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You’ll Love Digging For Fossils At The Unique Montour Preserve in Pennsylvania

Montour Preserve in Pennsylvania offers a hands-on fossil digging experience that is fun and educational for all ages.

Published May 30, 2021

Written by 

Beth Price-Williams

Tell the kids you're going to learn a bit of history on your next outing, and chances are you're going to hear a few groans. Skip that part, and just head to Montour Preserve in Pennsylvania. The fossil pit, which dates back hundreds of millions of years, is hands-on learning at its finest. Even better? It's fun for explorers of all ages; you might even feel like a kid again.

Montour Preserve in Danville provides an ideal backdrop for a day outdoors - boating, hiking, picnicking, and even joining in on educational programs.

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Facebook/Montour Preserve

However, the 165-acre park, which boasts seven miles of hiking trails, is probably best known for its fossil pit. Yep, you read right - fossil pit.

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Trip Advisor/Nicole T.

The fascinating natural attraction beckons treasure hunters of all ages, and it's a fun and educational opportunity for the kiddos. Stretching approximately an acre, the fossil pit...

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Trip Advisor/Nicole T.

Dates back nearly 400 million years. Visitors are welcome to dig in the fossil pit for fossils. Even better? You can take what you find home with you.

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Trip Advisor/KarenWhoDoesEverything

However, before you head over to the fossil pit, where you might just be lucky enough to score some amazing million-year-old fossils, make sure you're prepared.

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Montour Preserve

Bring something to dig with and a bucket or a bag in which to keep your finds. The fossil pit is made of shale, which means it can get really hot, especially during the summer. You might want to wear long pants to protect your legs from the hot shale.

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Montour Preserve

Dig through the shale that's hiding such fascinating fossils as corals, lamp shells, and "snail-like" creatures.

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Montour Preserve

The fossil pit is free to visit and welcomes adventurers daily from dawn to dusk.

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Montour Preserve

Stop by the official website of Montour Preserve for more information Or, go here for Facebook.

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Facebook/Montour Preserve

Have you gone fossil digging at Montour Preserve in Pennsylvania? What did you find? Share your experience in the comments! If you're up for some more outdoor fun that will take you to the most remote section of Pennsylvania, plan a visit to the Hammersley Wild Area in Austin.

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Experiences|Activities

The Downhill Summer Tubing Adventure In Pennsylvania That’s Unlike Any Other

Experience thrilling summer tubing at Blue Lightning Tubing in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

Updated Jul 10, 2024

Written by 

Beth Price-Williams

Summer just goes by too quickly, doesn't it? Before we know it, we'll be watching back-to-school commercials and getting ready for autumn. Then we'll blink, and it'll be time to glide down our favorite mountain in a snow tube. That means we've got to pack a ton of fun into a few short months. If you're looking for something fun to do in the summer in our great state, check out summer tubing in Pennsylvania! Today, we're featuring a downhill adventure at Blue Lightning Tubing in East Stroudsburg that's an absolute blast.

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Get ready for non-stop excitement as you soar down one of two slides at Blue Lightning Tubing in East Stroudsburg. It's one of the best outdoor family activities in Pennsylvania.

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Google/Blue Lightning Tubing

Settle into your tube, then zip 400 breathtaking feet down the slide. Then turn around; climb on the magic carpet for the ride back to the top of the hill, and do it all over again!

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Google/Blue Lightning Tubing

Blue Lightning boasts two slides that promise thrills, both under the summer sun and during the snowy days of winter, with its all-year downhill tubing track.

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Facebook/Exploria Resorts

This is the ultimate destination for both snow and summer tubing in Pennsylvania.

Before you head out on your epic adventure, make sure everyone in your party is at least four years old and between 40 and 78 inches tall.

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Exploria Resorts

Adventurers of all ages must complete a waiver. If you're bringing the kiddos, you'll need to fill out a waiver for them, too.

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Google/Blue Lightning Tubing

Each ticket is good for an hour of fun. Summer tubing is such a fun activity that feels a little weird the first time you do it - after all, most of us associate downhill tubing with wintertime.

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Google/Blue Lightning Tubing

All it will take is one trip down the hill and you'll be having a blast, though! Hours vary throughout the year, and note that the last ticket is sold one hour prior to closing time.

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Google/Blue Lightning Tubing

You can find Blue Lightning Tubing at Pocono Mountain Villas by Exploria Resorts in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania.

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Google/Blue Lightning Tubing

For more information about Blue Lightning Tubing, check out the Exploria Resorts website. For more local fun, be sure to visit Viator to help plan additional adventures in the Pocono Mountains.

Do you love summer tubing, or are you more of a fan of traditional downhill tubing during the winter? Share your thoughts in the comments! We would love to hear from you!

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Experiences|Activities

A Rail Trail Runs Through This Pennsylvania Town And It’s The Ultimate Outdoor Playground

Explore the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail in Pennsylvania, a 14-mile scenic path perfect for hiking, biking, and horseback riding.

Updated Jul 9, 2024

Written by 

Beth Price-Williams

We have some pretty amazing places to explore in the 21st century. Many of the former railroad lines have been transformed into rail trails, scenic paths that allow us to walk, hike, or bike. Some are short, some are long, but they all offer a unique glimpse at the state's landscape. When you follow this rail trail in Lebanon, Pennsylvania, you might also want to explore beyond the trail. Let's take a look at this hiking and biking trail in Pennsylvania.

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The Lebanon Valley Rail Trail wanders through Lebanon County, traveling from Colebrook to Lebanon. Along the way, it also passes through Mt. Gretna and Cornwall.

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Courtney Winters/AllTrails

This is one of those rather short rail trails, tallying just over 14 miles, making it easily doable in less than five hours. You don’t have to hike, bike, or ride your horse along the whole trail, though.

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Ashitaka Emishi/AllTrails

The flat trail features plenty of shaded areas, although you’ll still want to bring plenty of water and sunscreen.

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Ashitaka Emishi/AllTrails

Wear a pair of comfy shoes or hiking boots, too.

Whether you start or end in Lebanon, carve out some time to explore the outdoor areas in this bustling town. Travel right outside of the city limits, for example, to Stoevers Dam Park.

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Deborah Rich/Google

The 153-acre Pennsylvania park offers something for everyone, from canoeing on the 23.5-acre lake to wildlife watching. Bring your camera because you’re likely to see some of the park’s residents – rabbits, grey-horned owls, and deer among them.

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George Yagel/Google

Six miles from the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail and 15 miles from Lebanon, Swatara State Park is an outdoor playground all on its own. Spanning 3,515 acres, the Pennsylvania state park boasts a ton of activities all year round.

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Mary Prosser/AllTrails

Explore one of the more than a dozen trails that span 18 miles; go horseback riding or mountain biking, or enjoy a bit of kayaking.

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Don’t let the cold and snow deter you, either. This Pennsylvania state park is popular with cross-country skiers during the winter.

Whatever time you visit this rail trail in Ohio is the best time.

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Anthony Rally/Google

We hope to see you there!

Have you been on this rail trail in Lebanon, Pennsylvania? Did you hike the whole trail? What did you think? Let us know in the comments below!

If you prefer to see the scenery behind the wheel, follow this pretty drive through Lebanon, Pennsylvania. And this road atlas may come in handy on your travels.

https://www.onlyinyourstate.com/pennsylvania/lebanon-cornwall-scenic-byway-pa/

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