Adventure Together: Explore a cute small town and get ready for holiday festivities
The perfect place to do this is on the turnpike headed west, where Pennsylvania shows off one of its taglines, "Endless Mountains." As a transplant from the Rocky Mountain State, I tend to chuckle at PA's seemingly bombastic claim, but traveling this stretch of turnpike changed my mind. There was something about driving straight up to a mountain at highway speed then barreling into a tunnel that made me think that these Appalachians deserve a little more respect.
Small Town Charm
We set out for the town of Everett because my kid wanted to visit a place with his same name. Everett is about an hour-and-a-half west of Harrisburg and sits between the larger towns of Bedford and Breezewood. Everett is quite cute (and I'm not talking about my floppy-haired almost-7-year-old), with a local library and flower shop as the highlights of the town. There is a gorgeous old movie theater that is unfortunately no longer operational, though the town does have a plan to turn the lights back on. Downtown, there is a bridge with access to the Juniata River if you're inclined to nab some minnows or search for crayfish. If you work up an appetite while exploring, there is a little pizza shop right next to the river with to-go options.
Everett is ramping up excitement for its "Home for Christmas" festival in November, a wonderous affair celebrating "Small Town America." The event will shut down the town's Main Street and takes place on Friday, Nov. 29, to promote local spending in collaboration with Small Business Saturday. A parade kicks off the festivities at 4 p.m. with a visit from Santa at 4:30 p.m. Music will ensue with craft areas, vendors and food options. The culmination of the festival is a tree-lighting ceremony and fireworks display that wraps it up (pun intended) around 7 p.m.
Unique Trek
With the turnpike paving the way to our destination, we couldn't refuse the call to explore a repurposed section of the road that's a popular attraction, The Pike2Bike Trail. The trail is a multi-use path on a section of turnpike that has been abandoned since the 1960s. Now draped in graffiti and overrun with crawling ivy and other plants clinging to life through cracks in the asphalt, the trail gives eerie vibes. The scenery is so unsettling, in fact, that the 2009 post-apocalyptic movie, "The Road," was filmed on the trail. "The Road" is a big hit with "Lord of the Rings" fans as our favorite crownless king, Viggo Mortensen, stars in the film. In real life, while traversing the trail, it is recommended to bring a flashlight for visibility and safety, as some of the tunnels are long enough to reach blackout in the middle. Be prepared for bumpy terrain, since the trail is not maintained and has been abandoned for over 60 years. There is an access point for the trail outside of Breezewood, about 20 minutes east of Everett.
Holiday Heart
Some folks get more motivated to help the community or volunteer around the holidays. If you're one of them, consider getting involved with YWCA of Greater Harrisburg. Our local YWCA serves Dauphin, Cumberland and Perry counties, focused on empowering women and eliminating racism. The YWCA protects and assists women and children who are unhoused, victims of domestic violence, or in compromising situations by offering transitional and emergency housing, meals, educational services and counseling programs. They also offer daycare, summer camp and employment programs. The YWCA is always seeking volunteers and donations. They accept monetary and in-kind donations such as hygiene and health products, clothing, and baby or child supplies via scheduled donation drop-offs. Families can volunteer by assisting with childcare programs, helping with fundraising events, and offering administrative assistance, among a variety of other essential duties.
As parents, we're already juggling life's demands, and the holidays bring with them a myriad of added responsibility: decorating, cooking and attending events with frenzied children. If friends or family are far or resources are tight, this season may feel dark, like a tunnel with only a distant twinkle of light. Despite the pressures of the holidays, be gentle with yourself and remember the purpose of this time is appreciating the moments that fill our hearts with sunshine. One of my favorite stress-free traditions is thrifting for the perfect pair of holiday pajamas for my kiddo to snuggle up to me in.
Wherever you and your family are in the journey this season, try to be grateful because you're here and our world is a better place for it.
For more information about the Everett "Home for Christmas" festival, visit www.everettlibrary.org/homeforchristmas .
To find out more about the Pike2Bike Trail, visit www.pabucketlist.com/exploring-the-abandoned-pennsylvania-turnpike .
To learn more about the YWCA of Greater Harrisburg, visit www.ywcahbg.org .
