Wellness tour offers yoga, meditation and more

At the recent Heritage Tourism Summit in Washington, Pa., Stacey Magda of Laurel Highlands Visitors Bureau was regaling attendees with how much fun are the group’s annual “Backyard Tours,” which take tourism professionals on surprise itineraries in the region.

Now the visitors bureau is going public with its first such tour for anyone who wants to go.

It is called “Journey of Self: A Wellness Tour of Pennsylvania’s Laurel Highlands” and it’s happening on May 19. There’s room on the bus for up to 48 adventurers, age 18 and up, who’ll each pay $160 (or $155 if they commit to bringing a reusable water bottle). They can bring their own snacks to supplement those that will be served along the way and should bring a change of nice clothes for a fancy dinner, one of two meals that day. And there will be some surprises.

“We knew we couldn’t keep the entire itinerary a secret!” says Anna Weltz, the bureau’s director of public relations and community outreach.

Attendees are encouraged to stay off their phones and immerse themselves in activities such as yoga, group meditation, nature hikes and wellness workshops at stops including Nemacolin Woodlands Resort’s Holistic Healing Center, Laurelville Retreat, Ohiopyle State Park and SanaView Farms. That last stop is where a farmto-table dinner will be served with a bonfire and drum circle. Lunch is at the Bittersweet Cafe.

Ms. Magda, the director of tourism development for the bureau marketing Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland counties, said she’s “thrilled to have the opportunity to connect visitors to the Laurel Highlands with a rejuvenating experience featuring all of those elements of wellness.”

Participants will be picked up at 7:30 a.m. at the North Huntingdon Target and 8:30 a.m. at the New Stanton Comfort Inn and dropped off at 9 p.m. at the New Stanton Comfort Inn and 9:30 p.m. at the North Huntingdon Target.

Register for the trip at laurelhighlands.org/plan/scenictours/journey-of-self.

Ms. Weltz says more such tours are planned, including an agricultural one late this summer.