Pennsylvania boasts plenty of scenic settings where you can escape from it all, if only for a day.

One of them, in my book, is Lehigh Gorge State Park.

Granted, it is a drive to get there, but the change of scenery and (usually) fresher air will surely help you enjoy a mini vacation. And if you save up on gas during the week, reward yourself with a trip for a day.

The park follows the Lehigh River and offers plenty of things to do.

There’s hiking, biking, whitewater boating, fishing, wildlife watching and more.

From our location in Montgomery Township it is some 77 miles and about an hour and a half to the northern access area of the park at White Haven. You can also access the park at Rockport (the central access area) or at the southern access at Glen Onoko (near Jim Thorpe).

On a recent trip, my husband and I went to the White Haven entrance. We took our bikes and wheeled on a 10-mile trek to the Rockport access.
It was easy going on the fine-gravel trail. There is a stretch at the beginning of the trail where the gravel is coarser, but once you cross the road at the Lehigh Tannery access point, it is a nice ride. There is a 2 percent grade or so coming in the opposite direction, and we felt it on our ride back, as we were tired and are only leisure riders.

I recommend taking field glasses or binoculars if you have them, as you are bound to see some birds and perhaps other wildlife. We saw butterflies and plenty of birds.

If you do not have a bike, there are outfitters in the area that rent bikes and offer shuttle services to and from your biking destination.

But just walking the trail is a pleasure.

The section between White Haven and Rockport offered some pleasant surprises for us on our recent visit.We, as always, were not looking at the trail map too closely until we stumbled upon the first of various waterfalls on that section. Then we started to pay attention and found the spots on the map (which we had picked up at the bike rental at White Haven, right off the park entrance).

That stretch of the park was quite enjoyable. We took our time and stopped every time something caught our attention.

There are a couple of spots with a bench, a couple of informational markers and plenty of views to admire. The trail is marked, noting how many miles to the next spot.

We almost missed one waterfall, but decided to pedal the last mile or so to Rockport and were treated to a beautiful view of the falls.
TRAVEL NOTES
GETTING THERE: Plan for a full day, between getting ready, traveling, spending time at the park and traveling back. I recommend you decide in advance which part of the park you will visit and avail yourself of a map to get familiar with the trail. There is a visitor center in Jim Thorpe that has lots of maps, and maps are available at the bike rental at White Haven. Note that the park closes at dusk and outfitters’ closing times may vary.

GEAR: Make sure you have good walking/hiking shoes, sunblock, insect repellant, a hat and comfortable clothes, depending on the weather. To check weather conditions, you can go to http://www.weather.com/.

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: You could pack a lunch or snack. I did not see any picnic tables on the White Haven-Rockport section of the trail, but there are a couple on the Glen Onoko section. Remember to take your trash back home with you and DO NOT FEED THE ANIMALS. Do not forget to take some water with you.

DATE POTENTIAL: Well, yeah, especially if you both are into nature and outdoor activities. If not, the views alone are worth the trip.

GOOD TO KNOW: There are no potties along the trail between White Haven and Rockport. There is an environmentally friendly facility at Rockport. There are restrooms at the bike rental at White Haven. If you are biking, and depending on your biking abilities, you should check trail difficulties before heading out.

MORE INFORMATION: Go to www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/lehighgorge.aspx. EASY ALTERNATIVE: If you do not want to bike nor hike, or are not interested in any strenuous outdoor activity, you may want to consider going to Jim Thorpe and taking a ride on the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway. The 16-mile round trip takes you through Glen Onoko, follows the Lehigh River to Old Penn Haven and then returns. The train runs on weekends, July 4 and Labor Day. Tickets are $12 for adults, $9 for kids 2 to 12. For information, call (570) 325-8485 or (610) 562-2102. Check http://www.lgsry.com/ You can walk about town before or after the train ride. Some businesses are open on Sundays. Do not miss the visitors center, as there are other attractions you may want to check out.

While the drive-in movie era may have passed in the immediate Philadelphia suburbs, it is alive and well up in the Lehigh Valley.
In fact, it came a long time ago and never left.
The very first outdoor theater in the United States opened in Camden, NJ in 1933. The second, Shankweiler's Drive-In, opened in Orefield, PA, just north and west of Allentown, just a year later.
It is still there, showing a double-feature of first-run movies each night from late spring to early fall.
This family-run gem offers great way to see new movies on a good projection system with good sound (the car speakers are gone, replaced by an FM transmitting system) for not alot of money ($7 for adults, $3 for children 12 and under).
Though you could sneak in outside snacks and drinks, there is really no reason to since the snack bar provides a variety of goodies at very reasonable prices. And small touches like chilled candy bars and fresh popcorn served with two layers of real butter really set the food apart from the cineplex competition.
Families often arrive early and bring footballs, Frisbees and the like to play with in front of the screen before the show starts. There is room in front of each vehicle to set up a mini-camp with sleeping bags, blankets, lawn chairs or even a small play tent.


A good FM radio is needed to hear the audio. A battery-operated or car-powered boombox is ideal if you want to sit outside. A car radio also works, just be sure to set the ignition to "accessory" and not "on" to avoid draining the battery (if you do, however, the drive-in has loaner jumper cables).
Start times for movies vary according to the time of year. For current listings and more information, navigate to www.shankweilers.com.
The easiest way to get to Shankweiler's from Lansdale is to take the PA Turnpike extension north to the Lehigh Valley exit, then go east on Route 22 for about a mile and exit on to Route 309 north. In about five miles you will see a glowing red neon sign over the entrance to Shankweiler's on the left.
Also check out Becky's Drive-in (www.beckysdi.com) a little farther north in Berlin, PA. Becky's features two screens, a childrens playground, and pre-show pony rides on some nights.

- Chris Stanley

DAY TRIPPIN’ focuses on being a tourist in our own backyard -- discovering and rediscovering places of interest in our region suitable for day trips and quick escapes from the daily grind. We will, also, on occasion, venture further afield if the opportunity arises.

We want your input!

Let us know about places we should look at – unique and interesting finds we all should know about. And let us know about your own travels. Do you have a favorite local place you like to visit? Share your traveling tips and suggestions with us and your fellow readers. You can also send us your pictures and video links (YouTube, etc.). Post your comment or photo. We hope to hear from you throughout the summer and fall.
See you out and about.

On what turned out to be a beautiful spring day, I recently headed north — to Doylestown Borough — for a quick visit, curious to walk about the town.
I have been in Doylestown a number of times — passing through, visiting the museums, going to a restaurant and catching a movie. But I had never really walked about town for a length of time other than getting from the car to the theater, for example.
I decided it was time to take my time and check out the town. And, or course, I wanted to treat myself to a little escape.
For some, this town may just be down the road. For others, it may be, “Where is that again?”
Anyway, it is just across the county line.
I decided to hop on the R5 SEPTA train at the Lansdale Transportation Center. And, less than 30 minutes later, I was at my destination.
I am glad I decided to take the train. It gave me a chance to view some scenery that otherwise we miss as we drive ourselves. I saw parts of Lansdale that I never see; plenty of backyards already lined up with newly planted vegetable gardens; and quite of bit of woods and winding creeks.
The train station in Doylestown is off South Clinton Street and is a short walk from the center of town to the north and the Mercer Museum and the James A. Michener Art Museum to the east. My first stop was the borough office, where I picked up a map and some other information.
I wandered around town at a leisurely pace with no particular route in mind. A very flexible walking tour. I stopped whenever something caught my eye or just to take in the scenery.
I was treated to a few pleasant surprises. I stumbled onto small park areas that were a delight. One is off South Main Street and behind the Doylestown Historical Society, 56 S. Main Street, a couple of blocks from the train station and adjacent to the 1814 House Inn.
Right at the entrance of the park is a locator map. It gives you an overview of where everything is. I found two other small parks, one named Star Garden, featuring a whimsical mosaic.
Doylestown boasts a bounty of historic and interesting structures. Historic houses bear markers, which makes them easy to spot. I found many clustered around Church, East Court and State streets.
The town is peppered with law and accountant offices, as you will notice. And a conspicuous landmark is the county courthouse at the intersection of Main and Court streets. A garden area off the courthouse features memorials to World War II, plus the Vietnam, Korean and Persian Gulf wars.
The town also boasts a variety of boutique-style shops and an assortment of restaurants through which you could take a culinary trip around the world. You can find pricey shoes, specialties for your pooch, trendy fashions and curiosities.
I made only a few stops to look around: the Doylestown Bookshop at 16 S. Main St.; BusyBee Toys at 58 E. State St.; and Raymer’s Homemade Candies at 21 E. Oakland Ave., where I was seduced by the aroma of chocolate.
This last stop was by accident as I was on my way to catch the train. I was walking along East State Street and I decided to make a turn on a side street. On my next turn, I saw a storefront decked out in patriotic garb but I could not see the inside completely because of the curtains so I had to go in — what’s a chocolate lover to do?
Back at the train station, I had some time to sit at a bench and relax and enjoy the spring sky before heading back home. My visit lasted less than 4 hours.
I found Doylestown to be very walkable. The borough has made a point of making sure that pedestrians are taken care of. Locations are easy to find and, according to borough Manager John Davis, more pedestrian-oriented signs are in the works to further help visitors find their way around.

TRAVEL NOTES

WALKING TOUR: Doylestown will be making available a map and brochure of a self-guided walking tour of the historic district. The information will be available at the borough hall at 57 W. Court St. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. They do have other brochures and informational leaflets on hand. Visitors are welcome to stop by. For more information about the self-guided walking tour call (215) 345-4140.
For additional information about Doylestown Borough, check www.doylestownborough.net/index.htm.
TRAIN RIDE: My morning train ride was $6 round trip. For R5 SEPTA train schedules and fees, check www.septa.com or call (215) 580-7800. Train fares vary.
There is also Doylestown DART, a public transit service that makes a stop at the train station, at Main and State streets and at the Michener Museum, among others. For more information, including a route map, check www.doylestowndart.com or call (866) TMA-RIDE (862-7433). The buses run Monday through Saturday.
GETTING HUNGRY: I spent less than $10 for a hoagie, small chips and iced tea at a local hoagie place at lunchtime. There are plenty of eateries around town. I noticed some opened close to noon on the Friday I visited. You can also consider packing a lunch or a snack.
SOUVENIRS: I bought some candies and pastries for my family, but I lost track (ahem) of this expenditure.
DATE POTENTIAL: A date in Doylestown looks pretty nice — there are plenty of restaurants; the tree-lined streets lend themselves to a romantic stroll; or you can check out an art house movie at the County Theater.
CHECK THESE OUT: Take the kids, visiting relatives and friends to the Mercer and Fonthill museums; they are castles complete with towers and gables. Check www.mercermuseum.org or call (215) 345-0210 or (215) 348-9461. Art lovers should give The James A. Michener Art Museum a try. Check www.michenermuseum.org or call (215) 340-9800. There are entrance fees for these locations. Call before you venture out.
GETTING THERE: If you are going by yourself, maybe taking the train is the best bet. If you are going as a family, you will have to consider the cost of the train vs. taking a car (gas) and parking meter fees. There are metered public parking lots and parking throughout town. I saw parking enforcement officials checking the meters, so make sure you have coins on hand. Parking is available free and 24/7 at the Bucks County Garage at North Main Street across from the courthouse.
EXTRAS: If you visit on a Saturday, you may want to check out the farmers market, which runs from 7 a.m. to noon at State and Hamilton streets. On a recent visit I picked up some fresh spinach and asparagus. For breakfast, try the bagel shop on State Street. When I visited there was a line, so I asked a couple who was in line if the bagels were that good. They said yes, so I decided to wait. You can see the bagels being made. Yes, they were good.
The town holds First Fridays from 6 to 10 p.m. — events held every first Friday of the month — to highlight businesses and the arts. Events are free to the public and are held rain or shine. For information, check doylestownalive.com/firstfriday.

The Reading Phillies is the AA minor-league affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies. Until recently, with the opening of the Iron Pigs new ballpark in Allentown, this was the closest place to see a Phillies farm club in action.

The park, which they call 'Baseballtown,' is located in an industrial area near Route 12 just west of downtown Reading. Built in 1951, it is the oldest park in the Eastern League and has a capacity of 9,000. Though some sections are original, many rennovations have been made over the years to increase capacity and add features like a picnic area, grandstands, food courts and a high-tech video scoreboard. There is even a whirlpool tub in right field for fans who want to catch some bubbles while watching the game. Though the feeling of an old-time ballpark is very much present, all the rennovations mean it never feels outdated.

This is one of the most family-friendly ballparks you will find in any league. The staff tries very hard to entertain between every inning with such fun as hot dog shooters, slingshot contests, a used car giveaway (the cars get more 'used' throughout the game, but the winner can turn them in for $300 cash if they want), and a vegetable race. Yes, four people dressed in vegetable costumes actually run around the field.

I always root for the cauliflower.

Even young children look forward to the between-inning antics.

Player access is very good for autograph-seekers, and once in a while a Major-leaguer (such as Ryan Howard) stops by Reading while on injured reserve. There are no bad seats; even the general admission seating at the top of the stands is similar to what would probably cost $30 at a Major-league park. Ticket prices range from $7 for general admission to a whopping $21 for close-up seats with a buffet. Promotions are plentiful; over the years my family has collected everything from baseball bats to loaves of bread. Some night games include a free fireworks display. And if you want to hang around the park after the game, there is a live music stage and bar under the grandstand.

-Chris Stanley