Welcome to swPenna.com The new and growing site for activities, recreation and history in Southwestern Pennsylvania!

WHY DO WE NEED ANOTHER REGIONAL SITE? In an area as diverse as Southwestern Pennsylvania, one common thread among us is that we are always up for a good time. Growing up, our group of friends was no different. We were always up for a road trip into the countryside or to a nearby town just to check out anything noteworthy or a bit out of the ordinary. We can fondly recall many trips to Greensburg via Route 136 through Westmoreland County and trips to load up on ice cream and chocolate at Sarris' in Canonsburg. After all, the fun was as much in meandering our way around as it was in our destinations. The best part about taking such trips is that they provide enjoyment and discovery for all ages, year after year, and mile after mile. Last year, we lamented the fact that there was no centralized site on the World Wide Web that encompassed the many activities that Southwestern Pennsylvania has to offer. Sure, the existing sites about "Western Pennsylvania" are plentiful. They vary in content and comprehensiveness. Many are outstanding (and linked to within), but few seem to geographically pull it all together or organize sites by content. Thus was born this site. In the suburbs of Pittsburgh, you can find a surprising number of people that haven't crossed a river "to the other side" in many years. We hope to be part of the growing local movement to change that by encouraging others to explore the region.

WHAT IS THIS SITE ABOUT? Simply put, the goal of swPenna.com is to provide both local residents and outside tourists a structured way to discover what the region has to offer in terms of recreation and historical sites. We will initially be focusing on attractions and events that are already online by providing their URL. In short, we will be working hard to create a local, focused directory. This site will eventually contain links to points of interest in Southwestern Pennsylvania, extreme Eastern Ohio, Northern West Virginia and the West Virginia panhandle. Activities range from caving to canoeing, from Mahoning County to Somerset County, and everywhere in-between. swPenna.com will feature restaurants, lodging, sports and entertainment, regional and local events, and much more! In addition, swPenna.com will also present links to many municipal and school district web sites in the region in a structured, consistent manor. These sites regularly contain additional local points of interest and community events as well. Additional sites are being developed continuously, but many locales do not presently have a site. These municipalities and districts have been listed anyway, linking only to swPenna.com, for the sake of completeness and structure. Hopefully having a centralized site may encourage some local governments or districts to develop web sites for the benefit of their citizens. Also, colleges and universities in the area are listed. The region hosts some of the nation's finest schools of higher learning, including West Virginia University, the University of Pittsburgh, and Carnegie Mellon University. There are also a number of smaller colleges and universities of excellent distinction, including Duquesne University, Robert Morris, and Slippery Rock. Since the spectrum of leisurely interests is very diverse, we also have space dedicated to geneology, places of worship, clubs, organizations, and local sports. Hopefully you will be able to find what you are looking for at swPenna.com, and return again and again.

SO… THIS SITE IS ANOTHER DIRECTORY? Not exactly… The initial phase of development will primarily focus on building a directory of sites, but later phases will implement more interactive material. Message boards, opinion polls and rating systems will eventually be added. Seasonal activities will be featured. Overall, we hope to make the site dynamic, boasting extensive and fresh content.

HOW CAN I LEARN MORE? Explore the site! If you have any suggestions on activities, places, or events that should be added, tell us! We try to incorporate what we can, but we certainly don't know everything that's out there. If you have any suggestions, tips, or criticisms (please, be gentle), feel free to email them at info@swpenna.com.

Now Go Explore! Brett @ swPenna.com

Copyright 2001