While a record number of people are traveling this Fourth of July holiday weekend — and travel appears to be increasing in general, year over year — costs have also increased.

“Drivable beach locations have been strong,” said Ian Petrulli, vice president of Holiday Travel International in North Huntingdon. “Most people are renting large houses that range in price from $3,000 for a week to $20,000+ per week for larger families.”

One thing people realize is that the price for a week’s lodging doesn’t include food or other expenses.

“It really adds up,” Petrulli said. “People are shocked by just how expensive nicer beaches within driving distance are.”

Closer to home, folks can embrace the “staycation” concept by exploring the bounty of attractions and activities right in their own backyard.

“We are seeing a lot of people doing closer-to-home road trips and traveling for long weekends in state or to one of the bordering states,” said Marita Williams, AAA East Central manager of travel promotions and product development.

Travel was off to a slow start in April and May but there have been a lot of last-minute bookings, Petrulli said, with people calling a few weeks before they want to go somewhere.

“The up and down of the stock market and the uncertainty of the economy have definitely slowed the travel industry down,” Petrulli said. “There are deals to be had, you just have to be flexible on dates and location.”

The Pittsburgh region has no shortage of quirky, fun, historical and inspiring ways to spend your summer vacation.

And even though it’s July, there’s still plenty of time to use vacation days, Williams said.

“Don’t let your vacation days go to waste,” Williams said. “It doesn’t always have to be a cruise or European vacation. There are so many hidden gems close to home.”

For families, letting the kids choose an activity can give them a sense of ownership in a staycation adventure. Benefits of enjoying a staycation can include less stress, saving money and a chance to discover hidden gems and attractions in your own city.

On the river

See the city from a different perspective with the Gateway Clipper Fleet on Pittsburgh’s South Side, which has a variety of themed cruises for all ages, including a Throwback Moonlight Dance Cruise, wine tasting, captain’s dinner, Skyline and luncheon cruises. The Summer Music Series includes performances by hip-hop band Fistfull of Ballers on July 20, The Flow Band on Aug. 10 and a Jimmy Buffett tribute band called The Key West Express on Aug. 24.

Gateway Clipper Fleet: gatewayclipper.com, 412-355-7980

Coal mine tours

Joyce Hanz | TRIBLIVE A tour guide talks to a group in the Tour-Ed Mine and Museum. Located in Fawn, it opened as an attraction in 1970.  

Get down-to-earth — literally — with a tour under Fawn Township.

Tour-Ed Mine and Museum offers an opportunity to travel 160 feet below ground and see the once-active Avenue Mine, dating back to the 1850s.

Visitors load up on a real “man trip” coal car for the trek. The tour is around a half-hour underground.

Tour guides, who are retired Pennsylvania coal miners, offer a first-person perspective on life working in a mine.

“We welcomed about more 7,000 visitors last year. Grandparents love to bring their grandkids here and talk about the generations that worked in the coal mines,” said Bob Black, 75, of Plum, Tour-Ed Mine president and tour guide. “I spent 50 years underground in a coal mine so it’s a great way to keep this legacy going. It’s just a great place to talk about history.”

The coal mine temperature remains a constant 55 degrees. Visitors are invited to peruse the above-ground Coal Miners Museum, chock full of thousands of historical pieces, including a replica of a 1850s coal miner’s home.

There’s no minimum age limit to tour and tickets are $10 per adult, $9 for ages 12 and younger and seniors.

Tour-Ed Mine and Museum: touredmine.com, 724-224-4720

Fall into world-class architecture

Fallingwater is a National Historic Landmark and Unesco World Heritage site in Fayette County.

It’s considered a crown jewel and perhaps the most famous part of the 20th-century architecture of famed architect Frank Lloyd Wright.

The home was built for the late Edgar Jonas Kaufmann, a prominent Pittsburgh businessman and owner of Kaufmann’s department stores. The Kaufmanns commissioned Wright in 1935 to design Fallingwater over a waterfall that pours into Bear Run.

It became the family’s weekend home to escape the often smoggy conditions in industrial Pittsburgh.

Wright designed more than 1,000 structures, and Fallingwater is considered one of his best examples of organic architecture, blending nature and art.

In its 62nd season of welcoming visitors from across the globe, various guided tours are offered of the home and grounds.

The guided architectural tour ($39 per person) includes the interior of the home and full-grounds access. Separate tours include a guided architectural, in-depth, grounds walking tour and family field trip.

Visitors can hike 28 miles of trails in the Bear Run Nature Reserve that surrounds Fallingwater.

Note that children under 6 are not permitted inside the home but can tour the grounds.

Fallingwater: fallingwater.org, 724-329-8501

Go wild

Joyce Hanz | TRIBLIVE Two bison approach a vehicle at Keystone Safari’s Drive-Thru Safari, located in Grove City, Mercer County.  

Get up-close and personal with the wildlife at Keystone Safari near Grove City in Butler County.

The safari’s self-guided drive-thru tour is wildly popular and offers interaction opportunities with more than 100 animals and 25 species.

Visitors can purchase feed buckets to allow animals such as elk, zebras, emus, bison, llamas, yak and donkeys to chomp away at the safari-approved snacks.

No outside food is permitted.

Safari rules are strict: Visitors must remain in their vehicles, no pets are allowed and the speed limit is 2 mph.

Book the walk-thru/drive-thru combo pass for $30 per adult and $28 per child.

A separate walk-thru park offers a zip-line adventure and giraffe feeding encounter.

Keystone Safari: keystonesafari.com, 724-748-6777

Park it

TRIBLIVE The Entry Garden and reservoir at Highland Park.  

With 165 parks in Pittsburgh, visitors can picnic, play, explore gardens, hike, bike and just take in all of the green space and tranquility.

Highland Park is considered Pittsburgh’s Victorian gem. It offers 377 acres centered by Reservoir One, the main service water for Pittsburgh’s Water and Sewer Authority.

The Highland Park loop attracts drivers, hikers, walkers and bikers and has served as a gathering spot in a lake-like environment since 1893.

Highland Park was created in 1889 from land originally owned by Alexander Negley, who had settled a 300-acre farm in the late 1700s. Look for the Super Playground, which was updated in 2022.

The entrance to the park has pillar power with 56-foot high columns designed by Giuseppe Moretti. It’s also home to the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, an off-leash dog park, sand volleyball course, a swimming pool and bike track.

Highland Park: pittsburghparks.org

RAD Summer Staycation 2025

TRIBLIVE The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh.  

Grab your Allegheny County library card and gain free or discounted entry to regional cultural attractions all summer, thanks to the 2025 RAD Pass Summer Staycation 2025 program.

The program is made possible by support from the Allegheny Regional Asset District.

Any Pennsylvania resident can get a free library card for Allegheny County, even if they don’t reside in Allegheny County.

To reserve a RAD pass, simply log in with your library card number and PIN and browse by venue or date.

Participating venues include the Andy Warhol Museum, August Wilson African American Cultural Center, Carnegie Museum of Art, Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Carnegie Science Center, Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh, The Frick Pittsburgh Museums & Gardens, Highmark Hunt Armory Ice Hockey Rink, Kelly Strayhorn Theater, The Latin American Cultural Center, Mattress Factory, MCG Jazz, National Aviary, New Hazlett Theater, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, Pittsburgh Arts & Lectures, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Pittsburgh Botanic Garden, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Musical Theater, Pittsburgh Opera, the Pittsburgh Pirates, Pittsburgh Public Theater, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, Prime Stage Theatre, Quantum Theatre, Senator John Heinz History Center and Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall & Museum.

radpass.org

Joyce Hanz and JoAnne Klimovich Harrop are TribLive staff writers (jhanz@triblive.com and jharrop@triblive.com).

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