Visiting Pennsylvania
Here's what we're looking for -- suggestions to some cool, funky, off-beat places in Pennsylvania. We know what's on the tourist maps. What we're looking for are: Great ice cream shops or farm stands; little towns or crossroads with fun and funky stores and "local kultcha"; rodeos, unusual museums or collections on display, free concerts, neat places to take the kids, pick-your-own farms, festivals and summer theaters, haunted hotels, bizarre monuments, shrines, vintage bowling alleys, great factory tours. We'll consider almost anything, and the more off the beaten path the better. Please send suggestions to midday@wypr.org, or call in during the 1 o'clock hour of Midday, 88.1, WYPR.
Our guest is Chris O'Toole, co-author of Off The Beaten Path Pennsylvania
Comments
There used to be an ice cream shop in Strasburg, PA, very near the railroad museum, that made fabulous ice cream--rich and creamy--and their own sugar cones. I remember walking along the tree-lined streets on a summer afternoon, working on a huge scoop of delicious ice cream in one of those huge fresh-baked cones.... Heaven, pure heaven.
Posted by: Dottie | June 12, 2008 9:59 AM
There is always the eternal tap at Straub Brewery:
http://www.straubbeer.com/brewery.htm
Posted by: joeboe2001 | June 12, 2008 10:11 AM
Coal Country has some quintessential PA things: Yuengling brewery, the Molly Maguire handprint at the jail in Jim Thorpe, Centralia (didn't say they were all good).
I second the vote for the Eternal Tap.
Posted by: Brett | June 12, 2008 12:59 PM
Just about 10 minutes north of the state line off 83N is Loganville Pa. The places to go are Browns Orchard Market with great local produce and baked goods. Down the street a bit is Springfield Bowling, where you can bowl free on Sundays with a copy of your church bulletin. Up the street is Loganville Barn, which has a little bit of everything, old and older. If they don't have it, then you don't need it! Just about 1 mile north is Carman's ice cream which is in the back of a house and has great vanilla. About two blocks north is Elsie's Restaurant which has massive pancakes for breakfast for cheap. All close by, about 45 minutes from 695 just take a left at the Glen Rock exit and a right on Susquehanna Trail.
Posted by: Bob | June 12, 2008 1:38 PM
Dottie, it seems to me that ice cream shop is on the corner where, if you turn left you'll head toward the Lancaster outlets while straight ahead will take you to the Strasbourg Rail Road Museum
Posted by: Eve | June 12, 2008 3:21 PM