The Solo Traveler's Guide to Pennsylvania's Elk Country

The adventurous, nature loving solo traveler will revel in a weekend autumn trip to Benezette, Pennsylvania, where the largest elk herd east of the Mississippi wanders amongst Pennsylvania's most spectacular scenery. Following this itinerary, you can set your own schedule, making the most of your weekend.

Friday
Check-in: Solo traveling does not necessarily mean isolation, but can lend itself to the small local hotel and B&B experience where you can enjoy the camaraderie of sharing breakfast and evening activities with fellow guests. Local hosts are also eager to direct you to area attractions and obscure places of interest. The following two establishments are located on Winslow Hill Road, the most popular elk viewing site.

The Benezette Hotel, built in 1875, is located at the foot of Winslow Hill and it is not uncommon to see huge bull elk roaming the parking lot. Open year-round, its eight rooms and three shared bathrooms are above its bar/restaurant. Solo travelers can meet fellow guests in the bar or the common room, and watch TV or movies from the hotel's large DVD library. Rates are $50 a night.

Benezette Hotel and Restaurant
95 Winslow Hill Road, Benezette (at Rte. 555)
Phone: (814) 787-4240
benezettehotel.com

Up the road from the Benezette Hotel, the Winslow Hill Bed and Breakfast serves a full breakfast. Each room has satellite TV, private bath and deck. Snacks are provided around the clock, and guests can relax and mingle in the common room in front of the stone fireplace. Rates are $115 per night.

Winslow Hill Bed & Breakfast
www.winslowhillbb.com
2313 Winslow Hill Road, Benezette, PA 15821
(814) 787-4212

Don't be shy. Traveling alone provides excellent opportunities to meet the the locals and arriving tourists in the Benezette Hotel's restaurant. Spend your first night sampling their extensive menu, which includes elk burgers (oh, come on, be brave).

Saturday
Elk Viewing -- Dawn and dusk are the best viewing times, but I've found morning offers better photo opportunities. Greet Saturday's sunrise by heading up Winslow Hill to Gilbert's Farm and Dent's Run, then take Rte. 555 north to the Hicks Run viewing area. The viewing spots are good places to start, but closer views and better photos can be had in yards and fields and along roadsides. Ten minutes south of Benezette at Medix Run, elk are regularly seen munching in an apple orchard. Regular elk stalkers are eager to chat and guide you to other sites.

Attractions and Activities: By 9 a.m., the elk have melted back into the forest until dusk, but your day has just begun. Take advantage of local eateries and attractions, beginning with breakfast at the Benezett Store and Restaurant, down the corner from the Benezette Hotel, on Rte. 555. This quaint diner houses a large gift shop stocked with clothing, souvenirs and collectibles.

Make the Elk Country Visitor Center on Winslow Hill Road your next stop. The interactive exhibits and 4-D film on the history and behavior of the Pennsylvania elk are must-sees. Miles of observation trails provide an opportunity to hike or just sit on a bench and become one with nature. Spend Saturday afternoon exploring the Elk Scenic Drive following this map. Late September and early October are prime time for glorious foliage shots.

Enjoy lunch or an early Saturday supper in the homey, country ambience of The Valley Grille in Weedville, 15 minutes south of Benezette. The Valley Grill (Yahoo directions ) is small and cozy, perfect for a solo diner. Tasty seafood, steak and homemade pasta dishes, pleasant service and reasonable prices make this a place to which you will want to return. As this review testifies, The Valley Grille has never disappointed. Visit their Facebook page for updates on specials and upcoming events.

The Valley Grille
18452 Bennetts Valley Hwy (Route 153), Weedville, PA
Hours: Tuesday to Saturday, 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
Telephone: 814-787-4161
Facebook Page: www.facebook.com

Sunday
Make Sunday a shopping day, stopping at Grants' Pass Antiques & Wrought Iron and The Elk Country Store, famous for its fudge, both on on Rte. 555, then head for nearby St. Marys, home to the Elk Mountain Winery and Straub's Brewery. The seekers of oddities may want to follow these directions, braving the back roads to the ruins of the Tom Mix Homestead in Driftwood.

Alas, check out always arrives too soon, but plan to have dinner at Luigi's Ristorante in downtown Dubois on your way home. Make a 4:30 reservation to beat the rush and request a quiet corner table where you can people-watch or peruse your elk country literature. A 40-minute drive from Benezette (Yahoo directions), Luigi's cuisine-quality Italian fare is well worth going a bit out of your way. See my full review of Luigi's here.

Luigi's Ristorante
32 North Brady Street, Dubois, Pa,
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 11 a.m. - 10 p.m.
Telephone: 814-375-9113
http://www.luigisristorante.com/DuBois.php

This elk-stalker promises that, once you've visited Benezette, you'll return -- again and again!