Since my daughters’ orthodontist was located in the Bloomfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh, I’ve spent many hours, wandering around the area waiting for various dental appliances – expanders, retainers, braces – to be put in and taken off. So one would think that I would’ve explored every nook and cranny of this primarily Italian neighborhood.
But last [...]

One of our favorite spots to visit in Hershey PA is ZOOAMERICA.  Much quieter than its next door neighbor Hersheypark, the zoo is open all year round or you can visit it on the same day you visit Hersheypark as part of your park admission.  We love visiting in the fall and winter when the [...]

We loaded up our family this weekend to make a shopping trip for some school clothes and clothes shopping for our family always means a trip to the Outlet Shoppes at Gettysburg.  Normally we are not fans of outlets, but this particular set of outlets is wonderful.  No matter how many cars are in the [...]

I hated fishing when I was a kid. I felt like the only boy at cub scout camp who didn’t know how to bait a hook or cast a line. And eating fish sticks was one thing, but trout? Mostly, it came down to the fact that none of the adults in my life had [...]

I’ve always been fascinated by horses and to this day still have a desire to learn how to ride.  Growing up in Bucks County, I was exposed to horseback riding very often.  When I asked if I could take horseback riding lessons, I was immediately turned down, “What do you need that for?”  My dreams [...]

Canoeing the Yough
In clean, clear  water we swim
With fish, without care.
Wow, was I impressed from the get-go when we decided to rent three canoes yesterday and canoe the seven miles trip from Smithton to West Newton.  We rented boats and the guy at Youghiogheny Outfitters was a godsend, helping us out with cooler reorganization, assistance [...]

The idea of converting unused railroad lines into recreational trails isn’t particularly new.  However, given today’s hot topics such as recycling, it’s easy to see why the rails-to-trails movement is right “on track” with being green and environmentally-friendly.  And best of all, using rail trails is lots of fun for all ages!
My family discovered the [...]

Marriage, it’s often by noted, is all about compromise. For instance, I find watching, rather than participating in sports, to be an abomination. But I do enjoy drinking a locally made beer outside on a summer’s evening. My wife adores baseball, but couldn’t care less about a craft brew.
The compromise? An Erie Seawolves [...]

Over the weekend, I dragged my youngest daughter on a little road trip through the hills of Western Pennsylvania. Our last stop was at Sand Hill Berries in Mt. Pleasant.  I remember visiting the farm back in the 80’s when it was pretty much just a rustic farm stand, but wow, has this place grown!
The [...]

If you have kids (or young cousins, nieces or nephews) you know that summertime is all about hanging out with friends, going to a variety of summer camps, and spending time at the community pool. Call me old-fashioned, but I still think summer should also be about summer reading at the local library.
I remember with [...]