Peter Bubel+ by | Jun 22, 2018 | Pennsylvania, Peter Bubel, Travel
From its history of independence in Philadelphia, production of chocolate in Hershey, and its mix of coal country and agriculture, Pennsylvania boasts a landscape rich in diversity. With an abundance of unique towns and histories to explore, Pennsylvania offers prime destinations for travelers of all kinds. For those who want to explore the beauty of Pennsylvania without getting caught in crowds of vacation-goers, here’s a list of four of some of the best hidden travel spots to visit in Pennsylvania.
Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens
Less than a 15-mile drive from the bustling center of downtown Pittsburgh, PA., the Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens offer a luscious retreat from industrial life. The woodlands span 60-acres and offer three miles of green, serene trails for exploration. Speckled with huts, cabins, and chickens, the property also includes an award-winning Lotus Pond. Aside from trail, the Pittsburgh Botanic Gardens also offers tours of the land, as well hosts special events, including yoga or botanist walks and talks.
Eckley Miners’ Village
Situated in the northeastern coal fields of Pennsylvania, Eckley Miners’ Village is a town frozen in time. Though its inhabitants have since left, the patch town remains a standing museum of coal mining during the early nineteenth century. Featuring buildings such as the Immaculate Conception Church, 1861, the Slate Picker’s House, 1854, and a 1968 reconstruction of Eckley’s company store, Eckley’s Miners’ Village offers an educational glimpse into the past of anthracite coal mining and patch towns that fueled the economy.
Wolf Sanctuary of PA
Located in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, the Wolf Sanctuary of PA is a nonprofit organization nestled on over 80-acres of property and home to wolves without natural homes. For over thirty years, the sanctuary has become a haven for wolves and wolf dogs, and a place of education for visitors seeking to encounter the animals up close and learn more about their lifestyle and preservation. In addition to public and private tours of the packs, the Wolf Sanctuary of PA hosts Full Moon Tours, which feature live entertainment, bonfires, and more in-depth guides.
Raymondskill Falls
Nestled between Pennsylvania and New Jersey, the Delaware Water Gap offers more than 60,000-acres of lush mountains, hiking trails, and ravines. The Raymondskill Creek Trail is found at the northernmost part of the park and leads to Raymondskill Falls, which is the tallest waterfall in Pennsylvania. Though the trail is short, it offers two viewing decks of the waterfall that is only a few feet shy of matching the length of Niagara Falls.
With such diverse landscapes and histories, there’s a vacation spot for everyone in Pennsylvania.
Peter Bubel+ by | Aug 14, 2017 | Blog, PA, Pennsylvania, Peter Bubel, Reading, Sports, Travel
Reading, Pennsylvania (pronounced with a short E, for non-locals) is a destination for cyclists, pretzel lovers, and visitors to the Reading Pagoda. But it’s also a good town for sports fans. The two biggest teams in town are the Fightin’ Phils, a minor league baseball team, and the Reading Royals, a professional hockey team.
Fightin’ Phils
The Fightin’ Phils were established in 1967 in Reading under the team name Reading Phillies. They retained this team name until 2012, at which point they officially adopted the team name Fightin’ Phils.
The Fightin’ Phils hold four league titles (from 1968, 1973, 1995, 2001) and four division titles (from 1995, 2000, 2015, and 2016.) Their current manager is Greg Legg and their general manager is Scott Hunsicker. In 2007, the stadium saw its ten-millionth fan arrive for a game.
The Fightin’ Phils are not represented by one clear mascot. Their logo features either a P with a fist coming out of it or an ostrich with its wings held in fists. However, on the field they are represented by the Fightin’ Phils band, which is comprised of Screwball, a baseball-headed creature that plays the drums, Change-Up the Turtle, who plays the bongos, Blooper the Hound Dog, who formerly played tambourine but has since taken up the guitar, Quack the Duck, the singer, and Bucky the Beaver, who plays the electric bass.
Royals
The Reading Royals began in 1991 in Columbus, Ohio, under the team name Columbus Chill under the leadership of president David Paitson and coach Terry Ruskowski, formerly of the Chicago Black Hawks, Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, and Minnesota North Stars. Before moving out Reading, they paved the way for professional hockey in Columbus, which now hosts the NHL team the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Well-known former players for the Royals include Yataka Fukufuji, ryan Finn, James Reimer, and George Parros. The Royals have held a past rivalry with the former Johnstown Chiefs (currently the Greenville Swamp Rabbits), the Elmira Jackals, and the Trenton Titans. Currently and are currently rivals with the Penguins-affiliated Wheeling Nailers.
The Royals made it into the 2017 playoffs, but were eliminated in the first round. The team was destabilized going into the playoffs, due to the unexpected firing of head coach Courville the day before qualifying.
The Royals are represented by a roaring lion in the team colors of purple, silver, and black.
Peter Bubel+ by | May 24, 2017 | PA, Pennsylvania, Peter Bubel, Travel
Pennsylvania, lying in the Mid-Atlantic regions of the west, is the home to the nation’s first zoological garden. The Appalachian Mountains rip through the state. The location’s topography influences the climatic and vegetation variations in the state.
The state experiences two extreme climatic conditions. In the north of the state, especially the mountains like the Poconos, the weather can be cold and harsh during the winter. Then, in the rest of the year, Pennsylvania experiences humid summers and warmer temperatures.
The state is known for its national parks and other recreational activities related to environment and wildlife. A few of the national parks which must be hit by everyone visiting the naturally enriched place include:
Cameron County
The 75-mile picturesque bucktail trail meanders through Cameron County. The beautiful drive along this stunning trail is one where you can stop and admire the multiple side trips throughout the county. It is habitat to a number of wildlife species including Pennsylvania’s elk herd and bald eagles.
It is an ideal location to enjoy a nice combination of geocaching, hunting and a serene trip of fishing.
Bucktail State Park Natural Area
This beautiful natural habitat is also known as Bucktail Canyon because of a number of steep hills that make gorgeous forested walls along the west branch of the Sinnemahoning Creek and Susquehanna River.
The place is renowned for its adventurous sports like canoeing and kayaking.
Clarion County
Quaint miniature towns and a mesmerizing fall festival define Clarion County. The ancient grown forested areas and the trickling streams add to the charm of this location.
An art enthusiast can have the time of his life at the ARCA (Allegheny Riverstone Center for the Arts). It organizes inspiring and enriching art programs at Lincoln Hall and Riverstone Farms. The Red Brick Gallery houses the work of local artisans, paving the way for fresh, budding, and prominent talent to prosper.
The Autumn Leaf Festival includes a number of cultural and recreational activities like Autorama, University Football Game, farmers and crafters day, etc.,
Forest County
The home for the wild where there is absolutely no leash on the wild residents, Forest County lies in the heart of the Allegheny National Forest.One can test their archery skills here and enjoy fishing, camping and hunting.
The Clarion River stretching through the 8,500-acre park dons its entire splendor in winter where the tourists can have a scenic time skating the light ice which is maintained by the park office.You can also enjoy a number of water sports at Forest County including tubing, canoeing and fishing.
Peter Bubel+ by | May 13, 2017 | Blog, PA, Pennsylvania, Peter Bubel, Restaurants, Travel
Philadelphia is a foodie town. Yes, it’s known primarily for soft pretzels, cheese steaks, and scrapple; however, dig beneath those layers of comfort food and you’ll find numerous locations for a foodie to indulge their taste buds. Here are a few places where they are more than welcome.
Reading Terminal Market — The first stop needs to be at this downtown mecca for foodies. Dozens of merchants offer not only items to pick up and eat on the LOVE square but also counter service. Consider the Dutch Eating Place, known for the delicacies of the Pennsylvania Dutch Amish, Kamal’s Middle Eastern Specialities, and the Down Home Diner for classic comfort food. And a foodie can’t leave the market without several scoops from Bassets Ice Cream which features mixtures from the area’s premier frozen dessert company.
Ting Wong — A few blocks west of Reading Terminal Market is Philadelphia’s Chinatown. A foodie should feel right at home in many of the shops and cafes of this neighborhood; nevertheless, they should consider their main stop at Ting Wong. Not many Chinese restaurants serve traditional breakfasts, but Ting Wong does with Chiang Fun filled with various meats or fried dough. They also vary some standard recipes. For instance, perhaps you’d be interested in fried rice with diced chicken and anchovy.
Fork — A quick walk or SEPTA ride to Old Town brings one to this restaurant that takes traditional recipes and spins them on a, well, fork. Take lasagna as an example. Fork makes their own pasta and fills the middle with cherry grove farm cheese, sweet potatoes, and pickled apples. Or perhaps you want to partake in smoked shrimp carpaccio with watermelon radish and kumquat.
Amada — This Old Town staple is a foodie’s paradise with tapas and a variety of unique plates. For the starters, diners can savor lamb tartar or Datiles Con Almendras — bacon-wrapped Medjool dates and almonds. Diners may also be interested in Sopa De Chirivia which is a parsnip & pear soup with pork belly and quince. Main dishes include Fideos Con Mariscos — calamari linguine & vermicelli with clams, scallops, and Sweet Onion Cream.
Philadelphia is simply not for those who only like mustard on their pretzels or their steak sandwiches ‘wit’ or ‘witout.’ With many of its restaurants and chefs reaching national prestige, the City of Brotherly Love is ready for a new foodie revolution.
Peter Bubel+ by | Apr 27, 2017 | Blog, Peter Bubel, Travel
The Ross Sea, a bay located in the Southern Ocean of Antarctica, has always been home to a wide array of marine life, and is now home to the world’s largest marine protected area (MPR). A unanimous decision to protect the Ross Sea was reached by the Commission for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources (CCAMLR), a commission that includes 24 countries and the UN.
The agreement came about because this area is one of the few regions left on our planet that has a completely unaltered marine ecosystem. The waters are teeming with every member of the food chain, from krill to large predatory fish, and the land is full of penguins, birds, and seals. There are over 40 species of animals that cannot be found anywhere else on Earth, and large populations of several species of penguins.
Since the Ross Sea harbors Antarctica, fishing has been hard to reach by commercial fishermen, but recently Antarctic Toothfish have been caught and sold in markets as Chilean Sea Bass. There was worry that there would soon be efforts by commercial fishermen to fish in this region, and the international community took a stand in protecting this area. With so little human activity, wildlife has been able to thrive and maintain its biological diversity.
In 2011, the US and New Zealand proposed the idea, and after 5 years of negotiation the UN and 24 supporting nations approved the reserve. Under the agreement, 575,000 square miles will be protected, 72% being a ‘no-take’ zone, which makes commercial fishing illegal, while the remaining area will be open to fishing for scientific research purposes only. The original proposal covered 875,000 square miles of land, but the fact that such a large area was passed unanimously shows that the protection of marine life is becoming more important to the entire world.
The creation of this Protected Marine Area is a remarkable achievement for both the diplomatic and scientific communities. The area is filled to the brim with different species of penguins, whales, seals, fish, and tons of krill and plankton, making it an excellent place to further our understanding of Antarctic marine life.
Traveling to see the Ross Sea would be an adventure of a lifetime, and one that I hope so someday embark upon!
Peter Bubel+ by | Apr 16, 2017 | Blog, Peter Bubel, Travel
The first time you try anything you’re liable to make mistakes, and traveling is no exception to this rule. While you’re certainly going to make mistakes the first time you decide to venture out and travel, there are some big ones that you should be aware of to help you build and enjoy the best vacation possible. Here are a few of the biggest mistakes first time travelers make and why you should avoid making them yourself.
- Don’t forget travel insurance.
- Nobody likes to think about the worst case scenario, but the expression “better safe than sorry” exists for a reason. Accidents happen; they can happen when you’re out traveling the world, and they can happen when you’re sitting at home in your room. That’s why it’s best to be prepared for whatever might happen by making sure you’re covered with insurance.
- Don’t rely on travel agents and agencies for everything.
- There’s a lot that goes into planning a trip, so hiring a travel agent might sounds like the easiest way to make sure everything is planned and you’re prepared for your journey. However, oftentimes the places that travel agencies select for you are touristy areas that don’t provide much insight into the actual culture of the places you visit. Don’t be afraid to go off the grid and explore
- Don’t overpack.
- This is especially important if you’re traveling on a plane where there are limits to how much you’re allowed to bring with you. When you’re seeing new sights and visiting new places, you want to have your attention focused on what you’re doing and seeing, not what you’re wearing and carrying around with you. Only bring enough clothes to wear until you can wash them and wear them again. The more stuff you bring with you, the more stuff you have to keep track of.
- Don’t forget a copy of your passport.
- Although losing your passport in a foreign country isn’t life ruining, it will certainly feel that way at the time and will be a major roadblock in your trip. It’s difficult to get a passport in a different country, but it’s a lot easier if you have a copy of yours on hand.
- Don’t wait to exchange your money.
- Nothing in life is free, so there’s no reason to expect that getting to your destination in a foreign country will be any different. Before you even leave the airport, use the ATMs there for a better exchange rate and make sure you have enough cash on hand to use a cab or a bus to get you to your next stop. You’ll be thankful you did.
Did you miss it? Be sure to check out my post on First Time Traveling Tips!
