Lucy Reflects

It’s nice to skip out of town with the kiddos or whole family every so often and explore something new and exciting. It’s personally one of my favorite adventures, so I’ve made a list of places around one to two hours of Lancaster to check out that are free or inexpensive.

SPRINGTON MANOR FARM

Located in Chester County, Springton Manor Farm is a demonstration farm with an agricultural museum, working barn, pasture with goats, donkeys, cows and more. There’s pastures to explore, picnic area, gardens, trails and more. And it’s completely FREE. Alongside the Chester County Facilities and Parks Department, the non-profit Friends of Springton Manor Farm maintain the picturesque grounds and keep the farm pristine and in working condition with interactive activities kids can participate in along the way. For more information on the farmlands, visit friendsofspringtonmanorfarm.org or follow them on Facebook. Another perk is that September Farms is just down the road they make their own cheese, offer lots of samples and a great menu.

GIFFORD PINCHOT STATE PARK

Located in Northern York County, this state park offers lots of attractions for the outdoorsy type. It’s 340 acres of hiking on the Mason Dixon Trail, with picturesque views of red bud trees and a large population of swallowtail butterflies. There’s also a swimming area with a beach, complete with concessions, grills, playground and shaded areas. Follow the park on Facebook to get up-to-date information and learn more.

CHANTICLEER GARDENS

This place looks amazing! Admission is $10 for adults, however kids 12 and under are free, which makes it an inexpensive excursion in my book. On the grounds is a pond garden, Asian woods, orchard, a tea cup garden, the Chanticleer House, elevated walkway and much more. Chanticleer Gardens looks like it’s straight out of a fairy tale, so be sure to check it out (www.chanticleergarden.org). They are closed for the season until March 27 and are open Wednesday-Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

HAWK MOUNTAIN

I’ve been to Hawk Mountain a handful of times and it’s such a peaceful getaway. It’s not a state or federal park but a non-profit that does rely on fees to keep it as a raptor sanctuary. Adults are $10, kids under five are free and ages 6-12 are $5. Hawk Mountain offers many trails, look-out points, a river of rocks to climb on, a visitor’s center and more. For more information, visit www.hawkmountain.org.

MISTER ED’S ELEPHANT MUSEUM AND CANDY EMPORIUM

Located close to Gettysburg, this unique attraction features an elephant museum with over 12,000 elephant figurines, circus souvenirs, toys and more. There’s also gardens to explore, each with themes like the seven dwarves, shade garden and sun garden – all of which is free. The Candy Emporium offers 70 flavors of homemade fudge, roasted nuts, old-time favorites and much more. For more information, visit mistereds.com.

ROADSIDE AMERICA

Dubbed as a “uniquely odd” attraction, Roadside America is an attraction that features tiny villages throughout the museum and miniature railroads. The 7,450 square-foot miniature landscapes cover 200 years of history. Admission is $8 for adults, $5 for kids 6-11 and kids under 5 are free. For more information, visit www.roadsideamerica.com.

MIDDLE CREEK WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT

I grew up across the street from Middle Creek and still love exploring it. Known for the snow geese migration, this preserved land is operated by the Pennsylvania State Game Commission and is a great place to check out any time of the year, with lots of trails, a small visitor’s center/museum and a beautiful lake. (All of which are FREE). I always pair this visit with a trip to The Pretzel Hut, a tiny roadside café that features homemade menu items, ice cream and one of my favorite petting zoos of all time. You can literally snuggle with bunnies, turkeys and mingle with peacocks. For more information on Middle Creek, visit https://www.pgc.pa.gov and www.pretzelhut.com to check out more about The Pretzel Hut.

BLUE MARSH

We’ve featured Blue Marsh before, but it’s worth mentioning again. It’s a great place to explore in the spring, but also hits its peak in the summer. There is no admission fee to swim in the lake, where there’s plenty of places to sit in the shade or sun, a beach area, playground, grills and a concession stand. Follow Blue Marsh on Facebook for all Blue Marsh Lake has to offer.

CODORUS STATE PARK

Also located in York County, this park is 3,500 acres of exploration, with 26 miles of shoreline around the lake. Along with trails, they have a great swimming pool in the summertime, youth programs, and more. The admission to the pool is pretty reasonable or you can just go explore the wilderness. For more information, visit www.dcnr.pa.gov.

We’d love to hear from you, what’s your favorite day trip spot?