Blogs > Day Trippin'

Look here for day and weekend trip ideas and features.

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Stroll the Susquehanna

By: Aixa Torregrosa, Lifestyle Editor

Earlier this summer my husband and I decided to check out Susquehanna State Park in Maryland.
I know, there are plenty of parks and trails around here and Pennsylvania boasts beautiful and scenic natural areas. But we, specially I, had to check it out.
It was worth the effort.
The park is roughly 2 hours from our area and a few minutes off I95 once you go across the bridge over the Susquehanna River near Havre de Grace.
The park runs parallel to the river .
After leaving I95 and the main roads, we drove through some beautiful rolling hills, the smell of honeysuckle -- and dead animals -- in the air.
At the park you can go hiking, camping, boating, fishing, biking, birding, among other activities, and visit the Rock Run Historic Area. For information, check http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/central/susquehanna.html or call (410) 557-7994
Our visit consisted of walking along the river, getting to enjoy the scenery and biking. We biked the
Greenway Trail which starts at Fisherman’s Park at the Conowingo Dam. We enjoyed a warm (but not too hot) day and were treated to striking views of the river, hundreds of herons to watch and an almost-empty trail. Though it is a long drive, for us, it was worth it. The area is beautiful. We also visited Havre the Grace. It is a quaint town with walkable streets, shops to browse and quite a few restaurants. We didn’t get to any museums, but you can visit the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum, the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum and the Concord Point Light & Keeper’s House among other sites. Check http://www.hdgtourism.com. On another recent visit to Havre de Grace we took mom along and enjoyed walking the 3/4-mile boardwalk alongside the Susquehanna River and from which you can access some points of interest in town including the Concord Point Lighthouse. You can catch sweeping views of the river and enjoy some bird watching. There are some benches along the way and while taking a rest at one of them, we watched a seagull catch a rather large fish, toss it around until it swallowed it and then do a little neck dance to send the unfortunate fish down to its belly.
So head down the Mason/Dixon line. You can make it a day at either place, the park or at Havre de Grace. Both places are worth checking out. And if you stop at Fisherman’s Pak at the Conowingo Dam you may be treated to eagles sightings and the occasional black snake, like the one that scared the bejesus out of me and kept my husband laughing (at me) for a while on that first visit.
Note: Since we still have warm days ahead, do not forget the sun block and the bug spray. Carry your own water as well and take your trash with you after you visit.

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Labor Day weekend fun

By BRIAN BINGAMAN

Barbecue jam

WXPN welcomes the Camden County Backyard BBQ. The free event runs 2 to 10 p.m. Sunday in Wiggins Waterfront Park and Marina, Mickle Street and Riverside Drive, Camden, N.J. There will be activities promoting health and wellness, Cajun barbecue, Latin food, concessions, children’s activities and live music by Robert Randolph and the Family Band, George Porter Jr., Russell Batiste, Brian Stoltz, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Tasha Taylor, 61 North, D-For and Subito Sounds. Go to www.ccparks.com.

Seasons start

- The Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University, 420 E. Packer Ave., Bethlehem, opens its 13th season with Chick Corea, Stanley Clarke and Lenny White performing as a trio at 8 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $35 and $40. Call (610) 758-ARTS or visit www.zoellnerartscenter.org.

- Chamber music meets contemporary with Ethel, as the Williams Center for the Arts at Lafayette College, Hamilton and High streets, Easton, begins its Performance Series. The concert is at 8 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $15. Call (610) 330-5009 or visit www.lafayette.edu/williamscenter.

Wine mixed with jazz

Chaddsford Winery, 632 Baltimore Pike, Chadds Ford, hosts its Labor Day Weekend Jazz Festival from noon to 6 p.m. Saturday through Monday. Bring your own picnic or purchase food on site. Along with wine tastings, there will be music by the Steve Rudolph Quartet and the Victory Jazz Orchestra on Saturday, Papa John DeFrancesco, and Denis DiB and George Rabbai on Sunday, and the Dave Posmontier Quartet and Budesa Brothers on Labor Day. Cost is $25. Call (610) 388-6221.

Nordic peoples

Celebrate the history and culture of Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden during Scandinavian Fest from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday at Vasa Park, 1 Wolfe Road, Budd Lake, N.J. Highlights include craft and gift vendors, more than 50 performers on four stages, children’s activities, a Viking longboat, folk dancing and more. Admission is $14, $13 for seniors, free to children under 12. Visit www.scanfest.org.

Higher purpose

Christian rock, hip-hop and singer-songwriters, plus guest speakers, a BMX team and a skateboard team, will all be a part of Revelation Generation on Friday and Saturday at Revelation Farms, 45 Fitzer Road, Frenchtown, N.J. Headliners include Mercy Me, Jars of Clay, Switchfoot, Relient K, Barlow Girl, Underoath, Flyleaf and more. Tickets are $45 for Friday, $50 for Saturday, $85 for both days. For the complete schedule, go to www.revgen.org.

Stars of bluegrass

The Brandywine Friends of Old Time Music presents the Delaware Valley Bluegrass Festival, Friday through Sunday at the Salem County Fair Grounds, Route 40, west of Woodstown, N.J. Musical flavors include bluegrass, old-timey, Cajun music and Scottish- and French-related Canadian music. The bill includes Marty Stuart, Rhonda Vincent & The Rage, The Grascals, Marty Raybon & Full Circle, The Gibson Brothers, April Verch, Dan Paisley & The Southern Grass and the Steep Canyon Rangers. A Children’s Stage will be in operation on Friday and Saturday and will feature the Give & Take Jugglers, magician Chris Capehart and folksingers John and June Gallagher. Call (302) 635-3001 or visit www.delawarevalleybluegrass.org.

Labor Day traditions

- Long’s Park, 1441 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, is the site of the Long’s Park Art and Craft Festival. Besides the works of 200 artists and craftspeople, there will be special events at 2 p.m. featuring other arts — writing on Friday, floral design Saturday, wearable art and jewelry on Sunday and culinary arts on Monday. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday through Sunday, till 5 p.m. on Labor Day. Tickets are $10, $12 for a multi-day pass. Visit www.longspark.org.

- The 66th annual Ludwig’s Corner Horse Show and Country Fair is held 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday through Labor Day at the Ludwig’s Corner Horse Show Grounds, just beyond the intersection of Routes 100 and 401, Glenmoore. On Saturday, the show will feature classes for younger riders and schooling classes. Hunters and jumpers, ranging from adult and child beginners to top regional competitors, will compete Sunday and Monday in sidesaddle, equitation, pleasure and classes for families, pairs and hunt teams. The show’s highlight, the Association Jumper Classic, will begin at 1 p.m. Monday. Exhibitions will feature the Pickering Hunt Pony Club competing in mounted games, and the Thorncroft Mainstreamers, a six-horse, 13-member drill team consisting of riders with and without disabilities ranging in age from 11-15. The Country Fair provides rides, games, shopping, entertainment, food and a tent with games and activities for kids. There will also be an antique and classic car show Sept. 7. Admission $7, $3 for children 12 and under. Call (610) 458-3344 or visit www.ludwigshorseshow.org.

Kids are king

- The Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire offers free admission for children 5-11 (with a paid adult admission) during a Children’s Fantasy weekend, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Mount Hope Estate and Winery, Route 72, south of Pennsylvania Turnpike exit 266, Cornwall. Special activities this weekend only will be a birthday party with Queen Elizabeth, a “Children’s Interactive Music Workshop,” a Children’s Parade, children’s Renaissance crafts and entertainment from Mikael the Mime, Fool Hearty and Empty Hats. Tickets are $29.95, $9.95 for children 5-11. Call (717) 665-7021, ext. 231 or visit www.parenfaire.com.

- Help summer go out with a bang on Sunday as Sesame Place offers a dinner luau at 7:30 p.m. followed by a fireworks display at 8:30. Adults can enjoy the luau feast for $22 and children ages 2-11 are $16. The park is on Sesame Drive, Langhorne. Admission is $50.95, free for children under 23 months. Call (866) GO-4-ELMO or visit www.sesameplace.com.