GO Laurel Highlands, PA rolls out 2026 destination guide

GO Laurel Highlands has released a new destination guide designed to help travelers explore the popular Pennsylvania region.

Special events, anniversaries and commemorations are expected to draw tourists to the state in 2026.

“The country’s semi-quincentennial is just the beginning of reasons to visit the Laurel Highlands,” said Ann Nemanic, executive director of GO Laurel Highlands, the destination marketing organization for Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland counties.

“Our 2026 destination guide will lead visitors and locals alike through captivating stories.”

The 84-page, full-color publication is available at locations throughout the region, including the GO Laurel Highlands Visitor Center in Ligonier.

A digital version can be found at https://www.golaurelhighlands.com/plan-your-trip/destination-guide/

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is shrouded in bright fall colors on the cover of the publication.

“Celebrating its 90th anniversary, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater was selected as the cover image, and the Bear Run waterfall seems to come to life,” Nemanic added.

Pittsburgh-based Nino Comanici built Diamond View, a new short-term rental home just outside Ligonier that opened in late 2024. The new guide marks the first time that his property has been featured in the publication.

“I know for a fact that a lot of the people come to the area because of the marketing that GO Laurel Highlands does,” he said.

Fred Zeigler, a Fayette County entrepreneur who owns overnight lodging properties, restaurants and Timber Rock Amphitheater in the region, said the guide is as valuable to his businesses as it is to visitors.

“The destination guide reaches travelers actively planning trips to the area. This demographic is interested in exploring local attractions, lodging, dining and outdoor experiences. Businesses like Timber Rock get year-round exposure to a targeted audience.”

The 2026 content showcases the region’s iconic attractions, from one of the nation’s oldest amusement parks to Pennsylvania’s newest state park. There are stories on:

Laurel Highlands’ events and attractions to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary

Family adventures, from amusement park Idlewild & SoakZone to racing at Jennerstown Speedway

Embracing architecture with homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright at Fallingwater, Kentuck Knob and Polymath Park

Year-round outdoor adventure, from downhill skiing to standup paddleboarding

Where to find the best live music venues in the Laurel Highlands

How the Flight 93 National Memorial will commemorate the 25th anniversary of 9/11

How sports fans can watch a game in the Laurel Highlands, which is a preferred vacation destination of the Pittsburgh Steelers as well as home to the team’s summer training camp

Where art comes alive through museums, events and festivals

Unique lodging opportunities, from Diamond View – the new A-frame home perched high above Ligonier – to a Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home at Polymath Park

A culinary cruise around the region, highlighting everything from farm-to-table to sweet treats

The best stargazing spots in the Laurel Highlands

Where to find festival fun throughout the calendar

Why the Laurel Highlands is about to get Pennsylvania’s 125th state park – and its first underground one

How to celebrate nuptials in the Laurel Highlands

What it takes to shop like a local

How to join the popular Laurel Highlands Pour Tour 6.0

Readers will also find traditional favorites including a 2026 calendar of major festivals and events, business listings and a regional map.

The Laurel Highlands is an outdoor lover’s paradise that spans 3,000 square miles in southwestern Pennsylvania. Located just an hour east of Pittsburgh, the destination offers spectacular natural scenery, with skiing, hiking, biking and golfing opportunities, historic sites and attractions, family activities and high-end resorts.