Stepping Stone Farm Bed & Breakfast
One mile from the ATA bike trail near Confluence, PA. Fallingwater, Kentuck Knob, Ohiopyle/Yough River Rafting, Nemacolin Woodlands, Seven Springs, Mt. Davis, Ft. Necessity, and more - a short drive away in the Laurel Highlands of SW PA.
"Your Country Home Away From Home"
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MENU
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Your Hosts:
Larry, Vicki and Jeni Rempel Phone: (814) 395-9988 Email: steppingstonefarm@verizon.net
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As our guest, we want you to feel at home.
We provide clean, hospitable family lodging in a relaxed,
friendly atmosphere where you can rest and recharge
for your next day's adventures and travel.
A Bag of Tools
by R. Lee Sharpe
Isn't it strange how princes and kings,
and clowns that caper in sawdust rings,
and common people, like you and me,
are builders for eternity?
Each is given a list of rules;
a shapeless mass; a bag of tools.
And each must fashion, ere life is flown,
A stumbling block, or a Stepping-Stone.
The Laurel Highlands: An Area of History, Local Culture, and Outdoor Adventure
Our roomy farmhouse is located on 31 private acres in the "Lower Turkeyfoot" river valley, so named by the young surveyor George Washington as he surveyed the area during the French and Indian Wars. We are three miles from the small borough of Confluence, PA, located at the "confluence" of three beautiful rivers (Laurel Hill, Casselman and the Youghiogheny) and the Youghiogheny Dam and Lake.
The Great Allegheny Passage (bike trail from Pittsburgh to DC) passes through Confluence and has road access one mile from our farm at the Harnedsville trailhead (see instructions below: "Arriving by Bicycle"). Fallingwater, Kentuck Knob, Ohiopyle, Seven Springs, Nemacolin Woodlands and Ft. Necessity, among others are a short, scenic drive away (See "Nearby Attractions" below for descriptions and other links).
Good morning! Good morning! Its time to rise and shine.
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Come down to the heart of our home, the spacious country dining room and kitchen to enjoy a home made breakfast with baked goods, our own hens' eggs, fruit from our garden in season, and juice, coffee and tea to get you going. |
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Perhaps you'd like to step out onto the open-air porch to enjoy your breakfast as you breathe in the fresh morning air.
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Sometime during your visit, take a walk up the lane to see the morning fog resting in the Casselman river valley or meander around the property toward evening on one of the trails. We enjoy numerous sightings of squirrel, white-tailed deer, wild turkey and other wild birds in season from the house and around the property. Or just stretch out on the hammock under the pines, or sit quietly in the gezebo near the stream.
When you are ready, launch out on your day's adventures in the Laurel Highlands and seize the day.
After your day of experiencing the Laurel Highlands, head back to the farm for an evening to relax.
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Pour a glass of iced tea, or a cup of coffee and enjoy the countryside setting from the front stone porch, or the deck off the upper wing guest rooms. |
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Request a campfire and it'll be blazing on your return.
Later, come inside the house and find a comfortable spot in the upper wing's cozy library
or the farm's main living room to read a book, chat with family or folk, or play a board game.
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And now? Ahh....lights out!!.
Here at Stepping Stone Farm B & B, we welcome the solo-bicyclist, couples, family and friend groups with bedspace for 16 people.
Great for reunions, bicycling/rafting/kayaking groups, church groups, etc.
Reserve one room, several rooms, or the whole guest quarters.
The whole guest quarters includes 5 bedrooms, 3 full bathrooms, 2 equipped kitchenettes, 2 common areas and offers 1 queen bed, 4 double beds and 6 single beds set up in the manner described below.
Prices include a tasty breakfast.
The Farm's "Get-a-way" Suite
A private suite with bed space for 1-5 people including the following:
A family room with 2 day beds, couch, VCR, table and chairs.
Equipped kitchenette includes:
fridge, sink, microwave, electric stove/oven, electric frying pan, dishes, etc.
A full, private bathroom. One large bedroom with 2 double beds and 1 single.
First Night @ $100.00 + tax, 2 persons
($35.00 for each additional person)
Second night @ 10% discount. Third night and more 15% discount.
May through October, weekends two night minimum.
The Farm's Upper Guest Wing
Four rooms with two full bathrooms available. Three common areas include the Bird Nest Library, an equipped kitchenette, and the Sunrise Upper Deck.
Enjoy the upper deck overlooking the fields and garden.
The Birdnest Library is convenient for reading, relaxing, and visiting with guests staying in the Upper Wing.
Blue Hemlock Room (1 queen bed w/private bath): $90.00 + tax
Green Garden Room (1 full bed + 1 single bed): $80.00 + tax
Red Posy Room (1 full bed): $70.00 + tax
Yellow Flutter Room (2 twin beds): $70.00 + tax
Complimentary full breakfast served @ 8:30 am, unless otherwise
arranged. This includes our homemade baked goods, fresh fruit, our own
hens' eggs, sausage/ham, OJ, coffee/tea, homemade jams, etc. Vegetarian
breakfast prepared on request.
Need supper at the farm? We can pre-order from local menus and have meals ready at the house at time requested.
One Courtesy Shuttle for Bicyclers to/from Confluence or pedal directly to farm (one
mile from the ATA @ Harnedsville - see below).
Linens, towels, courtesy soap provided.
Campfire provided on request.
Ask about petting and feeding the farm's goats, and chickens, too.
Pick raspberries and strawberries from the garden in season.
Three porches off of the house and thirty-one 31 acres of property to enjoy walks or cross-country skiing out the back door.
Summer evenings in the Laurel Highlands are usually mild, but we have fans in each room to keep comfortable.
October-April, we have plenty of warm blankets and a well-heated home.
Enjoy the woodburning stove in the dining room.
To confirm and hold a reservation, please send a deposit (check or money order) within 5 days of making the reservation to cover the cost of the first night's stay.
Cancellation or Changes: Deposit, minus a 20% cancellation/change fee, remitted when canceled 2 weeks prior to reservation date.
Sorry, we don't take credit cards. We accept cash, money orders and personal checks made out to "Victoria Rempel"
Check- in time is after 4 pm or by arrangement. Check-out time is by 10 am unless otherwise arranged.
This is a smoke-free home. No alcohol or drugs. No provision for pets.
The room rates have an additional 9% tax (3% local bed tax and 6% state tax).
ARRIVING BY CAR
DRIVING DISTANCES
Our location in SW PA is within easy driving distance of major eastern cities.
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Pittsburgh, PA - 1 3/4 hrs. |
Philadelphia, PA - 4 1/2 hrs. |
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
We are well-situated within 30 minutes of two major freeways:
US 68 (great access from DC/ Baltimore and points south)
and the PA Turnpike (US Route 70/76).
| FROM US 70/76 (PA TURNPIKE) | FROM US 68 |
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Take Somerset Exit 10. Follow signs for Rt. 281 South through town. Leaving Somerset, go 22 miles to Ursina. Look for Blue Reflective "Stepping Stone Farm B & B" signs the next 2 turns.) Follow "Harnedsville 1 Mile" sign with left hand arrow. Turn left onto Second St./Hogback Rd. Go 1/2 mile to top of hill; carefully make a wide left turn (blind corner) onto unmarked road. Go 1/2 mile and turn down second lane on right Follow private, wooded country lane 1/5 mile to redwood farm-house (Stepping Stone B & B). |
Take Uniontown Exit 14B to flashing light. Turn left onto Rte 40 W. Continue 6 miles and turn right onto Rte.523 North. Go 5 miles to Harnedsville. Look for Blue Reflective "Stepping Stone Farm B & B" signs the next 2 turns. Follow "Ursina 1 Mile" sign with right hand arrow. Turn right onto Hogback Rd. Go 1/2 mile to top of hill; turn right onto Peck Rd. Go 1/2 mile and turn down second lane on right at "Stepping Stone" Sign. Follow private, wooded country lane 1/5 mile to redwood farm-house (Stepping Stone B & B). |
ARRIVING BY BICYCLE
Take advantage of the courtesy shuttle to/from Confluence, or pedal directly to the farm.
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COURTESY SHUTTLE
If you are arriving by bicycle from the Great Allegheny Passage or the ATA, |
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PEDAL DIRECTLY TO THE FARM: (Not for Those Arriving by Automobile) |
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| From Pittsburgh Toward DC (NW to SE): | From D.C. Toward Pittsburgh (SE to NW): |
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Pedal past Ohiopyle to Confluence. Continue past Confluence 2 miles to the Harnedsville trailhead. Exit the GAP/ATA rail-trail and turn left onto SR 3047 or Hogback Rd.
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Pedal past Rockwood 15 miles toward Confluence. At the Harnedsville trailhead parking, 2 miles before Confluence, SR 3047 (Hogback Rd.) and the trail intersect. Exit the GAP/ATA rail-trail and turn right onto Hogback Rd/SR 3047 to the north.
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Look for white signs with blue Stepping Stone Farm or SSF lettering and a blue bicycle icon. Continue as follows:
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You'll be pleased to discover the delightful range of experiences that are within a short, scenic drive from Stepping Stone.
Here are some of the focal points in our area:
(1 m) Great Allegheny Passage / Allegheny Trail Alliance : Nearly 200 miles of continuous bicycle/hiking trail; from Pittsburgh to Washington, DC; follows the old B&O Railroad bed and the C&O Canal. Our favorite segment is the 20 miles roundtrip from Confluence to Ohiopyle.
(3 m)Confluence, PA and the middle Youghiogheny River. . Riversport is our local outfitter for raft and kayak trips on the Youghiogheny and Casselman rivers.
(3 m) Youghiogheny River Lake - swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, and camping
(3 m) Lower Humbert Covered Bridge- plus 10 others in Somerset Co.
(19 m) Fallingwater and (24m) Kentuck Knob - Homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright.
(19m) Braddock's Grave - Final resting place of Major General Braddock.
(20 m) Fort Necessity National Battlefield - Site of the opening battle of the French and Indian War.
(25 m) Laurel Caverns - Pennsylvania's largest cave.
(20 m)Penn Alps Craft Village and the Amish-Mennonite Communities of Springs, PA and Grantsville, MD.
(11 m) Mt. Davis - Hike, picnic, or climb the observation tower at the highest point in Pennsylvania.
Resorts - skiing, golf, water slides,
miniature golf, dining, etc.
(20 m) Nemacolin
Woodlands Resort and Spa
(20 m) Seven
Springs Mountain Resort
(25 m) Hidden
Valley Four Seasons Resort
Area Businesses - Numerous opportunities to bargain/treasure hunt within the area, especially along Old US Route 40, the original National Highway, or on your way to an activity.
Local festivals and events are held in every season throughout the region.
| Fire and Ice Festival | Somerset, PA | January |
| Pennsylvania Maple Festival | Meyersdale, PA | April |
| Chainsaw Carving Festival | Addison, PA | May |
| Old National Pike Days | Addison, PA | May |
| River and Rails Festival | Rockwood, PA | June |
| Old Home Days & Turkeyfoot Biathalon | Confluence, PA | June |
| Somerfest | Somerset, PA | July |
| Somerset County Fair | Meyersdale, PA | August |
| Farmers and Threshermen's Jubilee - | New Centerville, PA | September |
| Mountain Craft Days - | Somerset, PA | September |
| Whiskey Rebellion - | Berlin, PA | September |
| Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa PGA Classic Golf Tournament | Farmington, PA | September |
| Pumpkin Fest | Confluence, PA | October |
| Springs Folk Festival - | Springs, PA | October |
River's Edge Cafe -
Confluence, PA Dannie's Place - Confluence, PA River's Edge Cafe - Confluence, PA Shepherd's Farm - Confluence, PA Sisters' Cafe - Confluence, PA Suder's Soft Freeze - Confluence, PA Penn
Alps - Grantsville, MD Confluence Foodmart - Confluence, PA |
Confluence
True Value Hardware - Confluence, PA Diamond Produce - Confluence, PA First National Bank of PA -
Confluence, PA Hall's Market - Confluence, PA River's Edge Antique Mall -
Confluence, PA Somerset Trust Co. - Confluence, PA Swirling Eddy Laundromat -
Confluence, PA |
