Great Alleghany Passage is located near Meyersdale, as well as one of the trail’s highlights: the Salisbury Viaduct, which spans the Casselman river and provides stunning sunset views. And Flight 93 National Memorial is just a short drive away, a scenic and contemplative memorial honoring the lives of those who thwarted the attack on the U.S. Capitol on September 11th. Don’t forget to check out the local B&B’s in Meyersdale, such as The Levi Deal Mansion and Yoder’s Guest House, to round out your authentic Somerset experience.