Serendipitous - an adjective that describes accidentally being in the right place at the right…read moretime, like bumping into a good friend in some unusual location, or finding a hundred dollar bill on the ground [vocabulary.com] I've had people give me awesome compliments on yelp about the adventures I take my family on, but I should probably admit that my family doesn't always want to go. Rarely do they even get out of the car when I stop to see covered bridges and I think I maxed them out on this particular road trip because we saw about 15 on our 3 week adventure to Canada. Honestly I don't blame them, but sometimes my determination gets in the way of my common sense. A STORY OF A SERENDIPITOUS ENCOUNTER Take our drive to Packsaddle Bridge for example. Our navigation led us down Pine Valley Road from our comfortable drive on Interstate 70. There were lots of twists, turns and near death experiences to get to Pack Saddle Road and to be honest, Pine Valley isn't a road at all by city slicker standards. It was a mud & gravel pit of the worst uneven surface you would ever expect to find anything other than a SUV trying to cross. I bottomed the car out a few times! My wife gave me the stank-eye nearly the entire time we drove along this road as we were shaken around like we were inside a Mexican piñata. But I kept my focus straight ahead to avoid any eye contact (and of course to watch for any dip in the road that might get us stuck). What was worse is we lost our cell phone signal and were truly on our own on what had to be the back-woodiest road you may possibly find in all of the United States. If I blew a tire or hit a mud pit too deep I was gonna be in some serious stank eye trouble. So it was like an angelic choir began to sing when we finally made it back on pavement @ Pack Saddle Road. Within a few hundred yards the bridge came into view and I knew beyond the shadow of a doubt that asking my wife and kids to get out and see it was gonna result in my decapitation. To be honest, I wasn't entirely confident they might not drive off and leave me there, so I took the keys with me! Hahaha There was an elderly gentleman parked in the tiny parking area near the bridge when I got out to explore and we exchanged hellos. I went about my usual business taking pics and writing notes about what I saw before heading back to my family. As I approached our vehicle, the elder gentleman struck up a conversation with me and told me all about the bridge and how he has been coming here since he was a tyke. He shared with me a beautiful picture he took several decades ago when the bridge was covered in snow. He asked if I was a bridge lover and I said "AM I EVER! So much so that I think I've gotten my family lost and upset with me for going so far off road to find this place." Well, to my surprise, the elderly gentleman handed me the picture and told me he wanted me to have it. He then asked me where was I trying to go and started his truck. After telling him our next destination, he turned his truck around and drove us far enough in the right direction that we would not get lost. Along the way he stopped and showed us a rehabilitation center for elephants, but unfortunately there were no elephants roaming where we could see them. How awesome would that have been! I goggled the place when I got home and found this article: http://www.post-gazette.com/life/lifestyle/2009/07/28/African-elephants-make-themselves-at-home-in-Somerset-County/stories/200907280205 After a few miles he pulled off to the side of the road. A honk of his horn and a wave of his hand informed us we were heading in the right direction and soon after our cell phone signal returned. How good was our fortune that he just happened to be at this bridge when we arrived! BRIDGE FACTS Year Built - 1870, rehabilitated in 1998 (after flood damage in 1996) Builder - Unknown Total length: 48 ft. AKA - Doc Miler Bridge Truss: Multiple Kingpost Crosses: Brush Creek in Fairhope Township Vehicular traffic: Yes Features: Small waterfall, an old outpost building and parking FINAL THOUGHTS To borrow from Forest Gump - Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get! My family was so excited about the elephant farm that they forgave me for nearly getting us lost and stuck in the middle of nowhere. Truly we had angels looking out for us on this day and I am grateful. Life indeed is a glorious adventure if you'll just drive!

Kings Covered Bridge is an absolute gem of a historic stop in Somerset County! Since it's closed to…read morecars, it is completely peaceful to walk through and admire the incredible, old-school woodwork and architecture up close. The surrounding park-like setting right next to Laurel Hill Creek is incredibly scenic, and the picnic pavilion makes it the perfect place to pull off the road, stretch your legs, and soak in a little bit of Pennsylvania history.

This covered bridge is one of 10 covered bridges that currently exist in Somerset County…read more I included it on my list for a day trip driving from West Mifflin, PA (outside Pittsburgh). You can't drive through the bridge but there is space to park near it and you can walk inside it. It is a good photo opp, especially was on this blue sky day. It is within a quick 2 mile drive of Barronvale Covered Bridge so make sure to include that one while you are in the area.

Tower of Voices was the first project to be completed at/near the Flight 93 crash site and was…read morededicated on Sept 11 2011. This is the most iconic for Flight 93 in my opinion, a must especially since it's short and easy access for anyone from the parking lot. It's also the first landmark you would see from Lincoln Hwy Rt 30 if you navigate to Flight 93 National Memorial. Don't follow the Visitor Center sign which is over 2 miles away - if you want to stop by this amazing memorial first. It's really an amazing design, incorporating so many meaningful elements. For example, there are 40 wind chimes, representing the 40 voices; each chime tube is separated by a wing flap, etc. One can spend some time here admiring the structure and reflecting on the heroical tragedy. And if there happens to be a gusty wind greater than 12 mph, you might actually hear the chimes. We weren't so lucky. The passengers and crews of Flight 93 will forever have a voice; their heroic actions will be forever honored.

A truly meaningful and moving monument of respect to the fallen heroes of Flight 93, the Tower of…read moreVoices is located at the Flight 93 National Memorial. It is visible on the way to the memorial's visitor center and other features, and has its own parking lot, making it easy to pull off and visit. The tower itself features 40 chimes, one for each of the passengers and crew. It requires wind speeds of just under 15 mph in order to generate the sounds, and signage helpfully provides a link/QR code to a recording if it is silent at the time of visit. We were fortunate to be able to hear some soft chiming. It was very nice. A small seating area is available near the base. This is a beautiful part of the memorial, all of which is well worth a visit.

The Glessner Covered Bridge built 1881 near Stoystown, Somerset Co., PA. This lovely Covered…read morebridge is 98 inches long. Water looked so beautiful and clear. There was a lovely old huge barn near by Sunday, May 19th, 2019, Tony and I was driving back home from our short overnight get away. We saw a few COVERED BRIDGES in PA this weekend and they were all painted Barn Red. This is Free of course to enjoy! Hope you get to see this lovely bridge from yester year, one day soon and enjoy it. Can you believe this beauty is 138 yrs old!!!

On my list to visit on a day trip driving from West Mifflin, outside Pittsburgh, to Laurel…read moreHighlands area. Worth the stop for a photo opp. Longest covered bridge remaining in Somerset County at just over 162 ft long. You can't drive through it but there are spots near it to park and walk through it. It includes a plaque describing it. While you are here, I suggest driving to the nearby King's covered bridge just 2 minutes away.