rose's blog

Quietly secured on 20 plus acres of woodland outside of Lititz, PA, you will find the Wolf Sanctuary of PA.  A non-profit organization created to secure and protect the safety and health of displaced wolves.

The Pittsburgh Playhouse is the performing arts center of Point Park University and the Conservatory of Performing Arts. The three-theatre performing arts center is home to a professional theatre company and three student companies. The Pittsburgh Playhouse maintains a rigorous performance calendar with 18 major productions and 235 performances entertaining more than 30,000 patrons annually.

Memorial Day is a time to honor and remember the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. Located just five minutes from the Penn State University campus in the heart of Central Pennsylvania, the village of Historic Boalsburg is widely known as the birthplace of Memorial Day. Boalsburg is the home of the Pennsylvania Military Museum that recounts the story of Commonwealth citizens who served our country in defense of the nation.

Operated and maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers, Raystown Lake, a man-made 8,300-acre lake offers picnic areas, beaches, boat launches, trails, and fishing.

The best ways to experience the beauty of the lake is by boat.  The fun starts at the Seven Points Marina at Raystown Lake voted #1 in the nation by Marina Dock Age Magazine in 2010.  The largest full-service marina in Pennsylvania, the marina’s rental fleet includes: fishing boats, ski pontoon boats and houseboats.  Located in the heart of Huntingdon County, Seven Points Marina is located in Hesston, PA.

Visitors to the Philadelphia Zoo we'll be able to spot lions and tigers strolling overhead.  The new Big Cat Crossing is a mesh-enclosed passageway that runs above the zoo's main visitors' path. Lions, tigers, pumas and other large felines have access to the trail and gives zoo visitors a safari-like experience. The catwalk allows the animals to take in new stimuli while visitors encounter them in unexpected places.

Mother's Day is fast approaching. Your mom deserves a gift that demonstrates that you put a little thought into it and shows your gratitude. Forget the cheap chocolate, phony cards, gadgets and movies. You want to give her something that she'll remember long after Sunday. She'll love a gift certificate for a stay at a PA Bed & Breakfast to relax and unwind. From historic inns to classic mansions to contemporary lodging, she'll find the perfect bed & breakfast at PAInns.com.  Comfy, warm & welcoming, mom will enjoy the homecooked specialty dishes served by our innkeepers. 

Want to get your blood pumping and the mud flying? Grab your mountain bike and head to Rothrock State Forest near State College, Pennsylvania. This area offers trails that vary greatly in technical difficulty. The terrain is mainly hilly and there is a good mix of single track and double track trails. The 36-mile Rothrock TrailMix course provides a combination of the best trails within Central Pennsylvania's Rothrock State Forest. The rains of April have drenched everything and heightened the trees' pungent aroma.

The charming small town of Columbia, Pennsylvania was named one of the top 20 Best Small Towns to Visit in 2014 by Smithsonian Magazine. Ranked at number 13, Columbia is a quaint town located on the banks of the Susquehanna River. When you visit Columbia, you'll sense that you stumbled upon the true meaning of "Small Town America." Friendly people full of town pride. Corner stores that harken back to simpler times.

One of the largest automotive swap meets in the world, Spring Carlisle plays host to thousands of collector and classic automotive enthusiasts.  Enthusiasts travel from around the world to the 150-acre Carlisle PA Fairgrounds. The show offers 8,100 vending spaces and is the place to purchase any of the 2,000 vehicles at the car corral. You can buy, sell and trade with total confidence.  The event is April 23-27, 2014 from 7am-6pm Wednesday through Saturday and 7am-3pm on Sunday.

If you're tired of April Showers, plan a visit to enjoy May Flowers at one of the many Botanical Gardens in Pennsylvania. The Phipps Conservatory & Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh is a great glass Victorian greenhouse. Located in Schenley Park, Phipps Conservatory stands as a cultural and architectural centerpiece of the city's Oakland neighborhood. With 19 indoor and outdoor gardens to stroll, you can also participate in a number of docent-led group tours including the new Center for Sustainable Landscape.