This is a park with a little something for everyone. You pass tennis courts as you make your way…read moreinto the park which is nice. There's also a baseball field, pavilion with lots of tables, and plenty of open grass/ field. There are also two separate playground areas, one for ages 2-5 and then another for 6-12. If you're there during peak times on a Saturday the amount of children/ tweens and parents there can feel a bit overwhelming. So I would advise trying to avoid peak times on a Saturday. Sundays seem a little more calm. There are so many cool features at this playground your child will definitely have fun and wear themselves out! There's also a waterway/ creek that has ducks in it frequently and what appears to be a path/walkway/ walking trail. This park has everything you need for a day or afternoon at the park!

Nice place to have lunch, nature trail and lots of wildlife. Quiet and restful Come here to relaxread more

The best playground we've ever taken our children too! He didn't want to leave! The soft ground…read morecoverings were peace of mind while he ran about with all the other children.

Lots of space to play and clean bathrooms. What more could you want?…read more I can't think of anything negative to say about this park. There is plenty of parking, is wheelchair- friendly, and is spread out, but small enough to let your little ones roam without worry. There is also a nice walking path that goes around the perimeter of the property that is good to get the wiggles out if the playground is not enough.

Today I attended Plants in the Park, a free event hosted by Penn State Extension…read more It was a wonderful experience learning about the trees, shrubs, and vegetation in the park, which felt more like a forest. Our guide knew the area well and welcomed questions about what we saw. We walked the easy White Oaks Loop path, with lots to see and learn about. We learned how to identify a tree by its leaves or bark and whether it is shade-tolerant or intolerant. We observed Eastern Hemlocks, White Oak, Tulip Poplar, Pitch Pine, Black Gum, mushrooms, and even sassafras.

It's no wonder Kings Gap was named PA's Park of the Year! It's so peaceful, beautiful, and less…read morethan 30 minutes from Carlisle. There are walking and hiking trails everywhere and the crown jewel of course is the mansion, the view, and the gardens. There are activities year round including music festivals, tours of the mansion, and you can even rent out the mansion or just rooms. There's truly something for everyone. I wish there was a small store in the education center that offered drinks, coffee, and snacks, but there is the general store at the bottom of the hill that offers sandwiches, take-out meals, and beverages so hit up Kings Gap General Store before heading up to the mansion. We're so fortunate to have this park so close to us and if it's not my favorite state park, it's in the top five at least.

I've now hiked Pine Grove Furnace twice -- once on a warm February Saturday morning just to get out…read moreand move, and once specifically to check out the Appalachian Trail Midway Point marker. Both visits delivered exactly what I was looking for: quiet, well-maintained woods and a chance to disappear for a bit. Parking was easy both times. I found spots right near the trailheads without circling or waiting, which immediately set the tone for a low-stress hike. Even better? Across both visits, I saw a grand total of three other people. Three. If you're looking for seclusion and space to think, this is a solid choice. The trails themselves are clearly cared for. They were well-maintained, free of trash and debris, and the recent tree work was evident in the best way -- cleaned up, safe, and thoughtfully handled. Blazes were easy to follow and intersections were clearly marked, so navigation on the ground wasn't an issue at all. One important heads-up: I had zero cell service with Verizon either time I was there. None. Plan ahead. Download your maps, save your trail info offline, and don't rely on pulling anything up once you're in the woods. It's peaceful... but it's disconnected. Beyond the trails themselves, there's a lot to appreciate in the area -- from Appalachian Trail landmarks like the Midway Point marker to the surrounding natural beauty that makes this part of Pennsylvania so special. It's one of those places that feels quietly significant without being overrun. If you're looking for a quiet hike, a reset, or just some time in well-kept woods without crowds, Pine Grove Furnace is an excellent option. Peaceful, scenic, and exactly what it should be.

Charged us $34 for Pine Grove group camping even though I said twice we didn't stay in the group…read morecamping area and that it was a Michaux site, the worker didn't believe me I guess. The physical sign next to my site said $10 per night for PA residents, $15 out of state, the employee told me "No none of our sites would be that cheap". No intentions on returning which is unfortunate because the site was very nice and spacious and had a small fire pit. Don't charge us for Pine Grove Furnace State Park Organized Group Camping when we stayed in the Michaux State Forest campground just a tad further down the exact same camping road.

Easily marked hiking trails, clean restrooms. Nice mix of easy and difficult trails. Plenty of…read morepicnic tables and grills.

It's a lovely State Park with pavilions,pools,boating(for fishing) & lake! Nice hiking area & a…read moreMill to explore! Friendly staff & beautiful surroundings!

If you've never been to Big Spring State Park, you're seriously missing out on one of…read morePennsylvania's best-kept little secrets. It's tucked into the side of Conococheague Mountain and surrounded by Tuscarora State Forest -- which makes it quiet. Like, so freaking quiet. The kind of quiet where you can actually hear your own thoughts... or question all your life choices while admiring the trees. I went early on a chilly October Saturday morning to hike the Tunnel Trail and see the abandoned train tunnel. The park lists it as "more difficult hiking," but I have questions. Because this out-of-shape, 40-year-old woman -- hiking solo in Hey Dudes, mind you -- handled it just fine. A few big rocks to navigate and one short, steep-ish climb near the end, but nothing that required an oxygen tank or a pep talk. The tunnel itself is super cool and loaded with history. The Newport and Shermans Valley Railroad started digging it in 1894, got about 10% done, and then apparently said "nah, we're good." You can peek inside and see where it abruptly ends about 100 feet in. There's a little fence, but no "keep out" signs. I didn't go in, though, because there was what looked suspiciously like fresh animal blood leading into the darkness and I wasn't looking to become part of the food chain that day. I admired from a safe distance and called that a win. The rest of the park is small but really charming. Picnic tables, a few pavilions, and even what looks like an old stone fireplace near the bathrooms. Speaking of bathrooms -- we need to talk about those. They're not your average grimy state park port-a-potties. These were fancy port-a-johns. Clean, surprisingly non-stinky, and fully stocked with toilet paper. I almost shed a tear of joy. The roads leading in are in great shape (even the unpaved parts), the trails are well-marked, and there's just enough cell service to make a call if you need to -- which is nice when you're adventuring solo. All in all, Big Spring State Park might be tiny, but it packs in a ton of history, scenery, and peace. It's the perfect low-key spot for an easy hike, a quiet picnic, or just to clear your head for a few hours. Highly recommend it!

This is a 45 acre park in western perry county, plast blain and new germantown. it is pretty small…read moreitself, but is totally surrounded by thousands of acres of state forest land. it is kind of rugged and mountainy. there is a decent mile or so long trail, the iron horseshoe. we ealked it last summer, and it turned out to be pretty cool. it was basically a railroad grade that ended up in a mountain, they tried to build a tunnel there a centruy ago, but never completed it and the company that made it went out of business. anyway, good hike, nice picnic area, very peaceful and quiet.

7/12/26 Always the perfect scenic stopover. The lake is nestled in the middle of historic downtown…read moreBoiling Springs. There are domestic geese, Canada geese, mallards & 1 solitary swan that grace the lake & surrounding property. There's a walking path, boat launch (for canoes & kayaks) a gazebo & small parking lot w/additional parking available on the street adjacent to Boiling Springs pool.

There's a lot to explore along this tiny lake. There are memorials, paths, art, and places to fish…read more If you enjoy history, the lake has deep connections to the Underground Railroad.

We brought our 2 granddaughters, age 4 and 2, for an afternoon outing. They had lots on fun on the…read morevarious slides, swings, etc, and there were other children to play with. Nothing seemed treacherous, and we all had a good time. There is ample parking nearby, and the environment was quite safe.

Great playground for kids. We loved the wooden structure with numerous slides,mazes and swings…read more It's located right inside Penn Township Community Park which offers small baseball fields, covered picnic grounds, and portable restrooms

Love this State Park it has lots to do for a family to do for a day trip or even for a weekend or…read moreweek.

We rented a cottage for like $150 a night and got a huge place for ourselves. It was 3 bedroom…read morewith bunk beds in two of the rooms. Large sun room, living room and a big kitchen. We went hiking during the day time and covered a couple of trails, played board games in the evening and campfire at night. The trails were well marked. Appalachian Trail(AT marked in white) goes right through the park. There was a shelter. It was the cleanest and best shelter I have seen in a state park. Well maintained. The side trails are marked in blue. You can book the cottages for daily or weekly rental on the website of The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources ( or search for pennsylvaniastateparks) General information: 717-787-2869 We stayed at Caledonia House #2 Located along US 30, Caledonia Lodge is a two-story frame house available for rent year round. The lodge has: Modern kitchen Closed-in porch One and one half baths Dining room Living room Central heat Three bedrooms that sleep ten people

I am SO happy I stumbled upon the Echo Dell Indian Echo Caverns during a rainy day in Hershey, PA…read more After visiting the gift shop at Hersheypark and eating some ice cream, I did a quick search for things to do in the area and the Indian Echo Caverns popped up as a tourist attraction very close by. My family and I have never done a cavern before and I've always wanted to see one so we said why not? We got there around 3:15 on a Tuesday and we were able to hop on the next tour. Our tour guide Jack was absolutely fabulous. The way he told the stories about the cave and the history behind it was just so interesting. My kids were very engaged during the entire tour of the caverns. The caverns are absolutely gorgeous. All the different "rooms" had different stories and different formations throughout. I loved seeing crystal lake, the water was beautiful. The different colors of the limestone was so cool. Everything was just so impressive and neat. They also have a pretty large gift shop, a playground, and a small petting zoo. It was pouring rain so we couldn't do any outside activities but that's OK. The caves are a cool 52 degrees so make sure to bring a sweatshirt or light jacket if you get chilly. Also, you can't touch any of the rocks so if you have a little kiddo who can't help themselves just be aware of that. Echo Dell Indian Echo Caverns was such a cool spot to visit and I am so happy we found it while in Hershey! Thanks again to Jack for the awesome tour, it was so much fun.

The caverns are very high and big, lots of space so it's cool to see. There are super big…read moreformations, but most are dead, would have been amazing if the flowstone were alive and glistening white, majority was ugly grey and dead. They have farm animals outside you can feed, a jungle gym and swing set. It's a nice area and was a nice time