Inside Pennsylvania Magazine - Summer 2023

Inside Thoughts...

INDEPENDENTLIVING, PERSONALCARE,MEMORY CAREANDSKILLEDCARE... ALLONONECAMPUS.

In the two summers before I turned 16, I spent my weekday afternoons at the community pool. I babysat a lot of weekend evenings to earn the money to buy my pool membership. For four of five hours a day, my friends and I sat on our towels and sunned, talked, played cards, read magazines and listened to the radio. Now and then, we got in the water to cool off. We thought we were so grown up since we were "on our own" at the pool. This happy memory has made me wonder what our children and teens have missed in the years of the pandemic — years when they should have been creating happy summer memories.

Most of the adults I know are already worried about future teen memories that won’t include anything more than Snapchat, TikTok and Instagram. Like the commercial on TV when the mother says, “ginormous shrimp,” and the kids are suddenly interested, we might need to provide some opportunities for pandemic-deprived children and teens. Experiences, family trips, reunions and other adventures — likely defined by a teen as "boring" — will be extra important this summer.

Fishing is very popular in our Valley, but few have experienced the art and sport of fly fishing. Perhaps you or you and a child/teen will discover an activity you will love for the rest of your lives this summer. Anna Wiest gives you some ideas on how and where to begin.

Summer communities have become very popular. You probably know someone, or you are someone, who “gets away” to their camper as often as you can. Cindy O. Herman took a look at how very popular these “getaway” locations are.

The Mifflinburg Buggy Museum was one of the best kept secrets in this area until several history-loving friends discovered a story that needed to be told. Jerri Brouse reminds us how much work and how many dollars are required to keep a "treasure" viable.

A hundred or so years ago, buggies required horses — sometimes mules — and that takes us to a summer activity you may not even know has been taking place in our Valley for many years. Horse shows are family-friendly and great places to spend an afternoon. Lisa Z. Leighton has identified an activity for children and adults.

In last Summer's issue of Inside PA, we suggested sites in six regions that were places you could visit with some of the restrictions that were still in place. This summer, the Inside PA writers want to tell you about a city in each of those regions you should add to your list of places to visit. A preview of attractions might help you plan one of those important memory-making trips. I've never been to Erie, but it's now on my list.

Please, every person needs to encourage our children to leave their phones in the car and find out how many “ginormous” adventures await them.

PA

Knouse

jknouse@dailyitem.com

INDEPENDENTLIVING AT THEMEADOWS

“Movingto TheMeadows at MariaJosephwas theright choice for me nearly fiveyearsago. Thequality of life is enhanced bythe strong senseofcommunity :neighbors helpingneighbors, friendly staff providingenter tainment,exerciseclasses,walking trips, andcaring supportwhenhelpisneeded.” ~Ruth

PERSONALCARE AT MARIAJOSEPH MANOR

“I love alltheactivities at MariaJosephManor!!! Especiallythe ice creamtruck!!” ~Mar yAnne

MEMORYCAREAT NAZARETHMEMORY CENTER

“Shortly after my husband andI moved intothe Meadows,I realized my husband needed care at Nazareth Memory Center.He hasadaptedsowelland even refers to Nazareth as “home.”I can’t thank everyone enough forallowingustobeapar tofwhatwecall “family.” ~Becky andBirdie

SKILLEDCARE AT THE EMMANUELCENTER

“Thestaff at Emmanuel Center took such good careof me.One day twogirls came in to helpmeget readyandtheyweresinging asong. Soon,wereall laughingandsinging together.I am so thankful for allthe therapy department didforme.SogladImadethe choice to come to Emmanuel Center.” ~Jessie

Jean INSIDE PA | SUMMER 2023

Jean L. Knouse, Editor

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S a t u r d a y , J u n e 1 0

5th Street & Market Streets

Mifflinburg

9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Buggy Rides Old Fashioned Children’s Games

Foods Crafts Vintage Antiques

Cordier r Auctions s Appraisal l Clinic

Victorian n High h Wheelers Old d Fashioned d Carnival l Games

“In n a Nutshell” ” Buggy y Musseum m Tour r

Tour r of f Buggymaker’s s Graves Heiss s H House e 1897 7 T Tour r

Foufsubjonfou

MusiCraft Singers TL & Kj Reimensnyder

Luke Hughes, violinist Efnpotusbujpot!

Chainsaw Carver Buggy Striping Lace Making

Hex Honey Observation Beehive & PA State Honey Bee Queen

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Interested in becoming a Buggy Day vendor?

The Buggy Museum is seeking vintage antique vendors and

individuals with vintage antique cars

Send all inquiries to Robin Ulrich — robbinlynn59@gmail com

Buggy Day is produced by

598 Green Street, Mifflinburg PA 17844

570-966-1355 • www.mifflinburgbuggymuseum.org

Sponsored by:

Come to Buggy Days and stay longer to explore the Susquehanna River Valley!

Spring photo contest

Grand Prize winner: 'The Treasures of Spring,' Barbara Staschiak

Portait winner: 'Elements of Her,' Tabitha Weeks

Recreation winner: "Field of Dreams," Charmaine Welby

Event winner: "Spreading Easter Joy!" Irene Gaydos

Nature winner: "The Early Bloom," Jim Bird

This season...

In May

May is one of the seven months of the year with 31 days. While the month was named for Maia, the Greek goddess of fertility, there was once a superstition saying May was an unlucky month to get married.

The Roman goddess, Juno, is the likely source of the name June. Juno presided over every aspect of a woman’s life and is known as the goddess of marriage, so, perhaps it’s not a surprise that June is a popular month for weddings.

Red Rose Day Father's Day

In August

After many name changes, the eighth month of the year was named August after the Roman Emperor Augustus in 8 BC. August is the last full month of summer and, in a standard year, there is no other month that starts on the same day of the week as August. In a Leap Year, it starts on the same day as February.

July

The Roman dictator Julius Caesar made one of his greatest contributions to history, with the help of Sosigenes. He developed the Julian calendar, the precursor to the Gregorian calendar we use today, according to Almanac.com. After his death in 44 B.C., the month was named for him. The early days of July are often called the “dog days of summer” — the beginning of the warmest days of the season.

Paper Bag Day French Fry Day

Lizard's Day Poet's Day Purple Heart Day Book Lover's Day

What do you need to know?

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NOT JUST FOR experts Fly fishing fun at every level

Story by Anna Wiest | Photos by Robert Inglis

Frank Angelo, who lives in McClure, has been flyfishing since he was eight-years-old. According to him, this unique sport demands time, dedication and persistence.

According to Angelo and other anglers in the state, Pennsylvania waters, especially Penns Creek, offer some of the very best locations for fly-fishermen to practice their skills.

The basic technique used in fly-fishing is different from the standard fishing practice of dropping a line in the water with a tasty-to-the-fish treat attached to the hook. In fly-fishing, the fisherman uses a weighted line to present a fly floating above the fish.

While fly-fishing can be difficult to master, Angelo said, “You have to practice and get out on the stream. You’re allowed to snag trees and catch rocks,” he said. “(But), it’s

not nearly as hard as most people think it is.”

Angelo, now 72, said it had always been his dream to run a fly-fishing school. In 1988, he found the perfect property in Snyder County to put his dream into action.

Today, Angelo continues to teach the sport he loves and said he can prepare students to get started on their own in just two and a half days.

Angelo’s Foundation Program begins in his backyard. “We pick up stuff from behind the house and create flies with feathers and furs on a hook that imitates what fish feed on. We teach students the basics of how to tie flies,” Angelo said. “We do casting instruction starting in the backyard and then go to the stream behind the house. On the third day, we go out all day long on Penns Creek or Middle Creek.”

Penns Creek is a 67-mile-long treasure for anglers from

Frank Angelo is a fly fisherman and instructor teaching the sport he loves.

all over Pennsylvania. “It’s a world-class trout stream,” said Kurt Francis, an avid fly fisherman from Sunbury. “It has naturally produced brown trout, can hold some large fish and offers some really challenging fishing.”

Another attribute of Penns Creek is its eco-diversity, according to Bruce Fisher, owner of Penns Creek Angler in Weikert. “Penns Creek is unique because it has 50 fishable hatches, while most creeks have only 10 to 12, " he said. “The diversity of mayflies and insect life is the best on the East coast and is why I chose to open my shop here.” The bugs surrounding this creek are also larger than most, Fisher added.

Francis said he is especially fond of certain spots along Penns Creek. “You have to go to the right places. I like to start around the Millmont area and go all the way up to Penns Cave,” he said. “I love to fish Spring Creek, which runs from State College to Bellefonte.”

Likewise, Angelo said he has his own favorite spot. “When

I moved here and searched for places to teach, I found a spot I liked on Middle Creek,” he said. “People now call it Frank’s Rock Hole. I’ve taught probably hundreds of students from that spot.”

Though its waters are a favorite of fly fishers, Penns Creek is not the only stream in Pa. where anglers cast flies. “From what I’ve heard," he said, "Pennsylvania has more fishable streams than most states in the country.”

Novice fly fishers often think expensive equipment is necessary for the sport, but that is not necessarily the case, according to Angelo. “People come to me with expensive equipment that they don’t know how to use, and I say, ‘you don’t really need that,’” he said.

“There is some investment, but there are bottom, mid, and top shelves. You can still get good equipment for a reasonable price,” Francis explained. “You need a fly rod and reel, flies and waders to get into the stream. Once you get into it, you realize there's a host of things you can buy.”

Fly fishing is a sport in which equipment can be purchased at a variety of costs.

Another Valley equipment spot is Old Trail Tackle & Sports in Shamokin Dam. Carl Shingara has helped out at Old Trail for about 18 years. He said the shop — which has been in business for 40 years — is a specialty store that sells lots of fishing equipment. Some fishermen tie their own ties, but some simply go to Old Trail where the ties were created by a professional — each an individual treasure.

An essential to the sport, Francis said, is attitude. “You have to be somewhat of an environmentalist. You don’t want to see garbage in the water,” he said. “Most of the time, I catch and release. Releasing it, you know that there’s fish in the stream. I love to see trout in the streams and know that they’re there.”

Angelo has taught an array of students, from those who have never touched a rod to those wanting to cast longdistance. His favorite part of the instruction is watching others experience the sport. “I want people to experience the environment and how beautiful it is. The beauty of fly casting and hooking a fish,” he said. “I’ve done it so many times, but I love to watch people.”

Francis agreed that the excitement of a trout taking your fly is like no other. “Once you get that trout to come take your fly, that’s the end. Bringing it in offers that excitement,” he said. “The climax is the trout taking your fly, and if you happen to tie that fly, it’s even more of a gratification.”

Angelo’s love for the sport began at a young age and has become a constant in his life. “I started my career at the Harrisburg sports show at eight-years-old. I was fascinated by a guy tying flies who took me behind his table and showed me how to do it,” he said. “I’ve been privileged enough to work with some pro companies including Fenwich, Courtland Line Company, St. Croix Rod Company and Temple Fork Outfitters. I’ve really made a career out of fly-fishing.”

Fly-fishing is a favorite of kids-at-heart who love to play in the water, Francis said. “When I was a kid, I loved playing in the water and in the little creek next to my house that had some brook trout in it,” he said. “I’m now 65, but still a kid who loves to play in the water."

Jean Knouse/For Inside PA

Carl Shingara has “helped out” at Old Trail Tackle & Sports for about 18 years.

Come SEE, FEED, & TOUCH the Alpacas

Summer communities

Your weekend away doesn't need to be hours away

Story by Cindy O. Herman

Campground owners in the Susquehanna River Valley look forward to spring when their seasonal clients return, and many will stay through early fall. Whether they stay the whole time or pop in for weekends, the campers roll into the campsites eager to relax and catch up with their summertime neighbors.

Scott and Gina Endy, of Winfield, have been camping since their kids were little, usually at Little Mexico Campground, in Winfield, or the Union County Sportsmen’s Club, in Millmont.

“We actually have met a ton of friends along the way,” Gina said, listing friends from places like Millersville, Gettysburg and Newport as well as towns closer to home.

In fact, Gina said several of the families have created an

online group to let each other know where they’re camping each week. They go to wineries and beaches or just sit and chat. “You’re with all your friends, so it’s fun,” she added.

“We like campfires and just hanging out,” Scott said. “It’s usually peaceful. I like being out in the woods. It’s a minivacation.”

Their kids grew up playing at the campsites with camping buddies or friends they brought along from home.

“It’s something fun to do during the summer,” said Peyton Endy, 13, who enjoys driving a golf cart around the campgrounds, adding, “It’s just fun being outside more often.”

Noting that campsites don’t always have good internet connections, Scott grinned at Peyton and said, “It’s a weekend, believe it or not, that gets her off her phone.”

Jean Knouse/Inside PA

On opening day, campers are already setting up at Fantasy Island Campground on Packer Island in Sunbury.

CAMPGROUND LIFE

River Edge, in Winfield, situated along the Susquehanna River, offers a great spot for boating, fishing and swimming, as well as corn hole tournaments and homemade “Soup Days.”

“It’s a close-knit family because most people come back year after year,” said Donna Steenstray, owner of River Edge. “That’s because they just want to get together and enjoy each other’s company.”

She estimated that about 80 percent of her campers return each year, forming a summer community of friends.

“The kids feel like they’re free to run,” she said. “Generally, everybody knows who the kids belong to, and they watch everybody else’s kids.”

When she took over the camp in 2004, it offered more cabins and tenting spots. They’re no longer as popular because people like bringing their own trailers. She started with 140 campsites, but that number has dropped as the sites have been enlarged to hold bigger motor homes and give campers more space. Some campers store their recreational vehicles and boats there year-round.

One family from New Jersey has been camping in tents every Labor Day weekend for years. “They’re like family to us,” Steenstray said.

“I have campers that live in Lewisburg, Sunbury, Shamokin Dam,” she said. “They come here just to get away from the hubbub and the stress.”

With full hookups and 50-amp service, Penn Avon Campground, 22 Trail Route 204 just outside of Selinsgrove, sits on the banks of Penns Creek and has attracted a lot of RV clubs that meet at different sites up and down the coast.

Wayne Brouse, owner of the campground since 1996 said, “They come in here and they say, ‘Hi, Wayne, how are you doing?’ I enjoy talking to them. I really do.”

Brouse hands out copies of the Susquehanna River Valley Visitors Bureau pamphlets for his customers to find activities they’ll appreciate.

“They like the wineries, shopping, the Selinsgrove Speedway,” he said. “A lot of them enjoy walking in downtown Selinsgrove.”

His campsites are usually full when Susquehanna University hosts events. Parents appreciate being able to stay in their motorhomes, he said.

Surprisingly, Brouse gets a lot of business over the winter months from employees like the steelworkers who built the bypass bridge in Winfield over the last couple of years. More recently he’s hosting workers building the new bypass at Selinsgrove. They come from as far away as Texas and Alabama, and he praised their “Southern hospitality.”

Campers have remarked on how much they appreciate the clean, well-maintained grounds of Penn Avon, where they can kick back and recharge.

“It’s a great stress release,” Brouse said. “That’s what camping is all about, relieving your stress.”

It’s easy to see why Hidden Valley Campground bills itself as “the best kept secret in Pennsylvania.” The site is

surrounded by beautiful hills that form a valley with three ponds and plenty of space for campers to enjoy. Everything from ceramics to swimming, paddle boats, miniature golf and a number of other outdoor games are available to the summer residents.

Heather Oberdorf, campground manager, said she practically grew up at Hidden Valley and added, “We have people that have been here 30 years,” she said. “We have regulars that come back every year. They’re like a family.”

Just driving through Buffalo Valley to reach the campsite brings travelers through pine-scented woodlands that soothe and invigorate people looking for a break from the work-a-day world. Campers can simply rest or take part in Hidden Valley Campground’s weekend activities: bands, karaoke nights, pool parties and Olympics Week are very popular and so are events like bean bag toss, swimming competitions and football throws.

Most campers return year after year, renting seasonal sites for the summer, although some just rent by the weekend. Campers are also able to leave their motorhomes there over the winter, if they wish.

“It’s like one big family because everybody helps everybody,” Oberdorf said.

Fantasy Island Campground has a distinct location on Packer Island, along the banks of the Susquehanna River between Northumberland and Sunbury. It’s a place made for boating and relaxing on a lazy, low-traffic island.

Photo provided Scott, left, Peyton and Gina Endy treasure the many friendships that began at a campground.

The campground is built on the site of a former amusement park that, in the 1920s, boasted a dance pavilion, a roller coaster called the “Island Flyer” and a carousel with three rows of 50 animals and two chariots. After historic flooding caused by Hurricane Agnes in 1972, most of the park was destroyed except for the unique, round building that housed the carousel — it now serves as the campground’s rec room.

Tim Wert, who has owned Fantasy Island since 2015, said that about 70 percent of the campers return each season.

“It’s a lot easier because your stuff is already set up,” he said. “You don’t have to lug it back and forth. It also saves on the cost of gas. You don’t have to drive the RV every weekend.”

Fantasy Island Campground has very little turnover in their

seasonal campers, which Wert said is part of the allure of the place.

“Some people have been here 30 years,” he said. “You get to know each other. It’s like a family, returning year after year.”

He enjoys watching his campers relax almost as much as they enjoy it themselves.

“It’s just the atmosphere of sitting around with family and friends,” he said, “trying to forget about everything going on in the world.”

In other words, these parks are summer communities whose main goal is relaxation and enjoyment.

For a full list of campgrounds in the Valley, please visit dailyitem.com.

Photo provided

All aboard for the train at Fantasy Island Campground on Packer Island.

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CAPITOL HISTORY

1681-1729

• Colonial legislature gathered wherever they could meet.

1729

• State Assembly voted to build a state house which would become Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed.

1790-1800

• Philadelphia used as state and national capital.

1799

• Disease and population moved the capital to Lancaster.

1785

• John Harris Jr. donated land along Susquehanna River for new Capitol building.

1812

• Land from Harris and William Maclay combined to build new state offices.

1816

• Stephen Stills hired to design and construct new Capitol building.

1821

• Construction finished on The Harris Capitol

1897

• During a snowstorm, the Capitol caught fire. Henry Ives Cobb was hired to design a new Capitol but construction was not completed.

1901

• Joseph M. Huston won a competition to design a new building to complete Cobb's work.

1902

• Construction began on the Huston Capitol building in Harrisburg.

1906

• 50,000 people traveled to Harrisburg on special Pennsylvania Railroad excursion trains to hear President Theodore Roosevelt dedicate the building.

SOURCE: Pennsylvania Capitol Preservation Committee

IN THE HEART OF PA

The Capitol, a national historic landmark

Story by Jean Knouse

Pennsylvania's Capitol is, first and foremost, a public building belonging to the citizens of the Commonwealth. It is also a priceless architectural and artistic treasure, a majestic symbol of history and power, and an icon of democracy and freedom.

The Capital of Pennsylvania is the city of Harrisburg and the Capitol building at 501 N. 3rd St. is the seat of the government for the commonwealth.

The six cities that follow were chosen because of their locations in the six regions of Pennsylvania that were originally created in the Summer issue of Inside PA: Erie in the North West; Williamsport in the North Central; Wilkes-Barre/Scranton in the North East; Philadelphia in the South East; Harrisburg in the South Central and Pittsburgh in the South West.

The Keystone State's recreation, history, food and fun is offered in any direction you might journey. Perhaps this summer, when vacations and weekend trips are once again being planned, will find you traveling to one of these exciting locations.

THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE CAPITOL

501 N. 3RD ST.

Purpose: The seat of government for the commonwealth of Pennsylvania

Architects: Joseph Miller Huston and Stephen Hills

At the dedication, President Theodore Roosevelt declared, "This is the handsomest building I ever saw.”

Source: PAcapitol.com

Inside PA file photo

The "Huston" Capitol building in Harrisburg.

Who knew Erie was a city everyone should visit?

Story by Cindy O. Herman

In Erie, Chris Temple can look out on Presque Isle Bay and the state park beyond from her office window at VisitErie. She said she likes to walk there with her dog, Santis. “There are open green spaces and a multi-purpose pathway used by bikers and joggers and, of course, dog walkers like me.”

Retail therapy is another favorite pastime for Temple and she is very familiar with the many shops and stores that offer an incredible variety of goods and services in Erie. She mentioned two favorites. Glass Growers Gallery supports regional artists and sells sun catchers, Pysanky eggs, fiber art, jewelry, novelties and more. It also hosts art shows and workshops. The other, Relish Studio and Gallery, features sea glass jewelry and home and gift ideas, most of which are made right there in the shop. It also features regional and national artists along with hosting a beach glass coastal arts festival every other year.

When pressed to suggest three must-see places in her city, Presque Isle State Park was No. 1. With seven miles of beaches it offers outdoor fun with canoes, bikes, paddle

boards, kayaks, jet skis and fishing, along with two places where visitors can rent equipment.

“But those beaches, oh my gosh, they’re just beautiful,” Temple said. "Even though it’s connected to the mainland, you don’t feel like you’re in the city. It’s really a neat little oasis that we call our gem attraction.”

Her second suggestion is the 187-foot-tall Bicentennial Tower.

“If you go to the top ... you get views of Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay. On a clear day you can see over to Canada,” Temple said.

And finally, she says, just get out on that water somehow. Choose from a pirate ship adventure, an educational boat ride, a Victorian princess three-level cruise boat, the flagship Niagara’s day sails, the tall ship schooner Letty G. Howard’s day and sunset sails on a luxury sailboat called Your Sailing Adventure.

“That would be the third thing, to just find a way to get out and experience Erie’s waterfront,” Temple said.

An aerial view of Erie features the 187foot tall Bicentennial Tower as it juts into Presque Isle Bay.

Photo courtesy of VisitErie

A RECREATION AREA, BUILDING OR PARK PRESQUE ISLE STATE PARK, 301 PENINSULA DRIVE

Presque Isle State Park attracts more than four million visitors each year, making it Pennsylvania’s most visited state park. Between outdoor activities, historical monuments and the sheer beauty of the place, people find it to be the perfect spot for a number of pursuits, said Mary Jo Rutkowski, spokesperson for the park.

With eight guarded beaches and a number of snack offerings, swimming tops the list of Presque Isle recreations. There’s also biking or hiking on the Karl Boyes Multi-purpose National Recreation Trail.

People love to visit the Presque Isle Lighthouse, hike on the historic Sidewalk Trail, tour the Tom Ridge Environmental Center and explore the history at Perry Monument. Lake Erie, Presque Isle Bay and interior ponds offer great spots for walleye, perch, and smallmouth bass fishing.

Boat tours range from educational to adventurous to romantic, or people can explore Presque Isle Bay by kayak, paddle boat or fishing boats. And for people looking for a simpler way to enjoy the park, there’s always birding at Gull Point Natural Area or Frys Landing, or head to Sunset Point and — fly a kite.

For more information: dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/ FindAPark/ or 814-833-7424

THINGS TO KNOW

How it began: Erie was named for Lake Erie and the Eriez Native American Indian tribe. Incorporated as a city: 1795

Population: 93,999

Mayor: Joseph V. Schember

Distance from Harrisburg: 296 miles

Photo courtesy of Presque Isle State Park Visitors can relax and take in the brilliance of a sunset at Presque Isle State Park.

A HISTORIC LOCATION

ERIE MARITIME MUSEUM, 150 E. FRONT ST.

Few things could have been as thrilling and, yes, scary as boarding a sailboat in the 1800s and setting out in the open sea. The Erie Maritime Museum hosts the U.S. Brig Niagara, one of the most historically authentic tall ships in the United States. It offers three distinctive educational programs, including day sails that allow the public to sail for an afternoon or evening and experience the life of a sailor.

The Erie Maritime Museum also allows visitors to return to the Age of Fighting Sail with an exhibit that invites them to experience the gun deck, an officer’s cabin and navigational tools. Guests can even learn the ropes on an actual mainmast.

“It’s a place where you can really touch and feel history come alive because you get to go on a ship that actually moves and sails,” said Chuck Johnson, museum educator. Learn more: eriemaritimemuseum.org or 814-452-2744

AN INTERESTING SITE BICENTENNIAL TOWER, 1 STATE ST

It must be something programmed into our DNA, but people have always yearned to climb the tallest tree and hike the highest mountains … just to see what they could see. That same urge compels Erie visitors to climb the 210 steps — or to take the elevator — to the top of Bicentennial Tower, the key feature of Erie’s Bayfront and Dobbins Landing, on Presque Isle Bay.

Holly Youngberg, manager at the Tower, said it offers beautiful sunsets on Presque Isle.

“That’s one of the biggest draws here, especially during the summer,” she said.

The Tower was built to celebrate Erie’s bicentennial in 1996 and it’s been a magnet for visitors ever since.

Proving that even after working there for two years, she is still captivated by those views, she added, “I take tons of pictures upstairs. Tons of them.”

Learn more: porterie.org/bicentennialtower/ or 814-4556055

A PLACE FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES

THE ERIE ZOO, 423 W. 38TH ST.

Visitors take about two hours to stroll through the Erie Zoo and Botanical Garden, gazing into the faces of nearly 300 animals and absorbing the beauty of 11 gardens.

“A lot of people like us ... ,” said Bryce O’Neal, admissions and gift shop supervisor because we’re a smaller zoo, which is “good for little kids.”

On March 10, 2023, the Erie Zoo introduced two new monkey species into their Hilbert Family Primate Habitat: Allen’s swamp monkeys, Kam and Claira, and lesser spotnosed guenons, Nemo and Georgia. They were all residents of a previous zoo and they were introduced to the colobus monkeys at the Erie Zoo. Officials hope the newcomers and the colobus will become accustomed to one another and make up a mixed-species, arboreal primate habitat.

Learn more: eriezoo.org or 814-864-4091

Photo courtesy of Erie Maritime Museum

The Erie Maritime Museum hosts the U.S. Brig Niagara, one of the most historically authentic tall ships in the United States

Photo courtesy of Holly Youngberg

The 187-foot Bicentennial Tower offers incredible views of the city, Presque Isle Bay and — on a clear day — as far as Canada.

Photo courtesy of Erie Zoo

A Grant’s zebra makes a striking sight at the Erie Zoo.

A QUIRKY/UNUSUAL PLACE MILLIONAIRE’S ROW, 345 W. 6TH ST

You’ll sigh with delight and maybe just a twinge of envy at the grandeur of the homes on Millionaire’s Row. Self-guided tours start at the Watson-Curtze Mansion at the Hagen History Center on West Sixth Street, also known as Millionaire’s Row. The tour includes 11 historical properties within about five blocks.

“It’s one of the only areas in the United States that has had a dedicated foundation restoring the entire historical district,” said Caleb Pifer, executive director of Erie’s Hagen History Center. “We’ve had tens of millions of dollars invested in the last four years to the acquisition and restoration of these properties, which created a beautiful section of street to walk.”

Through the Erie Preservation Trust, these stately old buildings have been restored to their original splendor.

“It’s a way to see multiple restored properties from the height of Pennsylvania’s Industrial Revolution,” Pifer said. Visitors can also opt to see Frank Lloyd Wright’s San Francisco office, which was disassembled there in 1988 and reassembled, board by board, in 2021 at the Hagen History Center at 356 W. Sixth St. It’s part of the Great Wright Road Trip, which explores nine Wright structures between the Laurel Highlands of Western Pennsylvania and Buffalo, New York.

Learn more: eriehistory.com or 814-454-1813

A MEMORIAL OR MONUMENT

ERIE HARBOR NORTH PIER LIGHT, 2 LIGHTHOUSE ST. Built to guide ships away from dangerous shallows and into safe harbors, lighthouses appeal to our sense of looking out for the other guy. Even after the Erie Harbor North Pier Light was destroyed in 1857 when a schooner crashed into it during a fierce storm, local citizens knew how important it was to keep that beacon shining — they hung a light from a gallows to guide ships until a new lighthouse could be erected.

According to PresqueIsleLighthouse.org, the original tower was built in 1830 and powered by whale oil. It had to be constantly tended by the lighthouse keeper and an assistant, who lived in nearby cottages.

After several extensions and remodels, North Pier Light was extended one last time in 1940 when it was moved to its current location and encased in steel panels painted with distinctive white and black stripes. Its square — pyramidal design is the only surviving example of this type left in the United States. In 2021, the plucky lighthouse was included in a series of lighthouses on U.S. postage stamps.

Learn more: presqueislelighthouse.org/learn/north-pierlight or 814-833-360

Photo courtesy of Hagen History Center Stroll through a self-guided tour of 11 restored, historical properties on Millionaire’s Row, in Erie.

Photo courtesy of Douglas Clifford North Pier Light in Erie Harbor.

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THINGS TO KNOW

How it began: After the "Great Runaway of 1778," when settlers from the upper West Branch Valley took refuge in Fort Augusta in Sunbury, they returned to their home banks of the Susquehanna River and continued their work to build a permanent community. Incorporated: As a borough in 1806 and a third class city in 1866

Population: 27,603

Mayor: Derek Slaughter

Distance from Harrisburg: 87 miles

Williamsport is a vibrant city and birthplace of Little League

Story by Anna Weist

Since officially becoming a city in 1866, Williamsport has grown into a diverse community with a flourishing metropolitan atmosphere. There is some discrepancy regarding the origin of the city’s name. Some believe William Hepburn, a judge and important figure in the founding of Lycoming County, named the city after himself. Others believe it was named after the son of another founder or the owner of an inn within the city. Williamsport experienced major growth in the mid- to late-1800s thanks to the leadership and guidance of Peter Herdic, one of the lumber industries earliest millionaires. The area’s resources, combined with the growing need for lumber across the nation, made Williamsport the Lumber Capital of the World in the 1870s. The lumber business also created the opportunity for wealth among city residents and resulted in many millionaires.

Having focused their efforts in the lumber industry, businesses took a hit with the flood of 1889. The disaster forced them to diversify. Today, businesses in the city range from apparel to furniture to airplane motors to baseball — among many others.

Williamsport offers two opportunities for higher education. Lycoming College, a private, liberal arts institution, and the Pennsylvania College of Technology, ranked No. 6 in Regional Colleges North 2022-2023 by US News.

Other attractions include art, history, recreation and a plethora of community events that draw people from miles around to this welcoming community. However, Williamsport has one “claim to fame” that no other city around the world has. Williamsport is home to the Little League World Series.

Photo courtesy of the Williamsport-Lycoming Chamber of Commerce

A RECREATION AREA, BUILDING OR PARK HOWARD J. LAMADE STADIUM, 100 BORDERLINE ROAD,

The Little League Baseball World Series was born in the city of Williamsport at a field constructed over a number of years from 1942 through 1951. Carl Stotz Stadium, once known as the Original Field, is named in honor of the man who developed the field dimensions, equipment and rules for what would become known around the world as Little League. In 1947, the first World Series Tournament was held at the field on 4th Street with 17 teams participating. At the time, all but one of the competitors was from Pennsylvania. From that humble beginning, Little League Baseball reached every state and, today, more than two million kids around the world participate in the games leading to the Little League World Series in Williamsport. This year, the 76th Little League World Series (LLWS) will

take place at the complex in South Williamsport — which includes Lamade Field and Volunteer Stadium — from August 16 to the 27. Admission to the LLWS is free and seats are first-come, first-serve. However, if you aren’t lucky enough to secure a seat in Lamade Stadium, you can head out to the “hill” where you can sit and watch the game or you can join the other “kids” and slide down the hill on your cardboard sled. Major League players and coaches have made that ride.

For two weeks in August, Lamade Stadium in South Williamsport is where every Little Leaguer worldwide is hoping they will be playing.

For more information: littleleague.org/worldseries/2023/llbws/

HISTORIC LOCATION

THE TABER MUSEUM, 858 W. 4TH STREET

With diverse exhibits, the Thomas T. Taber Museum provides a close look at the unique history of north central Pennsylvania. The Lycoming County Historical Society has been collecting artifacts for the museum for more than 100 years. The collection, which has been housed in several locations throughout the years, is now showcased in the heart of Millionaires Row where the two-level brick building was constructed in 1968. Exhibits within the museum include “A Walk Through Time,” “Lumbering Heritage,” “American Indian Gallery,” “Fine and Decorative Arts Gallery,” “Farming, Crafts and Industry,” “Lycoming County’s Military History” and the “Shempp Model Train Collection.” Taking an in-depth look at the history of the Valley is the perfect way to spend a rainy day.

For more information: tabermuseum.org/index.php

Photo courtesy of Little League World Series Lamade Stadium is where the final games of the Little League World Series take place.

Photo provided by The Taber Museum Website A glimpse into one of the many exhibits in the Thomas T. Taber Museum, “A Walk Through Time.”

AN INTERESTING LOCATION

THE PAJAMA FACTORY, 1307 PARK AVE. While its name may lead you to believe that this 300,000 sq. ft. building is where your pajamas are made, just about everything except pajama-making is done inside. The Lycoming Rubber Company built the Pajama Factory between 1883 and 1919. Rubber goods were made in the building until the company moved out in 1932. Shortly after, the Weldon Pajama Company moved in, creating the largest pajama factory in the world. In 2007, Mark and Suzanne Winkelman bought the property and have since transformed it into a “building for all” with more than 130 tenants. Available for lease in the factory are studio spaces, commercial spaces, as well as residential lofts. Among an array of businesses within, the Pajama Factory is a one-stop-shop to find photographers, retailers, craftspeople, artists, and more. Visitors will find a diverse array of shops — one of them will fulfill your need for coffee.

For more information: pajamafactory.net/

Photo courtesy of the Lycoming County Visitors Bureau

The Pajama Factory, a 300,000 square foot facility that houses multiple retail and office spaces.

FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES

KAOS FUN ZONE, 315 HEPBURN ST.

With five different activities to choose from, Kaos Fun Zone really does have something for everyone. The attractions, ranging from bowling to laser tag, are guaranteed to be fun for the whole family. Other options include the arcade — with 50 games, including the classics — trampoline park and golf simulator. “Jump times” in the trampoline park begin every half hour, with pricing based on a posted schedule. Kaos Fun Zone might be the go-to on rainy days this summer. There are certainly plenty of opportunities to release some of that built-up energy in an indoor setting.

For more information: kaosfunzone.com/

A QUIRKY/UNUSUAL PLACE

THE HATCHET HOUSE, 362 MARKET ST

The Hatchet House gives visitors the opportunity to let off some steam and have fun in a unique way — by throwing hatchets at wooden targets. Throwing metal axes can become competitive among friends, as points are accrued based on how close to the bullseye the thrower hits. The facility is also BYOB and offers food and nonalcoholic beverages at the “SNAXE” bar. Even kids, as long as they can handle the hatchet safely, are allowed to throw at The Hatchet House. The family-owned business is owned and operated by four outdoorsy, fun-loving ax throwers. The business also offers three portable hatchet throwing units that are perfect for outdoor events.

For more information: pahatchethouse.com/

A MEMORIAL OR MONUMENT: MARKET SQUARE

In August 2022, the final addition to the “Bases Loaded” statue project which includes eight Little League players, one umpire and, on the park bench, Carl Stotz. The final addition of three people watching the game includes Cy Young, George W. Bush and Jackie Robinson. There are seven figures on the home plate corner and, on the other three corners, are two players. The crosswalks are painted to resemble baselines. The statues commemorate the history of Little League and are representative of the diversity that is Little League Baseball. The placement of the series statues, which began in 2014, is now complete.

For more information: littleleague.org/news/ williamsport-to-welcome-president-george-w-bushrachel-robinson-to-celebrate-the-unveiling-of-the-finalbases-loaded-statue/

Photo courtesy of Lycoming County Visitors Bureau Kaos is not quite chaotic, it is fun!

Photo provided by Jennifer from The Hatchet House Participants throw at targets in The Hatchet House’s mobile units, which are big hit at outdoor events.

Photo courtesy of Lycoming County Visitors Bureau “Bases Loaded” is a series of bronze statues that celebrates the founding of Little League in Williamsport.

THINGS TO KNOW

Wilkes-Barre

How it began: Immigrants in search of work in the coal mines swelled the early population of the community

Incorporated as a city: 1806

Population: 44,453

Mayor: George C. Brown

Distance from Harrisburg: 104 miles

Scranton

How it began: Laborers came to work in coal mines and ironworks and to operate railroads and textile mills.

Incorporated as a city: 1866

Population: 75,874

Mayor: Paige Cognetti

Distance from Harrisburg: 121 miles

Wilkes-Barre/Scranton — two cities

means extra history, fun and

Story by Cindy O. Herman

While Wilkes-Barre in Luzerne County and Scranton in Lackawanna County are two distinct cities, they are close enough to share the moniker WilkesBarre/Scranton. Another thing they absolutely share is their location nestled in the Appalachian Mountain range. “I find the area to be one of the most beautiful parts of Pennsylvania,” said Alan Stout, executive director of Visit Luzerne County.

A lifelong Wilkes-Barre resident, Stout said among his favorite activities are anything connected with the Susquehanna River —including dragon boat races and walking along the River Common.

He quickly listed several reasons people will want to visit Wilkes-Barre: the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts,

food

the Mohegan Sun Arena — a performance and sports venue — and Mohegan Pennsylvania, a popular casino.

“We have beautiful mountains, forests, streams and waterfalls,” said Alexa Peregrim, director of sales for the Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau. “What we always say is, it’s the best of both worlds. You get the big city attractions and restaurants and experiences, but at the same time, 10 minutes away is the country.”

“We have a heritage here, with Revolutionary War history and anthracite coal history,” Stout said. “We are proud of that. Everything we do today is built on the shoulders of our grandparents and great-grandparents.”

Peregrim’s top recommendations in Scranton would include tours of the Lackawanna Coal Mine, “The Office”

Courtesy of Lackawanna County Visitors Bureau/Photo by Access Aerial Scranton, Pennsylvania, nicknamed “The Electric City” because it was the first in the nation to have electric-powered street cars.

Photo courtesy of LackawannaCounty.org

The Luzerne County Courthouse is located at 200 N. River St. in Wilkes-Barre. This magnificent structure — which is listed on the National Register of HIstoric Places is visible from nearly everywhere in Wilkes-Barre.

Self-Guided Tour, the Lackawanna County Pizza Trail, and a trip to the Top of the World.

When speaking about the coal mine, she said, “Just learning what they had to endure, how our area was built from these men and boys who worked in the mines, and at the same time what their families brought in the sense of traditions and cultures … that’s very fascinating.”

Fans of NBC’s “The Office” can pick up a map at the visitors center to find Scranton sites that made an appearance in the show.

And the Lackawanna County Pizza Trail? It features 60 places voted on by Scranton residents.

After noting there are more than 160 pizzerias in the area, she said, “We love our pizza. But it also tells a little bit about our culture because a lot of those pizzerias came from Italy and they passed along their sauce recipes and everything down through the generations to the family members who now run the pizzerias.”

While not technically in the city, Top of the World is a great hiking spot that can also be reached through the Lost Trails ATV Adventure. At the top of the mountain, the view of the valley below is gorgeous.

Peregrim mentioned the sites we’ve listed and finished by saying she could go on all day.

A RECREATION AREA, BUILDING OR PARK NAY AUG PARK, 500 ARTHUR AVE., SCRANTON

It’s hard to imagine a park like this existing in the middle of the downtown of a busy city. You might expect the picnic pavilion, maybe even the bandstand, but … a treehouse? In a really snazzy park, a fountain or wading pool might be expected, but … two Olympic-sized swimming pools? And some parks offer a little pond, but … a waterfall?

This park is a true oasis from the noise and bustle of the city.

Roaring Brook ambles through the park and leads visitors to Waterfall Overlook and the 20-foot Nay Aug Falls, which is different, but beautiful, in all four seasons.

The park’s unusual name comes from the Munsee Indians, who belonged to the Lenape tribe. Nay Aug means “noisy water or roaring brook.”

At one time, the park held amusement rides and a zoo. Today it’s a place for playgrounds, live music and community events. Free concerts are offered on Sundays and Wednesdays in the summer, and a garden invites you to relax and take in the beautiful sights and fragrances of nature — no matter how close the city is.

For more information: nayaugpark.org or 570-348-4186; Nay Aug Tree House: (visitnepa.org)

A HISTORIC LOCATION

LACKAWANNA COAL MINE, BALD MT. ROAD, SCRANTON

Don’t worry about how hot the day is when you visit the Lackawanna Coal Mine. Inside the mine, 300 feet down, the air is a constant 53 degrees. Bring a sweater.

The mine was opened in 1860. The tour takes people through the rock tunnels where they can see “the mule boy, the nipper, the monkey vein and the dead chute,” according to the tour website. Tours are led by a miner who explains coal mining and the courage it took to work in a mine.

The restoration of the hard coal mine gives visitors the opportunity to understand how difficult the working hours of a coal miner were.

Abby Walsh, ticket associate at the coal mine tour, said most visitors are “surprised to see 12-year-olds working in the mine.”

For more information: coalminetournepa.com or 570963-6463

Photo courtesy of northeastpa.org

From a height of 150 feet, Nay Aug Park’s David Wenzel Treehouse overlooks the gorge.

Photo is courtesy of Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour

The Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour, in Scranton, takes guests on a journey through a day in the life of an 1800s-era coal miner.

AN INTERESTING SITE

F.M. KIRBY CENTER, 71 PUBLIC SQUARE, WILKES - BARRE

People go to the F.M. Kirby Center to see something special. Perhaps a classic movie or a kids’ production or maybe even something explosive like the recent percussive music of “STOMP.”

However, before the show begins, visitors will enter through one of the five gorgeous art-deco lobbies that feature mirrors and — most impressive — the Giant Lavaliere, a chandelier which crowns the main lobby. A similar version can be found in the Empire State Building.

“People love the art deco style,” said Neil Prisco, director of marketing at the Kirby Center. Referring to the gleaming wood entrance doors, he added, “People call the doors the Golden Gate to Wilkes-Barre."

With nearly 2,000 seats in its main floor and balcony, Prisco said the F.M. Kirby Center celebrates a variety of the arts, including comedies, bands, Broadway productions, philharmonic orchestras and educational programs.

For more information: kirbycenter.org or 570-826-1100

A PLACE FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES

EVERHART MUSEUM, 1901 MULBERRY ST., SCRANTON

Dr. Isaiah Fawkes Everhart, a Scranton physician and Civil War veteran, planned the museum that bears his name.

Founded in 1908, the Everhart Museum is one of the oldest museums in Northeastern Pennsylvania and the only natural history, science, and art museum in the region.

It’s come a long way from its basic taxidermy collection, fossil gallery, and rocks and minerals displays, to the worldclass art displays it now offers.

Permanent collections include the Fossil Gallery, the Rocks and Minerals Gallery, the Bird Gallery, the Regional Art Galleries, the Fine Art Gallery, and the Dorflinger Glass Gallery. Additionally, the museum offers a fresh look at special temporary exhibitions that change regularly. This summer, visitors will want to check out the photographs and tools at the Wild Bee’s exhibition.

For more information: everhart-museum.org or 570-3467186

A QUIRKY UNUSUAL PLACE

HOUDINI MUSEUM, 1901 MULBERRY ST., SCRANTON

Name a famous magician. When Penny Wilkes, coordinator of the Houdini Museum, asks audiences to do that, the first name they usually shout out is Houdini, 97 years after the famous escape artist’s death.

The Houdini Museum features memorabilia, artifacts, mannequins and films of Houdini. The Houdini Tour website says the tour includes “the rarest film footage of Harry Houdini not shown anywhere else.”

“It’s a wholesome event appropriate for any age, any culture,” Wilkes said. Included in the tour is a magic show featuring Dorothy Dietrich and Dick Brooks.

“The tour ends with a magic show where a rabbit and two adorable ducks magically appear. They think it’s their show,” Wilkes said with a laugh, adding, “We levitate an audience member in the air. It’s an amazing afternoon.”

For more information: www.houdini.org or 570-342-5555

Photo courtesy of the F. M. Kirby Center

The F. M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts.

Photo courtesy of the Everhart Museum

A child probably told you that dinosaurs and birds are related in the genetic timeline. The Everhart has displays of both!

Photo courtesy of Houdini Museum

The Houdini Museum, in Scranton, features memorabilia, artifacts, mannequins and rare films of Houdini.

A MEMORIAL OR MONUMENT THE ZEBULON - BUTLER HOUSE, 313 S. RIVER ST., WILKES - BARRE

The Wilkes-Barre Preservation Society began hosting Victorian-themed tours of downtown mansions in 2003. The event helped them to realize that people are curious about local history and it started them on a journey that would result in the restoration of the Zebulon-Butler House Museum. The oldest home in the city, it was built in 1793 around parts of a 1773 log cabin.

The Butlers were social, political and military leaders in 1800s Wilkes-Barre. Four generations of the family lived in the house, from the Revolutionary War to the Civil War. In 2017, the Preservation Society saved it from demolition and restored it to a Federal period house.

“What I love is that people come away knowing why streets were named for people,” said Tony Brooks, director of the Preservation Society and curator of the Butler House.

The Preservation Society also helps people with historical and genealogical research. The Zebulon Butler Museum is open by appointment.

For more information: wbpreservation.org/ or 570-7933631

Photo courtesy of Wilkes-Barre Preservation Society

One of the most interesting Wilkes-Barre homes is the Zebulon Butler House Museum, built in 1793 and includes parts of a 1773 log cabin.

THINGS TO KNOW

How it began: Philadelphia was founded in 1682 by William Penn. Before then, it was inhabited by the Lenape people. Philadelphia was the site of the First and Second Continental Congresses and was chosen as the temporary capital of the United States after the Revolution.

Incorporated as a City: 1854

Population: 1.6 million

Mayor: James Kenney

Distance from Harrisburg: 110 miles

Philadelphia: A city of discovery and exploration

Story by Lisa Z. Leighton

Philadelphia was — quite literally — the city that launched our nation. Today, it is home to a dizzying array of things to do, explore, discover, learn and eat. Visitors can learn about the birth of the nation at Independence National Historic Park which encompasses Independence Hall; the Liberty Bell; Betsy Ross House; Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest continuously inhabited street, Congress Hall; National Constitution Center and dozens of other historical landmarks.

While Philadelphia boasts the grit and energy of larger cities like New York, it is an approachable, walkable and drivable city — even for novice city-visitors. The subway and train systems are relatively clean and easy to navigate, thanks to their color-coded transit lines.

Many parts of the city offer arts and culture — the list is long. However, a new addition is the Museum of Illusions, which engages patrons with 60 mind-bending exhibits such as holograms, optical illusions, and immersive rooms.

Despite being a bustling urban destination, Philadelphia also offers a wide array of outdoor recreation opportunities including Fairmount Park, Boathouse Row, Blue Cross River Rink, Spruce Street Harbor Park and Cherry Street Pier. The Schuylkill River Trail has been named one of the best riverwalks in the country by USA Today because the path

is suspended over the Schuylkill River and offers stunning views of the city’s skyline.

All ages will enjoy exploring the Philadelphia Zoo, Franklin Institute Science Center, Independence Seaport Museum, the Please Touch Museum, Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, and Franklin Square which centers around a carousel and a two-century-old fountain. Foodies, take note: the city now has a Cheesesteak Trail, featuring 20 local favorites, including the famous Tony Luke’s, Jim’s Steaks, Barclay Prime, Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks. For authentic “local” eats, head to Reading Terminal Market on Arch Street near Chinatown, which is worth a visit of its own.

Speaking of food, the city boasts six restaurants on the 2023 nomination list for prestigious James Beard Awards. These include Her Place Supper Club, Royal Sushi, Cantina La Martina, Kalaya and Friday Saturday Sunday. High Street Hospitality’s Ellen Yin was nominated for the outstanding restauranteur award for the second year in a row.

In South Philadelphia, sports fans can catch Phillies baseball at Citizens’ Bank Park, Eagles football at Lincoln Financial Field, plus Philadelphia Flyers hockey and Philadelphia 76ers basketball at the Wells Fargo Center.

Photo by K. Huff for PHLCVB

The Philadelphia Skyline

A RECREATION AREA, BUILDING OR PARK SPRUCE STREET HARBOR PARK, 301 S. COLUMBUS BLVD.

A relatively new outdoor space, the ultra-hip Spruce Street Harbor Park is located near the Independence Seaport Museum along the Delaware River. The Park is open seasonally, May 12 through September 25, and offers colorful hammocks for lounging, floating gardens and lovely shade trees adorned in colorful lights at night, plus local brews and at least one food vendor during open hours. While there, check out the Independence Seaport Museum and its two historic docked ships. Or, you can view the city from the river aboard the Spirit of Philadelphia for a lunch or dinner cruise. The Cherry Street Pier is also located here; a mixed-use space of food, retail and artists-in-residence.

For more information: delawareriverwaterfront.com/ places/spruce-street-harbor-park

HISTORIC LOCATION INDEPENDENCE HALL, 520 CHESTNUT ST.

The area that encompasses Independence Hall has been called the nation’s “most historic square mile” because it includes 67 National Historical Landmarks, according to the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau website. The importance of Independence Hall cannot be overstated, as it is the site where the Declaration of Independence was signed on July 4, 1776 and where the Constitution was written and debated by the country’s forefathers. Construction on the building began in 1732. The original intentions for the structure were to be the Pennsylvania State House, housing all three branches of the Commonwealth’s colonial government. The State House Bell, now called the Liberty Bell, once rang in its tower. The Bell can now be seen at 526 Market Street and advance tickets are not required. However, timed entry tickets and a security check are required for entry to Independence Hall; tickets are free but there is an administrative fee.

For more information: nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/ independencehall.htm

Photo courtesy of Spruce Stree Museum

Open May 12 through late fall, Spruce Street Harbor Park offers serene views of the Delaware river. The park offers colorful hammocks, floating gardens, beautiful trees adorned in technicolored lights, local craft beers, and delicious food from some of Philadelphia’s most popular restaurants.

Photo by K. Huff for PHLCVB Visitors from across the world come to the Independence Hall complex to learn about the birthplace of freedom.

AN INTERESTING LOCATION

EASTERN STATE PENITENTIARY, 2027 FAIRMOUNT AVE. While prisons are typically off-limits to outsiders, this historic jail has been kept in “preserved ruin.” That includes crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. The site can be toured in all seasons, though it is especially popular at Halloween. Speaking of ghost tours, the city hosts a plethora of those, too. Eastern State Penitentiary’s architecture captures you from the moment you enter, with its vaulted, sky-lit cells. The famed Al Capone once called the prison home and patrons can stroll through the site on their own thanks to an audio tour voiced partially by actor Steve Buscemi. The rest of the audio soundscape features three former wardens and 25 guards and prisoners, creating a very intimate experience. The site is available for event rentals, as well as photography and video shoots.

For more information: easternstate.org

A PLACE FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES

PLEASE TOUCH MUSEUM, 4231 AVE. OF THE REPUBLIC

If you’re traveling with children, a trip to Philadelphia wouldn’t be complete without a stop at the Please Touch Museum, the city’s award-winning Children’s Museum. Structured activities and creative play opportunities through traveling and permanent exhibits are featured. The Museum consistently ranks among the top 10 children’s museums in the country. The Museum’s footprint encompasses two entire floors with exhibits that include a Makerspace, an indoor treehouse that focuses on STEAM learning, Creative Arts Studio, Fairytale Garden, Grocery Store, Please Touch Garden, a water play area called River Adventures, and even an indoor carousel. For more information: pleasetouchmuseum.org

A QUIRKY PLACE THE MÜTTER MUSEUM, 19 S. 22ND ST.

Located in the heart of Center City in Rittenhouse Square, known for its green spaces, upscale shopping and arts and culture, visitors will find the Mütter Museum, which houses the country’s finest collection of medical artifacts and oddities. Eating lunch before your visit is probably not recommended, as the site features anatomical specimens, models and medical instruments displayed in a Victorian “cabinet museum” setting — none of which are for the faint of heart. The museum itself is a section of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia; highlights include a tumor removed from President Grover Cleveland’s jaw and pieces of Albert Einstein’s brain. While the exhibits are strange and eerie, they provide a lot of information about the progression of medical technology. For more information: muttermuseum.org

Photo by K. Huff for PHLCVB Cellblock 7 inside Eastern State Penitentiary

Photo courtesy of Please Touch Museum Explore a world of wow at the Please Touch Museum, ideal for kids of all ages.

Photo by K. Huff for PHLCVB Skull collection at the Mütter Museum

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A MEMORIAL OR MONUMENT BENJAMIN FRANKLIN MEMORIAL, 271 NORTH 21ST ST.

The Benjamin Franklin National Memorial is located in the rotunda of the Franklin Institute, which encompasses three floors of hands-on science exhibits and experiences. It is a fitting place to recognize one of America’s foremost Founding Fathers for his contributions to science, specifically the understanding of electricity. Visitors are immediately taken aback by the dramatic 20-foot-high marble statue of Franklin, which is crafted of white Seravezza marble and weighs 30 tons. According to the FI’s website, the domed ceiling is self-supporting and weighs 1,600 tons. The floors, walls, columns, pilasters, and cornices are made of rare marbles from Portugal, Italy, and France. The Memorial is open whenever the Institute is open (daily 9:30 a.m. -5 p.m.) and no admission fee is required.

For more information: fi.edu/en/exhibits-andexperiences/benjamin-franklin-memorial

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Photo by P. Loftland for PHLCVB

In the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial, a 20-foot-tall statue of Franklin greets visitors within the Franklin Institute.

THINGS TO KNOW

How it began: Native Americans are known to have lived on the banks of the Susquehanna River where Harrisburg is now located. The area became a wellknown site to traders who thought of the river as their highway. Trade may have been why people populated the area, but it was industry that created a city that was chosen as the capital of Pennsylvania.

Incorporated as a city: 1791

Population: 50,135

Mayor: Wanda R. D. Williams

Harrisburg, a lively city that is more than just the capital of Pennsylvania

Story by Jean Knouse

Harrisburg is symbolically and, quite literally, the center of Pennsylvania.

Every child in the United States learns that Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania. Within the Commonwealth, children are likely to visit Harrisburg for tours and knowledgeable visitors return often.

What’s wrong with the rest of us? Harrisburg is not the city of your parents and grandparents. It is a city with interesting, unique and fun places to visit!

You don’t have to go to the Capitol or a museum unless you want to — so, at some point, you should probably visit one or two of those sites. There are plenty of other things

to do. Baseball games, concerts, walking tours, a tour of bakeries and ice cream parlors that award's a prize if you visit eight of the sites, and, of course, terrific places to eat. If you are old enough to remember Hurricane Agnes, you might remember a restaurant on Front Street that had car service like The Fence. My family always stopped there for lunch or dinner whenever we were driving through.

It was destroyed — like much of the city — by the storm which devastated many neighborhoods in the city.

What has grown out of that destruction should be a source of pride for every resident of our Commonwealth.

Perhaps it's time for you to visit!

Photo courtesy of dreamstime.com Harrisburg city skyline.

A RECREATION, BUILDING OR PARK CITY ISLAND

City Island is easy to find. It sits on an island in the middle of the Susquehanna River. FNB Field is located there and is home to the Harrisburg Senators, a minor league affiliate of the Washington Nationals. The Penns Football Club calls it home, there is a miniature golf course, volleyball courts and lots of parks, playgrounds and fields.

Trips on the Pride of the Susquehanna leave from City Island. The riverboat is an authentic stern-driven paddle wheeler that was built as a community service project by the Harrisburg Area Riverboat Society website. During the years, more than 1,000,000 passengers have ridden on the Pride of the Susquehanna.

For more information: visithersheyharrisburg.org

HISTORIC SITE

JOHN HARRIS - SIMON CAMERON HOUSE, 219 S. FRONT ST.

This house was built by John Harris, one of the early founders of Harrisburg, around 1766. In 1863, according to the Dauphin County Historical Society website, "it was purchased by Simon Cameron, Lincoln's first Secretary of War and later Ambassador to Russia, who transformed the Georgian house into a stylish Victorian mansion and lived there until his death in 1889."

After eight previous owners, the Dauphin County Historical Society purchased it in 1941. And, in 1976, it was

designated a National Historic Landmark.

To celebrate the 250th anniversary of the house, the historical society undertook an award-winning restoration that was funded by public/private partnerships and generous contributions from individuals and businesses. All of the work was done by the finest craftsmen in the area. The Historical Society of Dauphin County offers tours of the Mansion.

For more information: dauphincountyhistory.org

INTERESTING SITES

3RD STREET WALK TO THE CAPITOL AND THE MONUMENTS AND MURALS TOURS

The 3rd Street Walk to the Capitol is a one-mile walk that begins at the Harrisburg mural (pictured) and ends at the Capitol. The trip includes 23 sites with a variety of artistic presentations.

The Monuments and Murals Tour begins with two towering monuments on the Capitol Complex grounds. From there, you begin a loop to the east of the Capitol

that features seven murals, a commemorative statue, and the Capitol Fountain and grand plaza. BTW, if you haven't already taken a free tour of the Capitol during your 3rd Street Walk to the Capitol Tour, we encourage you to do so! The Capitol Building is aptly named, “A Palace of Art.”

For more information: visithersheyharrisburg.org

Photo courtesy of dreamstime.com

City Island is a 35 acre plot of land in the middle of the Susquehanna River. Trips on the Pride of the Susquehanna leave from City Island.

Photo provided

The John Harris-Simon Cameron House was built in 1776.

Photo courtesy of dreamstime.com

This mural is part of the 3rd Street Walk to the Capital

FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES THE STATE MUSEUM OF PENNSYLVANIA, 300 NORTH ST.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg is the official museum of the commonwealth. It houses 12 permanent exhibits.

Memorial Hall is the central hall and is dedicated to "the vision of Pennsylvania's founder William Penn." In addition to the statue of Penn, Vincent Maragliotti’s sweeping mural depicts Pennsylvania’s history up to 1964.

The other permanent exhibits are Pennsylvania Icons; A Place for All: Three Stories of Integration in PA; Village Square; Anthropology and Archaeology Gallery; Transportation & Industry; Objects of Valor: Commemorating the Civil War in Pennsylvania; Hall of Geology; A Walk through Time; Mammal Hall; Restoring Mammal Hall and Ecology.

For more information: statemuseumpa.org

QUIRKY/INTERESTING SITE BROAD STREET MARKET, 1233 N. 3RD ST.

The Broad Street Market was founded in 1869 and is the oldest, continuously operated market house in the United States. At the market, visitors will find "locally-grown and organic produce, meats, baked goods, and freshly prepared meals." With nearly 40 vendors, the market has something for everyone, according to broadstreetmarket.org.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner options are available at the Market.

The Broad Street Market in the 1920s was known as the “Dutch Fair” because of Amish and Mennonite vendors. John Kinnard, the market master at that time, claimed, "It also could have been called the 'Congress of Nations' in view of the ethnic diversity, which then included Germans, Austrians, Italians, Russian Jews, Hungarians and fullblood native-born Americans.”

The Market was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 and it is owned by the Broad Street Market Corporation.

It has always been and continues today as a community gathering place.

For more information: broadstreetmarket.org

MONUMENT OR MEMORIAL HOLOCAUST MEMORIAL IN RIVER FRONT PARK

The 1994 sculpture, the Holocaust Memorial in Riverfront Park, is "filled with symbolism and serves as a reminder of a dark chapter in world history," according to visithersheyharrisburg.org. The memorial’s tall pillar in the center embodies the strength of the Jewish people, the twisted barbed wire represents the atrocities committed by the Nazis during World War II, and the height of the pillar indicates that the Jewish people continue to survive."

In a striking contrast, visitors looking beyond the statue, will observe peaceful views of the Susquehanna River. For more information: visithersheyharrisburg.org

Photo provided

The Holocaust Memorial at River Front Park memorialized the Jewish experience in World War II.

Photo provided

The Broad Street Market is the oldest continually-operating market house in the United States.

Photo provided by the State Museum of PA The State Museum of Pennsylvania boasts 12 permanent exhibits and a planetarium.

THINGS TO KNOW

How it began: Started as Fort Pitt, built by the British in 1764.

Incorporated as a city: 1816

Population: 300,431

Mayor: Ed Gainey

Distance from Harrisburg: 203 miles

Pittsburgh, a city of neighborhoods

Story by Cindy O. Herman

It’s the terrain that separates Pittsburgh from other major cities. Jutting into the confluence of three rivers, Pittsburgh consists of 90 neighborhoods. Each adds its own community charm whether with parks and green spaces, bicycle trails and hills, views of the rivers, the 446 different bridges, or more ethereal qualities like art, ethnic cultures and that proud, steel-working history.

“I love how unique Pittsburgh truly is,” said Jerad Bachar, VisitPITTSBURGH’s president and CEO. “It’s a vibrant, goodsized city but it still has a small-town feel to it. There are a lot of surprises and unexpected experiences that people just don’t recognize unless they’re here.”

An avid cyclist, he enjoys exploring the hundreds of miles of bike paths going up into the hills, along the river and throughout the city. A big performance art fan, he recently attended a Bollywood dance festival, though he also enjoys the August Wilson African American Cultural Center and Liberty Magic, a theater in the downtown Cultural District.

“And then my favorite thing to do, too, is to go to a restaurant downtown called Con Alma, which has live

jazz music every night of the week,” he said. “All these wonderful outdoor experiences, but then you have also so much depth and character to the city.”

Only have time to visit three places? Bachar recommends a ride on a 130-year-old incline up to Mount Washington.

“The views from Mount Washington onto downtown Pittsburgh are iconic,” he said. “It’s such a great experience.”

Families should check out the Children’s Museum, which is within walking distance of downtown and was voted one of the top 10 best children’s museums in the country by USA Today.

“But while you’re going, you’ll walk right by the Andy Warhol Museum and you cannot see Andy Warhol in such an amazing place as his own museum in his own hometown,” Bachar said, adding that baseball fans will delight in the Roberto Clemente Museum.

And while you’re downtown you have to sample Pittsburgh’s array of eateries.

“The food scene is a-mazing,” Bachar said. “So incline, museums, and food scene are the top three for me.”

Photo courtesy of dreamstime.com Pittsburgh skyline.

A RECREATION AREA, BUILDING OR PARK POINT STATE PARK, 601 COMMONWEALTH PLACE

Where else can you dip your foot into three rivers at once? Point State Park exists because the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers unite there to form the Ohio River. What people may not realize is that Pittsburgh’s “Golden Triangle” was also the place where Fort Duquesne and Fort Pitt made their contributions to the American Revolution and the French and Indian War. At the Fort Pitt Museum, you can visit the Trader’s Cabin, study detailed dioramas and gain an appreciation of a slice of Pennsylvania history.

Managed by the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, Point State Park offers hiking and walking paths on paved promenades that offer dramatic views of the city as well as scenic strolls around a 100-foot tall fountain in the center of the park.

The Three Rivers Heritage Trail covers 37 miles along both sides of the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers and is open to cyclists, walkers, runners, and in some places rollerbladers. Boating, kayaking and fishing are available at the park, which is open every day of the year.

For more information: dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks or 412565-2850

A HISTORIC LOCATION

THE DUQUESNE INCLINE, 1197 W. CARSON ST.

Both the Duquesne Incline and the Monongahela Incline were built to carry workers up and down Coal Hill, now known as Mount Washington. Watching the restored cable cars steadily climbing and returning from the top of the steep hillside, it’s easy to imagine them filled with tired, sooty coal miners and steelworkers going about their dayto-day lives.

The Duquesne Incline, voted by USA Today as one of the top 10 sites in the world for viewing a cityscape, was opened to the public May 20, 1877.

“You get two treats,” said Tom Reinheimer, director of marketing and group tours at the Duquesne Incline. “You get to ride a 146-year-old museum piece, and when you get to the top you get the view of Pittsburgh that everybody comes to Mount Washington to see.”

A small museum and gift shop can be found at the top of the Incline, where visitors can see photos from Pittsburgh’s history and information on inclines from around the world. Though only the Duquesne and Monongahela Inclines now exist, almost two dozen once carried Pittsburgh residents and their vehicles up and down the steep hills of their city.

“You’re not going to find it in very many places in the country,” Reinheimer said of the Duquesne Incline. “It’s an original.”

For more information: duquesneincline.org or 412-3811665

Photo courtesy of Doug Riegner through VisitPITTSBURGH Point State Park, in Pittsburgh, offers hiking, walking, boating and biking while surrounded by three rivers.

Photo courtesy of dreamstime.com

The Duquesne Incline, although it's 146 years old, provides a scenic ride up and down Mt. Washington.

AN INTERESTING SITE BICYCLE HEAVEN, 1800 PREBLE AVE.

In 2011, Craig and Mindy Morrow founded Bicycle Heaven. The project grew out of Craig's love of finding discarded bicycles in the junk. Recently, it was named the world’s largest bicycle museum and shop by the New York Times and Associated Press and features close to 6,000 bicycles, from vintage to new.

“One thing people like is, we’ve got Pee-Wee Herman’s bike (from ‘Pee-Wee's Big Adventure’),” Craig Morrow said. “People love to see that.”

Bicycle Heaven’s bikes can be seen in movies such as “A Beautiful Mind,” “Super 8,” “Fathers and Daughters,” “Fences” and many others.

“I think people like that they can find a bike here that they had when they were a kid,” Morrow said. “Everyone remembers the freedom they had riding their bikes around. They always tell us, ‘My mom never knew where I was going on my bike.’”

For more information: bicycleheaven.org or 412-734-4034

A PLACE FOR KIDS OF ALL AGES

SEN. JOHN HEINZ HISTORY CENTER, 1212 SMALLMAN ST.

The Heinz History Center is Pittsburgh’s museum. Guests can delve into stories of regional people and places, from the women in white hats who packed jars of pickles at H.J. Heinz Co. in the late 1800s, “Kaufmann’s Clock” on the side of the former department store, exhibits of Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl, World Series and Stanley Cup championships, to the evergrowing catalog of iconic paintings by Pittsburgh artist Ron Donoughe.

“As a Smithsonian affiliate and the largest history museum in Pennsylvania, the Heinz History Center features iconic exhibitions and artifacts throughout its six floors,” said Brady M. Smith, director of marketing and communications. "The museum’s flagship exhibit, ‘Pittsburgh: A Tradition of Innovation,’ is where you can flex like Rosie the Riveter, learn about the region’s contributions to the Apollo 11 moon landing mission ...”

For more information: heinzhistorycenter.org or 412-454-6000

A QUIRKY/UNUSUAL PLACE

BAYERNHOF MUSEUM, 225 ST. CHARLES PLACE

To best appreciate the surprises awaiting visitors at this unusual site, Jim Mousseau, curator of the Bayernhof Museum, prefers to say little about it and let guests experience it for themselves.

“The less they know, the more fun they can have,” he said. “We encourage people, when they bring guests back, not to tell them a thing about the place. It’s really unique.”

The 19,000-square-foot museum (former residence of Charles B. Brown III, the museum’s founder) offers a oneof-a-kind collection of music boxes, antique automatic music machines and other items. Even the building, with its south wall made almost entirely of glass, entices guests as they stroll from room to room, sometimes through hidden doors and secret passageways.

For more information: bayernhofmuseum.com or 412782-4231

Photo courtesy of Bicycle Heaven

Bicycle Heaven features close to 6,000 bicycles, from vintage to new.

Photo courtesy of the Heinz History Center

The iconic Heinz Hitch, on display at the Heinz History Center.

Photo courtesy of Bayernhof Museum At Bayernhof Museum, nothing is normal or expected. Even the dining room greets visitors with a fun twist.

A MEMORIAL OR MONUMENT CARNEGIE MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY, 4400 FORBES AVE.

Stand next to the reconstructed skeleton of a dinosaur and you’ll share Pittsburgh steel tycoon Andrew Carnegie’s fascination with the ancient animals. And thanks to that fascination, you’ll have the chance to gaze at a dinosaur at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, a monument to amazing artifacts and accomplishments from around the world.

Opened in 1895, the museum’s mission from the start was to “exhibit the wonders of nature to everyone from mill workers to affluent society members,” as stated on the museum’s website. Its early collections included artifacts from ancient Egypt, beautiful minerals, exotic wildlife taxidermy and, of course, dinosaurs.

Today the Carnegie Museum of Natural History showcases everything from animals, plants and artifacts to dioramas on Native American cultures. Among many other experiences, guests can watch paleontologists analyze fossils, look closely at the coarseness of an African lion’s mane and marvel at the sparkling beauty of 500 gems, crystals and pieces of jewelry

For more information: carnegiemnh.org or 412-6223131

Photo courtesy of Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Walton Hall of Ancient Egypt

Visitors to the Walton Hall of Ancient Egypt at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History can see up to 5,000 objects made by the ancient Egyptian people.

Show Putting on a

Horse events generate an understanding of hard work and dedication

Story by Lisa Z. Leighton

Volunteers who are fueled by a passion for horses, are the reason the Susquehanna River Valley is able to offer a variety of horse shows this year. These events offer families a terrific afternoon of fun — there is no admission fee, but there are snack stands and if you patronize them, you’ll support the local riding clubs.

The Susquehanna Valley Corral in Danville, the Buffalo Valley Riding Club in Lewisburg, and the Mountain Laurel Equestrian Center in Elysburg will all host horse shows (see side bar for dates).

On the national level, horse shows are organized by classes. That is, horses with similar training or breed characteristics compete against one another. In the Susquehanna River Valley, horse shows are more commonly organized by the rider’s age and skill level. Regardless of the type of show, friendly competition is

important, with winners taking home awards, trophies, ribbons, medals, and, sometimes, prize money. Above all, the shows work to teach young people riding skills, good sportsmanship, and team building among fellow riders and mentors.

The Susquehanna Valley Corral (SVC), which was founded in 1951, offers the largest mix of shows in the area. These include Open Shows, Fun Shows, like and Jackpot Barrel Shows that award cash prizes and competitors travel from as Harrisburg, State College and beyond to compete.

According to SVC President, Dr. Amy Snover, who grew up showing horses at the Corral, some shows are judged by outside judges and other shows are judged by the clock.

Snover said The Jackpot Barrel Shows, which are the most competitive, draw a high caliber of rider and horse. These shows provide cash prizes. They include pole-bending and barrel classes which are straight-timed, so the clock is the

Makala Podgurski, 9, encourages her horse to jump.

Photo courtesy of Ingrid Podgurski

judge. The only way to get eliminated is to knock over a barrel or go off-course. She added, “You just have to go out and run your fastest and the fastest horse wins.”

Snover said it takes dozens of volunteers to plan and execute each horse show. Twenty-two-year-old Kennedy Fagan, a longtime SVC member and horse rider, has been instrumental in planning and publicizing the Jackpot Barrel Shows and Amber Earnest takes the lead on the Fun Shows.

However, Snover continued, “We cater to the young rider or the inexperienced rider, the people who want to have fun and be a little competitive, but not overly competitive. A lot of folks just want a good start for their kids or a good atmosphere.”

A lot of riders use local shows as a springboard to go on to other shows. The good news about them advancing is that a lot of young riders come back as adults and stay involved and give back, according to Snover.

One of those competitive riders who has used the SVC as a springboard is award-winning 16-year-old A. J. Rapp of Paxinos, “I like showing (at the corral), because I get to meet lots of new people and be with friends I may not have seen in a while.”

“The Fun Shows draw people who are just out to have fun with their horses.” Since they’re timed, six of the seven shows count for points, and at the end of the year we give out awards for the highest placings.”

The Open Shows typically include English and Western

events and are judged by outside judges who will decide the best horse and best rider of the day. Open Shows offer a wide variety of events including a halter class when the horse is shown “in hand” rather than being ridden. The day also offers competition on English riding, jumping and trail classes — where the horse and rider work together over obstacles in the ring — as well as mini-classes for miniature horses and Western riding classes.

Another local club, the Buffalo Valley Riding Club (BVRC) in Lewisburg, began in 1961 and offers five horse shows each summer. Their venue offers two large show pens, a kitchen with food for sale and free parking.

Deb Keefer, President of BVRC said they offer Open Shows and English and Western Pleasure Shows.

All of the BVRC shows are judged by outside judges. A wide range of ages are invited to participate — from lead liners (riders as young as one-year-old) through adult.

“I have had horses for 48 years,” said Keefer. "I showed there when I was younger and … I wanted to continue with the organization. I’ve reached my show goal, but I do still show there for fun.”

Lea Sharp, vice president of the SVC said, “Horses are our passion. This is a labor of love. For me, we opened it up to the local 4H clubs in Northumberland and Columbia counties, so we’re giving it back to the youth — that’s my motivation.”

Snover said, “It’s a good place to come have fun with people who have the same interests that you do and it’s

Photo courtesy of the Susquehanna Valley Corral Leah Duff, Peyton Johnson and Alexa Roberts earned their awards as the high point winners last season.

generally a very supportive environment, with people cheering each other on.”

Keefer agreed, saying she took a lead role for more than 20 years due to the enjoyable atmosphere of the shows and the camaraderie of fellow showmen and patrons alike.

Both the SVC and BVRC are membership organizations, requesting nominal annual dues. However, Snover and Keefer emphasized the need for year-round volunteers to help plan and manage shows and to maintain the show grounds.

On Route 54 south of Elysburg is Mountain Laurel Equestrian Center (MLEC). Jason and Sandra Renno have transitioned the property from a family farm centered on egg and grain production to an equestrian center offering boarding, lessons and public shows. Their daughter Raelyn is an award-winning and highly competitive equestrian vaulter. The Center, which features a 9-stall boarding barn, 28,000 square foot arena, as well as a cross-country course, will host several public shows this summer for dressage, vaulting and jumping skills.

Sandra and her childhood friend Lura Good offer beginner lessons in skills such as vaulting and dressage, which Renno described as gymnastics and ballet for horses.

Good said, “Dressage teaches the horse how to collect, move properly and stay balanced. Vaulting is essentially acrobatics on a horse, whereas in dressage…the horse is using its body in conjunction with the rider; it’s essentially the purest form of riding in my personal opinion and also the most difficult.”

Nicholas Hansen and Hannah Bundy, internationally recognized riders, will judge dressage at MLEC’s upcoming shows.

“For young people learning dressage, it is all about confidence building. You need a little bit of discipline and dedication. You have to learn to control your body yourself and your emotions because they affect the horse,” said Good.

Good said caring for a horse offers many life lessons. “Safety is really, really important,” she said. “I never ride without a helmet.”

Young riders also learn about health and wellness and how to take care of a horse — including getting dirty and shoveling poop.

According to Good, learning and improving their horse riding skills can be intimidating to kids, but you have to build some self-confidence, self-awareness — and learn how to be authoritative. These are all skills that can translate into excellent interpersonal skills later on in life. It’s important to help kids learn it’s okay to take charge. For more information:

• SVC, go to facebook.com/susquehannavalleycorral.

• BVRC, go to facebook.com/bv.rc.9

• MLEC, visit mountainlaurelequestriancenter.com or search for them on Facebook.

2023 SHOWS

Susquehanna Valley Corral

• Fun Shows at 3 p.m. — May 13, June 10, July 8, Aug. 19, Sept. 9

• Fun Shows at 11 a.m. — Oct 14

• Open Shows at 8:30 a.m. — May 7, June 4, July 30, Sept. 17

• Barrel Bash Series at 6 p.m. — June 29, July 27, Aug. 10, Aug. 31, Sept. 14, 6

• Ridge Road Hunter Show — June 24, 8 a.m.

• Old Timers Show — Oct. 15, 10 a.m.

Halloween Open Show — Oct. 22, 9 a.m.

Buffalo Valley Riding Club

• Open Shows — May 21, June 11, July 2, Aug. 6, Aug. 27

Mountain Laurel Equestrian Center

Subject to change due to weather and staffing. Please confirm with MLEC prior to visiting.

• Fun Schooling Shows — May 28, June 11, July 9, Aug. 20, Sept. 3, Oct. 15

A VALLEY TREASURE

Buggy Museum requires volunteer time and lots of funding

Story by Jerri Brouse

Inside PA file photo

The visitor center at the Mifflinburg Buggy Museum, located at 598 Green St., Mifflinburg.

For many years, Mifflinburg has been known as “The Buggy Town.” That’s because, per capita, there were more buggy makers in this little town than in any town in America.

In an incredible act of generosity, the Heiss family gifted the home, workshop and showroom or repository to the association.

Recognizing the importance of the site, the group immediately began the work to officially organize The Mifflinburg Buggy Museum Association, Inc. and the process to receive a designation as a not-for-profit organization.

Why is this particular buggy business so important?

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Peter Gardner, president

Then, in 1978, Dr. Charles McCool Snyder, a retired history professor, organized a meeting of community friends, hoping to generate ideas about how to celebrate Mifflinburg’s history of buggy making. Norman Heiss, the son of William Heiss, who had been a buggy maker in the late-19th/-early 20th centuries, was at that meeting and he offered to give folks a look inside the buildings that were once owned and operated by his father.

Michele Ocker-Holman

Eva Linke, vice president

Terry Watts, treasurer

Michael Bender

Dr. David Holman

Joannah Purnell McGregor, a long-time volunteer and tour guide at the museum, remembers when her mother, Marie Purnell Musser told her, “On that Sunday afternoon, the group got its first glimpse of the Heiss Coach Works.”

“Behind the closed doors of the factory, lay 40 years of buggy-making history: tools, horseshoes, tires, dashes, seats, paints, account books and catalogs. There were finished vehicles in ruins and vehicles barely begun,” according to the Buggy Museum’s website. It was as if William Heiss had closed the doors after a day of work intending to return the next morning.

Buggies can be found on display at museums around the country, but the Mifflinburg Buggy Museum is one of only 12 industrial craft museums in the United States that sits on an original site.

Joel Ingrund

Len Manbeck

Darren Rhyme

In 1979, the historic importance of the three building complex was confirmed when it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

“Preserving the past for the future is really important,” said Eva Linke, vice president of the association. “We may not realize it at a young age, but when we get older we begin to appreciate the importance of history.”

What no one had been able to predict 45 years ago was the staggering number of hours and dollars it would take to restore, maintain and operate the site.

Mifflinburg is not a large community and it is sometimes

Photo courtesy of Bayleaf Photography W. A. Heiss Coach Works, built in 1889. One of only 12 museums in the U.S. located on the actual site of the trade.

hard to secure the volunteers needed for an event or a fundraiser. Friends from neighboring communities who are interested in history and many who have a family relationship with Mifflinburg have been of enormous help as volunteers for many events, fundraisers and staffing the museum.

Fundraising in a small community is difficult at any time, but when it has to be repeated over and over, it becomes increasingly difficult. It takes an incredible number of hours of preparation and people to produce successful fundraisers.

The association needs to raise roughly $18,000 each year to pay for utilities, insurance and security. Maintenance is handled as it arises.

The current mortgage has a remaining balance of $65,000. The board of directors is currently developing a plan to pay-off the mortgage and to work aggressively to add to the endowment that will eventually fund the operational expenses of the organization.

Whenever difficulties are encountered, Linke reminds herself that losing the museum would be a tragedy, so finding a way to move forward is necessary.

In 2021, the organization was the recipient of a grant and several gifts of expertise that enabled them to refocus and renew their efforts to plan for the reduction of the debt and providing for the continuing excellence of the association.

Software to develop an archive for the museum was made possible by a grant from the First Community Partnership Foundation, Williamsport. The grant also paid for computers, scanners, a projector, a printer and the necessary accessories.

Emma Berkheiser, of Mifflinburg, who is an experienced volunteer, has volunteered to input the information into the program, Past Perfect Museum, to develop the archive.

In the future, the archive will be available to any one who would like to access it.

Five Bucknell students, who were enrolled in a Markets, Innovation and Design Class, did the work to develop a new website for the organization. Their outstanding work is evident when you search for mifflinburgbuggymuseum.org.

Every current volunteer is treasured, but that doesn’t negate the need to add more — many more, in fact.

Linke said she thinks a lot of times, people don’t like to step up to help because they’re afraid they’ll become over-burdened.

She wanted to assure potential helpers, “You can pick and choose the events or jobs you’d like,” she said. “Whether you have two hours a month to volunteer or 20 hours a month, we would appreciate your help, she said.”

The bad news? Help isn't just needed for the next few months, it will require years of work to provide for the sustainability of the Mifflinburg Buggy Museum Association, Inc.

Several events that have continued to generate funding for the Museum are sell-out walking tours: “Ghost Tours,” “Scandals and Scoundrels,” and — new this year — “The

Photo courtesy of Bayleaf Photography

Right: Tour guide, Joannah McGregor explains the use of springs mounted under carriage cabin of buggy for more comfortable riding.

Photo provided

Emma Berkheiser of Mifflinburg has been volunteering at the Buggy Museum since she was a sixth-grader.

Good, the Bad and the Ugly.” These events were created by Dr. Mary Sullivan and are informative and fun!

June 10, 2023, will celebrate the second year of the return of Mifflinburg Buggy Day. Of course there will be buggy rides, but the street fair will also offer oldfashioned children’s games, demonstrations, stands selling crafts and vintage items and, of course, great food. An added event this year will be provided by "Cordier Auctions Appraisal Clinic." Three antiques will be assessed by an appraiser for $10.

This summer, a group of students who are well-known by the association will arrive with Lance Miller. They are members of the HOBY Group. This organization was founded by Hugh O’Brien Youth Leadership Organization. Some will help with Buggy Day, while others will help with maintenance tasks among other things.

Earlier this year, two events raised funds for the museum. The annual Gala in February, which was held at The Rusty Rail Brewing Company, raised $6,200.

A Cabin Fever Bingo, scheduled for later in April (after the date of this magazine’s publication) will also benefit the association.

A garden tour is scheduled for June 18, a German Fall Festival is being planned and participation at the Christkindl Market is a “given."

Successfully sustaining a treasure — like The Mifflinburg Buggy Museum Association, Inc. and important sites throughout the Valley — requires ongoing funding and lots of volunteers. If you have the time to help The Buggy Museum, or an organization in your community, please consider volunteering time and, if you have treasure to share, a gift (no gift too small) would be appreciated.

Photo courtesy of Bayleaf Photography

W. A. Heiss Coach Works, built in 1889. One of only 12 museums in the U.S. located on the actual site of the trade. From the time William Heiss closed the doors in 1979, the treasure on the interior went unnoticed.

SUMMER FUN & EVENTS

MAY 13 THROUGH AUG 27

Hunter House Museum and Fort Augusta

When: 2 - 4 p.m., Sundays

For more information: Tour guides will be available at the house and the fort. Visit the Northumberland County Historical Society website for additional informtion.

MAY 18, 25 AND WEDNESDAYS FROM JUNE 2 - 30

Come to the Dark Side — Blacklight Adventures

When 6 - 9 p.m.

Where: Lincoln Caverns, 7703 William Penn Highway, Huntingdon

More information: Start the evening with an informal presentation of An Introduction to Speleology – The Study of Caves. Afterwards, journey underground to tour Lincoln Caverns & Whisper Rocks by BLACKLiGHT. See glowing speleothems and calcite crystals reveal their spectacular phosphorescent beauty while learning about the history, formation and speleothems of Lincoln Caverns & Whisper Rocks. Advance ticket purchase is required. Ages 10+ Tour size is limited. All tickets sold in advance and ticket sales close at 5 p..m. the day prior to tour date. www.lincolncaverns.com

MAY 18, JUNE 15, JULY 20 AND AUG 17

When: 5 - 8 p.m.

Third Thursday

Where: Downtown Danville

More information: Restaurants, shops and invited vendors will offer activities, special offers, music and lots of fun.

MAY 13

Mount Carmel Spring Fling

When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Where: Downtown Mount Carmel

More information: More than 50 vendors and food trucks, so there will be something for everyone. Kids will enjoy the petting zoo.

MAY 22

Book Talk with Tharifa Wenrich of “20 Lives United: How 20 Women over 60 are Creating Success”

When: 6:30 - 8 p.m.

Where: The Public Library of Union County, 255 Reitz Blvd., Lewisburg

More information: Join Tharifa Wenrich as she recounts her journey to overcome personal and professional obstacles. Register to attend by calling 570-523-1172 or visiting the library.

JUNE 3

Trail Blazing Scavenger Hunt at Susquehanna Greenway Outdoor Expo

When: 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Where: Shikellamy State Park, 401 Bridge Ave., Sunbury

More information: Bring your family to enjoy a scavenger hunt in honor of National Trails Day. Registration not required. Family friendly event for all ages. Parent(s) required to accompany children.

JUNE 3

Sunbury’s Summer Kickoff!

When: All day

Where: Merle Phillips Riverfront Park

More information: This free event is being held to begin the summer season. Country artist Jason Michael Carroll will be performing and, according to the group, there is more excitement still to come.

JUNE 10

Mifflinburg Buggy Day

When: Begins at 9 a.m.

Where: On Market St. from the Lutheran Street parking lot through the 600 block of Market Street and the Gutelius House and the Elias will be open.

More information: Buggy rides, street fair with oldfashioned children’s games, demonstrations, stands selling crafts and vintage items and, of course, great food. An added event this year will be provided by "Cordier Auctions Appraisal Clinic." Three antiques will be assessed by an appraiser for $10.

JULY 1 - JULY 7

Pinenotter Days

When: Times vary based on day and events

Where: King Street Park, 210 King St., Northumberland

For More Information: Food, crafts, music, entertainment and lots of fun.

JULY 4 AND JULY 8

The Millville Firemen's Carnival, Parade and Fireworks

When: The parade is Tuesday, July 4

Where: Downtown Millville

When: The Fireworks will light the sky above Millville on July 8 around 10 p.m.

More information: The carnival begins June 30 — is off July 1 — and resumes July 2 through July 8.

The Millville Carnival grounds are in the middle of town. The lights of the carnival will lead the way.

JULY 15

25th Annual Blueberry Festival

When: Noon until 8 p.m.

Where: Mifflinburg Community Park

More information: The festival for 2023 is expected to be bigger and bluer.

JULY 23-29

Montour DeLong Community Fair

When: July 23 - no stands open. Vesper services at 7 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Stage shows are scheduled 610 p.m.

Where: Fairgrounds on Rte 254 outside of Washingtonville or 5848 Broadway Rd., Danville

More information: Competitions, exhibits, carnival rides, dinner and food stands. Entertainment each evening (Mon - Sat). Updated information at montourdelongfair.com

AUG 6 - 12

Union County West End Fair

When: Boardwalk, midway and rides open at 5 p.m.

Bingo begins at 6 p.m.

Where: 1111 PA-235, Laurelton

More information: Stage shows, exhibits, tractor contests, carnival rides and lots of good food. For updated information, visit ucwef.com.

Inside PA file photos

ABOVE: Blueberry pies line a picnic table at the Mifflinburg Community Park for 2015’s Blueberries and Bluegrass Festival. LEFT : Visitors at the Montour DeLong Fair play a ring toss game.

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