Best Places to go Snowmobiling this Winter in Allegheny County

January 6, 2011 By sayhay Leave a Comment

Best Places to go Snowmobiling this Winter in Allegheny County

If you enjoy the snow and are looking for the best places to go snowmobiling, you are in luck. Snowmobiling in the Alleghenies is going to be one of the best spots you can go with the many trails that are open for you to explore. The season for snowmobiling opens here the last day of deer season. This is in December and it goes through April 1st providing there is enough snow on the ground. One of the best places to go snowmobiling, the Bureau of Forestry has miles of trails that are available for this activity.

In addition, you can get updates from the Winter Activities Report on where the snow is so you will know where the best places to go snowmobiling are. There are a few rules to follow such as the snowmobile you are riding must be registered with the Bureau of Forestry. They have a snowmobile unit, the Snowmobile/ATV Registration Section and once you have your permit it must be visible.

Here are a few of the available snowmobiling in the Alleghenies locations:

Blue Knob – This is eight miles of trails that are marked with the highly visible orange diamonds.

Greenwood Furnace – This is a park that allows snowmobiling at the end of the deer season.

Penn-Roosevelt – State forest roads that go for many miles and are open for one of the best places to go snowmobiling and for registered vehicles.

Poe Paddy – The roads here are marked with gravel and are for those with registered snowmobiles. The beginning of snowmobile season is after deer season and ATVs are not permitted on state forest roads or state park roads.

Poe Valley – Snowmobiles are permitted on Big Poe Road and the state forest roads after deer season as long as they are registered.

Prince Gallitzin – A 20 mile trail and registered snowmobiles are permitted to use the trails and roads designated here after deer season.

R.B. Winter – One of the best places to go snowmobiling, this park has facilities and a warming hut that contains a fireplace and a grill. There are 30 miles of trails designated for snowmobiling in the northern section of Bald Eagle State Forest. The last day of deer season is the beginning of snowmobiling.

Shawnee – 11 miles on the eastern section of the park are designated for snowmobiling.

Trough Creek – The Park here is the beginning of the trails for Rothrock State Forest. Snowmobiling in the Alleghenies from this destination includes a trail map that is obtained by checking with the park office.

If you would like more information about Snowmobiling in the Alleghenies, please feel free to contact us at (724) 933-8505 or visit our Contact Us page where you can send us a message. We’ll get back to you right away!

Filed Under: Allegheny County Tagged With: Allegheny homes for sale, Allegheny real estate, best places to go snowmobiling, snowmobiling in the Alleghenies

Winter Fun in the Alleghenies – Where to go Ice Fishing

January 4, 2011 By sayhay Leave a Comment

Winter Fun in the Alleghenies – Where to go Ice Fishing

If you want to know where to go ice fishing, Pennsylvania has the lakes that will provide plenty of places for this sport. Many say this is a peaceful relaxing way to spend a vacation. Ice fishing in the Alleghenies includes the Susquehanna River and Penns Creek, said to be one of the best places in the U.S. to fish for trout.

When fishing in groups the recommended thickness for the ice is four solid inches. The best way to test the ice is to use an auger before going onto the lake and you should never go alone. Always wear a life jacket because the change in the temperature of the air and water can cause the ice to become weak. This can cause the ice to crack. Staying away from cracks in the ice that cross is a good idea.

Ice fishing in the Alleghenies requires a fishing license for those who are 16 and older and of course you should always obey all the rules of the Pennsylvania state parks. If you want to know where to go ice fishing in this area, here are some of the best state parks in Pennsylvania to find trout.

Canoe Creek – Ice fishing in the Alleghenies is a popular activity here throughout trout season.

Cowans Gap – Ice skating as well as ice fishing is open in this area and the ice thickness is monitored only in the areas that are used for skating.

Greenwood Furnace – Six acres of ice fishing in the Alleghenies and the trout is plentiful.

Locust Lake – This is where to go ice fishing if you are looking for a large area to fish. It is 52 acres and trout is regularly caught here.

Poe Valley – This is an ice fisherman’s paradise with a variety of trout from rainbow trout to brown trout as well as sunfish, catfish, perch and pickerel being caught when ice fishing in the Alleghenies in Poe Valley.

Prince Gallitzin – 1,635 acres of ice fishing on Glendale Lake is a favorite spot of many.

There are several other parks where ice fishing in the Alleghenies is quite popular such as Shawnee, Tuscarora, R.B. Winter and Whipple Dam. Remember a few tips to stay safe such as blue/black ice is preferred over white ice that may look milky since it is stronger and you should stay away from areas that have plants, docks, brush and logs that protrude through the ice.

If you would like more information about ice fishing in the Alleghenies, please feel free to contact us at (724) 933-8505 or visit our Contact Us page where you can send us a message. We’ll get back to you right away!

Filed Under: Allegheny County Tagged With: Allegheny homes for sale, Allegheny real estate, ice fishing in the Alleghenies, where to go ice fishing

Allegheny County News – Healthy Downtown Business Program Begins

September 9, 2010 By sayhay Leave a Comment

Allegheny County News – Healthy Downtown Business Program Begins

Eight communities in Allegheny County are teaming up for a program called the Healthy Downtown Business Program. The communities of Bridgeville, Bellevue, Elizabeth, Coraopolis, Swissvale, Stowe Twp., Tarentum and Verona are participating in the first phase which is Allegheny Together. Their goal is to encourage residents to come back to the downtown areas to shop. They are backed by Allegheny County executive, Dan Onorato, who was the one to launch this first phase.

Investments are being made in the downtown areas of these eight communities and include street scapring, improving the facades, fixing lighting and even urban gardening. The focus on getting people to shop in the downtown areas again is hoping to make a huge impact on the communities.

The incorporation of exercise into this undertaking is another aspect. If exercise is incorporated into the routine by walking in the downtown districts, people will feel better, they will be more aware of the local businesses that are around and the more people on the streets, the safer shoppers are. This is being recommended for the business owners in Allegheny County as well.

All Allegheny Together business owners and employees can participate in this program. It is a joint effort of the Town Center Associates, the Allegheny County Health Department and the Allegheny County Economic Development. The staff from Town Center Associates went from business to business in August to let them know about the program and gave them some resources to help them understand what the program was created to do.

Free pedometers, maps with walking routes marked and downtown business directories. In order to get the information out to the largest number of people, there are also walking maps, a downtown directory and other resources for this Allegheny County program online. During September the participants will be logging the steps they walk and the TCA will choose some to receive prizes. This will keep interest in the program and encourage more people to take part.

There will also be awards given to the “Healthiest Downtown Business” and the “Healthiest Downtown Business Employee” participating in the Allegheny Together program in each community. If funding is available the next phase of this Allegheny County program will include free pedometers and logs to keep track of walking for customers given out by the businesses.

If you would like more information about Allegheny County , please feel free to contact us at (410)808-7200 or visit our Contact Us page where you can send us a message. We’ll get back to you right away!

Filed Under: Allegheny County Tagged With: Allegheny County, Allegheny homes for sale, Allegheny real estate, Allegheny Together

Single People are Increasing as Allegheny Home Buyers

September 3, 2010 By sayhay Leave a Comment

Single People are Increasing as Allegheny Home Buyers

Allegheny home buyers seem to be redefining the norm and are gravitating more toward single buyers rather than the two-income couples of the past. The need for a home of their own, whether it is a recently divorced mother or father with children is becoming more of trend today. Real estate information shows that there are more singles are buying an Allegheny home today and as a result the number of couples purchasing homes has decreased dramatically.

Many are recently divorced and after an adjustment period and time to get back on their feet they buy an Allegheny home so they will have stability. They want their children to have a place to grow up and have the typical childhood memories that they remember as a child. Some studies that have been tracking Allegheny home sales have shown from 1995 to 2005, the principal buyers were couples. In 2005, there was a shift to an equal number of home sales to both couples and singles.

After 2005 the principal buyer changed again and singles became the higher percentage of those purchasing homes. An economic and social change that is becoming more popular, it may partially be due to the first time homebuyer tax credit that was recently an incentive to buy a home. A large percentage of singles buying an Allegheny home said it was more affordable than renting.

Still, more buyers expressed the desire to be independent as a reason for purchasing a home. Approximately one-third of home buyers said this was the reason they had decided to purchase over other alternatives. Also contributing to the rise are those who do not marry until later in life. High rates of divorce and women outliving their husbands are another reason for singles buying an Allegheny home.

Interest rates in the housing market have probably played an important factor in the decision of many singles to purchase their own home. Paying a mortgage on one income is now more possible with the lower rates. Of course, since many of the singles purchasing an Allegheny home are purchasing later in life, they are more financially secure than they were 20 years ago. Good investment choices and financial planning plays an important part in the purchases.

If you would like more information about Allegheny homes , please feel free to contact us at (410)808-7200 or visit our Contact Us page where you can send us a message. We’ll get back to you right away!

Filed Under: Allegheny County Tagged With: Allegheny home, Allegheny homes for sale, Pittsburgh PA