4 Things To Do Before the Weather Gets Cold
By Olivia Pfeiffer
*Disclaimer: Please remember to keep the Caritas Commitment in mind, and the importance of wearing a mask when around other people!
Before the weather gets too cold and we’re all stuck inside for the winter months, there’s so many fun ways in the area to escape from campus without going somewhere super crowded. If you’re looking for a variety of fun adventures that only require a 20 minute drive or so, look no further than this list for fun ways to spend time with your family unit!
1. Devil’s Pools - Wissahickon State Park
You probably saw this on someone’s Instagram story sometime in the past few weeks, but it’s definitely still worth the trip. Head to the Valley Green Parking Lot in Wissahickon State Park, and from there it’s only a short hike (under one mile) to Devil’s Pools, where you can enjoy cliff jumping into a watering hole. Make sure to bring a swimsuit! There’s also plenty of adjacent trails offering rope swings, rock ledges, and fallen logs over the river to explore, so don’t just limit yourself to Devil’s Pools while you’re there.
2. Maple Acres Farm
One of my favorite activities to do over the past few weeks is taking a trip to Maple Acres Farm. Not only do they offer a wide variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables (including pumpkins for Halloween season), but also delicious baked treats and sweets. Take some time to wander the grounds—you might see a few turkeys and geese along the way! My personal favorite thing to do at Maple Acres Farm is flower picking. They let you cut 40 stems from their fields for only $5! It’s a great way to bring a little bit of life back into your college dorm or apartment for a very cheap price. Make sure to bring cash if you can.
3. Valley Forge Historical Park
Valley Forge is only 15 minutes away from campus, but I had never ventured over there before this year and I regret it immensely. If you are a history buff, there’s lots of old canons and houses from the Revolutionary War and plenty of ways to learn about American history. If you are in it less for the history and more for the scenery, no worries! There are so many beautiful walking paths to follow all over the park, from sunny fields to small mountains. With over 3,500 acres to explore, it’s a wonderful place to explore the natural beauty this area has to offer, and get a glimpse of what it would have looked like back at the founding of our country.
4. Stoneleigh Park
Don’t have a car? Don’t feel like really leaving campus? Don’t have as much time to devote to nature? No worries! Stoneleigh is not even a five minute walk from West Campus. Simply cross County Line Road and start walking down the side of the road in the same direction as the West Campus apartments. An old 40-acre property, Stoneleigh is a wonderful place to take some time to yourself and appreciate some of the beauty this world has to offer. You can follow trails all over the beautiful estate and find hidden foundations and flower fields along the way, all while keeping the beautiful house in view. While this last one is slightly less ‘adventurous’ than the other three, I do think it is definitely worth a visit, especially given how close we are to this beautiful park!
