Tag Archives: Ligonier Pennsylvania

Adventures Ahead

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I’m starting to dream of adventure days ahead. I miss the allure of the open road, gliding down country lanes and going around the block for a picture. I miss having the windows down and the music up as I look for the mundane and the unusual alike.

This image is from my last big road trip to Ligonier, PA at Christmas. It’s the Stahlstown Trinity United Methodist Church and it called my name. It looked interesting so I found a place to turn around and head back. This is such a common occurrence that I don’t even consider it abnormal anymore but anyone traveling with me for the first time would likely find this quirk of mine bewildering.

Unfortunately, there were numerous things along this route that were noteworthy or interesting in some way but there was nowhere to turn around or pull over. It’s hard to resist this urge and to accept that it’s time to move on.

So, I continue to enjoy my cold days of hibernation but am starting to think about the adventures ahead. This world is an amazing place filled with things I haven’t seen and stories I want to know.

Warmer days are ahead. Adventures await for me and for you. We just have to go find them.

Supporting Small Businesses: A Gift To Myself

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One Christmas gifts to myself was the act of going into some small businesses in Ligonier and buying some things specifically to help them out. Small businesses play a vital role in any community, especially a place like Ligonier where the economy is based on tourism and locally owned businesses. I like to support them when I can.

There aren’t many chains in this town. Instead, you find small specialty shops and restaurants where everything is prepared to order and where greasy sacks of food aren’t passed through car windows.

These places often employ just a few people but they do far more for the community than the big box store that sends its profits to an out-of-state corporate office or, even worse, an online retailer that has no presence in the community at all.

In Ligonier, local businesses help sponsor events like the Christmas lights on the Diamond. They support the Chamber of Commerce and refer customers to other businesses in town. The level of community spirit and involvement here is enviable.

The ice cream parlor even sells these tokens so that first responders can enjoy free ice cream when they come in.

I picked up a handmade Russian ornament from a Christmas store and a bracelet made with silk infused piano wire from a boutique that sells handmade goods. That bracelet is officially my favorite piece of jewelry right now. I found a pretty plum scarf and Christmas broach at a ladies clothing store, delicious chocolates from the candy store and a hand painted miniature from another delightful shop.

My friend bought a warm winter coat from a shoe and outdoor wear store that has been in business for over a century. The current proprietor is the third generation to own it.

I didn’t especially need anything I bought but I found some small treats for myself. Plus, it inspired great joy to buy some small luxury items while supporting those shops.

If I were far wealthier than I am, I would have bought this life sized Santa or one of the other half dozen others they had with different faces and different colored robes. Each is unique and several hundred dollars beyond my budget.

No one does a happy dance like a small business owner who just made a sale and I was glad to contribute to their good day- even if I couldn’t afford the gorgeous Santa.

Like Pieces From A Christmas Village

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Many buildings in Ligonier’s historic district resemble pieces from a decorative Christmas village or maybe a model railroad town. They are quaint, classic buildings along streets so tidy you hardly see a stray gum wrapper.

People clearly take pride in their town and work hard to keep it looking nice.

Most places are decorated for the holiday too, creating an all around festive atmosphere. Where I come from, people are grumbling about decorating a tree and hardly decorate outside anymore. In Ligonier, everyone is putting their best foot forward to lend an air of festivity everywhere you look. Even the plumbing supply store has a great window display.

Here’s the town hall along the Diamond.

And the bed and breakfast where we stayed.

This gorgeous old church looks like it was plucked from a decorative village in a Christmas store.

I would love to see inside this private residence on Main Street.

As you can see, all these buildings are decorated simply with wreaths, lights, red bows and boughs of pine. There’s no over-the-top Griswold family style light display and it’s nothing fancy but it is effective.

These small touches really do make a difference and the work of individuals has made the entire town feel welcoming and Christmasy. The take away here is that we can all do our part to make our neighborhoods more appealing for everyone.

The Diamond In A Hallmark Town

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The crown jewel of Ligonier, the thing that makes this Pennsylvania town seem like a real life Hallmark village, is the Diamond.

This busy intersection is surrounded by charming shops and restaurants as well as a gorgeous old stone church and the town hall. Inside the Diamond is a park featuring a bandstand, benches and plenty of greenery.

Calling a town commons a Diamond is actually a tradition from Northern Ireland that was brought here by the Scots-Irish people who settled that area. The Ligonier Borough Council made this space a park in 1894, an act that seemed incredibly forward thinking.

Right now, the Diamond is all decked out for Christmas with lights in the trees, a nativity, gingerbread house and caroler statues. The most picturesque feature is a tree with presents inside the bandstand.

We spent Friday afternoon browsing the shops and admiring handmade jewelry, cute clothes and an enormous selection of Christmas ornaments at one particularly fabulous shop. We later saw the lights turn on at dusk as we we savored sweet Mexican pastries in a restaurant across the street. We returned after dark to take our time strolling through and enjoying the many features here in the Diamond.

The town clock chimed seven while we stood there absorbing the beauty of this place. Christmas music played somewhere in the distance as couples scurried down the street to the town hall where the historical society was hosting their annual Christmas extravaganza.

The only way it could have been more perfect is if it were snowing and I was in the back of a one horse open sleigh. Tomorrow I’ll tell you about some shops I enjoyed.

Ligonier: A Real Life Hallmark Town

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If you’re looking for a getaway that resembles a Hallmark movie set, Ligonier, Pennsylvania may be as good as it gets. I spent the weekend there with a friend.

We each had our own suites in a charming 1906 bed and breakfast just off the town diamond. In Ohio we would call it a town square but it does have a sort of diamond shape and that’s what the locals call it – the diamond. There’s a beautiful green space with trees, benches and a gorgeous gazebo in the center. This is surrounded by charming restaurants and specialty shops with mostly top notch customer service.

The people here are friendly and this walkable town is packed with history. Plus, all the Christmas lights and music helped push me into the holiday spirit which has been a struggle again this year.

In fact, I’m writing this early on Sunday morning from my cozy bed at the Colonial House on Main Bed and Breakfast. I have Christmas music playing softly and the electric fireplace is providing both warmth and atmosphere in this surprisingly large suite.

I don’t know how to express to you how quaint and charming this place is. If it hadn’t been too cold, I would have sat on the diamond and stared at the lights for hours both nights.

We saw young families decked out in their holiday finest as they posed for Christmas card photos. We saw grown adults transform into little kids as they stepped up to the vast candy counter at O’Shea’s Candies. We met a lady who is the third generation owner of a small clothing and shoe store. We shopped and ate our way through town, making friends with shopkeepers, before relaxing by the fire after dark.

Many businesses are located in charming old houses and even places like the plumbing supply store are decked out for the season.

It was a perfect way to start the Christmas season.