Parchment Paths

Some places are worth revisiting no matter how much time has passed.  It’s been around five years since I last visited Claws ‘N Paws Wild Animal Park with my dad, niece and nephew, so I was excited to return.   One thing that always strikes me about the place is how lack luster the first view is, an unpaved parking lot and a small structure surrounded by fences and trees.   Do not let this deceive you. The small structure is the gift shop and once you pass through there you see that the whole zoo winds through forest trails.  While it’s not as large as some other zoos, there are certainly a wide variety of animals, ranging from wolves, to lions, to giraffes, to goats and hawks.  While the forest setting can be a bit difficult to navigate, it adds to the ambiance and makes the animals habitats more natural looking and feeling.  The maps are easy to follow or you can just pick a path and discover what is along the way. The paths are not pave...

Growing up in Pennsylvania, I’ve always been fascinated with the state’s coal mining heritage.  I’ve taken the Lackawanna Coal Mine and the museum several times.  Yet, I had never visited Eckley Miner’s Village , even though I drove past the signs every week on my way to my brother’s house.  After looking it up online and saying I would go for about a year, I finally made it happen this month.  Since the village is so close to my brother’s home, I took my niece and nephew along.  Our first stop in the village was the visitor’s center where we purchased our tickets for the museum and walking tour.   Originally, I hadn’t planned on taking the guided walking tour due to its length and my niece’s age, seven.   I thought that it might be too long for her but when I told her it was an hour and half of listening to our guide speak, she assured me that she would not get bored. While her attention did wonder a bit, I’m still glad we took t...

I know some people would not consider trips to museums to be exciting adventures, but I beg to differ.   Museums are windows into the past, collections of beloved pastimes, and an exploration of the human spirit.          I sset Acres Museum in Huntingdon PA managed to showcase the wonders of history without forgetting the sadder, grimmer side, such as the story of the last man hanged for murder in the area. However, it was definitely a fun visit with something to spark everyone’s interest, vintage toys, WW2 uniforms, cars, old medical equipment, train sets, camera, antique printing presses, and so much more.             The museum is divided into three large main buildings and as with most museums, they have many more items in storage. The first building resembles a barn from the outside, so it’s natural that a section of the large exhibit space is dedicated to farm equipment. ...

The last time I visited Moon Lake, the former counter park turned state forest, it was permeated with an air of faded joy, decay, and abandonment.  The grass was overgrown, the buildings were spray painted and boarded up, and the picnic tables were weathered and well, splintery.  I recently made a return visit and was pleasantly surprised by the improvements.  My dad had revisited the park beforehand and had told me of the changes. Of course seeing them gave me a complete picture of how much the park is changing.  Save for the stone work and pavilion, the entire pool area has been demolished and filled in.  While I’m sad that the pool could not be saved, or be explored Adam the Woo style, it’s comforting to know that grass, flowers, and trees   can now grow once again.    Before Before After  After Before After  I felt the same way abou...