Top 3 things to do in Johnstown, Pennsylvania

 

Point Park, Johnstown, PA

In the month of April, our pack (myself, my wife, and our Pomeranian dog, Toby) stayed a month in the town of Claysburg, Pennsylvania.  It was during that stay that we decided to venture out to a nearby town of Johnstown, PA.

Johnstown is perhaps best known for the bursting of a dam in 1889, creating a flood that killed thousands of people.  It created a media frenzy back in the day, and the event was later dubbed “the Johnstown Flood.”

Today, the events of the flood are commemorated at the Johnstown Flood Museum.  The documentary which is viewed at the museum, tells the heartbreaking story of the events of the flood.

With this limited knowledge of Johnstown, we headed out on a beautiful day in mid April.  There was no major highway from Claysburg to Johnstown, so we took multiple country roads.  The roads took us down and over mountains revealing magnificent views of the valleys below.

We saw farms miles out in the distance, and we saw plenty of huge windmills (or wind turbines) around the ridges of mountains we crested.  Traffic on a weekday was practically nonexistent so we took our time looking out at various sights along the way…

After about an hour’s drive, we had arrived at Johnstown.  We visited the Point Park first.  We walked around some, taking in the scenery around us, then we got hungry!

We wanted to taste something local, so we did some research to find a suitable place for both of us.  We came upon a local favorite “The Fish Boat.”  We were not disappointed!

We ordered a fish sandwich (which was huge) and a shrimp platter (also huge).  Prices were really reasonable.  While I waited for the order, the owner of the place came out to chat.  He was practically a local institution!

He asked what state we were coming from, where we’re visiting, the history of the building where his restaurant is located in, etc.

After several minutes, our lunch was ready and we headed out to our second destination, the Johnstown Incline.

After enjoying our lunch and the views from the top of the incline, we headed to our third destination, Sandyvale Memorial Gardens and Conservancy.

We were pleasantly surprised at how many beautiful sights there were in Johnstown.  We couldn’t visit the Flood Museum because of our Pomeranian, but we were pleased to visit these locations with him.

These below are our top 3 things to do in Johnstown, PA:

  • Johnstown Incline
Johnstown Incline is the world’s steepest vehicular inclined plane.  It has a slope grade of 71.9% and can carry both passengers and automobiles.  The ride itself takes about 90 seconds.

The Johnstown Incline is situated in a valley at the confluence of the Stonycreek and the Little Conemaugh Rivers.  The incline was completed in 1891 to serve as an escape route for floods as well as a mode of transportation for residents who live above the valley.

Due to the pandemic, the incline was closed at the time of our visit in April.  We did, however, got to enjoy the view of the valley below by driving up to the top of the valley, using instructions from the friendly owner of the restaurant mentioned above.

After fumbling with his directions for few minutes, we finally figured out the location of the incline above the valley.  We parked at the entrance to the mountain bike trail and enjoyed our lunch and the views below.

Wow, what a view!!!  We could see miles from our elevated vantage point.  We took several minutes to walk around the area and to take in the awesome scenery before us…

View from the top of the Incline!
Went here for takeout
Toby and my wife enjoying the view from the top of the Incline!

  • Sandyvale Memorial Gardens and Conservancy 

We found this little hidden gem few miles from the Johnstown Incline.  It houses a greenhouse, conservatory, indoor/outdoor classroom areas, open-air performance venue, and a wide open expanse of lush fields.

In short, it was Toby’s kind of place!  We explored the Stonycreek River right next to the gardens.  

We then walked around the gardens area, which Toby really liked.  Flowers were just starting to bloom, and we really enjoyed every one of the beautifully colored flowers!

View of the Stonycreek River and one of many bridges
Toby loving the conservatory 
 View of the lush open field with blooming trees

  • Point Park

Point Park is a small riverfront park overlooking the Stone Arch Bridge.  The bridge spans the Conemaugh River, just past the point where the Little Conemaugh River and the Stonycreek River meet to  form the Conemaugh River.

The park itself is not big, and there are only few parking spots along the Washington Street.  If you can find a spot to park, then spend few minutes enjoying the view of the aforementioned bridge, as well as the three rivers.

Day we visited there, we were lucky enough to find a parking spot.  Counting our blessings, we proceeded to walk towards the park with a majestic view of the bridge. 

Watching the rivers make their way toward their ultimate destination is always a treat.  We took few moments to simply enjoy the park and its surroundings.

Toby got to stretch his legs as well.  He started doing his usual dog things:  sniffing, looking around with his ears perked up, and investigating every little smell and anomaly at the park.

We made our way to the cute postbox, then my wife wrote a hopeful note on a piece of paper for posterity, as instructed to do so.  

Toby done investigating all the smells and taking a break!
The “Note of Hope” mailbox
View of the bridge

Although Johnstown is synonymous with the great flood that put the city on the map, the city has lots going for it.  We found wonderful places to visit for our pack offering something unique which we wouldn’t normally find in most places…

We really enjoyed the hospitality of the restaurant owner as well as the food.  We also enjoyed all three attractions listed.  

We are sure we will revisit the city if opportunity presents itself!

Thank you all for reading!


Jake

Wandering Money Pig 


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Please check out our YouTube channel ‘Wandering Money Pig’ showcasing our travels and our Pomeranian dog! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3kl9f4W9sfNG5h1l-x6nHw


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