This location gets 5 stars because of my love for the trail! Wasn't sure what to expect. It's an…read moreoffice with a sitting area and a water spigot and outlets for recharge for thru hikers. The trail runs right past the front of the building. The stream close by is fresh water and littered with ducks. Lots of trees. They carry various stickers, t-shirts, caps, books, bandanas, socks, and pamphlets. Not really a store. Stuff is randomly laid out about the small space. Staff...not friendly at all. Unfortunate. Woman with desk closer to door looked at me like I had three heads. Not sure why? None of the other staff said a word. The thru hikers were GREAT! I wish I had brought Trail Magic. This was a last minute stop...but next time!!!

Since the John Wright Restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays, I took advantage of a…read morebeautiful, non-rainy day to explore the property, sit on a picnic table to enjoy the cool breeze from the Susquehanna River, and observe the long span of the Veterans Memorial Bridge, formerly known as the Columbia Wrightsville Bridge.

On my way to my next destination I was able to cross the Veterans Memorial Bridge. Spanning the…read moreSusquehanna River this bridge is quite exquisite. The attention to detail put into the bridge is amazing. I can imagine that when this was the only crossing for the river that it was constantly busy and backed up with traffic. It is a two laned bridge, a lane going in each direction. Walking across this bridge I am sure would give you a different viewpoint of it. There are lantern type toppers that would light the way. It gives off vintage with the way it looks and feels like it should be a setting for movies. Beautiful bridge that feels like a fabric that connects two towns on either side of the river.

One of the two essential city bridges connecting downtown Harrisburg with the west shore, this…read morecantilever structure provides 4 lanes of vehicular traffic and two outside lanes for pedestrians and bicycles. Speed limit is 50 but everyone knows you can go as fast as you want across this bad boy. It's a nice looking structure with solid construction and is used by numerous vehicles every day. It's in great shape following a renovation and painting about 15 years ago and should last for many more generations.

The Taylor bridge was completed in 1952 and then widened between 2001 and 2004. It is a steel…read moregirder bridge over the Susquehanna River and it connects downtown Harrisburg with the West Shore. The bridge is named for a politician who served in the Pennsylvania Senate from 1941 to 1964 including President pro tempore from 1945 to 1964. He was Acting Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania for a short period in January 1947 under circumstances that are confusing to me but would make sense if I spent more time on research. Interestingly, the bridge was named for the man by a 49-0 vote (Taylor abstained) of the Pennsylvania Senate. There are other bridges nearby including the one to the north that carries I-81 and the one to the south that carries I-83. The Walnut Street Bridge goes to City Island. [Review 12130 overall, 1914 of 2019.]

Marysville in Lights has been my #1 go-to walk-thru Christmas light display for YEARS, and it's…read morefinally time I give them the credit they so clearly deserve. I'm an extreme Christmas light junkie, and despite extensive "research" (read: driving and walking to see everything), I truly haven't found another local walk-thru display I love as much as this one. Pulling up to the small duplex home nestled along the river in Marysville feels almost other-worldly. The house absolutely GLOWS, and it's stunning. Thousands of lights, tons of nostalgic plastic Christmas décor, cleverly designed scenes, and a huge, fantastic sleigh photo op somehow all come together in a space that's not large -- but is used brilliantly. Every year I follow the same little ritual: sign the guestbook with a note of thanks, grab a candy cane from the candy-cane board, and then slowly wander through what can only be described as a Christmas light mecca. I also love that visitors have the opportunity to make a donation to help a local family -- it adds heart to something that already feels special. What truly impresses me is how much they've done with a small space. It's thoughtful, nostalgic, joyful, and clearly created with love. This is something I genuinely look forward to every single year. A quick heads-up: parking is somewhat limited, especially on busy, close-to-Christmas nights. Please be respectful of the neighbors and the host -- this is a family generously opening up their private backyard for all of us to enjoy. If you love Christmas lights, nostalgia, and displays made with heart, Marysville in Lights is a must-see. It's pure holiday magic.

Sometimes social media plants a tiny little seed that sits in the back of your mind for months…read more That was the White Cliffs of Conoy for me. I'd seen photos of the cliffs the previous fall and immediately added them to my ever-growing "I need to go there" list. Fast forward to an early August Thursday when I had a day off work and was planning a full Lancaster County adventure. Naturally, the White Cliffs became the very first stop of the day. Before heading out, I did a little homework. There are two common ways to reach the cliffs via the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail. The shortest route begins at Koser Park in Bainbridge and is a 1.5-mile walk or bike ride heading south. You can also start from Riverfront Park, which is about a 3-mile walk or ride heading north. I opted for Koser Park, and when I pulled in just before 8am, I found plenty of parking and was immediately greeted by beautiful views of the Susquehanna River before I even started walking. The trail couldn't have been easier to follow. It's wide, completely paved and almost entirely flat, making it perfect for walkers, runners and cyclists of just about any skill level. I was so excited to finally see the cliffs that I found myself walking much faster than I normally do. About a mile and a half down the trail, I reached the remains of the Billmeyer company town, followed almost immediately by the White Cliffs rising about 30 feet above the Susquehanna River. One of the coolest things I learned is that the cliffs aren't actually a natural formation. They're the remnants of a limestone and dolomite quarry that dates back to the mid-1800s. Across the railroad tracks sit the ruins of the old limestone factory and what remains of the Billmeyer ghost town, which was abandoned after the quarry closed in the 1950s. Nature has slowly reclaimed the entire area, creating this fascinating mix of industrial history and natural beauty that makes the visit feel even more special. What surprised me most? I had the entire place to myself! Not another person. On a gorgeous August morning. I happily wandered around taking photos, shooting panoramic videos and simply soaking in the peace and quiet. It felt like one of those magical travel moments where you can't quite believe you have such a beautiful place all to yourself. One word of caution, though...there are very few barriers or safety features around the cliffs themselves. If you're visiting with young children or dogs, keep a close eye on them. The drop to the river below is very real, and while the township has determined the area is safe to visit, there are still remnants of the old quarry and industrial site scattered around, so paying attention to where you're walking is a good idea. By the time I headed back toward the parking lot, I couldn't stop thinking about how perfect this would be for a picnic. Sunrise. Sunset. A sandwich. A blanket. And that incredible view of the Susquehanna. Honestly, I might need to start a Pennsylvania Picnic Bucket List, because the White Cliffs of Conoy would immediately earn the very first spot! The White Cliffs of Conoy turned out to be every bit as beautiful as I'd hoped they would be. Sometimes those places you've been dreaming about for months really do live up to the hype. And this was definitely one of them!

This beautiful covered bridge is preserved in a municipal park and is now only open to pedestrians…read moreand bike riders. You can drive up very close to the entrance and park. There are walking trails along the Chiques Creek on the other side. Shearer's Bridge was transferred to Memorial Park in 1971after it was scheduled to be replaced by a concrete bridge. The bridge is actually one that replaced the original Shearer's Bridge which was built in 1847 by Jacob Clare, damaged by flood 9 years later and reconstructed. It is the only cover bridge in Lancaster County that is painted entirely red (the traditional color of Lancaster County covered bridges) on both the inside and outside. It is one of only 3 bridges in the county with horizontal side boards.

A wonderful new experience: seeing a gilded stone mansion, built in 1908 as a summer home for James…read moreCameron, grandson of Senator Simon Cameron from Harrisburg, and later purchased by Masland Associates, in the middle of Cumberland County, in Kings Gap Park. I didn't get the chance to go inside the mansion, but I did see an environmental education center, a garden, and a water tower on the estate grounds. But what about the breathtaking, stunning scenic overview at the rear of the mansion? The road to the mansion is paved, and there is plenty of parking.

Heikes Covered Bridge, Circa 1892 at 67 feet long. The…read moreHeikes Covered Bridge is a historic covered bridge in Huntington Township, Adams County, Pennsylvania. It was built in 1892, and is a 67-foot-long, Burr truss bridge. The bridge crosses Bermudian Creek. It is one of 17 covered bridges in Adams, Cumberland, and Perry Counties.