2020-01-07 05:20:44
Verdant rolling countryside leads the way to mom-and-pop farmers markets, antique shops, artist studios off the beaten path, and romantic covered bridges. Waterfalls, riverbanks, and forests beckon to be explored by foot — or enjoyed with a picnic on a relaxing summer day. The history lives on in quaint historic districts, unique museums, and preserved homes. Revisit timeless pleasures here: riding a carousel, traveling by train, and leisurely pedaling a bicycle. HIGHLIGHTS KNOEBELS AMUSEMENT RESORT, ELYSBURG Roller coasters, water slides, and magic carpet rides are among the many reasons to stop at this family favorite with free admission. Tip: Sound like a local and be sure to pronounce the “K” in the name. CLYDE PEELING’S REPTILAND, ALLENWOOD Come face-to-face with Komodo dragons, giant tortoises, snakes, American alligators, and other scaly critters. Don’t miss interacting with (and feeding!) some feathered friends at Parakeet Landing. MIFFLINBURG BUGGY MUSEUM, MIFFLINBURG Transportation buffs should brake for this museum complex, featuring tours of the family home of coach maker William A. Heiss, as well as the original buggy factory and showroom. NUMIDIA DRAGWAY, NUMIDIA Rev things up at this speedway where you can test your own vehicle on the track or watch a variety of thrilling races, including NHRA drag racing. CHILDREN’S MUSEUM, BLOOMSBURG Let the kids burn off some energy interacting with 50+ hands-on exhibits, including maker spaces, puppet shows, and play zones. T&D’S CATS OF THE WORLD, PENNS CREEK Home to more than 50 big cats including lions, tigers, and leopards, this rescue center also provides sanctuary for birds, foxes, bears, and primates. Plan your visit on select days from May through September. ANTHRACITE OUTDOOR ADVENTURE AREA, COAL TOWNSHIP Put the pedal to the metal and kick up some dirt at this dedicated trail system for ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes, and other off-road vehicles that sprawls across 7,500 acres of forested coal lands in Northumberland County. SCOUT ONE-OF-A KIND FINDS If roadside curiosities and vintage relics are the types of things that brighten your drive, then plan on making plenty of stops in the Valleys of the Susquehanna. At Bill’s Old Bike Barn in Bloomsburg, discover a collection of close to 200 vintage motorcycles, including a 1914 Triumph and a 1913 Harley Silent Grey Fellow, alongside treasures including European carousel horses and a 1909 Peugeot. Shift gears to a different form of transportation at the Milton Model Train Museum. At the heart of this mom-and-pop museum is a hand-built re-creation of the town of Milton, featuring interactive push buttons and amazing details including stained glass and blinking street signs. The rolling hills of the region are home to a number of hidden-gem parks. Idyllic Montour Preserve in Danville is a nature-lover’s paradise, with more than 10 miles of trails through fields and forests, a 165-acre lake and family activities ranging from maple sugaring to fossil hunting. Also in Danville, the Tee-to-Green Golf Center features lighted mini-golf, a driving range, and state-of-the-art virtual reality golfing simulators. The Valleys of the Susquehanna offers treasures of the artistic variety, too. Situated on the campus of Bucknell University in Lewisburg, Samek Art Museum boasts an impressive collection of Baroque and Renaissance paintings, Japanese art, 20th-century photography, and modern and contemporary art, showcasing artists as diverse as Rembrandt and Salvador Dalí. From folk art to ephemera, there’s no telling what you’ll find at Silver Moon Antique Mall & Route 15 Flea Market, also in Lewisburg. With dozens of eclectic vendors and Pennsylvania’s largest weekly flea market on Sundays, you may just score your own museumworthy masterpiece. When you’re ready to kick back and relax with a refreshing beverage, stop by Civil War Cider in Lewisburg for an ever-changing tap list of artisanal cider made in-house with apples sourced within a 50-mile radius of the pub.
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