County residents without the time or money to plan a weekend away have endless options for destinations to visit for the day, say those who have taken daylong trips from their local homes.

North, south, east or west, the region offers several interesting locations that can be accessed in just a few hours time.

Cheryl “Rosie” Vollnogle of Franklin Township said while it's difficult to get her grown sons to go away with her and their father, Toby, they will often consent to a day trip.

Vollnogle likes to jump on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and head southeast for some quality family time in one of three or four places.

“It's a lot of fun,” she said.

Destinations visited by the Vollnogles include Ohiopyle State Park in Fayette County and the nearby home built by Frank Lloyd Wright, Fallingwater. Both can be visited in a bit more than two hours from the family's home, and less for those who live closer to the turnpike.

She said the rushing water of the Youghiogheny River at Ohiopyle contains a natural water slide and provides cool, misty comfort on a hot summer's day.

“They have some beautiful waterfalls there that are just unreal,” Vollnogle said.

A bridge across the river gorge leads to a bicycle trail.

“We walked across it and just looking down into the gorge was so beautiful,” Vollnogle said.

A visitor's center with environmentally friendly plants on the roof and shops and restaurants in the area rounded out the Vollnogle's latest trip.

The family also likes to visit the Laurel Caverns, also in Fayette County, near Uniontown.

Another day trip favored by the Vollnogles is the Flight 93 Memorial in Somerset County.

The last time the family visited, a huge tower was being built where one large chime for each of the 40 people killed on the Sept. 11, 2001 flight would memorialize those victims of the day's terrorist attacks on the United States.

She said visitors can walk a path at the memorial to see a large rock in the distance where the ill-fated aircraft crashed.

“There is also a wall with the names of each passenger,” Vollnogle said of the somber yet beautiful location.

Ed Bloom of Penn Township and the owner of The Butler Florist, recently took his mother on a delightful day trip to Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, N.Y.

The trip takes a little more than two hours, but traverses the beautiful countryside of northwestern Pennsylvania and southern New York.

The pair made the trip for a Mother's Day outing to visit the institution's home and garden show.

“It's a very unique place,” Bloom said.

He and his mother marveled at the huge covered amphitheater and the institution's four pillars that represent arts, education, religion and recreation. Those four characteristics are reflected in the institution's nine-week summer calendar of events at the amphitheater.

The Athenaeum Hotel near the institution is another marvel, Bloom said, as it was built in the art deco style of the late 19th century.

“It's just really a cool place to go up and visit,” Bloom said of the Chautauqua Institution. “It's something different.”

He cautioned those who want to see everything in and near the institution to wear comfortable walking shoes for the hilly terrain.

“I thought it was an interesting place that a lot of people don't know about,” Bloom said.

Dave Fox of Butler Township said he and his wife took their three children on day trips when they were young to visit unusual or interesting places that are inexpensive.

“One of our favorite trips was to the Linesville spillway, where the ducks walk on the fish,” Fox said.

The spillway is on Pymatuning Lake in Crawford County, which is about a 1.5-hour drive north on Interstate 79.

Conneaut Lake Park, a historic amusement park that has been refurbished by new owners, is a short drive from the spillway as well, Fox said.

He also listed climbing the fire tower, visiting the Double Diamond Deer Park, and riding go-carts and horses at Cook Forest State Park in Clarion, Forest and Jefferson counties; the beach, bike trail and Waldameer Park at Presque Isle on Lake Erie; Wendell August Forge and Howe Candy near Grove City; and the museums, National Aviary and zoo in Pittsburgh as family-oriented destinations just a short drive from Butler County.

“The list goes on and on,” Fox said. “I think Western Pennsylvania has a ton of great day trips to offer.”