Time for summertime fun! But where to go and what to do? If only there were a place nearby with enough outdoor choices to please the whole family, known worldwide for its beauty. Oh, that’s right. There’s no place like home. The Lancaster region is abundant with natural wonders just ready for exploration. Fill your summer days with these ten delights, all in your own backyard.
1. Bald Eagle Bounty:
Look to the left from Hawk Point Overlook at Susquehannock State Park, and there’s Mount Johnson Island, the world’s first bald eagle sanctuary. Spot the eagles, ospreys, and vultures soaring over the cliffs.
Susquehannock State Park / 1880 Park Dr., Drumore / dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/susquehannock/index.htm / 717-252-1134
2. Lazy River Life:
Leave the cares of the day behind with a tubing or kayaking excursion down Pequea Creek. Stop for a self-guided tour of Sickman’s Mill.
Sickman's Mill Creek Tubing / 671 Sand Hill Rd., Pequea / www.sickmansmill.com / 717-872-5951
3. Children of the Night:
Wolves have been feared and misunderstood for centuries. Get acquainted with their better sides–their loyalty, their intelligence, and their breathtaking beauty–at the Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania. Listen for the howls during a Full Moon Tour.
Wolf Sanctuary of Pennsylvania / Speedwell Forge Road, Lititz / www.wolfsanctuarypa.org / 717-626-4617
4. Pedal Power:
Join the Lancaster Bicycle Club’s dedicated pedalers on a regularly scheduled ride, such as the easy-paced roll through the hills around Landis Valley Museum.
Lancaster Bicycle Club / www.lancasterbikeclub.net
5. Greenery Scenery:
Show your appreciation for the Lancaster County Conservancy, protecting forest land from development and promoting urban green stewardship, with a day in one of its thirty-seven preserves. Hike among the rare ferns where Susquehannock Indians once lived at Welsh Mountain, or stroll the spectacular ravine guarded by old-growth trees at Ferncliff, a National Natural Landmark.
Lancaster County Conservancy / www.lancasterconservancy.org/preserves
6. Lazy, Hazy Days:
At Mount Gretna Lake and Beach, the kids can dive off the platform or splash down from the rope swing, while you relax on the beach with a juicy romance. It’s like a day at the beach without the eight-hour round trip.
Mount Gretna Lake and Beach / 130 Lakeview Dr., Lebanon / 717-964-3130 / www.mtgretnalake.com
7. More than a Festival:
Longs Park is justifiably famous for its A-list music series and its world-class arts and crafts festival. But it’s also eighty acres of instant getaway, with scenic grounds and kid-friendly stuff like a petting farm and play areas.
Longs Park / Route 30 and Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster / www.longspark.org
8. Forest Fun:
Pennsylvania means “Penn’s woods.” Remember that from your history class? Reconnect with that sylvan idyll by hiking, birdwatching, and fishing at the pristine Theodore A. Parker III natural area.
Theodore A. Parker III Natural Area / Wesley Rd., Southern Lancaster County / web.co.lancaster.pa.us/293/Theodore-A-Parker-III-Natural-Area
9. Paddle and Dine:
Every kayaker, from beginner to veteran, needs sustenance after a soul-refreshing Susquehanna River kayak excursion. Shank’s Mare Outfitters, Wrightsville, features an array of paddling trips that end with BYOB dining or craft-beer tasting and a meal. Or make Wednesdays a day to celebrate with a guided kayak tour, followed by brick oven-fired pizza at John Wright Restaurant.
Shank’s Mare Outfitters / 2092 Long Level Rd., Wrightsville / www.shanksmare.com / 717-252-1616
10. Mark your Calendar:
Pack in the ice cream without packing on the pounds with the Lancaster Bicycle Club’s Ice Cream Lover’s Ride, August 15. The forty-two-mile rolling ride stops three times for ice cream, or the best sticky buns ever at Bird-in-Hand Bakery.
Ice Cream Lover’s Ride / www.lancasterbikeclub.net