Warren County had a particularly important tourist on Monday, who took a kayak from the boat launch in Tidioute to the access area at West Hickory.
Gov. Tom Corbett took a trip on the Allegheny River that literally thousands of others take every summer. Along the way those canoeists and kayakers are likely to see eagles in flight, deer on the banks and the occasional weasel frollicking along the shoreline.
Despite the numbers of other tourists who make regular trips on the river, some have contended that the Allegheny from Kinzua Dam to Kennerdell is still Pennsylvania's undiscovered tourist gem.
The governor's floatilla with local politicians certainly gives the river publicity across the state, but it should also serve another purpose.
The Allegheny is a tremendous economic resource that has largely gone untapped, except for a few far-sighted entrepreneuers who have recognized its potential, like Warren's own Allegheny Outfitters. There is room for many more.
With waters rich in bass, trout and pike, it is a fisherman's paradise which deserves the same regard as many of the other more well-known fisheries in the east, including the Battenkill, the White River and the Upper Delaware, which have spawned profitable guide services and outfitters.
That Gov. Corbett has spent the time on the river and had a chance to talk to those who live near it, offers the opportunity to spread the word about the river's beauty and its economic potential. Let us hope the trip ultimately spurs some new ideas about promoting Pennsylvania's natural beauty not just in the Allegheny Valley but throughout the state.