It's my fiancés and my favorite park!!! We got engaged here!!! They have a beautiful creek,…read morewildlife, and flowers!! Lots of trails!! Just beautiful!!!

Quittie Park I have to say is a pretty cool park, even though I didn't get the opportunity to…read moreexplore the whole park. I can't speak for everything, but the place is very scenic with a couple of trails. One of the trails I took followed a stream for most of the journey and had hills to the opposite side of the stream. There are no views to be seen at this part - instead, the surroundings are pretty to look at. Another trail I checked out had a gravel path that lead uphill to an open field that appeared to be a school. Not much of any highlight in this part, but instead turned around seen there wasn't much to be seen. The map is hard to follow, so be sure to take a photo to make sure in you're in the right place. Another visit will indeed take a long time, but it killed time to check it out.

Wonderful large free outdoor space Soccer fields baseball diamond disc golf nature trail benches…read moregrass trees water wild life and pavilions love it.

Love it! Beautiful park with nature trails / paved walking trails, athletics complex & playgrounds…read more Volleyball Court, tennis court, ample parking. Great time for anyone with a family. There's a wall for soccer / lacrosse practice.

Hamer Woodlands at Cove Mountain Preserve is only 20 minutes from my house, and somehow I had no…read moreidea it existed until social media served it up to me a few weeks ago. Once I realized this hidden gem was practically in my backyard, it was immediately added to my must-do hiking list. I did a little digging online, found a trail map, and zeroed in on a few routes that felt like my speed: short, scenic, not wildly aggressive elevation, and solid views. Sold. We picked the last Sunday morning of 2025 to check it out -- which also happened to be the morning after a slightly sketchy ice storm rolled through Central PA. Bold choice? Maybe. But we figured we'd scope it out and bail if things were awful. We arrived around 9am and were pleasantly surprised to find a nicely graveled, generously sized parking lot tucked at the end of a dead-end street. Easy parking = instant mood boost. We geared up and hit the trail with an ambitious goal: making it to the observation area at the intersection of the Green and Yellow Trails, which promised views of the Susquehanna River and the Statue of Liberty (yes, that Statue of Liberty -- the river one). The trails were well maintained but definitely icy in spots, thanks to the storm the day before. That said, we carefully meandered our way up with only a few minor slip-slidey moments that kept things interesting but not terrifying. Being the responsible outdoorsy people we pretend to be, we packed lunch and stopped at the observation area to eat on some perfectly placed, large, flat stones -- honestly felt like nature wanted us to sit there. It was a very foggy day, which made the views a little mysterious and the photos surprisingly cool and moody. The route worked out perfectly: the hike out was mostly uphill, and the hike back was mostly downhill. Love when a plan actually works. Before heading out, we explored the Outdoor Chapel (which definitely needs some TLC but still has a quiet, reflective vibe) and even found a geocache near the trailhead -- which felt like a bonus prize for showing up. Hamer Woodlands was a fantastic way to spend a few hours, stretch our legs in the middle of winter, and soak in the beauty of a place that somehow flew under the radar for so long. One verse posted at the Outdoor Chapel really stuck with me and is now one of my favorites: "For you shall go out with joy, And be led out with peace; The mountains and the hills Shall break forth into singing before you, And all the trees of the field shall clap their hands." Thank you, Hamer Woodlands, for the views, the peace, the perspective -- and for being exactly what I needed right before the start of a new year.

Ever since we found out my trunk bike carrier works on our SUV late this summer, we've fervently…read moreexplored biking trails around the Harrisburg area before the season's over.  One of the first things that came to mind would of course be the Capital Area Greenbelt.  It's a 23 mile route interconnecting paved paths, crushed-stone trails, and public roads.  We've only explored 3 different segments of the Greenbelt.   The first is City Island and Riverfront Park. Start by looping around the small island which is less than a mile but think of it as a warm up. You also get to see some touristy highlights such as the Pride of the Susquehanna Riverboat, Water Golf, and City Island Railroad.  Then cross the picturesque Walnut Street Bridge, turn left on to my favorite segment so far, the Riverfront Park. This paved segment runs for 3 miles alongside the Susquehanna River all the way to Vaughn St. You also have an option to take the path directly along the river or the path along the green/street.  Along the way you get to see many sculptures and historic landmarks. Some highlights include State Street, Governor's Mansion, Peace Garden, and Sunken Garden. And if you're open to excursions, take detours and check out the Capitol Complex and Italian Lake. The second segment we've been frequenting without realizing it's part of the Greenbelt - Wildwood Park. I've had a 5-star review on it. It's one of  my favorite parks in the Harrisburg area.  I've read that there's a new 1.5 mile segment connecting from Wildwood Park to Fort Hunter.  I can't wait to check that out! The third segment we just tried today, the Andrea Ave Spur.  It's not part of the main loop but still part of the Greenbelt. I guess you can think of it as an extension, much like the Fort Hunter segment.  This one starts out on a crushed-stone path but soon turns into a fully paved trail. It's only 2.3 miles to the main loop near the Farm Show complex, but it's hilly and punishing at times. This is a different experience than, say, a rail trail which is more secluded and allows you to be soaked with nature.  Here you do not completely leave civilization. Another negative aspect is that many sections insolve public roads.  I'm not sure I should venture the southeast portion of the Greenbelt, based on the map...

1. Route / Trail closed at the Riverfront Office Center (ROC) May 2024 for extended future…read more 2. Area from 581 bridge to ROC is lined with a huge homeless encampment. 3. Paved portion in Susquehanna Township along River has numerous potholes and speed bumps from tree roots. Pavement in terrible condition 4. Path along River is too narrow for walkers and bikers to safely share. 5. Not a continuous trail. There are gaps near the Civil War museum the trail uses city streets.

Sometimes one great experience leads to another. I first visited the Ned Smith Center during the…read morewinter for a guided hike, and even while everything was shades of brown and waiting for spring, I couldn't help thinking..."I bet this place is absolutely gorgeous in the summer." A few months later, social media answered that question for me. When I saw the Ned Smith Center advertising a Green Day tribute concert featuring Nimrod in the DeSoto Amphitheater, I didn't need much convincing. An outdoor concert in one of Central PA's most beautiful natural settings for $35. Count me in! Buying tickets online was quick and easy, and my Adventure Buddy and I arrived right around 6pm when the doors opened. The parking attendants kept traffic moving smoothly, the registration volunteers welcomed everyone with smiles and we were quickly pointed toward the amphitheater. Since seating was first come, first served, arriving when the doors opened turned out to be a great decision! We ended up with front-row seats...right in the center. I don't think we could've picked better spots in the entire place! PRO TIP: Arrive when the doors open if you want your pick of seating. Since it's general admission, getting there early can make a huge difference if you'd like to be close to the stage! The setting itself is absolutely stunning! Nestled into the surrounding woods, the amphitheater feels intimate without feeling crowded. Before the music even started, I found myself looking around and thinking about how beautiful the property had become since my winter visit. Then the band took the stage. And honestly...I wasn't prepared for how incredible the amphitheater sounded. I've been to plenty of concerts over the years, and these were some of the best outdoor acoustics I've experienced anywhere! The music was clear, balanced and never overwhelming. It made the entire evening even more enjoyable. As for Nimrod, the Green Day tribute band, they absolutely delivered! They were a fantastic choice for the venue, played all the songs we were hoping to hear and had the crowd singing along all night (and me dancing in my seat since their first song)! The Ned Smith Center also brought in food and beverage vendors for the evening, which made it easy to grab dinner, snacks or something cold to drink without ever leaving the event. Even though the Ned Smith Center is nearly an hour from my house, I wouldn't hesitate to make the drive again. Beautiful surroundings. Friendly volunteers. Excellent acoustics. A well-organized event. And a summer evening spent listening to great music under the trees. I'd call that time very well spent! I'll definitely be keeping an eye on the DeSoto Amphitheater's event calendar because if this concert was any indication...there are plenty more memorable evenings waiting to happen here for me!

An incredible art and performance venue tucked away in a beautiful setting. This was my first…read morevisit but I thoroughly enjoyed the amazing art, the delightful gift shop, the incredible indoor beehive, and the access to miles of lovely trails. Tip: we were harassed by comical numbers of tiny flying insects -- they were going in our ears and up our noses and we needed wipers on our spectacles -- despite drenching ourselves in bug spray. Enjoy the trails in cooler months or bring bug netting for your head!

Went to Swatara State Park today for the first time and was really impressed!…read more We went looking for the Aygriggs waterfall but went in with no planning so initially had a hard time finding where to park. (I wonder if the other reviewers with lower ratings for the park also struggled to find where exactly to go, because once you actually find it, it's actually so gorgeous). The place Apple Maps led us to had no parking and was just the park entrance with a bunch of roadway (there is no visitor center). We then incorrectly turned into the parking lot for the Trout Run trail at one point-- which has the rugged trout run path and Appalachian path (hard hikes, no waterfall) but did have two outhouse style bathrooms. On our third or fourth try (we tried mapping it to the cabin unsuccessfully) we finally found the scenic trail. If you're like us, and want to see a scenic hike, I would highly recommend the Bordner's Cabin Trail -- it's about 3.1 miles (1.5h walk) roundtrip-- it has an easy gravel path to the gorgeous and elusive Aygriggs waterfall! To get there, I would recommend getting the AllTrails app which is helpful to tell you where to park exactly. If you want to get to Bordner's cabin parking lot you need to route your Apple or Google Maps to coordinates: 40.50403° N, 76.51133° W. From there you can find the trail head and walk to the waterfall. It took us about 30-45 min to walk there, and another 30-45 min to walk back to our car. The waterfall is gorgeous and the way there you cross over a bridge over Swatara creek. Right next to the waterfall there is Bordner's cabin (hence the trail name) which overlooks the waterfall. It has tables and benches inside so you could even bring a picnic and sit under the cabin roof if you wanted to stay for a bit. We came across many bikers on the path (there even were signs for horses to walk on the left side of the trail) so the terrain wasn't too rugged.

Fantastic trail for families. Nice smooth paved pathway for strollers. So bring the kids, dogs and…read moreanybody else that wants a nice 3 mile walking trail to go on. There is a more strenuous hiking trail for those looking to burn some calories. Lots of wildlife and a great opportunity to find some very rare American chestnut trees!! Both chestnut trees I found have been reported to PA/NJ Chapter of the American Chestnut Foundation. Picnic tables located at Bordner Cabin if you wanna bring lunch and hang out. Highly recommend this trail for the entire family.

The Coleman park is on 99 acres of land so there's lot to walk around and see. The coolest part I…read moresaw was a BMX track with jumps and courses that looks very fun in the nicer weather. Two huge dog park to separate the big & small dogs which is very considerate. Lots of open space for public events or gatherings with family. Playground, swings, awnings & shaded areas to relax or do yoga are through the park. Big parking lot makes it easy to get out and enjoy the outdoors. Easily top of the list of greatest parks so far.

The park is big and has a lot of potential with nice shaded areas and different activities. I…read morebrought my dog here with the hopes of using the dog park as their website said nothing about it being close to the general public while we get there and it's locked up so I decided to take my dog on the trail that goes on the outside perimeter of the park in the woods. That trail is littered with broken glass, so we ditched that and ended up just walking around on the paved areas. It's truly a shame to see such a beautiful park not be living up to its full potential and not getting the respect it deserves.

During my "killing time" hours, I decided to check this park out. The name sounds pretty ironic and…read morefunny, but this park is filled with a lot of walking space, a lake, a playground, and a pavilion. It's awesome to see how clean the park is, and the time they put into it. There are a couple of panic tables scattered throughout the park along with charcoal grills. The paths are easy to follow and travel within the park making it easy to not get lost. This is a great community to get together with people, and no doubt it's a great place to come to. In the area, make this stop at Lions Lake Park.