Fun Things for Seniors to Do in Hermitage, PA

Hermitage, PA, has been named as one of the best places to live in Pennsylvania because of its warm and welcoming community and abundance of recreation. This small city in western Pennsylvania is around 70 miles away from Pittsburgh and around 80 miles away from Cleveland, OH. In around a half-hour, Hermitage residents can cross state lines to travel to Youngstown in Ohio.

For seniors who enjoy connecting with others in classes, seeing art in museums, golfing or exercising outside, or tasting local wines, there’s a lot to do in Hermitage. The following are some top activities for seniors in Hermitage.

1. Golf

Hermitage is home to what claims to be the country’s only free nine-hole golf course, Buhl Park. The course dates back to 1914 and charges no green or cart fees. There’s also a driving range on-site. Both the course and range are open from sunrise to dusk.

The Hermitage area has several other golf courses for seniors who love to hit the links. They include:

• Tam O’Shanter of Pennsylvania Golf Course: This 18-hole public golf course has beautiful views of the rolling wooded hills of Shenango Valley, plus green fairways and bent grass greens throughout the course.
• Willow Hill Golf Course: This 9-hole, executive par 3 course in nearby Grove City is a great course for beginners to practice on. There’s also a driving range and an 18-hole putt-putt course on-site.
• Avalon Golf & Country Club: Avalon Golf & Country Club in nearby Warren, OH, is an 18-hole classic country club golf course, with water and other challenging obstacles for experienced golfers.

There are dozens of other public golf courses within 20 miles of Hermitage, so golf lovers have a lot of variety to choose from when they live in Hermitage.

2. Avenue of 444 Flags and the War on Terror Veterans Memorial

The Avenue of 444 Flags and the War on Terror Veterans Memorial are beautiful Hermitage sites that pay homage to veterans who lost their lives in the War on Terror and the service of the 52 American hostages of the Iranian Hostage Crisis of 1979. The number 444 represents the number of days that the hostages were held.

At the War of Terror Veterans Memorial, there are 12 steel and glass monuments surrounding a fountain ringed by the Avenue of 444 Flags. The glass features etchings of the names of all military personnel who have died in the War on Terror since 1975. The site is a peaceful place of remembrance and honor in Hermitage.

3. Buhl Park

Buhl Park, home to the free nine-hole golf course, is also one of the top parks residents love to visit in Hermitage. Open since 1915, the park spans 270 acres and includes green spaces, lake views, fitness and biking trails, gardens, wetlands, playgrounds, recreational areas, a swimming pool, event rentals and shelters, and an off-leash dog park.

It’s a great place to go when you want to sit and read a book or take in the surroundings, or you want to walk along the paths and get some exercise outdoors. The park also hosts a variety of weekly events, including winter and summer bird walks, trout fishing, community cleanup days, pickleball leagues, golf scrambles, summer concert series, wellness events, date nights on Lake Julia, adult baseball games, outdoor movie nights and holiday light displays.

4. Webb Winery

Wine lovers enjoy Webb Winery, a Hermitage destination known for infusing local ingredients in its wines. All wine fruit is sourced from local and regional farms, with ingredients including local apples, blueberries, strawberries, grapes, raspberries and sour cherries.

Visit the winery to taste the wines and hear how they’re made. The winery also hosts fun events, such as paint and sip nights.

5. The Butler Institute of American Art

The Butler Institute of American Art in nearby Youngstown, OH, is a free museum featuring historic American art. The museum has more than 22,000 individual works from thousands of American artists, with the earliest work, “Portrait of Katherine Ten Broeck”, by Nehemiah Partridge, dating back to 1719.

In addition to visiting the museum to view the artworks, seniors can participate in programming such as art lectures, live music performance, film showings, art classes and Senior Art and Learn programming that includes museum tours and breakfast.

6. McDonough Museum of Art

Close to the Butler Institute of American Art in Youngstown, the McDonough Museum of Art at Youngstown State University features exhibitions, installations, lectures and performances that focus on contemporary art.

Visitors can see stunning artworks by local artists and school alumni, as well as attend film screenings, see artist performances, listen to artist talks and learn about arts culture in contemporary society.

7. Libraries

The Hermitage area has several public libraries with books and media available for free checkout. These include:

• Community Library of the Shenango Valley: The Community Library of the Shenango Valley in nearby Sharon has a large resource library of print books, e-books and audiobooks for rent. It also presents programs including writer’s groups, knitting and needlework clubs, adult coloring and coffee clubs, and chess clubs.
• Lartz Memorial Library: This library is located at the Penn State Shenango campus, also in Sharon, and is a research library with lots of group and individual study spaces and quiet zones.
• Maag Library: Like Lartz Memorial Library, Maag Library is also an academic research library, located on the Youngstown State University campus. The library also has many quiet study spaces available for reservation.

All libraries are free to visit and allow participation in programming. Whether you want to join a hobby club or want a comfy place to curl up with a good book or study, Hermitage area libraries welcome residents.

8. Hermitage Parks & Recreation Classes & Events

The Hermitage Parks & Recreation department also presents a wide variety of classes for adults in Hermitage. Seniors can register for one-time events such as out-of-state wine tours, or sign up for ongoing classes in subjects such as yoga.

Explore More Programming at Garden Way Place

Hermitage is also home to Garden Way Place, a Senior Lifestyle community offering personal care services. Each day, residents can participate in daily programming activities, including:

• • • Arts and crafts
    • Bingo
    • Daily news discussions
    • Exercise classes
    • Karaoke
    • Movie nights
    • Nail care
    • Walking groups

If you’d like to learn more about life at Garden Way Place, find out more about Senior Lifestyle, or schedule a tour today.