Pennsylvania & Ohio | Fallingwater Road Trip

My mom has always wanted to visit architect Frank Lloyd Wright’s most famous house, Fallingwater. It’s nestled in the woods of western Pennsylvania and built right alongside some waterfalls, and it’s the perfect iconic example of Wright’s “organic architecture” approach. When my mom mentioned this to me in September, I thought about it for a second and decided we should go ahead and make the trip in October to try and catch the house surrounded in autumn leaves.

I flew home to Cincinnati and drove with her across Ohio. We stayed a couple nights in Pittsburgh and made the day trip from there to Fallingwater.

Our first stops in Pittsburgh: the view from our hotel room, and going up the Duquesne incline, which is like a semi-vertical cable car that goes up the hill.

Downtown Pittsburgh with its many beautiful bridges.

That night, I met up with some of my Duke friends, all of whom are now doctors or in the process of becoming doctors.

The next morning, we visited the University of Pittsburgh briefly.

We just don’t get this kind of autumn in San Francisco.

And then it was time to make the little trip out to the town of Ohiopyle for a visit to the famous house.

We went on a tour of the interior which took about an hour before we were allowed to reclaim our cameras and take photos on our own.

The house has no shortage of terraces and balconies.

And just like that, it was time to go.

Back in Pittsburgh, we met up with my friend Amanda for dinner,

The next morning, brunch at Pamela’s.

I could swear this church is like a miniature version of Cincinnati’s Music Hall.

And finally, back in Ohio, a stop at Jeni’s Splendid Ice Cream before heading home.

Say what you will about Bi Rite or Fenton’s or whatever other ice creams are your favorites. Jeni’s wins for me.

Finally, one last shot with Lauren, my best friend from high school. We had quite the orchestra adventures together through middle school and high school, and here we are, reliving the glory days at the Cincinnati Community Orchestra concert.

Thanks for a lovely trip, Pennsylvania & Ohio. Perhaps we shall meet again soon.