By: Kaitlin Christ
Three long months of summer. Even between a job and vacations, it’s hard to fill every day with something new and exciting. Here are a variety of ideas that are sure to bring extra fun to your time off from school.
It’s only a short drive or bike ride away to an artsy and whimsical village. Mount Gretna is home to an outdoor art show, as well as a craft market. On a hot day, The Jigger Shop and Mount Gretna Lake & Beach will definitely help you cool off.
While in Mount Gretna, Governor Dick forest is a great place to check out and hike to see a glimpse of the beautiful nature in Central Pennsylvania. Governor Dick features an observation tower that gives individuals an opportunity to overlook the beautiful woodlands.
Located in Elysburg, PA, the hour drive may seem long, but is worth it to experience the character and atmosphere of Knoebels. Knoebels is a free admission park and individual tickets are required in order to ride the many attractions that the park has to offer. The amusement park has lots of variety ranging from wooden roller coasters to a haunted house.
Only about an hour from Hershey, there is an opportunity to see the wargrounds that the Battle of Gettysburg took place 150 years ago. Gettysburg is an excellent place to go in order to learn more about the history and events of the C
ivil War. The National Park offers many walking tours as well as a museum to see artifacts from a significant point in American history.
The drive to Baltimore, Maryland is only about an hour and a half away. The Inner Harbor provides a change of scenery from the Hershey suburbs with many outdoor activities. Sailing on paddle boats and observing historic ships are just two of the many options that the Harbor has to offer. Baltimore Inner Harbor is also surrounded by many restaurants and retail stores.
Being the second biggest mall in the United States, King of Prussia (KOP) is a great place to spend all day at on a rainy day. The large mall includes many stores that aren’t in Hershey. Some of those include Louis Vuitton, Nordstrom, and Urban Outfitters. KOP is also known for its wide array of restaurants including Cheesecake Factory, The Capital Grille, and Legal Seafoods.
Lititz is a small borough out of Lancaster that offers a day full of exploration. Lititz is home to Julius Sturgis Pretzel Factory which includes a tour of the original factory and a pretzel making lesson. An outdoor option would be High Sports. If you often enjoy go karting and mini golf, you won’t be disappointed at this amusement center.
Another rainy day activity, Color Me Mine is a pottery painting place that gives an opportunity to utilize your artistic side. There are two local locations: Harrisburg and Camp Hill. Color Me Mine offers a variety of clay items to paint, including mugs and other objects. The pottery painting spot also hosts parties and showers. Even celebrities such as Hilary Duff and Jennifer Lopez have been spotted at Color Me Mine locations in Los Angeles.
Much like Gettysburg, Philadelphia is an excellent spot to check out for a built in history lesson during your day trip. Take a tour of Independence Hall to learn more about where our founding fathers debated, discussed, and created the Constitution. The Liberty Bell is another landmark of American history that is located in Philadelphia. If viewing historic location and artifacts isn’t your cup of tea, don’t worry. Philadelphia is filled with hundreds of things to see and do. Explore the Franklin Institute: a science museum that includes a planetarium and many interactive exhibits.
Root’s Farmers Market is located in Manheim and is open on Tuesdays only. Almost anything can be found at Root’s including handmade jewelry and crafts, clothing, and other novelty items. In addition, many home grown fruits and vegetables are also sold at the farmers market. Besides produce, a large variety of food stands are available that range from hot dogs to ice cream.
