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A Hidden Hike in Suburban Montgomery County
Trails to Try A series of articles dedicated to hiking trails in the Philadelphia area The Skippack Creek Loop Trail Hidden in the suburbs of Montgomery County, Evansburg State Park, a 3000+ area on both sides of the Skippack Creek, includes a variety of landscapes, from forests to meadows including the creek and former farmland. Located just off Route 73 between Norristown and Collegeville, if you miss the signs you won’t even know it’s there. The park offers a number of recreational activities, including hiking which, while rated “easy” provides more of a challenge than the area rail trails. The Skippack Creek Loop Trail, in the center of Evansburg State…
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Exploring the Great Outdoors – In Philadelphia?
Trails to Try A series of articles dedicated to hiking trails in the Philadelphia area The Schuylkill Center It seems hard to believe, but you can go hiking and leave city sights and sounds behind, all without leaving the city. The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education has over three miles of trails that loop and interconnect over the nature center’s 340 acres. With something for everyone, the trails vary in difficulty, from the flat, paved Widener Trail to the one-mile Ravine Loop which has some steep sections. Once you leave the paved trail leading away from the nature center, the sounds fall away, leaving you free to enjoy nature…
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Where Outdoor Fun and Holiday Lights Collide (Beautifully)
The temperature is dropping and holiday events are starting to fill everyone’s calendar. These facts conspire to keep people indoors, but there are still plenty of opportunities to spend time outdoors. These local attractions featuring holiday lights are sure to bring smiles while providing an opportunity to spend time walking outside. A Longwood Christmas at Longwood Gardens From November 22 to January 6, Longwood Gardens welcomes visitors to explore their grounds while a half million lights sparkle in a winter wonderland. Christmas carols can be heard at the Open Air Theatre fountains where 750 jets of water dance in time to the music. Fire pits and indoor gardens provide the…
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It’s Never Too Soon to Learn About the Outdoors
It is no secret that kids love the outdoors and that there are a multitude of benefits to spending time outdoors for us all. There are of course the physical health benefits associated with regular exercise and exposure to fresh air and sunshine, but also mental benefits, such as improved mood and reduced stress. Studies have shown that there are also academic benefits, that being outdoors increases our capacity to learn and pay attention and may result in increased confidence and self-esteem. This isn’t news to environmental educators or to the founders of schools that promote spending time in nature and learning through doing, rather than sitting at a…
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It’s Easy to Find Hiking Trails In Lower Montgomery County
It is easy to find open space in Montgomery County, PA. Since hiking involves very little in the way of gear or preparation, it is a great way to get started enjoying the outdoors. Montco has hundreds of miles of trails, ranging from paved paths to rugged dirt trails, some of which are shared by bicyclists and equestrians. While this is by no means an all-inclusive list, here are some suggestions to get you started in the southern half of the county. If you have an hour or two Many local parks such as Fischer’s Park in Towamencin or Penllyn Woods in Lower Gwynedd offer walking paths and/or hiking trails…
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Here’s Your Excuse to Go Take a Hike
National Take a Hike Day is held every November 17. The Adventure Travel Trade Association recently reported that hiking is the most popular outdoor activity. Of course this makes sense as it is the simplest activity to start. Though there are many hiking specific items you can purchase to make your hike more comfortable and interesting, you probably have everything you need readily at hand. Thanks to the efforts of Maurice K. Goddard, director of the PA Department of Parks and Forest in the mid-1900s, just about every Pennsylvanian has easy access to some outdoor area. There are 2.5 million acres of state parks and forests in the commonwealth and…
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Adventurous Mom Highlights Force of Nature Event
On Friday, August 25, REI hosted a “Raise the Roof(top) Party to Celebrate Women in the Outdoors” as part of their Force of Nature initiative to encourage women to spend more time exploring the great outdoors. The event was held on the roof of the Plymouth Meeting Whole Foods, who supplied some of the refreshments. REI provided SWAG for attendees as well and arranged for a taco truck (and complimentary tacos); Conshohocken Brewing Company supplied beer for those over 21.The event began with the REI hosts providing a brief history of the popular consumer cooperative that goes back to 1938 when 23 mountain climbing enthusiasts got together to create a…
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Audubon Loop Provides Easy Access to Nature
The Philly burbs have an abundance of hiking options for hikers of all abilities. A few weeks ago, we decided to head out, with a few requirements. We needed to be relatively close to Norristown, we wanted something we could easily complete in a couple hours and we needed a stroller-friendly trail. We found all this in the Audubon Loop in Oaks. After parking at the Pawlings Road Trailhead parking lot, we took a look at the posted map and headed to our right, toward Pawlings Rd., and then turned left to go over Rt 422. Though this section was rather sunny, after we walked past St. Gabriel’s residential treatment…
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Searching for Birds, Learning New Skills and Celebrating the Solstice
Here are some local events December 17 through December 25. Remember to check organization websites for details, as some events require pre-registration and some charge fees. On Saturday morning Rancocas Nature Center is offering a naturalist-led walk and Delaware Canal State Park is hosting a raptor hike along the Nockamixon Cliffs section of the Delaware Canal towpath. John Heinz National Refuge is holding their annual Christmas Bird Count. On Saturday afternoon, you can head into the deep woods of Silver Lake Nature Preserve to learn to use a map and compass, important tools to use when your phone or GPS battery dies or you are out of signal range. Also…
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Learn More About Birds and History, Take a Walk and Create Edible Ornaments
Here are some local events going on the weekend of December 10 & 11. Remember to check organization websites for details, as some require pre-registration and some charge fees. On Saturday morning John Heinz Wildlife Refuge has their bird walk. In the afternoon, Silver Lake Nature Center is offering Beginning Birding 101, Winter Edition. On Saturday evening, Riverbend Environmental Education Center is offering a night hike and campfire. For those interested in American Revolution History (and who have plans on Christmas day), on Sunday, Washington Crossing Historic Park will hold their First Crossing, in which costumed re-enactors row across the Delaware River just as they did in 1776. The park…