Pennsylvania Road Trip October 2015
So we had some free time and decided to
make a road trip to Pennsylvania. We had
a blast in the new Jeep and I can see that all kinds of adventures await us in
the future.
Hawk Mountain Preserve
“Hawk
Mountain is...
•
A scientific
research center
•
An
international conservation training site
•
A learning
facility for all ages
•
An
eco-tourism destination
•
A wildlife
sanctuary open to the public year-round
•
The world's
largest member-supported raptor conservation organization
•
One of the
best places in northeastern North America to view the annual autumn hawk
migration”
I get the
feeling that we will visit this place more than once. The counts were not high when we were there,
but the area is incredible.
We saw
several vultures, a Sharp Shinned Hawk, a vole, and some ground squirrels while
there.
“Hawk Mountain Sanctuary is a 2,600-acre natural area in southeastern Pennsylvania that is famous as the world's first refuge for birds of prey. Today, visitors flock to Hawk Mountain each autumn to watch the annual hawk migration. Between August 15 and December 15 an average 18,000 raptors fly past its ridgetops, often at eye-level. Scenic overlooks range from 1,300 to 1,500 feet in elevation offering spectacular views. Free programs feature live birds of prey and are held most Saturdays and Sundays, May through November. By mid-August the first bald eagle signals the beginning of the fall raptor migration, followed by ospreys, and American kestrels. Thousands of broad-winged hawks pass in mid September, and October brings as many as 16 species of raptors. A total of 235 species of birds have been sighted at or near this bird-watching mecca. Visitor Center with Mountain Bookstore, Wings of Wonder gallery, and gift shop is open 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily.”
ZooAmerica
“Visit ZooAmerica, a year-round,
11-acre, walk-thru zoo adjacent to Hersheypark in Hershey, PA. Stroll the
tree-lined pathways as you learn about more than 200 animals from five regions
of North America.”
All of the animals there are native to North
America. A very cool place to visit!
Crystal
Grottoes Caverns
“The Crystal
Grottoes Caverns were founded in 1920 when the State Roads Commission was
quarrying for limestone to build up and pave State Route 34. After successfully
quarrying back a cliff that was 35 to 55 feet high and 150 feet deep, an
unusual event occurred. The next time they started to drill, they lost their
drill bits in the cave. Later, when dynamite was detonated in the drill holes,
the first entrance was produced.”
I decided to include some images from
our July 2015 trip to this Maryland cavern.
It was really our first time exploring the area around us. We are looking forward to the many
adventures.
Thanks for following faithfully to the
end. Please feel free to comment and
share. A whole new world awaits us here
in the Eastern U.S.
4 comments:
Sigh... more good stuff. I am in love with the shadowed bunch of colored leaves, closer up - darks and lights. And I totally adore the first eagle by himself, sort of through the trees. What a majestic photo. Good stuff.
Joellen
Awesome photos. Loved all the fall colors. As a birding enthusiast, I especially loved all the photos of birds of prey. You two are always having fun and on an adventure. You give true meaning to the phrase—Life is an adventure!
Kelly S.
Beautiful photos only you, Todd \, send.
Love the pictures. What an interesting mix. Love seeing the interesting places you come across.
Mary Jo
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