LAURITA: Hi, Anna.

Hi.

ANNA: Ladies, welcome to the Laurel Highlands.

LAURITA: Thank you.

LAUREN: Thank you for having us.

ANNA: Yeah.

Please, have a seat.

Let's catch up.

So welcome to charming little Ligonier.

This is quintessential Americana here.

There's 60-some odd cafes, boutiques and shops here in town.

LAURITA: Ooh.

ANNA: Uh, just perfect for walking around and exploring.

Got a little, uh, Norman Rockwell vibe to it, but if you're into pop culture, a lot of folks refer to this as Stars Hollow from Gilmore Girls.

LAUREN: I love Gilmore Girls.

ANNA: Well, I'm so glad to welcome you here.

LAURITA: Right up her alley.

ANNA: This is such a special part of Pennsylvania here.

We're super close to Pittsburgh, obviously, so we have this reputation as Pittsburgh's adventure backyard.

So you can do anything from a casual walk through the woods... LAURITA: Mm.

ANNA: Or a, a meander down to a waterfall in Ohiopyle... LAUREN: Mm.

ANNA: State Park or take in an expansive view at Baughman Rocks in the park.

LAURITA: Ah.

ANNA: Yeah, there really is just a ton of outdoor recreation.

The region itself is the brand that Laurel Highlands comes from the mountain laurel, which is Pennsylvania's state flower, and highlands because of our mountainous terrain... LAURITA: Yes.

ANNA: And our rolling farmland.

And then after you're done with that, you have to visit Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater.

Without a doubt.

It's a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

LAUREN: All right, so I'm a big foodie.

What are some specialty dishes that you have here?

ANNA: Well, in the Laurel Highlands, we are all about comfort food.

LAUREN: Mm.

ANNA: That's our specialty, for sure.

So our culture here is a lot of Eastern European immigrants coming to the area and bringing a lot of their traditional dishes.

So for instance, one of our favorites, it's called a gob.

LAURITA: Hmm.

Oh.

LAUREN: See, when I think of gob, I think of a gobstopper.

(laughter).

ANNA: Not quite.

So a gob is this wonderful little baked good.

It is traditionally a chocolate cake, a very dense chocolate cake, on either side sandwiched with a vanilla icing.

LAUREN: Ooh.

LAURITA: Ooh.

ANNA: It's amazing.

And the term gob comes from the coal miners in our area would have this beautiful treat wrapped up in wax paper and it wouldn't melt.

It would hold itself together.

So when they were down underground for long hours, they had this wonderful little treat to, to enjoy afterward.

So nowadays, we jazz it up a little bit and there's all kinds of variations.

And I've brought some for you to try out.

Let's head out.

We're gonna go meet my friend Elizabeth at the Darlington Inn.

LAURITA: Well, let's go.

LAUREN: Let's head out.

ANNA: All right, let's hit the road.