Pittsburgh and Fallingwater

Join Custom Holidays on this fascinating trip to Pennsylvania with an emphasis on Pittsburg and famous homes. The first stop is at the Tara Inn, made famous in "Gone with the Wind". Enjoy a tour of the Inn with a costumed guide. Yes, you will expect to see Clark Gable somewhere in the Inn. A delicious luncheon is included. Onward to Pittsburgh to see Fort Pitt at the

Point State Park. This fort was built by early settlers. See the Block House, the oldest structure in Pittsburgh. Enjoy the fountain and see the outline of Fort Duquesne. Check into the Drury Inn, your home for the next 3 nights. Enjoy cocktails and a light supper. Bring your swimwear for a dip in the indoor pool. Want to explore more? Join a group on a Ghost Tour of Pittsburgh. This is optional and the cost is $30 per person. (L)

Breakfast is at the hotel. Meet the local guide for a morning city tour of this historic and cultural city and learn of the innovative men that made it so great. Learn about the coal mines that lead to "Rivers of Steel" and Carnegie's Homestead Steel Works. Ride the 1877 Duquesne incline tram to the top of Mt. Washington for the Three Rivers view. A leisurely lunch will be served at the beautiful Grand Concourse Restaurant in the lobby of the stately old train station. Arrive at the Frick Museum Complex for a guided tour of the mansion, called Clayton. Experience the culture and refinement of the Gilded Age in a beautiful setting no other museum in Pittsburgh can offer. In addition to the house, enjoy the art museum, the car and carriage Museum and/or the Greenhouse and Gardens. After a full day in Pittsburgh, retreat to the hotel. Enjoy another cocktail reception and a light supper at the hotel. (B,L)

After breakfast at the hotel, motor south and into the fabulous fall colors of the Laurel Highlands. Tour another famous home, the magnificent Fallingwater, considered Frank Lloyd Wright's greatest residential design. Finished in 1935 for Edgar Kaufmann of the department store fame. This 22 room home is integrated into the natural landscape and filled with furniture designed by Wright himself. Lunch today is included at a local restaurant on our way back to Pittsburgh. The desserts look delicious! Returning to Pittsburgh, drive down Shadyside's 5th Avenue also called Millionaire Row, See famous homes of former industrial titans such as Westinghouse, Heinz, Frick and Mellon. Return to the hotel for cocktails and a light supper provided by the hotel. Enjoy an optional visit to the Andy Warhol Museum (free). (B,L)

After breakfast at the hotel, visit our last famous home in Cleveland. In 1880, James A. Garfield used his front porch as a platform to greet thousands of well-wishers during his presidential campaign. Today, the porch serves as a gateway to the story of the Garfield family. Learn all about our 20th President as we visit this National Historic site. Stop for lunch on your own and arrive home late afternoon. (B)