what to do in selingsgrove

we are thinking about spending a night or two in selingsgrove with a one year old. What is there to see or do?

what to do in selingsgrove

I%26#39;ve never actually stayed in Selinsgrove, but have drove through about a zillion times. So I could be wrong, but I don%26#39;t think there is much to do there. There are a couple of hotels, I think because there is a college. The mall is the only highlight I can think of and its not much of a mall.

I would reccomend Hershey or Lancaster which are about an hour away as a place with much more to do. Hershey has the park with lots of kids rides that a 1 year old might like. Or Chocolate Town USA which is a free ride that shows how chocolate is made. Near Lancaster is Strasburg with the Railroad and also the Thomas the Train attraction which a 1 year old would love.

Someone please let us know if I%26#39;m wrong about Selinsgrove.

what to do in selingsgrove

You are absolutely correct. There is nothing much to do in Selinsgrove. It is a small town but a lovely one. The people are friendly and the streets are clean. On Saturdays, there is an Amish gentleman sets up his stand to sell their produce. Susquehanna University is the main attraction in Selinsgrove, and if you have college age teens, Susequehanna is an awesome well kept secret -- it%26#39;s a wonderful school that has a large beautiful campus with many opportunities that won%26#39;t be found in larger schools.

If you are looking for excitement, the main strip that leads into the main street of Selinsgrove has a lot of stores, and there are nearby towns, with some shopping and eateries. The closest main attractions are going to be in Harrisburg, Lancaster and Hershey.

Lewisburg, only 20 minutes away, offers a quaint shopping area and is the home of Bucknell University.

There is a nice family park and amusements less than one hour away near Elysburg, PA. Families rave over the clean environment and wide range of activities. See www.knoebels.com if interested!

Selinsgrove is a clean, sleepy college town with a fantastic, selective little university (parents of budding college students, take note!) Not much to do for tourists except river-related activities. A couple of wineries along Route 45 west - (a gorgeous 1 hr. drive toward Penn State University). Word is, a new shopping center with great stores is coming in 2008.

It has a strip with lots of chain restaurants/stores - but try the smaller main street nearer the college for more quaint shops/restaurants. Selinsgrove is along Route 15, a major N/S route traveled by many snowbirds.

The fantastic university in Selinsgrove is called Susquehanna University. Everyone I ever talked to who went there loved it.

Ski Side Village

We have a 2 bedroom at Ski Side Village booked for the week of Oct 20th. Can anyone give me any info on this resort?? My husband and I are taking our mothers for a few days getaway. We are going to Strasburg to see ';In the Beginning'; Tuesday. Monday we will be visiting with my brother and his family who live in the Tannersville area. Any ideas what to do Sunday/Monday/Tuesday evening?? Our mothers are 77 and 78 - so too much physical activity is definately out!!

What are the units at Ski Side like?? Are there many stairs to the units? I would like to know for the mothers sake so we can be prepared.

Ski Side Village

Don%26#39;t stay here! We stayed there the first week in October -- Ski Side Villas are old, dank, falling down and smell like mildew.

We found Tannersville to be beautiful. We unfortunately stayed at Ski Side Village. The facilities are deplorable! -- Such as:

Porch is falling down

Carpet was filthy and unswept

Unswept Patio had no furniture or view

Mattresses were sloped to the center and worn out

Bedspread was very stained

Range was filthy

Dishwasher was full of dishes

Sink was not clean

Dirty furniture

Burned-out lightbulbs

Patrons are asked to empty their own trash in a container about 1/2 mile away

Patrons are asked to strip bedding and towels before leaving

Safety bar in bathroom was broken -- a hazard

Ceiling fan blades were filthy

I could go on more, but I think you get what I%26#39;m saying. Visit Tannersville, but not at Ski Side Village!

Ski Side Village

My week is already booked - too late to cancel and get something else for the week. Since this is a deal thru RCI - I guess I will be calling them to complain when I get there!! Hopefully maybe (wishful thinking!!) you just had REALLY bad luck??

Should I rent a car?

I%26#39;m flying in to Philly for Parents%26#39; weekend at Penn, and staying at the Embassy Suites in Center City. Can I rely on cabs? I hear they%26#39;re dangerous in Philly. Busses or subway? We%26#39;ll probably be eating a few meals in restaurants, also.

Should I rent a car?

You will not need a car. Cabs and public transportation are very convenient. I cannot imagine why you heard that cabs are dangerous. I have never heard or perceived this.

Should I rent a car?

Don%26#39;t rent the car. Really not worth the expense and the hassle to drive in the city. Our cabs are fine -not dangerous in the least.

Suzanne

No ! Don%26#39;t rent a car ! Driving and find a parking space is a hassle in center city. Cabs and public transportation will save you $$$ and less stress!!

Coming from the airport, I suggest you take the R1 train (run every 陆 hour) to your hotel. It only $5 per ride/per person and it takes to directly to 16th and JFK鈥?hence only a few blocks away from the Embassy Suite at Ben Franklin Parkway. BTW, if you planning to take the cab, the flat rate is $26.25, so don鈥檛 let them over charge you鈥OL, cab drivers in Philly are not dangerous, they are just reckless driver and sometimes they lie that their credit card machines doesn鈥檛 work so that you have to pay them in cash!!!!

Just a note- the R1 fare between the Airport and downtown is now about $7.00.

That%26#39;s Right !!!!!!!!!!! Darn Septa just hiked the price !!!

Hotels in Grove City

We will be in Grove City and were wondering which hotel is nicer between the Holiday Inn and Hampton Inn. There seems to be favourable reviews for both. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Hotels in Grove City

I think that you meant to post this under the Grove City, Ohio forum.

Hotels in Grove City

Have stayed at neither the Holiday Inn Express nor the Hampton Inn across from the Grove City outlet mall because I only live about 20 minutes away, but your posting would be correct to the Grove City, PA forum if you were looking for the outlet mall in Mercer, PA. They are not actually in the town of Grove City, but right off of I-79 which is not that far from the town.

I was thinking maybe they meant Grove City, OH because there is both a Hampton Inn and Holiday Inn Express in that city.

We meant Grove City, PA.

Both get good reviews, but hotels in the area tend to be high priced. So the HI or Hampton will probably cost you $$$

Same person owns both and they are beside each other. That said Holiday Inn Express is a little nicedr but older. If I were oyu I%26#39;d stay whichever is cheaper.

Any recommendations for a city tour

Hello: Aside from Just Ducky Tours, does anyone have a recommendation for a relatively comprehensive city tour of Pittsburgh (e.g. Gray Line tours in other larger cities)?

I%26#39;m looking for a 2-3 hr bus tour where you get a nice overview of the attractions of the city. Thanks for your help.

Any recommendations for a city tour

There is a company that offers Segway tours.

Here is a link to an article in the Pittsburgh paper that talks about the different tours offered in the city:

www.post-gazette.com/pg/07210/804728-37.stm

Any recommendations for a city tour

I would just add that I very much recommend the Just Ducky Tours. They are fun and a nice overview of the city.

Also, from where you catch the Just Ducky, you can also catch a ride up the Monongahela Incline. IMHO, going up one of the inclines is a must-do in Pittsburgh.

Just curious, Halifax-are you coming in to see Sidney play this weekend?

You can also board, at the same location on the city%26#39;s South Side, the Gateway Clipper Fleet, which offers a number of sightseeing cruises. Here%26#39;s a link:

http://www.gatewayclipper.com/cruises.asp

Just Ducky is a terrific tour; I would also recommend it.

Thanks for all of the helpful replies.

Penzgirl - believe it or not, even though I%26#39;m from Halifax, I%26#39;m coming for the Steelers game and am taking a pass on Crosby and the Pens. I%26#39;m hoping he has another great year for your Pens!

Well, thanks for sending Sid our way. Looks like you%26#39;ll have nice weather for the Steelers game. Go Steelers, go Pens, hope you have a great time!

Thanks for the tip on Segway tours. It was a great and reasonable way to see Pittsburgh. Highly recommended.

Hilton Pittsburgh and things to do?

Hi. Two Questions:

I%26#39;m currently booked for the Hilton Pittsburgh for Thursday and Friday night. I know its under renovations. Anyone stayed here recently or know of anyone, and if so, did the renovations bother you during your stay?

Question 2. I%26#39;m going to catch a Penguins game. I was hoping for suggestions for bars/clubs (preferably bars) areas where it is fun/around my age (22-26). Any ideas would be great. Also, any recommendations on things to do around town?

Hilton Pittsburgh and things to do?

Although it has been about a year since we stayed at the Hilton, I like it and find the rooms clean and comfortable. I%26#39;m not sure how far along on the renovations they are, but if they are disturbing you I%26#39;m sure the staff will do everything they can to accomodate you or move your room.

As for things to do, I highly recommend the South Side for bars. There is every type of bar you can imagine, from the local dive bar where the cement mixer drivers hang out (Brewski%26#39;s) to funky modern with Mexican influence (Iguana Grill). The Iguana is also a fave on Saturday nights for their $1 Miller Light drafts. You%26#39;ll pay $3-$4 per drink every other place.

Check out this link

http://www.southsidepgh.com/index_new.htm

for more information on the South Side.

One thing though, it really is not walking distance from the South Side to the Downtown Hilton so you would need to cab it.

Hilton Pittsburgh and things to do?

You might also want to go over to Station Square (it is walkable from the Hilton) and from there catch the Incline up to Mount Washington for the view. Station Square also has a few fun bars.

Friday night there is a Gallery Crawl downtown not too far from where you%26#39;re staying. I don%26#39;t know how artsy you are, but it%26#39;s a fun scene. Downtown is not a big bar area, but you can find a few upscale spots around Penn Avenue like Sonoma Grille and Seviche.

Anytime, but particularly on Saturday morning/afternoon, it%26#39;s fun to walk around the Strip District. You could walk from your hotel, it%26#39;s about a mile, or there%26#39;s a little tourist booth across from the Hilton, they can tell you which buses would take you there.

Welcome, have fun. And may the best team win!

Correction, the Gallery Crawl is next weekend. Sorry!

Thanks a lot guys. You%26#39;ve both been very helpful. Looking forward to a great time in Pittsburgh.

skin care

Parking near the Fillmore?

Trying to decide how to get to the Fillmore (334 South St) - is parking difficult in that area?

Parking near the Fillmore?

Parking is very difficult in that area, as is traffic, especially on weekends. Even if you manage to get something on-street, the spot is metered and the time limit is usually 2 hours. You can%26#39;t feed the meter beyond the 2 hours- you WILL get a ticket. There is a pay lot on Bainbridge Street between 4th %26amp; 5th, but the garage at 2nd %26amp; Lombard is a better choice. There is also a garage at 2nd %26amp; Sansom, but that is a much further walk, though you will avoid the South Street traffic.

Hotels near Waterfront shopping district?

Are there any hotels at the Waterfront shopping district (just over the bridge from Squirrel Hill)? This would be a convenient place for our upcoming weekend stay, but I don%26#39;t remember seeing any during our last visit. I also don%26#39;t know what neighborhood or streets to look for to check hotel locations. Thanks.

Hotels near Waterfront shopping district?

There is a Courtyard that is rather new near the Costco. The hotel is nice; but ask for a room away from the elevators. We had a room right beside the elevators last month and it seemed rather noisy during the night.

Hotels near Waterfront shopping district?

Courtyard by Marriott - very nice hotel. Nice indoor pool are with hot tub, small fitness center. We had a view of the river from our room and I think all rooms do. Would be very pretty now with foliage. Nice lounge area although it was not open when we stayed. Computer for use in lounge. Outdoor patio seating area with firepit, which also was not in use when we stayed. I think this is a new hotel and some amenities were just getting underway when I was there in early July. We all enjoyed it. Nice rooms with fridge and great decor. Definitely recommend this hotel.

Any leads to less expensive motels in the Manayunk area?

I%26#39;ll be relocating to the Manayunk area am in need of information on the less expensive motels in the area.

Thanks,

Todd

Any leads to less expensive motels in the Manayunk area?

To my knowledge, there are no hotels in Manayunk. Probably the closest area with hotels would be Conshohocken - either the Conshocken Marriott or the Residence Inn there - or Chestnut Hill has a hotel aptly named the Chestnut Hill Hotel. Both are probably about 15 minutes from Manayunk, though.

Hope that helps, good luck.

Suzanne

Any leads to less expensive motels in the Manayunk area?

The closest hotel would be the Hilton on City Avenue, but I wouldn%26#39;t stay there. Manayunk is about midway between Conshohocken and downtown Philadelphia. Nothing is really inexpensive- check the discount sites.

Forgot about the hotels on City Line Ave. The Hilton gets terrible reviews, as does the Holiday Inn there. I believe there is a Homewood Suites that gets fairly good reviews - perhaps check out those rates.

Suzanne

Thanks Suzanne, much appreciated.

Todd

Sheraton Station Square parking

Are there parking lots near this hotel other than the hotel-supplied parking at $16/day? I believe there are public lots nearby, but not sure of location and charges? I got this hotel on Hotwire for $89/night. Expedia lists $350!!!

Also, I want to check out Southside. Is this walkable? I don%26#39;t think so, but thought I%26#39;d ask.

Sheraton Station Square parking

There are open air lots across the road from Station Square. I%26#39;m not sure what the rates are per day, but you may be better off (and safer) paying the $16 for the garage parking. They are all run by the same company and there is a website for Station Square where you may be able to find more information.

The South Side is a bit of a hike from Station Square, but I think the Sheraton has a shuttle that will take you there and you can walk around the South Side without a problem.

I wouldn%26#39;t want to walk from SQ to SS because the road narrows from 4 lane commercial area to a 2 lane residential area with rowhomes on one side and a very steep cliff on the other. It is only about a mile though.

Sheraton Station Square parking

Wow you sure did get a deal, that%26#39;s for sure. Good job.

If you did want to walk over the the Southside from your hotel, just stay on the left side of the street, there%26#39;s a sidewalk for miles.

The other side of the street doesn%26#39;t have sidewalk for a piece but once you%26#39;re beyond 10th street you can walk on either side of the street...you%26#39;ll see. Personally, I%26#39;d take a bus or a taxi, parking is iffy on the Southside, depends on time of day or day of the week too. Sides streets are often one way, high curbs and if you%26#39;re not used to parallel parking, well, that%26#39;s another issue.

Have a great time!

Also, a lot of the side street parking is for residents. There are a couple of lots on the South Side but who wants to feed meters all night. They patrol HEAVILY for parking violations.

Besides, drinking and driving is a no-no!

Rentals in Gettysburg

I am planning on traveling to Gettysburgand the vicinity with possibly 6 other people next summer. I am familiar with the area as far as attractions, places to eat, etc.. but I am looking for a rental where we could cook meals and basically use as a home base why we are there for the week. I really would rather not have a hotel for a whole week as it can get pricey eating out and if we just wanted a day to relax it would be nice to have an efficiency or a house. If anyone can help me out in this area I would appreciate it.

Thanks!

Rentals in Gettysburg

There%26#39;s one about 6 miles out of town

http://www.tinrooftrading.com/

and another one on York St but I can%26#39;t remember the name of that one. You can rent by the week.

Rentals in Gettysburg

On www.gettysburgcvb.com go into the visitor section and click on accommodations. It will list a category of vacation rentals, click on this and it will bring up two houses that you may want to look at. One is the Gettysburg Cottage located a few miles outside of Gettysburg which has its own website,www.thecottageatgettysburg.com. The other house is in town and is called The Third Summer which is a new one on their list and has contact info on the Gettysburg visitor website but could not find website for just the house. Both of these houses say they accommodate up to 6 people.

Thank you very much. I will check them out today!

We stayed at the Quaker Valley Orchards Guest house just north of Gettysburg go to: http://www.quakervalleyorchards.com It was clean, peaceful and I thought very reasonable in price. It has the kitchen you are looking for, a dinning area, living room, bedrooms first and second floor and a deck. Bathroom maybe be tight for six persons but it is a lovley apple farm.

If you want to stay close to downtown Gettysburg, the Cricket House is on East Middle Street, a few blocks off the square %26amp; at the entrance to the Culp%26#39;s Hill area of the Park. It%26#39;s a refurbished cottage with a full kitchen, kiving room, master suite and luxury baths including whirlpool tub %26amp; a separate steam room. Offers a full, privacy-enclosed backyard with a hot tub %26amp; patio. Looks gorgeous %26amp; the user reviews have been wonderful. Their website is www.crickethouseatgettysburg.com.

thanks for all the great info! I have inquired about most of these and I am sure that we will choose one of them.

This sight has been so helpful!

Definately check out Orchard Hills Suites - just outside Gburg in Ortanna...

cheesesteak among other things......

A friend and I wil be in Philadelphia Friday October 26, 2007 and plan on staying there for the weekend. The first thing we want to know is where to find the best cheesesteak. The 2nd thing we want to know is if there are any special events going on that Friday and the 3rd thing is suggestions on places to go in general while we%26#39;re out there. By the way we%26#39;re from Chicago :)

cheesesteak among other things......

1. Aaah...the great Philly cheesesteak debate.

The vast majority of posters on this forum tend to recommend either Jim%26#39;s Steaks (4th and South) or Campo%26#39;s (2nd and Market.) I am a fan of Jim%26#39;s Steaks (have been going there since I was a kid), so that being said, I always recommend Jim%26#39;s. I have never had a Campo%26#39;s steak, but I am guessing that you can%26#39;t go wrong there, either. Most of the people on this board tend to agree to avoid both Pat%26#39;s and Geno%26#39;s in South Philly - while they are considered Philly ';institutions'; for cheesesteaks, the quality just simply isn%26#39;t there when it comes to the sandwich and, in all honesty, I just think they are big tourist traps at this point in time.

2. Here%26#39;s a website to browse for events on Friday, 10/26 -

http://www.phillyfunguide.com

Just plug in your date and see what sparks your interest.

3. Not sure what you like, so if you give more specifics about the kinds of things you like to do, then we can make more targeted suggestions about where you should go/do while you are here in Philly.

Love the Windy City, by the way!

Please let us know if you have further questions.

Suzanne

cheesesteak among other things......

One word of warning in regard to Jim%26#39;s Steaks: lines. South Street is a popular hangout area for college and high-school age kids on the weekends and very long lines develop to get into Jim%26#39;s. I pass no judgement on whether the wait may be worth it, but just warn you to expect it.

Hi. We%26#39;re just back from Philly (still working on trip report) and used suggestions from this forum and tried Campo%26#39;s for lunch while visiting the historical district. Excellent cheesesteak! Also tried one of their hogies but we liked the cheesesteak better. We also had a cheesesteak and roast pork w/greens at Tony Luke%26#39;s on Oregon and I-95 on the way to the airport. Both very good also. Chicago Italian beef sandwiches are hard to beat though--love Chicago and Philly!

Any local opinions on Tony Luke%26#39;s? I was going to stop at Pat or Geno%26#39;s, but you have convinced me to go elsewhere. I will be driving in from the airport and thought it best to stop for my first cheesesteak before I get closer to the center of the city.

Tony Luke%26#39;s is the most convenient to the airport and is also a good example of the genre. The mapquest directions will get you there. Or, you can take I-95 North from the airport, and get off at Packer Avenue. Take Packer to 7th, turn right, take 7th to Oregon, turn right. Tony Luke%26#39;s is about 7 blocks on your left. Use Google Maps to investigate the I-95 ramps.

Thanks (again) Owlyn for directions.

Tony Luke%26#39;s has great cheesesteaks, but it%26#39;s hard to pass up the Pork Italiano (seasoned roasted pork, provolone and garlic/olive oil sauted brocolli rabe)

I%26#39;ve been to Tony Luke%26#39;s several times. The cheese steak is pretty comparable to Pat%26#39;s and Geno%26#39;s, which I think both are slightly above average. What I do go to Tony Luke%26#39;s for is the Italian Roast Pork with Broccoli Rabe and Aged Provolone. This is to die for. If you do go, don%26#39;t forget to ask for the long green peppers, it%26#39;s a must. Also, if you really get hungry, grab a batch of their Mussels Marinara.

Jerome Bettis Grille 36

Did Jerome%26#39;s restaurant get opened in May? Has anyone eaten there? If so, how was it and where is it exactly?

Jerome Bettis Grille 36

My huband and a bunch of his buddies rode their bikes up there a few weeks ago. It%26#39;s located on the North Shore in the old Del Monte building,very close to the stadiums.

They all enjoyed their meal and hubby said the prices were comparable to any other bar/restaurant in the city. We%26#39;ll be going again soon.

Jerome Bettis Grille 36

What%26#39;s the address?

Del Monte Building/Grille 36

325 N Shore Dr

Pittsburgh, PA

Thanks.

I took my family there last night, they were in from Louisiana %26amp; my brother is a very ';crazy'; Notre Dame fan and is a GIANT fan of Jerome Bettis. So I thought it would neat to take him there.

To start off, we had to weight over 1/2 hour for a table, they do NOT take reservations. There is no place to wait, except for the bar. By that I mean pull up a bar stool to the bar!! The music was so loud that we couldn%26#39;t talk to one another. At the bar my husband ordered a beer, I ordered a GingerAle. My husband got the beer, I never got the Gingerale and the bartender never spoke to us again, never even came close to where we were sitting!!!

Finally after being show to our table, we ordered our food,. Brushetta for an appetizer, not that good. I%26#39;ve had much better. Hubby orders Rigatoni with sausage. The sauce had an unusual taste to it, not so good, and the sausage was fiery hot, not just regular hot. He only ate a few bites. My sister in law had Linguini with meat sauce, same sauce as hubbys, and about 1/4 way through it found a hair that was not hers. She was Done! I had a burger that was just okay. My brother had a turkey wrap that was okay.

They didn%26#39;t their food back, because we were all tired, and just a little disgusted. We did however tell the waiter, who offered all kinds of replacements, desserts, etc. and then ended up giving us credit for their meals. Just the same, I was disappointed, in the experience.

I appreciate them crediting the food, and I know we didn%26#39;t have to stay and wait for a table, but we did. and this is what happened.

If you think that you will find any Bettis memorabilia, FORGET IT!!!

There is none. It%26#39;s just another loud sports bar.

%26lt;It%26#39;s just another loud sports bar%26gt;

That is absolutely correct - nothing special about Grille 36 at all, and it is, as noted, very loud. Food is ok to mediocre, and the service is mostly poor. Lots of better choices.

pitt on sun nts

anyone know of any cool hangouts on sunday nts when there is no game going on. besides sports bars, any good singles bars or cool clubs that are happening on sunday nt? staying at sheraton station square, i know there is a bunch of places, but where to go that nt is the question.

pitt on sun nts

Unless food is a big deal for a place, they won%26#39;t be open on Sundays.

Close to where you are staying, you can try Red Star Tavern and Hard Rock Cafe. Gandy Dancer is open, but I don%26#39;t think the jazz and martini crowd is what you are looking for.

You may try further up into the South Side. I think places like Piper%26#39;s Pub, Iguana Grill, and Mario%26#39;s will likely be open.

Have fun and enjoy your stay!

pitt on sun nts

Jack%26#39;s on the Southside...dive...yes. Open 365 days a year, best place to go when there%26#39;s no where else to go...lively-----yes!

October Chocolate Walk

The Lititz Kiwanis club sponsors a Chocolate Walk in the historic town of Lititz. It is on the second Saturday in October. There are 20+ stops throughout the shopping district of Lititz. At each stop a Chocolate candy maker offers a sample of their candy. You may purchase the candy if you wish. A ticket is required but the proceeds benefit local charities. The time is from 10 am to 2 pm. Each vendor uses one of the many premium commercial chocolates that are made by Wilbur Chocolate Company. Wilbur Chocolate has been in business since 1865. This is a fun tour of the town of Lititz and you get to sample Chocolate! Is there anything better than that?

October Chocolate Walk

The Chocolate Walk is great!! My husband and I participated in it two years ago and had a really good time visiting the shops and eating chocolate.

October Chocolate Walk

The Chocolate Walk was a great success again this year. The 2008 Chocolate Walk will be held on October 11 from 10 am to 4 PM. Prepurchase of buttons is required. Check out www.lititzpa.com for more information

skin care

downtown hotel with indoor pool and breakfast

coming to gettysburg next week and stopping for one night. Looking for a hotel within walking distance to battle field that would have breakfast and indoor pool. Or just with breakfast included. Any ideas?

downtown hotel with indoor pool and breakfast

I stay at the Quality Inn Gettysburg Motor Lodge on Steinwehr Avenue. It is located right in front of the National Park Vistor%26#39;s Center. The hotel is almost on the battle field. They have a nice indoor pool with a hot tub. They include a breakfast, and if your interested they have a bar on the property.

downtown hotel with indoor pool and breakfast

We can also recommend the Quality Inn Motor Lodge....great location, clean rooms, good breakfast.

Fall Foliage updates, anyone?

How is it looking for North or Central PA? Little help, thanks!

Warm weather slowly down the change?

Fall Foliage updates, anyone?

I was in the Poconos the beginning of this week, and a few of the trees were just beginning to change.

Fall Foliage updates, anyone?

For fall colors information in all regions of PA, check out www.visitpa.com/visitpa/foliageReport.

For fall colors in just the Poconos, try www.800poconos.com.

Thanks, but I am looking for personal accounts. Bump this one up.

I traveled by motorcyle last weekend from Erie to Wellsboro (PA Grand Canyon area) on Route 6 through Allegheny Mountain areas. The temperatures were super warm! The leaves were changing but still quite a bit of green, although a lot of it was probably from pine trees. Quite a bit of yellow and oranges, but not a lot of red yet. That was last weekend. The next week or so should be great.

Thanks for the live report! Did you have a great ride on the GAR road?

I live in Elk county. Leaves here are half turned in the valley and at their peak in the higher elevations. THe elk are still in the rut and bugling every day.

Cameron county is pretty green yet but Mckean is turned very nice this weekend.

Hope this helps.

We were in the Columbia and Montour counties area over the Oct 5-7 weekend. About half the leaves were turning. Very few reds, mostly yellows. It was amazing to drive back home and see how the change in elevation affected the colors.

Was in the Poconos the end of last week (again). Some brilliant reds mixed in, but the majority of the trees are still green. The colder temps. of the weekend may be helping to move things along. I think the height of the season may be a week to ten days ahead!

All your reports were great. We were up in the area around Wellsboro and Mansfield this weekend. About 30-50% at best, but below there (even just 15 miles) it was just not changing yet. Isolated pockets at most. Seems that you have to go further west and stay across the Northern Tier to see anything. About a week to 10 days(at least) as someone previously suggested for more southern to central PA spots. The warmer weather probably slowed the pace. Keep them coming. Thanks again for your input.

Philadelphia to Newark International Airport

I am travelling to Sweden with a girl%26#39;s soccer team this summer. We are leaving from Newark and flying to Gothenburg. What is the cheapest and most convenient way for a group of 30 to travel from Philly to Newark International Airport?

I would also love any travel tips from anyone who has attended the Gothia Cup in Sweden. Thank you!!!

Philadelphia to Newark International Airport

I can%26#39;t give you a definitive answer, but I would consider a charter bus. You would get door-to-door service at a pick-up point of your choice, and they tend to be pretty economical. One such company is David Thomas Tours (www.davidthomastours.com) that offfers a variety of bus types and sizes, but you can certainly get competive bids over the phone.

You could use regional rail( Septa to Trenton, then NJ Transit to Newark airport), but changing trains would be a hassle with 30 people.

Philadelphia to Newark International Airport

Thanks for the advice- a chartered bus sounds like the best way to go.

You could also drive to Trenton or Hamilton Stations ( 95 to Route 1) and catch a NJ Transit train. There is a Newark International Airport stop.

I did this for a group trip I organized. Go with the chartered bus. Trying to shepherd 30 people on the train or other transit is not the way to start a trip, especially with luggage! And split over 30 plus people, the bus cost should be pretty reasonable. I think back in 02 it was about $700 each way including a tip for a VERY nicely appointed bus (you can do School Bus style for much less).

steeler tix

Does anyone know of someone that sells tix for the steelers games, beside brokers on the net? Going to mon nt game against miami on 11/26. Was there last year and had great seats from connection back at home, but not looking good this time around. What about scalpers before the game? DIdn%26#39;t see too many out there last year. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

steeler tix

I%26#39;m not sure how much luck you%26#39;ll have with scalpers this year either.

Have you tried stubhub.com? They aren%26#39;t brokers, but a site for fans to sell tickets to other fans.

Good luck finding something for the game!

steeler tix

The Steelers have a Ticket Exchange on their web site, click on ';fan zone';. It%26#39;s a new service and last I heard it was not very heavily used, but could be worth a shot.

Horseback tour renting bikes

We are interested in taking the horseback riding tour. Is this a worthwhile endeavor for first time visitors? Are the tour guides very knowledgeable?

Also, we like to ride bikes, and we understand there are bikes for rent there, are there tours or is it just to tour on your own?

Any info would be appreciated.

Thanks,

dashcarter

Horseback tour renting bikes

Some of the horse tours go with a licensed battlefield guide, so yes, they are knowledgeable. You%26#39;ll have to ask about it when you make the reservations. A previous reply noted there is a weight restriction, so if that%26#39;s a concern, you%26#39;ll need to ask about it also.

There are at least two bike rental places in town. I am not aware of guided tours on bikes. However, there is a new business that offers rentals of those Segway things, and they do offer a guided tour. It%26#39;s called Scoops and Scootz and is on Taneytown Road.

Horseback tour renting bikes

I don%26#39;t know if I am too late or not.

We did the horseback tour last fall and really enjoyed it. They took us through the battlefield (on a special trail) and we wore headsets that narrated for us what we were seeing. The headsets were a bit cumbersome at first but you get used to them after a bit. The tour was about 2 hours and we learned a lot.

GettysBike tours does bike tours and rentals. They came highly recommended to us and we had a great time. I did the horse tours the year before and they cover the same ground twice. On bike, you cover the vast majority of the battlefield. I%26#39;d go with GettysBike.

Best ';Non-Obvious'; Historic Sites

Hello, All,

My son is gearing up to do his 4th grade ';Pennsylvania Project';, which is an in-depth review of a historical site, presented by the student. We will visit the site as part of the project, and create visual aids, etc.

I thought I might ask you to share what you believe to be the most interesting site(s) in Pa, that lend themselves to this sort of student project. I am especially interested (as the title of this thread suggests) in ';non-obvious'; sites. We are outside of Philadelphia, so everyone and their brother will be doing Colonial Phila sites, Brandywine Battlefield, Valley Forge, etc. Our older son did Eastern State Penitentiary, which was very interesting, in part because he was the only student reporting on that site.

So, fire away -- where are those historical gems in Pa.?

Thanks, Jean

p.s. We are willing to travel, so we are not limited to Phila area sites. Thanks!!

Best ';Non-Obvious'; Historic Sites

Try the Cloisters in Ephrata, PA. It is very historical and something everybody in PA should see. It would make a great report and trip.

Best ';Non-Obvious'; Historic Sites

oil well state park birth place of morden oil bussiness.

A few suggestions from Northeast PA...

Scranton has tons of museums/sites on our coal mining heritage, and there%26#39;s an entire preserved coal mining village in the Hazleton area, ';Eckley Miners Village.';

Also, the Wyoming/Forty Fort/Exeter/West Pittston area (a cluster of small towns between Wilkes-Barre %26amp; Scranton) was extremely important in the settling of colonists to this area - their waring with the local Native Americans resulted in the Battle of Wyoming, a particularly bloody part of this area%26#39;s history. One particulary interesting but obscure piece of this history (most locals don%26#39;t even know about this) is the ';Bloody Rock,'; a large rock on the banks of the Susquehanna River in Wyoming - apparently, Queen Esther, a Native American, ordered the deaths of settlers captured during battle by having their skulls crushed against this rock - this was in retaliation for the death of her son. Our local PBS station (WVIA) did a documentary on the Battle of Wyoming - if you contact them, you may be able to get a copy.

Good luck to you son!

Maybe too offbeat, but consider Laurel Hill Cemetery, one of the few cemeteries in the US designated a Natiional Hisoric Site. Among many notables buried there are 40 Civil War generals and 6 Titanic passengers. www.thelaurelhillcemetery.org

Thanks for the wonderful ideas -- very thoughtful! I%26#39;d be interested to hear of any additional sites that other TA posters think of!

Jean

I was just thinking like Pawriter....how about Steamtown National Historic Site. Wow, what a neat place for boys. You can ride in the steam engine train and if they wear light colored clothes and leave the window down and some of that steam engine stuff sprinkles in, it would make a nice picture for their project...maybe even a smudge on their faces. It%26#39;s not expensive. You can also get a cab ride...that%26#39;s more, but would be exciting to a train lover. Lots of books in the store; tons of trains in various stages ..... sort of a no kill shelter for historic trains. And lots of perfectly restored ones on display as well as the ones you can ride in....there are sleeping cars, mail cars, an historic waiting room, etc. Lots of hands-on stuff with sound, too.

And Nay Aug Park. What a fantastic use of amazing space. For the historic...the Gorge and Waterfall Natural Landmark, magnificent things created by the ice age...now that%26#39;s historic! And while you%26#39;re there, the Everhart Murium with 20000 specimens, a Dinosaur skeleton and fossils....and myabe on the weekends you will still be able to cathc the zoo; you can enjoy the trails and giant tree house and if you go back in the summer, include swimming and the amusements.

The coal region along 81 - Shenandoah, Frackville, and many many other towns - offers something else we find intriquing...the Slavic Orthodox onion dome churches. Perhaps these are not unusual to you but I have never seen any in the US until we started our I-81 drives. We find them amazing and beautiful.

p.s. that%26#39;s obviously %26#39;Everhart Museum%26#39;:)

How about Frank Lloyd Wright%26#39;s Fallingwater, important in architectural history? http://www.paconserve.org/index-fw1.asp

Pittsburgh has Fort Pitt, part of our pre-Revolutionary history: http://www.fortpittmuseum.com/History.html

(And having just returned from our first visit to Pittsburgh, we highly recommend the city.)

Here%26#39;s a site that offers lots of other possibilities:

http://www.explorepahistory.com/stories.php

Thanks for the suggestions, all.

And wythany, my son came home today and told us that Fort Pitt is in his list of top choices -- I guess we%26#39;d better gas up the car! Still welcoming suggestions in the Eastern part of the state -- ;)

Jean

Maybe a little less obvious and closer to home would be the Revolutionary War battles of Fort Mifflin (adjacent to the PHL airport) and Paoli. I just read 3 fascinating books by Thomas J. McGuire on the battles in and around Philadelphia and was amazed at the significance and age (pre-Revolution) of Fort Mifflin, plus its later use in the Civil War to hold Confederate prisoners.

Also, the battle of Paoli (McGuire devotes an entire (slim) book to it, certainly qualifies as ';less obvious'; and is also an very interesting account.

In central PA, perhaps a visit to the PA towns (other than Gettysburg) that were invaded by Confederate troops: York, Hanover and Carlisle are the three that I know. There should be plenty of sources for the battles, who was involved and their military or political significance.

In western PA, how about visits (and a paper) to the Monongahela area, a major site for the 1790s Whiskey Rebellion in defiance of a federal tax on whiskey. The rebellion spread to other states%26#39; ';frontier areas'; and, eventually, President George Washington and Lighthorse Harry Lee led an army of 13,000 men into Western PA to suppress it. Wikipedia has a nice summary with more info to get you started.

Anyway, just a few more ideas to add to the other excellent ones offered by other TA members.

Eagle Lake Community

I looked into the Eagle Lake Community as an affordable vacation getaway. I know that you cannot use any of these homes as a primary residence, and I would not want to live there year round anyway. However, for the price it seems like I can%26#39;t go wrong. If anyone has any information, opinions, experience, etc. with this community please let me know. I tried to do my own searches, but I can%26#39;t find any reviews from real people. Also, my family and I went there this past Thursday and have already found a home we like, only $30k for 1.5 bedrooms and 1.5 baths fully furnished. When we went, I didn%26#39;t see anyone in the community, except for one home where people were hanging out on the deck and a security car patrolling the grounds. It seemed odd for middle of June. Thanks in advance for any advice.

Eagle Lake Community

My wife and i have been at eaglelake at least 12 years we love it it is for all seasons we love fall and summer two white sand beaches a gigantic pool jacuzzi beautifull pool side patio with dinning area

club house and resturant game room fitness center tennis courts[8]min.golf eighteen hole being built cross country skying ice skateing nature trail i can go on and on i even wrote a poem about eagle lake if you are interested you can contac me via e- mail lfrattini@verizon.net no cap. no space

Louis Frattini-phila.pa P/S A LOT OF N.Y.ER:S AT EAGLE LAKE

Eagle Lake Community

I have been a member of the Eagle Lake community since 1994.

It is the best managed community in the country. I bought in when my 4 sons were young and we all enjoyed the time spent there at the beach, lake, and pool. The kids were involved in all the activities they have during the summer. Now that the kids are older we still can%26#39;t part with it and occassionally go and still enjoy the tranquility of the winter months. The children go to stay and enjoy the nearby skiing at Montage mountain %26amp; Camelback Mtn. The area has plenty of attractions and many good restaurants. The upkeep is minimal and affordable. I wish I could go more often and maybe someday I will when my wife and I are retired. July %26amp; August are the busiest months especially July 4th and the three day weekends in the summer. Security is excellent and the workforce is friendly and helpful. The clubhouse has many activities for all.

IT%26#39;S JUST A GREAT PLACE.

The only drawback for me is traveling on the Cross Bronx Expressway to go over the GWbridge, but you can schedule it so you don%26#39;t have to deal with traffic. I use to leave from L.I. on Thursday night %26amp; leave on Monday night. But no matter the trip was worth every effort when we arrived.

Wish you luck on your decision and hope this helps you.

If you have any specific questions you can even contact their Web site at: www.eaglelakeca.com

Cant say for Eagle Lake but my brother used to live in Gouldsboro - great location

Italian Market

My family and I will be in Philly the Monday before Thanksgiving. I have read that the italian market is closed on Monday%26#39;s. Do you think that they will be open since it is so close to the holiday? We are only p0assing thru and would love to see it.

Italian Market

It will be closed. Sorry.

Italian Market

The reading terminal market should be open however, if you need to do a little shopping..

Some vendors are open on Mondays, including two of my favorites, DiBruno Bros. and Isgro%26#39;s Pastry. However, Fante%26#39;s (cookware) is usually closed on Mondays as are most of the produce vendors. You might go to the Italian Market website, phillyitalianmarket.com, and check various vendors to see who will be open. Please note than when you go to that website some of the vendors have direct links to their own websites and others (like Isgro%26#39;s) don%26#39;t, even though they have their own websites.

If you go to the market on a Monday it won%26#39;t have the same feel as when everything is open. Have you considered a trip to the Reading Terminal Market instead?

Lynn

Definitely don%26#39;t pass by an opportunity to stop in Isgro%26#39;s at 1009 Christian St. for award winning ';Best of Philly庐'; cannoli!

Restaurant near Courtyard downtown

Any suggestions would be great, this would be for a Thursday night.

Moderately priced would be great, not looking for a fast food.

Thank you.

Restaurant near Courtyard downtown

Which town or city?

Restaurant near Courtyard downtown

so sorry, Pittsburgh

Sonoma Grill right next door. It may be a little pricier than you are looking for. There are many other restaurants downtown which you could walk to. What type of food do you like?

Considering Six Penn Kitchen, any comments?

Six Penn - yes. I ate there once and liked it. Trendy atmosphere, dinners probably @ $20.

Sunday only, 1st time, want to get a local feel for Philly

My first time in Philly will be on a Sunday. I arrive at 11 am, so from noon on I have the whole day to explore. I%26#39;ll be a solo female traveler staying a block away from Rittenhouse Square. I%26#39;d like to explore nearby and in safe locations. I will leave the following day after a long meeting so my time is limited.

My goal is to get a general feel for the city and not spend time in long lines visiting historical attractions (I%26#39;ve read some posts that on Sundays the lines can be up to 2 hours line to get in to some of the popular places).

What I%26#39;m most interested in seeing are the areas the locals hang out at, lively areas, places that are hip and trendy, some cool boutiques and some good food.

Also, I wouldn%26#39;t mind getting a drink at night...any suggestions around Rittenhouse Square? Looking for a place to meet locals that are in their early 30%26#39;s, not a very expensive place but hip, modern, chic and or lively.

Sunday only, 1st time, want to get a local feel for Philly

If the wetaher is nice (so far it is supposed to be) just walk around the area. Stroll through Rittenhouse Square- maybe get a cup of coffee to go and sit in the center of the park and people watch. Walk down Walnut Street towards 15th. Lots of nice (expensive) shops (don%26#39;t know if they%26#39;ll be open on Sunday). Walk down 15th to maybe Pine. Turn right and walk up Pine to about 20th. Turn right on Pine and walk 1/2 block up to Delancey St. Walk down Delancey as far as you can, then cut over to Spruce or Pine. Keep heading toward the higher numbers. You%26#39;ll eventually hit a park along the river. Enter the park, walk to the right and it will eventually take you up to the Art Museum. You can walk bak the same way, or walk down the Parkway to 20th Street and turn right, and walk down to Walnut.. The entire walk should be safe.

For the evening, I think Continental Midtown, at 19th %26amp; Chestnut would be perfect for you.

Sunday only, 1st time, want to get a local feel for Philly

If you want locals and lively, go to the parking lot of Lincoln Fiinancial Field about one thirty. It will be plenty lively. Just kidding, you are in a great part of town for what you are looking for. It is a safe area so I would just sniff around you will find plenty.

There are some really cool and hip boutiques popping up in Old City. However, the area around Rittenhouse has some fabulous shopping too ( all of the stores are chains - from low to high end).

What type of food are you interested in?

In addition to Continental, I would also try Tria or Rouge for a drink.

What time of year will you be here?

Lynn

Thanks so much for the replys!!

I definately will not be hanging out at that parking lot :).

I plan to be there in 2 weeks and I like all types of food, doesn%26#39;t matter what ethnicity, just some place good, mid range, with a lively crowd.

I think the Continental Midtown would be a great bet for both food and drinks, along with Tria. I like Rouge for the bar scene as well - the food is good but pricier than the other two places I just mentioned.

If you like Irish pubs, a nice one with good for is The Black Sheep Pub on 17th Street, right off of Rittenhouse Square. Great food, too.

Suzanne

golf mid november

would like to golf in mid november, Is the weather suitable and where would you suggest for good affordable golf in the state. Somewhere with accommodations close by. Thanks

golf mid november

Last year, we were golfing into January! Crazy, but true.

It%26#39;s a hard call, though - but given the weather we are having this fall, temperatures are still feeling like summer, so unless you hit a bad patch, my best guess is that you probably will be able to golf into November.

Honestly, my knowledge of golf courses is limited to the Philadelphia suburbs. However, one public, reasonably priced course stands out to me - the Jeffersonville Golf Club. It%26#39;s a par-70 course, with greens fees under $50, including a cart. It is very well-maintained. It really challenges both the beginner and the more advanced golfer as well.

Check out hotels on a site like Expedia in either the King of Prussia or the Plymouth Meeting area (both about 10 minutes away.)

Let me know if you have further questions, happy to help!

Suzanne

golf mid november

Weather in November is somewhat unpredictable. It would probably be a ten day window you could see if the weather will cooperate. There are an abundance of golf courses in the Lehigh Valley. Most are reasonable. Allentown Muni is Probably cheapest, but Wedgewood, Locust Valley reasonable, Center Valley more expensive. A few north of Allentown Bethlehem in Northern Lehigh are good. Betlehem Mini, Green Pond in Easton are also options. I think there is a web site for the Lehigh Valley Vistors Bureau. if you Google it you should get all the details. I have played most of these, so if you need more infor let me know

Bike tours?

Is there any company that gives bike tours in gettysburg?

Bike tours?

There are at least two licensed guides (licensed by the National Parks Service) who will take guests on a cycle tour of the battlefield. You can rent bicycles from Gettysburg Bicycle %26amp; Fitness (717-334-7791), who will also arrange a guide for you.

Brian Duncan, The Brickhouse Inn, Gettysburg

Hotel Recommendation?

Hi!

Any advice on a hotel in the New Cumberland area? I%26#39;m actually going to be driving to Dillsburg (the Diamond 7 Ranch) each day. I%26#39;m trying to find a place that would be an easy commute with as little traffic as possible.

I am travelling with pets, which always makes it a bit more challenging.

Thanks!

Hotel Recommendation?

Actually if you are traveling to Dillsburg, you may want to stay in Mechanicsburg off Route 15 in the area of Wesley Drive/Rossmoyne Business Center. It will be an easy drive south on Route 15 to Dillsburg. In that area there is a Comfort Inn, Hampton Inn, and Country Inn %26amp; Suites. I have had relatives stay at the Comfort Inn on Wesley Drive, Mechanicsburg and they were pleased with the facility. Don%26#39;t stay at the EconoLodge on Gettysburg Road in Mechanicsburg.

Hotel Recommendation?

Thanks! You can%26#39;t always tell by looking at a map how long or unpleasant the drive will be.

Looks like it%26#39;s the Hampton Inn for us, even though I%26#39;ll have to take a smoking room because of the dogs. (Comfort Inn would charge $50 a night for my two dogs, and Country Inn doesn%26#39;t accept them.)

What%26#39;s the drive like from Carlisle? There%26#39;s a Sleep Inn there with reasonable pet fees. I%26#39;ve stayed at Sleep Inns other states, and they were nice.

I agree with FE that your best position would be in the Mechanicsburg/Camp Hill area. Some other possibilities to investigate would be the Amber Inn (small but clean independent) and the Best Western, located just off the turnpike. Both of these are older motels, however. A third possibility: Ramada Limited, which is actually on the west side of Mechanicsburg and probably 20 minutes from your destination. This Ramada seems to have some management problems, at times.

Carlisle is 9-10 miles west on the turnpike from the Gettysburg Pike exit. The Sleep Inn to which you refer is really quite a comfortable stay. It is south of the turnpike entrance several miles along 81, and has easy access to route 74 which you can actually take east/southeast to Dillsburg. The drive is picturesque through rolling farm land. It is an option I would investigate. I would count 25 minutes from the Sleep Inn to Dillsburg via this route. Sleep Inn puts out a decent continental breakfast, as well.

Just thought of the fact that there is also an Econolodge just north of Dillsburg on route 15. I have never stayed there, but from the outside, it looks like fairly basic lodging. It would likely be your closest lodging to your destination, and my bet would be that they allow pets, as well!

After reading TA reviews of that Econolodge, I have second thoughts! Sounds like a real dive! Ignore my suggestion for the Econolodge of Mechanicsburg, PA. I%26#39;d drive a little further for something in which you will feel comfortable.

Thanks!