While scrolling social media, I saw someone casually mention Sweet Arrow Lake as a place to find a…read morewaterfall in Central PA. A waterfall? Within 45 minutes of my house? Excuse me?! That was all I needed. Immediately added to the Sunday adventure list. I planned my visit for a mid-March Sunday, right after a hearty pre-St. Patrick's Day brunch (and cocktail), because if I was going to go chasing waterfalls, I might as well do it properly fueled and slightly festive. Getting there was super easy with Google Maps, and parking was plentiful all around the lake. Since it was my first visit, I parked near the clubhouse and set out to explore. Bathrooms were locked for the season, but there were portajohns available...which I respectfully chose to ignore and simply hoped for the best. It was about 50°, cloudy, and windy, but that didn't stop people from being out and about. There were families, walkers, and a surprisingly intense group of disc golfers launching discs through the air like they had something to prove. I heard multiple rounds of "HEAD'S UP!" and just accepted that at any moment I could become part of the game. Even with the number of people there, it never felt crowded. The park is big enough that you can easily find your own little peaceful corner and pretend you're out in nature alone...minus the occasional flying disc. This is definitely more of a walk than a hike, which honestly matched my post-brunch energy level perfectly. The paths are a mix of paved trails and well-worn walking routes, with plenty of options to wander depending on how far you feel like going. The lake itself was gorgeous in that moody, dramatic way that makes you feel like you're in a very calm, slightly emotional movie scene. There was someone fishing from a kayak, a few people along the shoreline, and just enough quiet to make it feel relaxing despite the wind. I came for the waterfall, though. And I heard it before I saw it. "I can hear water!" I announced (again, to no one in particular) as I followed the Waterfall Trail like I was on some sort of mission. And when I finally got there...totally worth it. The waterfall was beautiful. It might be partially man-made, but honestly, I do not care. It's water. It's falling. It's peaceful. It's a win! As I walked around, I kept thinking how perfect this place would be for a picnic once the weather warms up. There are so many great spots to throw down a blanket, snack, and pretend you're the kind of person who has their life together enough to plan outdoor picnics. Sweet Arrow Lake is easy to get to, easy to park, easy to walk, and very family-friendly. There's nothing wildly over-the-top here beyond the waterfall, but that's kind of the point. It's a solid, peaceful place to get outside, get some steps in, and enjoy a view that you don't come across every day in Central PA. And honestly? For a spontaneous "there's a waterfall 45 minutes away" adventure...I'd say that's a pretty great return on investment!

A wonderful place to go walking hiking trails are for beginners the small damn was cool must come…read moreearly parking are limited so get your parking spot early boat rental fun for the little one

This was on the list for best places to visit for Jim Thorpe. The area it self was scenic with the…read moreLehigh Gorge Scenic Railway in proximity, different trails scattered throughout the park. The disappointment was Flagstaff Mountain overlook closed as well as the Turn Hole Tunnel, that was permanently closed and gated off. The picnic area near the boat lunch was clean, and there was even a bridge you went over that was unique. Sadly, would have been a better rating if the attractions wanted to check out were open.

Awesome hiking trail for something not as intense. For working out you can really play around with…read morethe different trails and get a good sweat. For leisure any of which will do fine. Views are great, but definitely not a great amount of elevation.

As the family legend goes, I visited Crystal Cave with my parents as a toddler. My dad carried me,…read moreand I reached out and yanked the pony tail of a man on the tour with us. My mother told the story for years, and she was so embarrassed we never went back to Kutztown. My sister wasn't born yet, so she never got to visit the cave. So our visit was 50 years in the making! The caves are impressive. They are also very much affected by 100+ years as a tourist attraction. Don't come looking for pristine nature. A few stalagtites have been "relocated", and the paths and stairs that allow you to visit have certainly altered things. But it's still cool to see, and the old-timey roadside attraction atmosphere is interesting as a snapshot of another time. The restaurant is fast food, but it looked reasonably priced. We grabbed a cheap slice of shoofly pie to take to Mom, who still has never returned due to my toddler shenanigans. There are acres of land to explore, as well as inexpensive mini-golf if you want to make a day of it here. We enjoyed our day trip.

My child and I went to Crystal cave for the first time and had such a great time learning the…read morehistory and science behind the cave. When you arrive, you park in their large parking spot, enter the gift shop and purchase your tour tickets. After, you'll walk up a big hill to the entrance. Before the tour, you watch a video about the history of the cave. It was very informative. Extremely dated but fun to learn! Our tour guide was great and helpful! We were lucky to be in a small group of only 2 other families. I would definitely bring a jacket because it was very cold for us.

After 3 years of bi annual visits to Jim Thorpe, my boyfriend and I finally went to visit the…read moreoverlook (and it was finally opened - we had a great luck of it being closed the first 2-3 times we drove by it). You have to take a short detour off of either W Broadway or Beaver Run Dr. to Flagstaff Rd. There are signs you can follow all the way up there, on a one way dirt path 1,000 feet above the town, and only 3 miles away from it. We went around 4pm in November, when the sun was blending beautifully with the clouds. The panoramic view is insanely stunning! According to discovernepa.com : "Facing south, you'll take in a breathtaking look at the expansive Mahoning Valley and the rolling Pocono foothills. To the north, the overlook offers a stunning bird's-eye view of Jim Thorpe itself, nestled at the base of the mountains and bordered by the scenic curves of the Lehigh River." We took some pictures, walked around to take the views in. We noticed there is a development in process, so depending how long the construction will take place - I imagine the overlook might get more crowded, or the area more restricted. There is a picnic bench you can sit down at. And apparently there is also a camp site. Just imagine drinking your morning coffee with this view! Definitely will be visiting again when we're in the neighborhood.

Take in stunning, panoramic views of the rolling hilltops of Carbon County at this overlook in Jim…read moreThorpe. 100 Mile View offers a southern survey of the Mahoning Valley and beyond. To the north, you can capture a bird's eye view of Jim Thorpe, the Lehigh Gorge State Park, and the snaking Lehigh River. it is accessible via Flagstaff Road (or put google map) Parking: ample parking on the top.!! but when you are reaching, its one-way dirt road to the top, like hardly 200-300 meter.

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.

Tuscarora State Park has all the classic elements which make the PA state park system arguably the…read morebest in the United States. * Over 250 picnic tables and two pavilions which can be reserved up to 11 months in advance. (Although for the sake of full disclosure, a fair number of the picnic tables not in or around the pavilion areas are buried in the trees/bushes and are in various stages of disrepair.) * A sand beach and lake swimming available from May-September. * A boat launch and seasonal boat rentals for fishing on Tuscarora Lake. * 1,100 of the park's 1,600 acres are open for deer, pheasant, rabbit, squirrel, turkey, grouse and dove hunting. * Six camping cottages and four yurts which can be reserved up to 11 months in advance. * About eight miles of hiking trails of which most are pancake flat but parts of the Spirit of Tuscarora Trail and Locust Mountain Trail can get steep but the diversity of the terrain, trees, flowers and water here is amazing. The Sunday that we visited found the beach and picnic areas to be very busy as well as the boat rentals but in the four hours we were on various hiking trails we only saw two other people so my take is that like at most PA state parks the hiking end of things is more or less ignored. As a brief bit of FYI trivia, the park got it's name as a tribute to the Tuscarora Indians who by legend supposedly inhabited the Locust Valley area including the land that the park is on for a brief time during the 18th century. Most of trees in and around the park are not original to the area as the area was almost fully deforested during the early 20th century by logging operations. The dam which created Tuscarora Lake was built in the 1960's and the park opened in 1971. While not my favorite state park, Tuscarora provided a great visit and hopefully we'll be back for a visit or two in the not too distant future.

Yurt camping to remember, Tuscarora State Park, Pa.,…read more Reservations were made in late February, 2014, for $114 for the 2 day weekend. Our camping dates were for May 30th and 31st, and this was the last day of spring that they allowed the weekend only bookings. Check their website for booking Yurts, and Cabins during the summer, or off season. We had Yurt #1, and it appears that we picked the right one for us. It has good tree shade much of the day, with the sun on the yurt for about 3.5 hours. The yurts sleep 5, a very nice kitchen with a 4 burner stove, a 5' refrigerator, but no water or sink. A sturdy table with 4 great chairs, a skylight that opens 6 inches, a fire extinguisher, smoke alarm, 2 windows and a solid lockable front door. Also cleaning gear in case it gets dirty, and a hardwood floor. To beat the heat, bring along a 10' by 10' canopy/gazebo (light tan, silver or white color) to give you an outdoor shelter, away from the heat. In talking to barb, she agreed that maybe 2 - 10' x 10' shelters would be best. Keep in mind that the Yurt is about 20 feet across, and that the deck is about 34' x 34'. Bring along a box fan that can be tilted, and has 3 speeds. With everyone under the shelter, it will help you cool off. Look for our attached photos. #1 Yurt - sun from about 11 a.m. to about 3 p.m. Trees on 3 sides, with yurt #2 up on the right side. #2 Yurt - mostly sun all day, and it get a bit hot. Trees on back side, and other yurts down to the left and up to the right. #3 Yurt - some shade during the day, morning to the early afternoon. Trees to the rear, and a yurt to the left and to the right. #4 Yurt - gets mostly all day shade. There is a water pumping station nearby, that makes a slight humming noise. Basically a forest on 3 sides, and a Yurt to the left. For us, the hum would not be a problem. We would take along a tilting box fan for inside the yurt at night, or outside as we sit in our chairs. (a smaller wall fan is already mounted in the Yurts.) For all of our camping trips, one of these fans are essential for better sleep, cooling hot afternoons, filtering out evening noise, or let the kids use it as a super bubble machine. Just have them hold the wand in front of the outgoing fan air, and watch their eyes get big. For all 4 yurts, the bathrooms are just 30 to 50 feet away. The outside bathroom doors are very quiet. There are no changing bench in the showers. In the bathroom, it is hard to press the wall button, to flush the toilets. I can barely do it, my wife can't do it, and neither can kids. As for getting potable water? On the outside of the bathroom you will find a double wash station, for cleaning your dishes. That cold water faucet provided us with some of the finest, purest, clear cold water that we've ever seen. Walking past Yurt #4, you can make a right turn, and follow the wide dirt path that takes you to the swimming area, the concession stand, and boat rentals for the lake. Along that dirt road, you will see smaller paths leading down to the lake's edge. Over several years, I caught and released many fish in those early morning hours. As for the Yurts, you are allowed to drive up to its entrance location, drop off the items and people that you brought, and turn around and park your vehicle in the first parking lot that you come to. Note - at the end of that first parking lot is a large children's playground. As for Latino families? Living in Allentown, PA, we have put up with some of the worst that they have to offer. They were the reason we left center city, and moved to the outskirts. But, I must say this........there was a group of Latino's staying in Yurts 2 and 3 for Friday night. 7 kids total, and 5 adults, and they were the most respectful group that we have ever encountered. Music was played softly, no yelling back and forth, nothing destructive, no car alarms, and the children behaved like children. The only issue we had was on Friday evening, and that was because the smells from their grilled ribs, chicken, burgers and hot dogs were driving us crazy. And because of this, we gave that family group a 5 star rating. Store and Food places in town and nearby. Walmart, the Beacon Restaurant, Rita's, and McDonalds are all near the same location just north of Tamaqua, on Rt. 309. I was also told that in Tamaqua, PA, near the 5 points intersection, is a really good Italian restaurant. Read the rules about going out at night, and coming back late. The gates are closed at night, and you might have to park a little further away. Also, a golf course is less than a half mile away. And for the final tip? If you are interested in a cabin? Numbers 1, 2, and 3, (which are just on the other side of the bathrooms) have their front porches facing the lake. Take the time to go to Tuscarora State Park, and look at the locations of the Yurts/Cabins that meets your needs. We hope that we have been of some help. Cosmo

NATURE CENTER I read…read moreonline about this nature center and decided to have a hike here for AMC DV chapter. This place is a great place to see some of the old relics like mining industry, railroad routes, etc. The nature center itself has a bathroom and trail guides before going on your hike. As the volunteer about any trail closures, I was told that the Delaware-Lehigh trail was closed due to construction. Hours for the nature center are 9-3 daily. Great place to fill up on water before hiking out. TRAILS We took the Lehigh-New England trail to the end and then returned back by the Chestnut Oak and Prairie Grass trails. The more scenic and challenging route is the way back. Alot of rock scrambling and great views of the old relics mentioned before. You get a great view of the Winter trail which looks challenging with its zig-zag path up the Blue Mountain. I guess we'll try that next time...

Beautiful trails and views of mystical half-dead mountains. Could imagine tumbleweed and cacti but…read moredidn't have to imagine for long for there was much beauty to behold - a river, little streams trickling down the mountain side, a vulture circling the sky above. I like this place. I feel like I'm somewhere very far away, like Arizona or Utah, even though I can still see the top of the church in Palmerton.

Went to Quarry Lane Park and it was really nice and clean. The swings were great, with a few…read moredifferent options--including one designed to accommodate special needs. The slides look amazing and are super tall; honestly, even adults could have fun on them. The field is huge and perfect for running around or playing games. Overall, everything was extremely clean and well maintained. Would definitely go back and bring my kids!

Quarry Lane Park has something for all ages and dog lovers. There's a nice playground for…read morechildren, bathroom facilities, shaded picnic tables, acres to play soccer and other sports, baseball fields, and plenty of trees. Dogs are permitted on a leash as long as you are kind and pick up after your dog. Please remember to pick up after your dog so everyone can continue taking their dogs there.