Day Trip: Promised Land State Park

Go camping overnight or just spend the day at Promised Land State Park in the Poconos

Address: 100 Lower Lake Road, Greentown Admission: Free Hours: Open daily dawn to dusk Summary: Promised Land State Park spans about 3,000 acres atop the Pocono Plateau, which rises 1,800 feet above sea level. The park is surrounded by close to 12,500 acres of Delaware State Forest. There are two lakes with sandy beaches open mid-May to late September. The 422-acre Promised Land Lake and the 173-acre Lower Lake have five boat launching areas. There's also a concession stand offering both food and boat rentals off Route 390 north of Canadensis. Activities at Promised Land include hiking on 50 miles of trails, biking on 6.5 miles of roads, plus fishing, picnicking and camping. Rustic cabins are available for rent. Link:

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Day Trip: Heller Homestead in Hellertown

A local attraction you can visit on a tank of gas, and less.

Are you interested in taking a trip, but not willing to part with a stack of money? Try this day trip: Address: 1890 Friedensville Road, Bethlehem How Far From Upper-Macungie Patch: About 25 minutes / About 14 miles Admission: Hours: Summary: Now under the stewardship of the Saucon Valley Conservancy, the Heller Homestead just outside Hellertown, Northampton County, is a historic site that was once home to the Heller family. The Saucon Valley Conservancy is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to preserving the historical and natural environment in the area. The homestead features period-furnished rooms and houses, an art gallery featuring rotating exhibits by local artists, as well as a gift shop that accepts consignments and donations…

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Cheap Trips: Nature and Monster Mini Golf

Three local attractions you can visit on one tank of gas.

Are you interested in taking a trip, but not willing to part with a stack of money? Try one of these three trips you can enjoy on just one tank of gas: Lower Merion Conservancy in Gladwyne, Monster Mini Golf in Feasterville and the Lehigh Gap Nature Center in Slatington. 1. Lehigh Gap Nature Center Address: 8844 Paint Mill Road, Slatington (Washington Township) How Far From Upper Macungie Patch: About 30 minutes / About 18 miles Admission: Hours: Summary: The non-profit Lehigh Gap Nature Center is located in a gap carved out by the Lehigh River between the towns of Slatington and Palmerton. The center is a starting point for hiking along the Kitatinny Ridge and for exploring a habitat garden made up totally of native plants. The garden has…

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Cheap Trips: State Park, Pottery and Art

Three local attractions you can visit on one tank of gas.

Are you interested in taking a trip, but not willing to part with a stack of money? Try one of these three trips you can enjoy on just one tank of gas: the Mount Airy Art Garage in Mount Airy, Jacobsburg State Park in the Wind Gap area and the Paint n' Pottery and Bead Bazaar in Doylestown.   1. Jacobsburg State Park Address: 835 Jacobsburg Road, Wind Gap (Bushkill Township) How Far From Upper Macungie Patch: It's right next door! Admission: Hours: Summary: The 1,168-acre Jacobsburg State Park and Environmental Education Center is rich in natural beauty and history. The park includes a National Historic District known for its role in Colonial-era gun manufacturing. There, the Henry family produced the Henry Longrifle and other guns used in…

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Cheap Trips: The World Series of Bicycling

Three local attractions you can visit on one tank of gas.

Are you interested in taking a trip, but not willing to part with a stack of money? Try one of these three trips you can enjoy on just one tank of gas: the Woodmere Art Museum in Chestnut Hill, the World Series of Bikes in Breinigsville and historic Fallsington in Levittown.   1. Valley Preferred Cycling Center Address: 1151 Mosser Road, Breinigsville How Far From Upper Macungie Patch: About 35 minutes / About 26 miles Admission: Hours: About: The Valley Preferred Cycling Center, also known as the Velodrome, will host the 2012 World Series of Bicycling -- 12 weeks of intense track racing that includes a mix of sprint and endurance events -- starting June 15. About 2,500 fans gather on Friday nights throughout summer to see racers such as …

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Cheap Trips: Historic Site, Flight and Dairy

Three local attractions you can visit on one tank of gas.

Are you interested in taking a trip, but not willing to part with a stack of money? Try one of these three trips you can enjoy on just one tank of gas: the Boulton Historic Site in Bushkill Township, the Wings of Freedom Museum in Horsham and Heisler's Dairy in Tamaqua.   1. Boulton Historic Site's Opening Day Address: 402 Henry Road, Nazareth How Far from Upper Macungie Patch: About 20 minutes Admission: Hours: Summary: The Boulton Historic Site, which is administered by the Jacobsburg Historical Society, gives visitors a peek inside the life of the Henry Family and the Boulton Gun Works through self-guided tours and historical programs. During your tour, see objects owned by five generations of Henrys in the 1832 John Joseph Henry House…

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Cheap Trips: Military Parade and a State Park

Two local attractions you can visit on one tank of gas.

Are you interested in taking a trip, but not willing to part with a stack of money? Try one of these three trips you can enjoy on just one tank of gas: the Valley Forge Military Academy and College Parades in Wayne or Delaware Canal State Park in Upper Black Eddy.   1. Delaware Canal State Park Address: 11 Lodi Hill Road, Upper Black Eddy How Far from UpperMacungie Patch: About 44 minutes / About 31 miles Admission: Free Hours: Open daily dawn to dusk About: Delaware Canal State Park features a 60-mile towpath that stretches from Easton in Northampton County to Bristol in Bucks County. The Delaware Canal is the only remaining continuously intact canal left of the great towpath/canal-building era of the early and mid-1800s. The park …

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Cheap Trips: Trails, Trains and Monkey Joe

Three local attractions you can visit on one tank of gas.

  Are you interested in taking a trip, but not willing to part with a stack of money? Try one of these three trips you can enjoy on just one tank of gas: the Cynwyd Heritage Trail in Bala Cynwyd; Monkey Joe's in Pottstown, and the Wanamaker, Kempton and Southern rail line in Kempton.   1. Wanamaker, Kempton and Southern Rail Line Address: 42 Community Center Drive, Kempton How Far from Upper Macungie Patch: About 40 minutes Admission: Hours: Trains depart at 1, 2, 3 and 4 p.m. on Sundays in May and June. Same times on both Saturday and Sunday in July and August. Check the rail line website for special events. About: Kempton's "Hawk Mountain Line" runs six-mile round trip train rides along scenic Ontelaunee Creek in Berks County on the …

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Cheap Trips: First Friday, Live Music and Trout

Three local attractions you can visit on one tank of gas.

  Are you interested in taking a trip, but not willing to part with a stack of money? Try one of these three trips you can enjoy on just one tank of gas: Manayunk First Friday in Philadelphia; Chaplin's, The Music Café in Spring City, and the Lil-Le-Hi Trout Nursery in Allentown. Address: 2901 Fish Hatchery Road, Allentown How Far From Upper Macungie Patch: About 20 minutes Admission: Hours: Summary: The oldest continuously operated fish hatchery in the United States features volunteers from local sportsmen's clubs who raise thousands of trout each year to stock the Little Lehigh Creek and other streams in Allentown's extensive park system. Brook, brown, rainbow and golden trout from the Pa. Fish and Boat Commission arrive at the nursery …

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Cheap Trips: Camping, Plant Life and Oz

Three local attractions you can visit on one tank of gas.

Are you interested in taking a trip, but not willing to part with a stack of money? Try one of these three trips you can enjoy on just one tank of gas: Fort Washington State Park in Whitemarsh Township, the Reading Arboretum in Reading and the St. Francis Players in Springfield.   1. Fort Washington State Park Address: 500 S. Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington (Whitemarsh Township) How Far from Upper Macungie Patch: About one hour Admission: Hours: About: Located in the Fort Washington section of Whitemarsh Township, Fort Washington State Park offers an opening to nature for both the casual and more serious outdoor lover. The park offers softball fields, bird watching, fishing, 3.5 miles of hiking trails, dog walking areas and a disc golf …

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