ExpERIEncES Me or We 18 ADVENTURES TO ENJOY AS A GROUP OR ON YOUR OWN By Adam Reger Some trips are more fun with friends and family. Others are just right for a contemplative solo experience. And then there are these Pennsylvania attractions where you can have it both ways: have a blast with your crew or enjoy these adventures independently (and at your own pace). Amish Village, Ronks At Norristown’s Elmwood park Zoo , group rates are available if you’re taking your own menagerie to see giraffes, eagles, and American bison, but the zoo’s shaded, winding paths are just right for strolling on your own, too. 1 2 Join a Historic Bethlehem Tour or bring your own group (of at least four) for a custom tour exploring colonial-era churches and cemeteries, the history of Bethlehem Steel, or the city’s Moravian heritage. Explore today’s Amish lifestyle at the Amish Village in Ronks. Visit a one-room schoolhouse with friends or take a solo backroads bus tour past horse-drawn buggies and farmers working the fields. 3 Visit Herr’s Snack Factory in Nottingham on your own to learn how Herr’s crisp, golden chips are made, or bring a posse as you crunch pretzels, cheese curls, and other snacks. 7 4 Eat your way through Philadelphia’s Italian Market as a party of one with a city Food Tour or explore Reading Terminal Market with a crew. Come alone or bring a group—but make sure you bring your appetite. In Doylestown, 86 West offers upscale dining for all. Have a seat at the sleek bar if you’re by yourself or book a 8 In Pottsville, take a tour of D.G. Yuengling & Son ’s brew house, Rathskeller, and hand-dug caves and tunnels. Explore on your own or raise a glass with friends in the brewery’s tasting room. Share a blanket with friends at King of Prussia’s concerts Under the Stars or find your own patch 11 12 40 visitPA.com CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: DISCOVER LANCASTER; J. FUSCO FOR VISIT PHILADELPHIA; HAPPY VALLEY ADVENTURE BUREAU At clyde peeling’s Reptiland in Allenwood, you may want someone to grab hold of as you get close to mambas, pythons, and cobras. Or glimpse giant tortoises in thoughtful silence as you navigate the park independently. America’s oldest continuously operating farmers’ market, Lancaster central Market is a perfect place to grab lunch with your group so everyone can pick out what they want from individual food stalls. Or wander the aisles alone, filling your bag with locally grown produce and freshly prepared meats, cheeses, and baked goods. 5 reservation for your whole group to share tapas-style plates of sushi and sashimi. 9 Whether you’re with a busload of friends or sipping solo, you’ll find something remarkable at Halifax’s Armstrong Valley Vineyard & Winery and its tasting room, where you can sample the distinct tastes of Pennsylvania. At Taste Buds Kitchen in State College, you can create (and eat!) a multi-course menu with friends or come by yourself to meet fellow chefs as you explore new cooking techniques and mouthwatering flavors. 6 10
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