the_dorf t1_j8zacg2 wrote on February 18, 2023 at 12:50 AM

Forksville - The General Store and World's End State Park nearby

Strasburg - Pennsylvania Train museum, Sight & Sound (the visuals), Down On The Farm Creamery, Antiquing/Fashion Cents, 2 microbreweries, mini-golf, and Amish of course.

Quakertown - QMart, great borough park, trying to revitalize downtown, history (McCoole's/Fries Rebellion)

I also like Jim Thorpe, York (Central Market, thrift shop, york emporium, and the rail-trail), Gettysburg, Mechanicsburg, New Cumberland, Emmaus, Bethlehem, Easton, Riegelsville (family), Lahaska (Peddler's Village), Williamsport, and Mifflinburg (Rusty Rail and rail-trail). My bias is central/eastern, eventually I'd like to explore more western than just Pittsburgh (and I've been to Presque Isle as a kid).

IamSauerKraut t1_j8zm0zb wrote on February 18, 2023 at 2:25 AM

Gettysburg is pretty well known, non?

A lesser known place is Newville. But there's not much there besides seditionists and malcontents.

the_dorf t1_j8zrjf7 wrote on February 18, 2023 at 3:11 AM

Well the downtown is less touristy than the Battlefield area, but has a variety of shops (i.e. a celtic shop was unexpected).

Newville is alright, I loved running on the Cumberland Valley Rail-Trail last month. Wanted to do more, but I was tight on time and found a Shoo-fly pie at a barn grocery near Carlisle. I also like going to BBs near Newburg too. Newville also has a craft brewery (an article from The Burg), but I haven't checked it out yet.

IamSauerKraut t1_j8zvam2 wrote on February 18, 2023 at 3:45 AM

G/burg's downtown is plenty crowded during the summer. Check out the chocolate shop, the Christmas Haus shop and the Polish Pottery shop. Then go down to Mr. G's for the ice cream. :-) If you time it right, you might catch a Bullets xc race in the northern end of town.

There's a craft cheese maker east of Newburg but I've not located it yet.

Further west, one of these days, imma head over to Port Royal and follow either Rt 35 or 75 up the Tuscarora Creek. Reed's Gap, McCoysville, East Waterford, Waterloo, all the way down to 76 and then back up.

the_dorf t1_j8zy62h wrote on February 18, 2023 at 4:11 AM

One thing I do like about Perry/Mifflin county are the drives on the state highways...nothing like quietness, farms, and rolling hills for miles on end. PA 274 from Blain to PA 75 is just stunning.