While visiting friends in Ohio we discovered Lanterman's Mill, first built in 1845 and later…read morerestored in 1985. I am a lover of hiking, waterfalls, mills, bridges, gardens, historic places and tranquil spaces. Lanterman's Mill has all of this which makes a visit here nearly perfect. --- If you follow my reviews then you know I have a particular affinity for COVERED BRIDGES. When I discovered this place while doing a Google search of things to see in the area, I did not notice any pictures of a covered bridge. So it was beyond thrilling to walk behind the mill (where it is hidden from street view) and stumble upon it. For me, this was like finding a briefcase of money as I stood in total disbelief for several minutes. Not only was it a delightful surprise, it was beautiful and well maintained to boot, which is not always the case with covered bridges. Built in 1989, the covered bridge is not historic, but was designed in the likeness of other local bridges from the 1800's that farmers used to bring their grain to the mill. There is also a gorgeous arched street bridge that provides an excellent vantage point for photos of the mill & waterfall as well as another decorative suspension bridge just a half mile away. A 2-mile loop hiking trail known as East Gorge Walk and West Gorge Trail allows for wonderful views of the river gorge and leads you to the suspension bridge from the mill. These trails connect with the West Cohasset, East Cohasset, Axtmann and Old Tree Walking Trails and can more that triple your mileage as you explore the northern end of the park. --- OTHER AREAS OF INTEREST along the connecting walking trail are several ponds, small lakes, picnic pavilions, playgrounds and even a public golf course @ Mill Creek Metro Park. There is a Riverside Garden, Quarry Garden, Nature Center, and the ruins of a historic furnace built in the 1820's which produced approximately three to four tons of iron daily. Pioneer Pavilion, built in 1821 as a mill for carding and fulling wool is a rare surviving example of early 19th Century industry. It sits within view of the furnace. Cascade Gorge Natural Pool and an area known as THE FLATS round out some of the beautiful areas of interest near Lanterman's Mill. NOTE: The Flats are a lush grassy area surrounded by a horse fence. If you follow the fence you will notice an enormous tree in its path, which causes the fence to terminate and continue on the other side of the tree. Not sure what kind of tree it is, but it certainly seems to be very, very old based on the thickness of its trunk. It is easily more than 100 years older than any tree in its vicinity. FINAL THOUGHTS The Mill is a testimony to human determination. The current mill is the third incarnation. The first mill was built of logs and operated from 1799 to 1822. In 1823 the original mill was replaced by a second mill which operated until 1843 when a flood washed it away. A grinding stone from this mill can still be seen resting in the creek bed 500 feet downstream of the Falls. Lanterman's Mill ceased operations in 1888. [source: millcreekmetroparks.org] Lanterman's Mill itself is over 5-stories tall and has a very unique feature of having the waterwheel inside the basement of the mill. All the walking trails are free, but entrance inside the working areas of the mill are currently $3 for non-resident adults and $1 for students and seniors (July 2023). A butterfly garden is on site and during our visit we were graced with many birds, a groundhog, chipmunk and the largest most unusual forest mushroom we've ever seen. It is absolutely a stunning place in the summer. I can't even begin to imagine how magical it is in the Fall season as the trees change into their best outfits. Enjoy! BTW I've been trying my hand at TikTok & made a few videos of our visit to this mill if you care to see them: https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8dqN8JM/ - https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZT8dVsHeW/ 2023 / 10

What a fun nice stop. It's so beautiful here. I remember we brought kids here when they were little…read moreand it had not been renovated. Now it's all fixed up and worth the tour and walk. Plenty of parking and a short walk to the mill. Then you can take a stroll along the creek and take history tour of the mill. They have a nice gift shop inside too. Take a picnic and enjoy the surrounding beautiful nature.

Roadside attraction! No formal trail but clearly commonly utilized path. A little scramble down to…read morethe creek bed and across from the road. Cool little pit stop life your in the area.

Update: July 2021 . . . I have been here several times now,…read moreand I don't think it is working . . . I do not feel or look any younger, and in fact, I think I have aged even more since my last visit here . . . and gained a few more pounds (sad face). LOL ----------------------- Previous review: This is one of those odd and quirky, yet cool, locations that hardly anyone knows about.  This little landmark was built sometime in the 1930s, and is located just within the boundary of North Park.  It almost appears to be some sort of ancient tomb, but inside lies a springhouse, and the water is still trickling away, which creates quite an echo of sound.  Pretty easy to find, just a little bit off the beaten path.  Cheers!

Mars is an adorable little town a little less than an hour from Pittsburgh and it gives small town,…read moreAmericana vibes complete with a spaceship (flying saucer) in the middle of town. It's got a well-preserved town square with local businesses, great restaurants and coffee shops, and a brewery. Makes for a fun little stop if heading up to Conneaut Lake or Erie. It's quirky and all things Roadside Americana.

Cool little town up North of Pittsburgh. Granted, I was only…read morepassing through on a motorbike adventure for an hour at most, but we stopped at the red caboose (really cool), the flying saucer (even cooler), and the coffee shop (cool owner) next to the "Peace Post." Nice place, and I wanna come back again and see the train station and the historical society, hopefully at a time when they are open. Also, a big shout-out to the Chinese restaurant next to the flying saucer, as they allowed me to use their restroom. Cheers!!!!

"Meet me under the Kaufmann's Clock." How many times have you uttered those words when making plans…read moreto meet up with friends or family? Countless times for Pittsburgh natives like myself! This has been a popular meeting spot for decades. In fact ever since it came into existence and though Kaufmann's is long gone (1887-2015-sold to the May Company in 1946), the iconic clock remains. Note-this actually isn't the original clock. The original was installed in the 1800s. This one has been around since 1913 and is an official entry on Atlas Obscura. Did you know it weighs over 2500 pounds and is made of pure bronze? Yep! This historic landmark is a legendary piece of downtown Pittsburgh history. It's something cherished and beloved by all. If you find yourself downtown, get over to the corner of Fifth & Smithfield to meet someone under the Kaufmann's Clock.

An ornate 2,500-pound bronze clock has hung at the corner of Smithfield Street and Fifth Avenue in…read moredowntown Pittsburgh since 1913. On the corner of the downtown Kaufmann's department store, central location in Downtown Pittsburgh made the clock a popular meeting place. The clock was declared a landmark in 1981. A wedding even took place under the clock in 1996. Today the building houses apartments, a hotel and hopefully soon, a Target.

This overlook provides a great view of the city below! It's a very close walk to the Monongahela…read moreIncline, if you take that up to the top of Mt Washington. We came on a beautiful, sunny and hot day, so all the views were great with no clouds. The whole area up there is nice and worth walking to check out the city below as well. Definitely a "must do" for tourists visiting!

Right near the intersection of Grandview and Shiloh, a stunning view of Pittsburgh…read more One year we staged a May Day celebration here, with giant puppets, musicians and dancers, and it was an incredible evening. You are steps away from the business district, where you can find dinner, ice cream, and pubs. Parking is on the street, and although spaces are scarce, they turn over fairly quickly.

4.5 stars. The Point State Park Fountain is located where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers meet…read moreto form the Ohio River. It was built in 1974 and renovated in recent years. Operational in warm seasons, the fountain water comes from pumps, and its height of up to 150 feet is adjusted by park staff depending on weather conditions. For many years, I have visited Point State Park to view this fountain. Most recently I visited on a hot day in June, and the wind blew a refreshing mist of fountain water onto me. The fountain looked beautiful, especially with the backdrop of the rivers, football stadium, and boats sailing by.

An iconic Pittsburgh landmark! The fountain is at the middle of the "point" part of Point State…read morePark. It is a really cool site to see and love that you can spot it from so many different vantage points and angles! It was recently renovated again (although I'm not even sure what they did or if there were any real changes). I think my favorite vantage point is trying to catch a glimpse coming out of the Fort Pitt Tunnel. Either that or if I'm lucky enough to be on a boat that makes a pass past the fountain. (like the Gateway Clipper). It is also great to visit up close which is where you get a real sense of just how high the fountain really shoots! (Although on windy or otherwise bad weather days they can adjust the height to prevent issues). The fountain is a great gathering space. You see all sorts of pictures being snapped here. Weddings, proposals, families, proms etc. It makes for some really great people watching.

If you are looking for an amazing place to go for a walk, I highly recommend the Dashield Dam. I…read moresee people walking it every day, no matter the weather, and they are all quite friendly. But I go here to watch the amazing birds. I see Eagles, Wood Duck, Great Blue Heron, Gulls, Kingfisher, and a whole lot more. Migrating waterfowl stop here frequently to relax and grab something to eat. It's a great place to fish, too. It's a little tricky to find, so follow your GPS or the helpful signs. It's unique and well worth the trip.

Not a lot to see, but if you love seeing historical sites like I do, you'll want to stop by. This…read morecute little schoolhouse is just off of Brady's Run in Beaver. The actual museum is only open June-August on Sundays, but it's easy enough to peek into the windows if you're there during the off-season as I was.

I am a yinzer through and through and cherish all the history that is Pittsburgh…read more Carrie Furnaces are no different. The tours are incredible and you learn so much. I come from a long line of steelworkers and thought I pretty much knew all there was to know. That was, until the tour. The tour guide was extremely informative. Most of the folks working (volunteering) at Carrie have some connection to the steel industry. In addition to the tour, I have had the privilege of attending events there as well. Yep, they rent out the space. Everything was well put together at the events and having the furances as backdrop took it to the next level. As far as the tours go, I feel so strongly that Pittsburgh natives and tourists alike take one. It's really incredible to learn how much of the country was built because of Carrie.

We thoroughly enjoyed our tour with Keith! He had to do much first hand knowledge of the facility,…read morehaving worked there himself when he graduated the army. The tour lasted about 2.5 hours and was mostly outside in direct sunlight. There were a few opportunities for shade, but not many. If you come on a hot day, plan to arrive hydrated and grab a complimentary water bottle from the check in desk. You'll need it. Parking is plentiful, the history is intriguing, and the art scattered about the property is thoughtful and engaging. If you're lucky, you'll spot some wildlife who inhabit the surrounding area.