| Five miles south of Fallingwater, tiny OHIOPYLE is the most
convenient base from which to enjoy the wilds of Ohiopyle State Park or
activities like whitewater rafting on the Youghiogheny River . The park
fans out around the town and river, offering a maze of trails for hiking
or biking, and natural delights such as Cucumber Falls and the unique
habitat of the Ferncliff Peninsula , known for its wildflowers. At the
built-up end of a massive steel and wooden footbridge high above the
river, a small visitor center dispenses local information (daily
9am-5pm; tel 724/329-8591). Just beyond it the Ohiopyle House Café , 144
Grant St (tel 724/329-1122), serves up tasty dishes like lobster ravioli
and caramel pudding, while a couple of seasonal canteens and a general
store sell basic snacks and provisions. The Yough Plaza Motel on Sherman
St (tel 1-800/992-7238; $50-75) has reasonable standard units; even
better for budget travelers is the affiliated Ohiopyle Youth Hostel just
north of the railway tracks at 113 Ferncliff Rd (tel 724/329-4476), with
dorm beds from $15. If you want to camp or rent a cabin in the park
itself, call the reservation service at 1-888/727-2757. For rafting ,
White Water Adventurers at 6 Negley St (tel 1-800/992-7238, ) is one of
several outfits that rent equipment and give instruction.
Three miles southwest of Ohiopyle, there is another Frank Lloyd Wright
house, Kentuck Knob (Tues-Sun 10am-4pm; $10, weekends $15), also known
as the I.N. Hagan House. A hexagonal structure of fieldstone and cypress,
it sits on a hilltop giving wonderful views of the surrounding
countryside. Further down the Youghiogheny, in the village of Confluence
, the cozy River's Edge Café (tel 814/395-5059) serves good food at
moderate prices right on the banks of the river.
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