Mt. Gretna has recently become one of our favorite “nearby” destinations. It’s less than an hour from our home, but the community tucked away on a hillside in Lebanon County feels farther away.
And one of the pillars of the community is the Mt. Gretna Playhouse, home of the Gretna Theatre, which is billed as the longest-running summer theater in the United States.
Gretna Theatre’s summer season this year featured six mainstage shows and four children’s theater performances. The Playhouse also hosts Gretna Music, a summer concert series that featured 16 shows in 2024 plus additional kids concerts.
I brought my two boys – ages six and one – for a children’s theater performance on a Saturday morning in August.
Located adjacent to the borough’s public parking lot along Route 117, the Playhouse emerges from the hillside, its yellow exterior impossible to miss.
The box office and entrance are located around the side of the building. There is also a small snack bar offering popcorn, candy, drinks and other light fare.
I bought a cup of popcorn and two bottles of water for a few dollars at the snack bar before we headed inside. We had purchased tickets ahead of time, and I only needed to provide my name to the usher with the iPad at the entrance.
Once checked in, we had our pick of seats. We walked toward the front right, maybe row 10 or so, though the view would have been pretty good from any of the 700 seats.
The Playhouse stage and seats are covered, but it’s an open-air amphitheater with large openings to let in the breeze.
We were here for a performance of The Cat in the Hat, the last of four children’s theater productions. The shows are designed to be kid-friendly in price ($10 per person) and duration (an hour or less) and each started at 11 a.m. on Saturdays.
It was a very well-done production that had all the kids in the audience laughing as Thing 1 and Thing 2 ran amok throughout the theater. After 30 minutes, the show was over. Thanks to the sponsorship of the Hershey Company, every child in attendance got to choose a book to take home.
While short, we enjoyed our time and would certainly return for more shows in the future.
When You Go
Mt. Gretna has a public parking lot but it fills up quickly. On our visit, there were cars parked in the grass and alonge Route 117.
Gretna Theatre is a summer theater program with a schedule that runs roughly from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Snacks are available at the Playhouse, but there are also plenty of places to eat in town – including the Jigger Shop (burgers and ice cream) and Porch & Pantry (breakfast and brunch) which share a parking lot with the Playhouse.
Everyone in Pennsylvania knows about Penn State. Even if you have never attended a game at Beaver Stadium, you know about Happy Valley and the university campus where nearly 50,000 students attend classes each academic year.
But, you may not know that the University Park campus is home to one of the most inventive ice cream parlors, not only in the state, but in the country.
Penn State’s Berkey Creamery is located at the corner of Bigler and Curtin Roads, inside the Erickson Food Science Building in the heart of the campus.
We visited on a summer Saturday and still found the creamery packed with students, locals and visitors all looking to cool off with one of the unique flavors being dipped out.
During our visit, there were 20 flavors available. Standards like vanilla bean, chocolate and strawberry were joined by more adventurous offerings including Happy Happy Joy Joy (coconut with butter-roasted almonds and chocolate chips) and Alumni Swirl (vanilla with Swiss mocha chips and blueberry swirl).
I decided on what I would consider an in-between flavor: keeney beany chocolate. It was chocolate ice cream with the addition of chocolate chips and vanilla bean. I’ve always liked mixing vanilla and chocolate together, and this was the perfect combination of both with the vanilla bean giving a hint of the spice in the decadently creamy ice cream.
The creamery only serves cones, cups and milkshakes in one size – big. It’s somewhere between two-three regular scoops heaped on top of a cone or in a dish, like Julie and Jakob ordered. Julie went with a State College Favorite – grilled stickies.
Modeled after the grilled sticky buns from Ye Olde College Diner, the grilled stickie is cinnamon bun ice cream with sticky bun dough pieces and cinnamon streusel swirl. And it’s as amazing as it sounds.
Jakob has been on a mint chocolate chip craze this summer so he went with the creamery’s version called bittersweet mint. He polished it off in no time flat.
If you’re close enough to home or have plenty of ice or freezer packs, the Creamery has a freezer stocked with gallons to-go as well as a whole dairy section with milk, cheese, and other treats.
The Creamery is one of the many gems that can be found on the campus of Penn State University. Even if you aren’t a Nittany Lion (I’m not), there’s still a lot to appreciate on a visit to State College.
But I promise you that nothing will be sweeter than a stop at the Berkey Creamery.
When You Go
The Creamery is located on the campus in the Rodney Erickson Food Science Building. Visitors without parking passes will need to use the East deck which costs $2 for the first hour and $1 for each hour after that.
Cones come in one size – about two scoops – and only one flavor per cup or cone.
The Creamery also doubles as a market with to-go ice cream and dairy products plus other gifts including packaged grilled stickies, branded ice cream scoops, and t-shirts.
If you’ve ever visited Penn State’s University Park Campus, it can feel like a world in and of itself. The campus is massive, but it does offer many discoveries for those willing to look.
One place that we discovered this summer is the Arboretum at Penn State.
The arboretum opened to the public in 2009 and serves as an attraction for the public, a place of respite for college students, and a working research center.
Admission to the Arboretum is free, but we found it to be as enjoyable as many similar paid attractions that we’ve found.
(There was a $1 per hour charge for parking at the lot across the street).
The arboretum is located behind the recently opened Palmer Museum, which relocated to site in 2024. Guests walk beneath a museum walkway which serves as sort of an entrance arch for those not visiting the museum.
Of course, you can visit both if you would like – the Palmer Museum is also free to enter, though there is a suggested donation in lieu of an admission charge.
Stepping onto the arboretum grounds, we decided to follow the walkway to the right, which carried us through a tunnel-like passage with high walls of plants on either side of us.
The pathway led to the Overlook Pavilion, which offered a nice rest area with chairs, restrooms and all of the maps and brochures needed for your visit.
Beyond the Pavilion was our favorite part of the attraction: the Childhood’s Gate Children’s Garden.
We’ve visited similar gardens and arboretums in the past and all of them have a children’s garden. This was among the best.
There were so many things for our six-year-old to discover. We started by walking through the vegetables and herbs, getting ideas for our own garden while Jakob ran around.
He took off over a small climbing wall to another section of the children’s garden – the wading stream. This man-made stream runs through a series of rock formations and is a great place for the kids to jump around and over the small waterway.
The stream begins inside a cave that has been built as special attraction. Outside, kids can dip a rolling brush into water and “paint” the outer wall. Inside, there are replicas of stalagmites and stalactites, as well as a sand pit where kids can dig for plastic fossils hidden inside.
Childhood’s Gate also features a whimsical place to take a rest with mushroom-like tables and chairs and a larger-than-life caterpillar for kids to climb on.
Moving on from the children’s garden we arrived on the esplanade – a grassy lawn that’s home to one of the signature features of the Arboretum, the sundial.
The dial is precisely placed to display actual solar time. Even with the brochure handout, I struggled to read it, but that didn’t take away from the beauty of the piece.
At the top end of the esplanade was the pollinator garden. We spent a few minutes at a glass-enclosed bee box, watching the worker bees moving about the hive and searching (maybe successfully) for the queen.
Nearby was the “bird house,” a small wooden structure with a handful of rocking chairs where visitors could sit and look out across the landscape at the birds and insects that flew from flower to flower.
Another seating area was farther down the path near a small pond. The pond is filled with koi and one curious turtle that delighted all the kids that were gathered around.
Farther on is the rose garden with its arbors that guided guests along the path and past the shades of red, pink, and yellow.
On the other side was another signature piece – the “soaring waters.” Instead of a standard fountain where the water comes up from the middle and sprays outward, the installation has jets of water colliding in the center and falling to create the opposite effect.
The fountain lines up with the overlook pavilion on the opposite side with perfectly cut hedges framing the structures beautifully.
Beyond the fountain is the Marsh Meadow which stretches to Park Avenue. It’s filled with grassy trails and a boardwalk that connects the arboretum with the edge of campus.
Because, after all, this is a part of Penn State and it exists for the students as much as it does for visitors. As for the research I mentioned earlier, there were many examples throughout.
In one area, an apparatus was set up to study insects as they interacted with the plants. In another, a patch of native plants that have been struggling in the wild were planted to study what was causing their decline.
And while visiting the pond, a student rolled up on a scooter and took water samples to take back to the lab (and also provided some additional education for those around).
It was certainly an impressive place, and the Arboretum map shows there are plans to expand. I look forward to it, but even at the current size, we spent two enjoyable hours exploring and didn’t even venture out into the meadow.
And we will definitely enjoy visiting again in the future.
When You Go
Parking is avaialble on the lot across the street at the Lewis Katz Building. Rates are $1 per hour for visitors.
We spent two hours at the Arboretum with half of that time at the Children’s Garden. But we also didn’t venture out into the Meadow trails.
The Arboretum offers regular programming. Check their website for daily events and offerings.
What makes a great downtown? In my opinion it has to have three things: It has to be walkable. It has to have great restaurants. And it has to have a variety of things to do.
There are many Pennsylvania towns that fit that description. One of my favorites is Boyertown.
Located in eastern Berks County, about a 30-minute drive from my home base of Reading and an hour northwest of Philadelphia, Boyertown is a charming borough with Victorian charm.
It’s also a place of incredible history and historic attractions.
Colebrookdale Railroad
Central among those is the Colebrookdale Railroad. With a station in the heart of downtown, the Railroad is a true anchor attraction. The passenger cars on this historic line have been restored to Edwardian splendor with first-class service throughout the train, but even more so in the parlor and dining cars.
Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles
Transportation of a different kind is celebrated at the nearby Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles. Located in the former Boyertown Auto Body Works, the Museum is dedicated to telling the history of transportation through a Pennsylvania lens. The collection spans centuries with displays ranging from horse-drawn coaches and sleighs to more modern automobiles and even a diner, gas station and motel cottage.
Before the Boyertown Auto Body Works, there was the Jeremiah Sweinhart Carriage Works which has been preserved to showcase pre-automobile industry and regularly hosts blacksmiths and other tradesmen and tradeswomen.
General Carl Spaatz USAAF Museum
Just down the street is the newest museum in Boyertown, the General Carl Spaatz USAAF Museum. General Spaatz was a Boyertown native who served in World War I and World War II and was named the first Chief of Staff for the Air Force by Harry Truman in 1947.
The Museum tells his story, along with the early history of the Air Force, through interactive exhibits.
State Theater
The heart of the town is the intersection of Philadelphia and Reading Avenues. Along Reading Avenue is the historic State Theater. The theater has undergone renovations and upgrades in recent years. Today, it shows first-run movies and live performances.
Taylor Backes Glass
Boyertown is home to another unique attraction: Taylor Backes Glass. This master glassblowing studio has works in the Smithsonian and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. And you can browse and purchase the decorative sculptures at the studio on Washington Street.
Boyertown Shopping
But most of the shopping is found on the main streets. Here, you’ll find a variety of stores, many of them family focused.
Boyertown Brickworks
My six-year-old’s favorite store is Brickworks, an independent LEGO store at 10 S. Reading Avenue. Brickworks offers new and used LEGO sets – both in-box and pre-built – as well as a large table full of bricks that guests can dig through to fill a bag of pieces that they need or want.
Deal Me In Games
Another popular spot with our family is Deal Me In Games at 127 E. Philadelphia Avenue. The store offers a range of table games and card games. And there are usually gatherings every weekend for tournaments, events and free play.
The Book Nook
Across the street are a few more favorites. The Book Nook is a used book store with shelves and shelves of titles that are ever-changing.
Modellbahn Ott Hobbies
Modellbahn Ott Hobbies is a destination for hobbyists of all kinds. Aisles are filled with trains, model car kits, R/C cars and planes, and all of the tools and supplies needed to build and maintain your hobbies.
Tim’s Train Shoppe
Another model store, Tim’s Train Shoppe, is smaller and very much dedicated to model railroading.
Peppermint Stick
For something a little sweeter, stop by the Peppermint Stick for candy and ice cream.
Places to Eat
While dessert is always a good decision, there are some great restaurants in Boyertown. Here are a few of our favorites:
Brakeman’s Cafe
Brakeman’s Café is located across the street from the Colebrookdale Railroad and carries the restaurant theme. Brakeman’s is open for breakfast and lunch with outdoor seating available in the warmer months.
Toss of the Town
Lunch is a great time to visit Toss of the Town, a build-your-own salad spot along Philadelphia Avenue. The restaurant also offers paninis, soups and kid’s meals.
Firefly Cafe
Or try the Firefly Café, Boyertown’s spot for vegan offerings. In addition to homemade meals, Firefly offers baked goods and a full vegan marketplace.
Other Farm Brewing Company
At dinner, try the Other Farm, Boyertown’s local craft brewery. They offer sandwiches, traditional bar food entrees and brick oven pizza. The Other Farm also does Sunday brunch.
Semper Pie
For dessert, stop by Semper Pie. This veteran-owned cheesecake shop serves a variety of decadent desserts to enjoy there or take home.
Parking in Boyertown
Boyertown’s Town Center parking lot offers free parking for up to three hours. The lot is convenient to all downtown shopping and dining.
Both the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles and Colebrookdale Railroad have their own off-street parking for patrons only.
It’s called the World Famous Horseshoe Curve, and while “world famous” may be a bit of an exaggeration, the National Historic Landmark is certainly one of the most important in American industrial history.
Located about 10 minutes west of downtown Altoona, the Horseshoe Curve was, and still is, a vital piece of railroad infrastructure. The unique topography of the mountains made it impossible to build a bridge between the higher ridge in the west and the lower ridge to the east.
Instead, eastbound trains heading uphill make a right hand turn then a long, sweeping left. It continues to climb the whole time before eventually making another right turn en route to Pittsburgh.
When it was built in 1854, it was purely an architectural necessity. Today, it’s a tourist attraction thanks to the unique perspective provided by the panoramic setting for photos and videos of trains both coming and going along Kittanning Point.
Julie and I brought the boys on a summer Saturday morning. We had been to the curve in 2021 (when we were still just a family of three) so we knew what to expect. That didn’t make the 194 steps from the parking area to the top any easier. (The funicular, which would otherwise carry guests to the top has been out of order).
On our last visit, we saw just one train, but it was while we were still at the bottom of the hill. This time, we came prepared with blankets, a cooler of snacks and drinks, and a bag of games to pass the time in between trains.
This time we had much better luck, and it started with a real treat. The dedicated railfans at the top of the hill told us that the morning Amtrak train was running late and would be arriving any minute.
I have to say, it was really cool to see the passenger train rolling through the curve. All those at the viewing area waved and everyone on board waved back. It was a genuine moment of excitement for both sides.
Over the course of the next 90 minutes or so, we saw four freight trains, two of them rolling downhill toward Altoona, two heading westbound up the mountain.
The larger westbound train moved at a slower pace – a marvel of engineering itself with two locomotives at the front, a helper engine in the middle of the train, and two more engines trailing behind.
The whole train had to be more than a mile long and the engineers at both ends were more than happy to blow the horns for all those gathered to watch.
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As we sat there, I also couldn’t help but admire the graffiti-tagged freight cars. I said to Julie that it was like a mobile street art display. Is it illegal? Yes. Does it add to the charm of the otherwise monotonous parade of hopper cars and box cars? Absolutely.
There are two lessons we learned from our previous visit – first, you never really know when the next train will arrive, though Saturday morning seemed like prime viewing time.
Second, you’re kind of stuck – especially without the funicular. There are no amenities at the viewing area. And there is little shade to speak of. Trees have been removed in order to allow for better sightlines, but that leaves only two places to escape the sun – a small pavilion on the west side and in the shadow of locomotive #739.
Pennsylvania Railroad #739 is a diesel engine that once drove the main line between Pittsburgh and Harrisburg, crossing the same tracks that it rests next to. It’s been on static display at Horseshoe Curve since the 1980s, and is an impressive sight.
Along with an old watchman’s tower, it’s one of only two things to view at the top of the hill in between trains. This is where those games and toys we brought came in handy. We sat and enjoyed the morning until our youngest started to get tired and we made the trek back down the steps.
There is a small museum at the base of the hill which helps tell the story of Horseshoe Curve and its construction. The exhibits include scale models of the rail lines through the region and of the topography of Kittanning Point.
There is also a seven-minute video telling the story of the building of the landmark.
The same organization that runs the visitor center also runs the much more impressive Railroaders Museum in Altoona and offers discounted passes to visit both attractions. If you have time, I highly recommend a visit to the Railroader’s Museum. It’s much larger with interactive exhibits and a yard full of old locomotives and train cars.
In all, we spent about two hours at the attraction, though there were plenty of railfans who were there before we arrived that were planning to stay much longer.
For those looking for a longer day, you can pack a picnic lunch or purchase sandwiches and snacks at the Gift Shop. Here you’ll also find a limited selection of books, t-shirts, knickknacks and kid’s toys.
We had a good time, especially our six-year-old who perked up every time we heard the unmistakable rumble of the engines in the distance. Plan ahead for your visit, and I’m sure you’ll have a good time, too, at this “world famous” attraction.
When You Go
The viewing area and museum are open Wednesday to Sunday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
There is no “schedule” of when freight trains will arrive. Amtrak does follow a schedule that you can view on their website. The nearest stations on the Pennsylvanian line are Altoona in the east and Johnstown in the west.
There are no amenities at the viewing area. Restrooms are located at the base of the hill next to the gift shop. You can also purchase sandwiches, snacks and baked goods in the gift shop to take to the top. Picnic lunches are also welcome.
There is very little shade at the top – trees have been removed for better viewing. Be sure to bring sunscreen.
There are no train rides at the Horseshoe Curve, only viewing. The only passenger trains that travel through the Curve are the daily Amtraks.
One of our favorite summertime activities in recent years has been to follow the Scooped Ice Cream Trail that VisitPA sponsors. It features farm-to-cone creameries throughout the state – many of them located right on the farm.
While visiting the Altoona area, we decided to make a side trip to one of these creameries – Ritchy’s Dairy.
Ritchey’s is located a short drive outside Hollidaysburg, Blair County. The drive, at least the way we went, didn’t feel too far “out in the country” until the last two miles on Cross Cove Road where we were surrounded on both sides by farms of all types. One of the first had a sign proclaiming they were a dairy producer for Ritchey’s so we knew this was a truly local operation.
We found the dairy store in a small valley. It’s a small white building with red metal picnic tables outside.
Inside, it’s a small space that’s filled with goodies. To the right of the entrance is where they are scooping the homemade ice cream for cones and shakes. On the far wall is a freezer with gallon tubs of ice cream and ice cream cakes. The other two walls feature snacks like Middleswarth Potato Chips and a cooler full of Ritchey’s drinks – teas, lemonades, and of course, milk and chocolate milk.
I got a homemade waffle cone with their chocolate fudge brownie ice cream – an indulgence, for sure, but totally worth it. Jakob, our six-year-old, got a pretzel cone of mint chocolate chip. And Julie got a strawberry cheesecake twister (using their soft ice cream) that she shared with our youngest. He couldn’t get enough of it (but Julie still got most of it – and loved it).
Afterward, I went back in and grabbed a couple iced teas to enjoy later.
We spent $15 on ice cream and another $2.50 for the tea. In our mind, it was money well-spent.
And the trip to Ritchey’s was definitely a trip worth making.
When You Go
Ritchey’s was about 20 minutes south from our hotel at the southern edge of Altoona. Take I-99 to the Roaring Spring exit and follow Route 36 to Cross Cove Road.
Ritchey’s has limited seating – three tables and a bench in front of the building. Do what we did and share a table and make friends.
In addition to ice cream, Ritchey’s offers a range of dairy products including milk, yogurt, and cream. They also have a line of iced teas and drinks.
Pennsylvania is home to many great amusements, and all of them have their unique charms – those little things that separate one park from another.
Delgrosso’s Amusement Park is one that has definitely charmed us.
Located just north of Altoona in western-central Pennsylvania, Delgrosso’s is two parks in one. On one side is the pay-as-you-go, free admission amusement park with kiddie rides, thrill rides and two small coasters. On the other side (literally, the two parks are bisected by Pleasant Valley Road and connected by a walking bridge) is Laguna Splash, a waterpark with attractions for all ages.
We arrived just before 11 a.m., the opening time for Laguna Splash, to claim our deck chairs and get started.
In a summer that has seen many 90-degree days, we picked a day that topped out at about 80 for our visit. The water was cold, but it didn’t stop us from having fun as we splashed around.
Jakob’s favorite thing to do at any waterpark is to ride the lazy river so he and I grabbed pair of inner tubes and floated to start our day. It’s a fun little ride with a couple soak zones along the way, some of which are controlled on land by friends, family or strangers who just want to see you get doused as you float past.
Second to the lazy river for Jakob is the wave pool. A 10-minute countdown clock gets you ready for the next set of waves, and they last about the same amount of time. Children bounce around as the water rises and falls around them while others catch a ride back toward the shallows. We could even bring our one-year-old Lukas in, as long as we stayed behind the one-foot line and held him.
Strict height limits are in place, though, on the slides. There are two towers – the red tower with three slides and the green tower with two. Two-person inner tubes carry you down the chute of your choice – a double-drop that goes straight down or one of the winding paths with fast curves.
Jakob and I rode on one of the latter slides, the Midnight Express, which carries you through a dark black tube with small openings for track lighting. It’s fast and a whole lot of fun.
If you want to do the slides, though, you better start early. It took a good 20 minutes or more to get through the line when we did it in the early afternoon.
There are also two kids splash areas at the park. The first features a replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa which sprays out into shallow water with the youngest swimmers and non-swimmers can play.
The second is a larger play structure with small slides and tunnels and a large bucket that dumps water out onto unsuspecting kids and their parents.
We had a coupon for buy one, get one free combo passes that gave us unlimited access to both areas so we decided to spend the first half of our day at the water park, from 11 until about 2:30, before heading across the street to the rides.
This side of the park is definitely geared more toward smaller children. The two roller coasters are tame: the Wacky Worm is a small family coaster that loops twice with just a small drop. Jakob loved this, even going on it by himself on the second go-around.
Older kids and adults will find thrills on the Pharoah’s Fury swinging ship and the X-Scream Tower drop tower (which said coming 2024 on the sign during our visit). Rock Star, which swings riders high above the Midway is another option for the older crowd.
There are also plenty of spinning rides, classics like the scrambler and the tilt-a-whirl. And of course there are bumper cars.
We really enjoyed the Swing Buggy, a ride that took us up and down in a circle at high speeds – forward and backward.
But we also came to the sad realization during our visit that Jakob had outgrown the kiddie rides. Our train ride on the Tipton Creek Railroad “wasn’t very fun” and he didn’t venture into the Kids Kingdom.
Three years ago, when we last visited the park, that was where we spent most of our time as he rode the fire trucks, the boats, the cars and more.
Luckily for us, though, he still enjoys a good carousel ride, which along with the train, was one of the few rides we could take Lukas on.
We also spent a couple dollars on games. Jakob knocked down a couple clowns with bean bags to earn himself an inflatable guitar and we spent $5 on a bucket of rings at the ring toss. We didn’t win anything, but every bucket came with a rubber chicken (yay?).
One thing we all agree on when it comes to Delgrosso’s is the food is exceptional. At lunch, Jakob and Julie enjoyed fresh-made personal pizzas while I had a cheesesteak Delgrosso style (with pepperoni, Provolone, onions, peppers and sauce). All were delicious, though I couldn’t finish off the cheesesteak.
(Pro tip: pizzas are made to order so plan to wait at least 15 minutes from the time you order).
At dinner, we ordered pasta with Delgrosso’s signature sauces – marinara for Jakob, meat sauce for me, and vodka sauce for Julie.
All three were great, and Julie even bought two jars of vodka sauce from the gift shop to take home with us.
It was a full day of fun, and we likely could have stayed even longer, but the fact that both boys fell asleep on the 20-minute ride back to the hotel told us we made the right decision to head home.
And we made the right decision in bringing them to Delgrosso’s.
When You Go
The Amusement Park side is free to enter with ride tickets available for purchase, but you can get an all-you-can ride pass or a combo pass with Laguna Splash. Keep an eye out for buy-one-get-one free ticket offers.
The water park opens at 11 a.m. while the amusements open at 12 noon. If spending the day at the water park – especially on a weekend – arrive at or before 11 to reserve deck chairs.
You can bring your own food into the picnic grove, but the food options at the park are plentiful.
Plan on spending a full day, especially if you are doing the combo pass. Lines for water slides can be long so plan accordingly.
This year feels like the year of county fairs for us. We were recently at the Berks County Fair and the Lebanon Area Fair and have plans to visit up to three more by the end of the year.
In between those, we made a stop at the Bedford County Fair. And it may have been our favorite yet.
The Bedford County Fairgrounds are located just west of the town of Bedford, right behind the community’s most famous landmark, the Coffee Pot.
Bedford is one of the fairs that charges a flat admission rate – that includes access to the grounds, most of the rides, and a seat in the grandstand. We paid $36 for our family (our one-year-old was free) plus a $3 parking fee and we definitely felt like we got our money’s worth.
Entering the fairgrounds on a Thursday evening, the first thing we came to was the Marvelous Mutts. It’s a dog show featuring two women and their rescue dogs.
It was an impressive show – and they stressed that these dogs are pets first, performers second, which was evidenced when one of the dogs made a left turn out of the obstacle course and into the crowd in search of a pat on the head. But whether on the agility course, catching frisbees, or dock-diving, it was a fun show.
Next to the dog show was the petting zoo which had free admission (guests could pay extra to feed the animals) to the pen filled with goats, sheep, and even a mini horse. There was also a separate enclosure with antelope and another with smaller animals like rabbits.
Continuing on, we came across Jordan Hall. This is where many of the exhibits were, including vegetables, baked goods, sewn items and photography.
It was also home to the Kids’ corner, which was the only somewhat disappointing part because it was literally just a corner with three little activities. But the Plinko board was cool and kids got prizes every time which made our six-year-old very happy.
What was really impressive about the fair was the midway – and the number of rides and food vendors.
There were three rows with food trucks. Of course there were the standard carnival concessions like corn dogs and fried everything, but there were also local food trucks serving burgers, boba and our personal favorite, monkey bread.
And there was a great variety of rides, including two bigger thrill rides for older kids and adults – the Ring of Fire was a roller coaster type ride that looped upside down.
Of course there were also the tamer rides like the kiddie coaster, carousel, tilt-a-whirl and even bumper cars.
All of this was located next to the grandstand, which was packed for the demolition derby. The show kicked off with a kids “demo derby” in which they drove around on their Power Wheels and bumped into each for a few minutes.
The real show featured three divisions of cars and mini vans crashing into each other along the front straight of Bedford Speedway. It was a fun show and everyone went crazy when it was down to the last two cars and they crashed head-on to see which one would survive.
On the other side of the track were the ag exhibits.
The 4H building featured entries from the youth of Bedford County, including their well-done exhibits, artwork and my son’s favorite, the LEGO creations.
Outside, there were even more food vendors, including a BBQ stand, local ice cream and more.
There was also a row of stables with a show arena in the middle. Local youth were presenting their prized swine while we were in the area. We also took the time to walk through one of the cattle barns.
In three hours, we got through a lot of the fair, but we could have spent another hour or two. We didn’t even really get to sit and listen to the band that was playing near the midway, nor did we get to do all the rides.
But we had a lot of fun, and we will definitely put this at the top of our list of fairs to visit again in the future.
When You Go
Admission includes all rides and the grandstand show. There is an additional fee for parking.
Parking can be a challenge – arrive early to ensure a space on the Fair lot. Additional parking is available at nearby businesses (we even saw cars parked on the on-ramp to US-220) but you’ll have to walk along a busy road to the fairgrounds.
The fair is spread out with the track separating the Midway from the ag exhibits. But there is a tram that will take you from one side to the other if it is too far of a walk.
The grandstands filled early. The show started at 6:30 and there were barely any seats by 6:15. Plan accordingly if you’re looking to enjoy the track activities.
The last week of July marks the return of the Lebanon Area Fair to the fairgrounds just south of the city of Lebanon.
It’s not a small fair, but it’s also not the largest of its kind – attainable is the word I would use, especially for young families like ours.
There’s a flat $5 admission charge per person over the age of 10, with an additional cost for the track events. Fair-goers enter through the main exhibit hall building which is packed with entries in every imaginable category: baked goods, fine arts and crafts, fruits and vegetables, and flowers.
There are also unexpected things, especially in the youth categories, like LEGO creations, hay bale sculptures, scarecrows and broom figures.
Inside, there are also a handful of vendors, including some fine crafters. We stayed and watched a leatherworker hammer a design into an unfinished leather belt.
On the opposite side of the entrance, sets of doors open into the outdoor fairgrounds. A pavilion with musical entertainment sits to the left – when we arrived, a duo had the crowd on their feet for a rendition of “God Bless the USA,” and when we left, it was a one-man Motown and R&B show.
Past the pavilion are the stables where local youth have their cows, goats and sheep for showing and judging. Competitors led their prized animals around the show ring to the cheers of a crowd of friends and family.
Of course the rides and games were what our six-year-old was most interested in. It’s the usual group of carnival rides – the dragon roller coaster, fun house, small kiddie rides, and larger, spinning rides for the older kids.
Separate from the carnival area, two local farms were offering pony rides. Not sure how thrilled my son was or wasn’t, but that was our favorite ride to watch him on.
The games are typical, too: pop-a-shot basketball, knock down the bottles, and other games that are always harder than they should be.
Walking the midway, there are plenty of food options as well. You’ll find both the traveling carnival stands serving corn dogs and funnel cakes alongside local food trucks serving everything from barbecue to boba tea.
Vendors are set up outside, too. One of the largest displays was a recruitment effort from the PA National Guard. Across from them were the latest tractors for purchase.
As I mentioned, track shows cost extra – at least for the evening events. We visited early on Sunday afternoon while they were having the local firefighters competition. Entry to the event was free, and it was cool to see representatives from local fire departments with a chance to have some fun while they showed off their skills.
A second concert stage, one where guests could bring their own chairs, was reserved for the evening performances.
The midway also had space for the Victorian Circus – with their daredevil acts – and a petting zoo where you could purchase a cup of feed for the animals.
In all, we spent two hours roaming the grounds and enjoying the day – though the afternoon heat probably shortened our time by about an hour since we didn’t want to stop and sit for the shows.
In all, it was a wonderful afternoon and a great county fair.
When You Go
Admission includes all rides. Tickets to the grandstand events are extra.
We arrived early on Sunday and admission was free before 3 p.m.
Of the many amazing products made in Pennsylvania, very few are as beloved as Crayola.
The company, originally known as Binney & Smith, was founded in New York City in the late 1800s, but a new production facility opened in Easton in 1969 before the company moved its headquarters to the city in 1972.
Two decades later, they opened the “Crayola Factory,” now known as Crayola Experience in downtown Easton.
Much like Legoland or Hershey’s Chocolate World, the Crayola Experience is built around the namesake product with activities for all ages.
We first visited the Crayola Experience in the summer of 2021 but are now annual passholders, visiting frequently with our sons, ages 6 and 1 (the youngest just being along for the ride at this point).
The attraction spans four floors – three with activity stations with the first floor reserved for shopping and dining.
We generally start at the top and work our way down, making our first stop at the drip art station. Here guests can control a spinner to create abstract art with two melting crayons. The wax then dries to create a lasting piece of art – and a cool keepsake – to take home.
The top floor also features the melt and mold station where you can choose a color and a shape. After choosing a color and placing it in a machine, guests watch it melt into a car or ring or other shape for their take home crayon.
There’s also what’s called “Texture Crayze” where kids can make crayon rubbings from various blocks. This is definitely something for younger kids or those with a little more patience than our six-year-old.
One floor down is an attraction that has more to do with Easton than Crayola. The Waterworks is a hands-on space where kids can move a canal barge along a waterway that includes scale replicas of canal locks and inclined planes.
It’s a fun little diversion that helps center the experience in Crayola’s hometown.
Down a hallway from the Waterworks is the Adventure Lab where puzzling games await. There’s an interactive video wall where you try to drop paint into a bucket by creating a conveyor belt, a code-cracking game that forces you to look around in a virtual factory, and other puzzle-based games to challenge guests.
Around another corner and guests are brought into the activity room. Among the various activities are the puzzle creator (where you can color a square and turn it into a puzzle to take home), rotating craft projects, and a painting area.
But my son’s favorite part of the activity room is the two-story indoor playground, complete with giant slide. It’s a great “halfway” point activity that gives him some unstructured exercise in what is otherwise a mostly structured attraction.
On our first visit, Julie did one of the add-on activities that is available in this area – creating a wax hand.
It’s a unique memento created by dipping your hand in wax, then ice water to cool it. Once the wax model is removed from your hand, it’s dipped in up to two colors to create a unique piece. While it’s a cool and different keepsake, there are plenty of activities included in the admission that we haven’t felt the need to do this add-on again.
The second floor is probably the busiest. It’s here that guests spend the two tokens that they receive upon entry. The tokens are good for either a customized crayon label or a pack of Model Magic.
The crayon labels are done at one of several machines, each with a different Crayola color. Guests write a name and choose an emoji and the custom label is printed. You then take the label and crayon to a roller at the side where with a quick swipe, the label is attached.
It’s a simplified version of the process that wraps every crayon that comes out of the factory. And with our kids, the crayons definitely won’t go to waste.
Model Magic is Crayola’s take on modeling clay. It’s soft, foamy and mess-free. Several vending machines are set up where guests can use a token or pay 50 cents to get a single-color pack of Model Magic.
Taking a seat at one of the tables in the room, there are plastic tools and cut-outs to help shape your model, as well as instructions for making a variety of projects.
In the same room, guests can pick up a Scribble Scrubby to color. Scribble Scrubbies are white characters that can be colored using special markers, washed and dried, and colored again. Previous animal shapes include whales, sharks, octopi, horses, cows and others.
The second floor is also home to the theater. Here guests can see one of two shows: the crayon-making process or Chaos and Creativity, a cartoon short starring animated Crayola crayons. Each show is about 15-minutes and are engaging for all ages.
On our latest trip, there was also a new experience on the second floor – the Cartoon Creator. Here, guests take a selfie at one of four iPad stations. Then a robotic arm draws the picture on a blank piece of paper.
It’s truly an amazing thing to watch your image come to life. Of course, the machine only draws the outline so that you can then color in your creations however you want, using whatever Crayola crayons, markers or paints available.
A similar experience is available in the Be a Star booth where you can choose a cartoon background for your selfie which prints out in black and white for your coloring pleasure.
And you can get all of your coloring supplies in the first-floor store. While the store is open to the public, it’s also – like all good attractions – the path to the exit. Here you can find all things Crayola from coloring pages to collectibles.
The first floor also offers a small café. The menu is pretty simple, but the personal pizzas aren’t bad. If you have time, I’d also suggest heading across the street to the Easton Public Market for lunch (reentry to the attraction is available all day).
There’s a lot to enjoy and explore at the Crayola Experience, especially for a family with young children. And I think you’ll enjoy it, too.
When You Go
Parking is available at metered spaces along the street and in a parking garage less than a block away.
Re-entry is available all day during your visit so take time to explore downtown Easton for lunch, ice cream or shopping.
The store is open to the public without admission to the Crayola Experience – but the last hour of operation is reserved for attraction attendees.
