Masterpiece & Manor - Frank Lloyd Wrights & More

Day 1

Today, Wolf's whisks you away for a 2-day getaway to experience and explore the beauty of PA's Laurel Highlands featuring 4 homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Your journey begins with a short coffee stop at your expense enroute to Polymath Park in Acme, PA, the home to several Usonian-style Frank Lloyd Wright and apprentice-designed homes. First, enjoy a guided tour of Wright's Lindholm Mantyla house which was originally built in Cloquet, Minnesota, but due to commercial development encroaching on its original site, it was meticulously dismantled and relocated to Polymath Park for preservation purposes. The home is approximately 2,300 square foot, L-shaped home with a carport forming a "T" shape, features natural light streaming in from walls of glass and carefully placed windows, with social spaces opening onto the forest. Materials include painted concrete blocks, a red roof interlocking Ludowici tiles, and tidewater cypress used for cabinetry, built-in furnishings and trim. Next, you will tour the Duncan House also designed by Wright and originally located in Lisle, IL. It too was painstakingly dismantled and relocated to Polymath. This home was one of Wright's attempts to create a cost-effective, easily reproducible house. The single-story layout features natural materials including local stone for the fireplace core, signature Cherokee Red floors and red laminate countertops that provide a bold mid-century modern aesthetic, as well as large expanses of glass and ribbons of windows that allow significant natural light and views of the surrounding woodland. After your visits, you depart for lunch included at Treetops Restaurant in Polymath Park. Following lunch, you depart for another Wright designed home, Kentuck Knob. Wright was 86 years old when he took on the job of designing Kentuck Knob, and it was one of the last homes he ever designed. The structure stands just below the crest of a hill and almost appears to be part of the mountain itself, which incorporates Wright's principle of organic architecture blending naturally with its surroundings. The home is constructed of native sandstone and red cypress from North Carolina. Just beyond the back terrace stretches a breathtaking panorama of the Youghiogheny River Gorge and the beautiful Laurel Highlands. After your guided tour, you have one more quick stop to view the Ohiopyle Falls and Visitor Center and followed by a drive through the small town of Ohiopyle enroute to your home for one night, the Historic Summit Inn (724-438-8594). In-room amenities include a hairdryer, bathroom amenities and complimentary Wi-Fi. An historic hotel built in 1907, the Summit provides modern conveniences while preserving its classic ambiance. Dinner this evening is included at the Summit with a panoramic view and a 30-minute discussion from a local historian about the history of the Inn and the surrounding area. At the end of dinner, you can retire to your room or perhaps have a cocktail at your expense in the bar lounge.

Day 2

Begin your day with a delightful breakfast included at the Inn before you pack up and depart for a guided tour of Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece, Fallingwater. This iconic house was designed to rise above the waterfall over which it is built and offers an unparalleled view into organic architecture and modern design, with its earthy tones beautifully contrasted by the vibrant reds, golds, and oranges of the mature oaks, hickories, and maples that line the Bear Run gorge. (Please Note: Please wear comfortable shoes because there is a walk along uneven ground to the home. A small shuttle is provided for those who have mobility issues.) Afterwards, you board the motorcoach and depart for Omni Bedford Springs Resort for an included lunch buffet and time for a self-guided tour of the historic property. Immerse yourself in the rich history of the natural mineral springs and the resort's role in American history that includes a long list of celebrities, dignitaries, and 13 U.S. presidents. Your last visit of the day is included at Old Bedford Village, an engaging living history museum that offers a final, charming glimpse into Pennsylvania's storied past, set against the rustic beauty of the surrounding landscape. Enjoy a self-guided experience to explore the nearly 40 structures including authentic 18th and 19th century buildings moved from original locations throughout our region to provide an historical depiction of what life was like then. Visit the general store, jail, blacksmith woodworking shops and more. You then depart for home with a fast-food stop enroute.

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ALL WOLF'S TOURS - TIMES AND ITINERARY SUBJECT TO CHANGE**

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, LB=Lunch Buffet, D=Dinner