When it comes to affordable lodging, camping is definitely the way to go, but this girl does not camp well.
Fortunately, there are some inexpensive options that are still within the “camping” realm, including cabins (many with indoor plumbing!) at many campgrounds.
According to the listings on our website, the following campgrounds offer cozy cabins: Fantasy Island in Sunbury, Grey Squirrel in Beavertown, Hidden Valley in Mifflinburg, Jellystone Park in Milton, Knoebels in Elysburg, Little Mexico in Winfield, RB Winter State Park in Mifflinburg, Sunsational in Millmont and Williamsport South/Nittany Mountain KOA in New Columbia.
If your budget has a little more flexibility, the region offers ten Cottages and Houses and two Farm Vacations from which to choose. The first option is terrific for families or couples (actually, singles, too!) who want to save money by cooking breakfast or lunch “at home” in a well-equipped kitchen. Take-out is also much easier with this option, since dishes are usually provided. Farm Vacations offer a fun way to experience life on the farm, but in a pre-arranged and predictable way.
Knoebels Amusement Resort
Everyone knows about the ama
zing affordability of Knoebels Amusement Resort – famous for its free parking, free admission and free entertainment. But another great way to save is to take advantage of their Sundown Special Ride Pass Wristband starting at 4pm on select days and their Bargain Nights on select Wednesdays and Fridays May through June. If you’re only going to ride a few rides, consider using tickets, which never, ever expire.
Next tip? Bring some of your own food. The picnic areas near the parking lots make this a super easy option – eat a picnic lunch before going into the park, pack some lightweight snacks like nuts and granola bars, and take your own water bottle. No one wants to buy water at an amusement park!
And one last thing – it might be fun to go on a sunny weekend, but those are peak hours for the park. I love heading to Knoebels in the middle of the week on an overcast/cloudy/possibly misty-with-rain-showers kind of day. The possibility of rain will lessen the crowds and the rides will still operate unless there’s severe weather or lightning. Wear a rain coat and rain boots and take advantage of much shorter lines at rides, games and food stands.
T & D's Cats of the World
Located in Penn’s Creek, T&Ds Cats of the World has been a wild animal refuge/rescue since 1990. It is owned and operated by the Mattive family and is a nonprofit organization that relies on donations.
Here visitors will find 300 “unwanted” animals including 50 felines (lions, tigers, cougars, leopards, bobcats, servals, and lynx). Other animals like bears, fox, deer, coyotes, wolf-dogs, raccoons, primates, parrots, and others – have also found their way to T&D’s.
The natural, wooded setting of T&Ds is perfect for the whole family – they offer guided tours on certain days and times, so plan ahead and add some education to your animal adventure!
Plan ahead and pack a lunch. Visitors can use their covered pavilion and picnic tables – sodas and packaged ice cream are also for sale.
T&Ds also offers a wonderful gift shop where all of the proceeds go directly to the care of the animals and upkeep of the facilities.
Clyde Peeling's Reptiland
Reptiland is a world-class specialized zoo offering an unparalleled educational adventure for the whole family. Exotic reptiles and amphibians from around the world await discovery in stunning, naturalistic habitats, introducing visitors to the less-loved members of the animal kingdom. Explore the world of mambas, cobras, vipers, pythons and other rare and beautiful snakes, and experience giant alligators, gentle tortoises, curious lizards, and colorful frogs on this zoological journey.
The price of admission includes free educational talks by zoologists on staff, so leave a little extra time for that option.
Like T&Ds, Reptiland has an affordable gift shop and the proceeds directly benefit zoo operations.
Three Children's Museums
The SRV boa
sts three amazing Children’s Museums, all with different offerings. Here’s a challenge: visit them all in one weekend!
- Lewisburg Children’s Museum: Geared towards younger visitors (under the age of 10), LCM offers exhibits on the following topics: Space, Play Café, Teddy Clinic, Grocery Store, Tree House, and Creation Station. The Museum also offers summer camps and themed programs/classes monthly. The Museum is located in the GreenSpace Center in Downtown Lewisburg and offers free parking.
- Bloomsburg Children’s Museum: The BCM offers 50 hands-on exhibits exploring art, science, history and culture including topics like The Greenway, Animal Architects, Preschool Lake and Cabin, Eastern Woodlands Longhouse, Native Americans, Center Stage, Maker Space, Superpower of You (Health and Nutrition), Old Fashioned School Room, Coal Mine, Ancient Egypt, Passage to PA, Simple Machines, and Space. The Museum also offers summer camps and themed programs/classes monthly. Free parking and picnic tables, so bring your own lunch, snacks, and water.
- Lyken’s Valley Children’s Museum: The LVCM is ideal for kiddos ages 0-12; its exhibits include dramatic play areas, STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and art activities.
- Note: All three Museums offer the option to play at the museum, leave to grab lunch, and return for more educational play later in the afternoon.
The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art
The Ned S
mith Center for Nature and Art in Millersburg is an ideal trek for active travelers, boasting nine miles of trails of various difficulty levels. The Center also has a newly installed natural outdoor playground and adventure area that’s perfect for getting the wiggles out by running, jumping, swinging, and interacting with nature. I love that it’s built into a wooded area, so it’s naturally shaded and designed to be kid-proof. The trails and play area are both free, but the Art Center does have an admission fee.
Time to Play Ball!
It’s known
as America’s pastime, but you don’t have to know much about baseball to enjoy a Crosscutters baseball game. The are a collegiate summer baseball team of the MLB Draft League. Located in Williamsport, the games are fun and easy to watch and the concessions and parking are really reasonable! Don’t worry too much about your seats – truly there isn’t a bad seat in the house. They even have a fun merchandise area complete with shirts, hats, and of course foam fingers.
The region offers a plethora of outdoor street festivals year-round, but we’ll focus on a few spring and summer highlights:
- Lewisburg Arts Festival – Lewisburg’s annual street festival along Market Street, that celebrates the work of 100+ juried artists. The day also includes live performance art, kids’ activities, and dozens of food vendors. Read all about it in a previous blog post.
- Sunbury River Festival – Every August, downtown Sunbury comes alive with its annual River Festival that features the beautiful Susquehanna River as the backdrop. The festival features food vendors, live music, face painting, and arts and crafts vendors galore. Well-behaved, leashed pets are also welcome.
- Anthracite Heritage Festival of the Arts in Shamokin – This festival has been taking place for 20 years thanks to the Northumberland County Council for the Arts & Humanities. The festival does a wonderful job of connecting visitors and locals to the coal region’s history and heritage in a subtle and fun way. Food and arts vendors are at the center of the festival, as well as live music and ticketed train tours.
- Summer Daze in Milton – What was once the Milton Beer Fest is now called Summer Daze, and takes place in June. A Facebook post by the Milton Community Center described the new take on this festival: “…a day filled with handcrafted treasures from local artists and craftsmen, live music performances from talented musicians, and a diverse array of food vendors offering delicious treats to satisfy every palate. Adults can also enjoy sampling a variety of craft beers, fine wines, and artisanal spirits from local distilleries.”
- Selinsgrove Brew Festival – Since 2008, the Selinsgrove Brew Fest in mid-July has offered ticketholders four hours of unlimited tastings of beer, wine, and spirits. Live music is also featured throughout the downtown venue. Check out their website for more info and to buy tickets.
The region 
offers a multitude of historical museums and destinations (seventeen to be exact), plus a scenic covered bridge tour, historic downtown walking tours, and an Underground Railroad tour. Check out the H&H section of our website for all of the options, depending on the ages and interests of your travelers.
One gem that’s not to be missed – Lewisburg’s Art Deco movie palace, The Campus Theatre, offers a free film series, usually on Tuesday nights, through Bucknell’s Film Studies program. The Campus Theatre also offers a free Family Film Series for local families from June through August.
River Adventures
Padd
ling the Susquehanna River is one of my favorite ways to explore the region. If the River is too intimidating for you to navigate, not to fear! There are several lakes including Lake Chillisquaque (Montour Preserve), Faylor Lake and Walker Lake. Find more information about those destinations here.
If you don’t have your own kayak or canoe, the SRV has several outfitters in the region that provide rentals:
- Bic’s Watersports in Milton
- Self-serve kiosk at Montour Preserve that is serviced by Riverside Adventure Company (reservations are still suggested)
- Appalachian Kayak in Halifax
Free Disc Golf
Have
you heard of this new craze called Disc Golf? Apparently, it’s as popular as pickleball, but perhaps with a younger crowd.
Disc golf is similar to traditional golf, but instead of hitting a ball with a club, players throw a flying disc (it’s a little different than a frisbee, though) to get it into a basket-like target in the fewest throws possible. Like golf, there are 18 holes and the courses are spread out over a large area.
There are two free courses locally – one at Bucknell University and one at Faylor Lake.
Free Biking
Regardless of your age or skill level, the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail, which is a ten-mile stretch between Lewisburg and Mifflinburg, is the perfect trail for biking, walking and running. Leashed pets are welcome, too!
The surface is paved asphalt and gravel and the pathway is wide enough to accommodate wheelchairs, strollers, and multiple bikes in a group.
Directions to the L
ewisburg Trailhead: From the Rt 15 and Rt 45 intersection, head west on Rt 45, away from downtown Lewisburg. Go to 15th St and turn right/north. Look for parking lot entrance just before the rail trail crosswalk.
Directions to the Mifflinburg Trailhead: Traveling on Rt 45, look for the intersection with 5th St, toward the western end of town. Turn north, right if coming from the east and left if coming from the west. Go two blocks and look for the turn into the trailhead parking lot on the left just past the trail crosswalk.
Note: There are restrooms at the Lewisburg, Vicksburg, and Mifflinburg trailheads.
For more info and a complete map, check out this page on our website.
