Somerset
Around Somerset
Photo: Frank Kovalchek from Anchorage, Alaska, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Town and around · Pennsylvania · 72k people
Somerset
Locals say Laurel Highlands
Where the mountains meet the maple.
Laurel Highlands GreenCoal BrownMaple Amber
Welcome to the Laurel Highlands, where the mountains are steeped in history and maple syrup. Whether you're here for the slopes, the trails, or just a quiet weekend, you'll find friendly folks and plenty of fresh air. Settle in and make yourself at home.
Clubs for Somerset
No clubs for Somerset yet.
The room
One room for everyone around Somerset. It never closes; when it's busy it splits into tables. Once you're in, you stay until you leave.
Ask the neighbours
AllA good plumber, the best tacos, a lost cat: nobody has asked yet. Be the first.
Coming up
No events in the next month. Events made in the room show up here.
Marketplace
Things for sale, free and wanted, and rooms for rent, from people around Somerset. Sign in to sell something.
Things to do
- Flight 93 National Memorial Honors the passengers and crew of Flight 93 with a memorial plaza and visitor center.
- Seven Springs Mountain Resort Largest ski resort in Pennsylvania, also hosts summer events and festivals.
- Hidden Valley Resort Family-friendly ski and golf resort with a relaxed vibe.
- Laurel Hill State Park Features a lake, hiking trails, and camping in the Laurel Highlands.
- Kooser State Park Small park with a lake for fishing and picnicking.
- Blue Knob State Park Highest point in Bedford County, offering skiing and panoramic views.
- Outdoors Hike the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail
- Outdoors Ski at Seven Springs
- With kids Visit Old Bedford Village
- With kids Go tubing at Seven Springs
- Evenings Après-ski at Seven Springs
- Evenings Local brewery taprooms
- Locals love Maple syrup farms
- Locals love Ski slopes
Through the year
- Somerset County Maple Festival April Celebrates maple season with pancake breakfasts, syrup demos, and crafts.
- Mountain Craft Days September Juried craft show and living history at the Somerset Historical Center.
- Somerset County Fair August Agricultural exhibits, rides, and local food at the fairgrounds.
- Bedford Fall Foliage Festival October Street fair with crafts, food, and music in historic Bedford.
- Laurel Highlands Ultra June Challenging 70.5-mile trail race through the Laurel Highlands.
The Laurel Highlands have a four-season climate with cold, snowy winters and warm, pleasant summers. Best time to be out is late spring through early fall. Best: Spring and fall offer mild temperatures and colorful foliage, ideal for outdoor activities.
Talk like a local
- “The Highlands”
- The Laurel Highlands region, especially the mountains.
- “Redd up”
- To clean up or tidy (Pennsylvania Dutch influence).
- “Gum band”
- A rubber band.
- “The Passage”
- A term for the Great Allegheny Passage trail.
Getaways
- Johnstown See the Johnstown Flood National Memorial and ride the incline.
- Cumberland, MD Start of the C&O Canal and the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad.
- Pittsburgh Big-city museums, sports, and dining just 90 minutes away.
- Altoona Visit the Horseshoe Curve and Railroaders Memorial Museum.
Local flavour
Rooting for Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Pittsburgh Pirates, Penn State Nittany Lions
Eat and drink
- Maple syrup and maple candy Local maple farms and the annual Maple Festival in Meyersdale
- Pierogies A Pennsylvania staple, often homemade in the region
- Pot pie (Pennsylvania Dutch style) A hearty stew with noodles, common in rural PA
- Sheetz Convenience store chain with made‑to‑order sandwiches, popular across the region
Where people go
- Covered bridges Historic wooden bridges scattered throughout the county
- Maple syrup farms Sugar camps and maple festivals in Meyersdale and Berlin
- Ski resorts (Seven Springs, Hidden Valley) Alpine skiing and snowboarding in the Laurel Highlands
- Flight 93 National Memorial Site of the September 11, 2001 crash, a place of reflection
- Great Allegheny Passage trail Scenic biking and hiking trail connecting Pittsburgh to Cumberland
Heritage and traditions
The Laurel Highlands are proud of their Pennsylvania Dutch heritage, maple syrup tradition, and the resilience of coal-mining towns, all set against the beautiful Allegheny Mountains.
This time of year in Somerset
- Fall foliage autumn October: leaf peepers drive the back roads and ride the GAP for peak colors.
- Deer hunting season autumn–winter Late November–December: many locals take off for hunting camp, a long-standing tradition.
Say it like a local: “redd up” — to clean up / tidy
Festivals
- Springs Folk Festival September Celebrates Pennsylvania Dutch culture with crafts, food, and music in the village of Springs.
- Bedford County Fair August Agricultural exhibits, livestock shows, and carnival rides.
- Flight 93 Remembrance Ceremony September 11 Annual interfaith memorial service at the Flight 93 National Memorial on September 11.
Landmarks with a story
- Somerset Historical Center Interprets rural life and Pennsylvania Dutch culture with a working farm and craft demonstrations.
- Fort Bedford Museum A reconstruction of a French and Indian War-era fort, with exhibits on frontier history.
- The National Road (Route 40) One of America's first federally funded highways, lined with historic taverns and stone bridges.
- Abandoned Pennsylvania Turnpike The original turnpike tunnels near Breezewood are now a hiking and biking trail, preserving early highway engineering.
- Flight 93 National Memorial Honors the passengers and crew of United Flight 93 with a visitor center and a field of 40 memorial groves.
Food traditions
- Lenten fish fries Catholic parishes and fire halls host Friday fish fries with beer-battered cod and pierogies during Lent.
- Whoopie pies A Pennsylvania Dutch dessert of chocolate cake with creamy filling, sold at bakeries and farm stands.
- Sugar on snow Boiled maple syrup poured over snow to make taffy, a springtime treat at sugar camps.
- Amish baked goods Roadside stands offer shoofly pie, whoopie pies, and soft pretzels, reflecting the region's German heritage.
- Coal miner's lunch pail A nod to the mining past, some diners serve a hearty sandwich or stew in a metal pail, echoing the miners' midday meal.
A little history
- 18th century Pennsylvania Dutch settlement
- late 19th–early 20th century Coal mining boom
- 1811–1830s National Road construction
- 2001 Flight 93 crash and memorial
Rivalries
- Somerset vs. Bedford high school football Annual gridiron matchup that splits the county.
- Penn State vs. Pitt football Statewide rivalry that locals follow passionately.
- Game day Friday night high school football
- Game day Hunting camp weekends
- Outdoors Hiking the Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail
- Outdoors Biking the Great Allegheny Passage
- With kids Maple syrup farm visits
- With kids Tubing at Seven Springs
Locals speak with a Western Pennsylvania accent, using 'yinz' for 'you all' and dropping the 'g' in words like 'huntin'. A few Pennsylvania Dutch words, like 'wunderbar' (wonderful) and 'redd up' (clean up), linger from the area's German heritage.
Only here
- Mount Davis is the highest point in Pennsylvania at 3,213 feet, with a stone observation tower.
- The Flight 93 National Memorial is the only national memorial to the 9/11 attacks in a rural setting.
- The Great Allegheny Passage is a 150-mile rail-trail that connects Pittsburgh to Cumberland, MD, passing through the region.
- The Somerset County Maple Festival has been held annually since 1947, one of the oldest maple festivals in the state.
New here? A few tips
- Winter is long and snowy; invest in a good snow shovel and warm boots.
- Try local maple syrup on everything—it's a point of pride.
- Learn to say 'yinz' and you'll fit right in.
- Explore the Great Allegheny Passage—it's flat, scenic, and perfect for beginners.
- Watch for deer on rural roads, especially at dawn and dusk.
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Part of Johnstown area
Nearby
Every areaJohnstownPennsylvaniaSteeped in history, rising from the flood.CumberlandMarylandWhere the mountains meet the riverBedfordPennsylvaniaGentle hills, covered bridges, and the quiet rhythm of farm life.IndianaPennsylvaniaWhere the groundhog predicts spring and the hills hold you close.Garrett CountyMarylandWhere Maryland meets the mountains.AltoonaPennsylvaniaWhere the rails climb the AllegheniesMorgantownWest VirginiaWhere the hills meet the river and the Mountaineers never quit.PittsburghPennsylvaniaThree rivers, endless bridges, and a big heart
Somerset, PA. Areas from the US Census Bureau and Statistics Canada; places from GeoNames. Local flavour was written with a model and may have mistakes. Team names identify teams; no endorsement.