Vacationing on a Budget: Schedule Warren County for your next vacation destination!

  Sometimes it takes going away to recognize all the assets that we have at home.  In my case, I already knew of the many great things in Warren County but was given an opportunity to compare Warren County with some very popular tourist destinations.  I recently went on a road trip with my sister throughout all the New England States.  I paid a visit to Salem, Massachusetts.  They had beautiful historic buildings, small gift shops, live music in town and museums.  My mind of course went back to my home, Warren County.  We also have beautiful historic buildings throughout the county, charming gift shops, much live music and museums. Though charming, Salem was very congested during my visit, and the gift shop items were twice the cost you would find in our Warren County stores.  In my humble opinion, our historic buildings were just as charming as well.  There were several dining choices, all being much more costly than we have in Warren County.  Lodging ranged from double to triple the cost in Salem as it is in Warren County.

Warren County is surrounded by the Allegheny National Forest

  My next stop was Bar Harbor, Maine.  Bar Harbor was a beautiful town and had nearby Acadia Park and Cadillac Mountain.  As my sister and I traveled up the mountain to check out the beach, there wasn’t anywhere to park.  We circled around the parking lot with no luck, so I jumped out of the car and ran down to the beach to snap a few pics and then hopped back into the car and drove around the lot so that my sister could do the same.  There were gorgeous views for sure, but it was very crowded on the mountain, and I was not used to it.  We have the Allegheny National Forest where that is never a problem.  We also have overlooks where there never seem to be more than a handful of people.  We visited downtown Bar Harbor, where once again there were several dining options and gift shops.  Once again, the items in the gift shop were nearly double the cost as the gift shops in Warren County.  The lodging was over triple the cost that you would find in Warren County and while it had a beautiful balcony view overlooking the bay, it was by no means fancy. Dining was double the cost of several of Warren County’s restaurants. 

Warren County offers affordable stays at historic inns! Pictured above is the historic Candlelight Inn located in Tidioute.

Natural Beauty is abound in Warren County! Pictured is Chapman State Park.

  My third and last stop before heading back home to Warren County was Stowe, Vermont.  It was a beautiful little town surrounded by mountains and several specialty shops.  The first shop that I went to offered locally made items such as glass pumpkins and jewelry, much like our local Rich Selfridge in Tidioute makes and offers for sale at J Lauren Interior Design.  The difference was the cost.  The hand-blown glass pumpkin in Tidioute was a third of the cost of the one in the store in Stowe.  I also found handmade pottery much like Gnomeworks pottery in Sheffield. Once again it was nearly three times the cost in Stowe as it is here in Warren County.  My sister and I stayed in a charming historic Inn in Stowe.  Warren County also has charming historic Inns like the Candlelight Inn and Hazeltine Inn.  The difference was that the historic Inns that Warren County offer are between half and a third of the cost than the one that I stayed at in Stowe, and no, breakfast was not included.  I visited a chocolate shop while I was there as well and raised an eyebrow when I saw what the cost was for the chocolates.  My thoughts went to the chocolates that I bought from Tybout House and Virg-Ann Floral back home.  Once again, the chocolates at home were a third of the cost and just as good too.  During my visit to Stowe, I bought maple syrup, as Vermont is known for its maple syrup.  Again, it is less expensive in Warren County where it is also made and just as tasty too!

You can find many hand crafted items from local artists at affordable prices at places like J. Lauren Interior Design in Tidioute

As I was travelling back home, during the long drive my thoughts drifted to the unimaginable expense this trip would have been if traveling with children in tow.  As a parent of now grown children, I do remember that when my husband and I traveled with our kids, they wanted things like gifts from souvenir shops, stops for ice cream cones, entertainment, and many places to stop and move around.  My mind was on tourism on that long drive back home from Stowe, Vermont.  I thought of the reasons that Warren County would be a great choice for young families and any age for a getaway.  If the question is “what do, we have to offer that the major tourist towns don’t?” then the answer is a lot!

   We may not have the ocean, but we do have the Allegheny River, the Conewango Creek, and the Kinzua Reservoir.  We may not have huge mountains, but we do have beautiful hills and plenty of trails to explore the Allegheny National Forest including the Trails at Jakes Rocks mountain biking trail!  We also are the home of Chapman State Park that offers a great outdoor experience! Warren County may not have the Salem Witch Museum, but we have the Wilder Museum, Elk Township Museum, Tionesta Railroad Museum in Sheffield, and the Crary Art Gallery.  We also have the 18^th oldest continuously operating theatre in America that provides great shows for all ages in the Struthers Library Theatre!  If you are looking for historical architecture, Warren County has beautiful nineteenth century buildings all throughout Warren County.  Warren County also has an impressive history including being the birthplace of the St. Louis Arch.  The Warren County Historical Society welcomes visitors to stop in and learn more about our impressive past! 

Warren County has plenty of family-owned shops that offer one-of-a-kind items that you won’t find anywhere else.  Check out stores like Passionately Naturals, J. Lauren Interior Designs, Warren Antiques, R&R Antiques, Tybout House, Ekey’s, Moore’s Garden Shoppe, The Shed Gift Shop & Museum, Dreamboat Marine, Lottsville Milling, Virg-Ann Flower Shop, Presents & Posies, Miss Millie’s Proper Petals, or many other Warren County businesses to find the perfect and unique gift to bring home.  Dine at New Beginnings, Scotties, Ribs n Bones, Ida Mae’s, Forester, Bent Run Brewing, Blueberry Golf, The Factory, The Shaw House, Liberty Street Lunch, The Plaza, Cornerstone, Double D’s, Columbus Inn, Bearlake Inn, Christie’s or many other dining options at an AFFORDABLE cost!  Stop in local coffee shops like Bean Bank Enterprise or Arbor House Café and meet friendly locals.  Do you love festivals?  Warren County has plenty of them all year long!  Would you like to visit a town that reminds you of a Hallmark Christmas Town?  Warren County has several!

Warren County has many "Hallmark" towns!

  Warren County offers an enjoyable vacation for all ages without crowded places and at a much more affordable cost.  We have something for everyone!  A visit to Warren County is sure to be nostalgic and will include friendly people, beautiful views, and will take you back to a simpler time, where you could just sit by the riverbank with a fishing pole in hand watching eagles flying overhead or enjoy a picnic in the forest.  Warren County offers peace and serenity.  You won’t need to worry about huge crowds or traffic jams.  If you would like to make Warren County part of your next vacation, please feel free to reach out to us, and we will help you plan your visit tailored to your needs and interests.