Northern Virginia Magazine: by Beth Kellmurray

Cucumber FallsSpanning Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland counties, the Laurel Highlands, located in the Allegheny Mountains, are home to rich and diverse landscapes that make it a no-brainer destination for outdoorsy types, thrill-seekers and even those just looking for a little tranquility outside the hustle and bustle of the everyday. But the Highlands’ picturesque backdrop has also attracted a rich and thriving arts scene, with a bounty of shops (not-to-be-missed Second Chapter Books in Ligonier, Bedford Banjo Shop), boutiques (The Finishing Touch in Ligonier, Pepperberries in Uniontown), museums (Southern Alleghenies Museum of Art at Ligonier Valley, the Westmoreland Museum of American Art) and theaters (The Geyer Performing Arts Center in Scottdale, Arcadia Theater in Windber) in the countless towns that make up the region. It’s roughly a 3 1/2-hour drive from Northern Virginia, so you can focus a day trip on one specific destination in the Highlands—we have eight suggestions below—and you’ll have no problem finding even more to do in the neighboring towns. Read the Full Story Here