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.

Cute little campsites. Has everything you need. With tall tall tall tall trees. Very green. We…read morereally enjoyed it here. It's perfect for families with kids and there are little playground areas to enjoy. The bathrooms were overrun and dirty so a head's up on that. The lakes and beach areas were cute and very kidsy for the little ones. I found the waters way too murky for my preference but if you love bullfrogs and lily pads in black water then this is the spot for you. I just can't do too much algae overload.

Kilgore is a lovely place for an easy to moderate hiking trail. It's open daily but you need a…read morepermit on the weekends from Memorial day to Labor Day I believe. To get to the waterfall you have to walk a path that's about 10-15 minutes. You will have to climb over some rocks in the water in your travels, but once you get to the waterfall you will absolutely love it. *Please note* Wear comfortable shoes because there are some areas that could be potentially dangerous if you don't take your time.

[Coronavirus review] This is a small site auxiliary to Rocks…read moreState Park. Notably, the parking lot requires an advance reservation on peak dates, and this policy has been expanded to cover more dates due to the pandemic lockdown pushing people to spend their days outdoors. The trail is a short loop to the falls. Great Falls this isn't, but it's significant enough to generate a nice spray. A rather upset-looking fish flopped down shallow water as I approached. Upstream of the falls was a challenge. Few fords were viable, perhaps owing to heavy rain, and signs suggesting the area was blocked off were ignored by expeditions looking for better crossings. I made it across the stream and back, but I did get a little wet. The scenery isn't worth a long drive on its own, but paired with the other local park sites, it makes for good viewing, and in particular this space with its parking limitations can't get too crowded.

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

Beautiful Park, quiet and peaceful surroundings-had a nice picnic with my husband. Exercise walking…read moreup steps to get a beautiful view of the lake. Will enjoy visiting again.

I headed up to Cameron-Masland Mansion on a warm, sunny October Sunday, planning just to check out…read morethe scenic overlook... and accidentally stumbled into the Friends of Kings Gap Annual Garden Harvest Day. Food, crafts, live music, crowds, and enough traffic to require Park Rangers directing cars--definitely more than I bargained for, but sometimes that's half the fun. The mansion itself is a gorgeous 32-room stone villa perched on the mountaintop, built in 1908. On this day, the inside was open to wander through, though I admit I was a little disappointed to find vendor booths set up in many of the rooms. Not exactly ideal for soaking in the mansion's character or snapping quality photos, especially when another full field of vendors was set up right across the street. Still, it was cool to step inside and imagine what life here must have been like in the early 1900s--quiet, peaceful, with endless valley views. Speaking of views: the terrace overlook is the true star here. On this bright, cloudless day, with the leaves just beginning to turn, it was absolutely stunning. The terrace even had two velvet chairs and some pumpkins set up for a fun fall photo op. I spent the most time here, just taking in the sights and thinking about how many people have stood in that same spot over the last century. I also popped by the Education Center and wandered through the mansion garden (though the garden seemed like it could use a little love). All told, it was a fun stop that combined history, nature, and a little unexpected festival energy. I don't know that I need to go back, but it was definitely worth visiting once--and that view alone is bucket-list worthy.

We stopped by on a whim today. We drove to the top of the mountain to the mansion. What a…read moregorgeous view! There's quite a few pull offs with picnic tables. There's walking trails and a bridge over a small creek. There's also an education center.

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 remember the place from growing up nearby. We have had many memorable camping trips there over…read morethe years.

One of the most beautiful state parks in Maryland. Amazing views of the valley and is only a 2 mile…read moredrive away from iconic High Rock. It is situated right on the Appalachian Trail and is a perfect place to enjoy a peaceful picnic. A great play area makes this an ideal location for get togethers for families.

I love Pen Mar Park! It a great way to escape to take time look around take in the unique art work…read morethe kids do. Also aside from the art the view is breathtaking! You can see for miles lifts the spirits especially these times we face and what we're about to face.

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.

Our recent visit to the Camp Hill area of PA was made so much nicer having this park close to our…read morehotel. It certainly left me wishing I had a park with these amenities close to my own home! We were really just looking for a clean playground for my daughter to get some energy out, but I was so impressed that Siebert Park also had a large swimming pool (Olympic size I want to say), walking trails, tennis courts and a full football/soccer field. It was really a beautiful spot to spend an afternoon. The county is clearly committed to making this a clean, safe environment for residents. There was no noticeable litter, there were receptacles available for recycles and I especially appreciate the No Smoking signs near the play equipment. We enjoyed our time here and I would highly recommend it for locals and visitors!

Sieber Park is among my favorite parks in the area for many reasons. First there is a nice, shady…read moretrail along side the brook. The trail is not paved but provides a good variations of terrains, keeping the short hike interesting. We usually start the hike from the trailhead near the pool parking lot by N 25th St. When you cross the bridge, you have the option to turn left to continue north toward the Conodoguinet Creek, or head straight into the wood for a fun hilly hike which I usually do. By the way, if you do continue north toward the creek, you'd reach the water access point on Creek Rd where you can deploy kayaks or tubes for the 3 miles of downstream to the Susquehana River. Then there are the plentiful amenities that makes this park stand out: swimming pool, beach volleyball court, football/athletic field, cabin, and even a gaga ball pit in addition to the usual tennis courts, basketball courts, and children's playground. You will also find track and field grounds scattered around, albeit none of us will make use of them: discus, shot put, javelin, hammer throw, etc. Now, I must mention even as the park got notably improved over the years, the value it provides to me actually diminishes. For example, the football/athletic field is now a full-blown Camp Hill Stadium but open during actual events only, and the tennis courts are for paid member badge access only. Both of them used to be open to public. So Sieber Park's rank on my list has gone down, but we still frequent it for the fun hikes.

I recently discovered LeTort Spring Run and Nature Trail, and honestly, I'm still annoyed with…read moremyself for not knowing it existed sooner. I've lived in Central PA nearly my entire life--and even in Carlisle--and somehow this peaceful little gem flew completely under my radar until it popped up on social media a few weeks ago. Once I realized it was only about a 20-minute drive from my house, it immediately earned a spot on my must-visit list. Naturally, I wasted no time--early the very next Sunday morning, LeTort was my destination. According to LeTort's website (and because I love a little history with my walks): the trail is named after James LeTort, a French-Swiss trader who settled near the stream in the early 1700s. The area once hosted mills and tanneries and later became internationally known for cold-water fly fishing. Today, LeTort is famous for its limestone trout stream, bird watching, and a 2.5-mile out-and-back trail that's wide, flat, and easy to navigate. There are multiple access points, ADA-accessible fishing platforms, interpretive signage, and plenty of opportunities to feel outdoorsy without having to scale a boulder or question your life choices. I parked in the newly developed lot on South Spring Garden Street and was thrilled to find...absolutely no one else there! Sunday morning hikes are sacred to me--they're about quiet, reflection, and resetting my brain for the week ahead--so having the entire place to myself felt like winning the nature lottery. The sun was just coming up, casting that soft, golden morning light that makes everything feel calm and slightly magical. I specifically chose LeTort because it promised well-maintained, ADA-accessible paths, as opposed to my usual "billy-goating through the woods" adventures involving rocks, roots, and questionable footing. This particular Sunday, my brain was heavy and my soul needed something gentle. LeTort absolutely delivered. I didn't pass another human the entire time I was there (10/10 experience for me), but it's clear this trail would be perfect for folks with strollers, dogs, or mobility aids. The paths are wide, flat, and beautifully maintained, with lovely views along the stream. Wildlife was very much awake and active--squirrels were busy being chaotic, birds were everywhere, and a few mallard ducks were enjoying their best peaceful-morning lives. My two favorite moments from this visit really stood out. First was the view from a bridge near Bonny Brook Road, where I stopped to watch ducks gliding through the creek while squirrels chased each other across fallen trees spanning the water. It was serene, peaceful, and exactly the kind of quiet beauty I needed. The second moment surprised me: a Sharpie-marked message on a wooden signpost that read, "ALWAYS HAVE HOPE." I'm not usually a fan of graffiti, but that message hit me square in the feelings that morning and felt oddly meant just for me. Sometimes the universe shows up in weird ways--even via Sharpie. LeTort Spring Run is a solid choice for a low-impact, easy walk when you want fresh air without breaking a sweat or navigating rugged terrain. There's plenty of parking, plenty of space to move comfortably, and plenty of beauty if you're paying attention. It may not land on my frequent-visit list, but I'll absolutely keep it in mind as a future picnic spot once spring and summer roll around. Sometimes the best adventures are the quiet ones--and LeTort is a really lovely place to slow down, breathe, and just be.

This is a rather easy and underwhelming bike trail, but an OK one for walking/jogging. The reason…read moreis it's only 1.7 miles long. The trail is narrower than a typical rail trail and is paved with crushed stones. Best parking for the trailhead is at the Lamberton Middle School. In the visitor parking just head toward the building and veer to the left and you will see the trailhead. At the end of the trail at S Spring Garden St, there's a posted sign announcing the extension of the trail all the way to Heisters Lane and is expected to be completed in July of 2021. That would add at least .9 miles to the trail, making it more presentable and worth while to visit. Officially the trail starts from LeTort Park which adds .3 mile to the length, but that would include 3 blocks of street biking interconnecting the 2 segments. By the way, LeTort Park has a nice setting for duck and goose watching if you're into that sort of thing.

Absolutely love this park! There are baseball fields and several small playgrounds. Our kids like…read morethe "Fun Fort" that's in the back of the area. Ample parking, several port-a-John's, and benches and shade.

Dog park is closed for renovation. No idea when it will reopen but doesn't look like anytime soon…read more Wish they would update website!!