Wonderful park for children. There are a multitude of playgrounds, a splash park, lots of sports…read morefacilities and fields, and many hiking trails. In a strange but interesting turn of events, my children and I witnessed a squirrel in labor on one of the trails. A most unusual and unexpected sight I can promise you! I have to admit we got a bit more nature than we bargained for that day! Lol. My few qualms are these, it tends to be a very crowded place and the trail maps are not the clearest/ most accurate. A big improvement would be better trail maps (particularly with a "you are here" marker) and better signage throughout the trails. Overall though, it's a wonderful place for the community.

Lots of playgrounds! We were driving through town and it was a nice day so we were looking for a…read moreplace to have a picnic and let the kids get some energy out. They have several playground sections that the kids were able to choose from. They checked out 4 of them and played for about 15 minutes on each. Biggest complaint is there are no bathrooms open during a nice day in March. They only had port o potties which are not ideal for children. I understand that they can't heat them all during the winter but you think one or them would be available under the office or the main park area especially with sports season starting.

I've been at this park several times, most recently for the Cafe Racer Magazine 2025 Motorcycle…read moreShow. The park is along scenic Blackburn Road, and is down in a valley with a creek running through it. There are picnic pavilions and a playground. It was a great location for the motorcycle show ... Cheers!

This is a great park for kids of all ages! Our 1 1/2 and 3 1:2 year old grandkids love it here!read more

We held my daughter's wedding reception here in 2018. We had use of the house and all the grounds…read more It was beautiful! Rental is ridiculously inexpensive and the staff was so helpful. I'd recommend this place for ANY event.

While staying in the are for work, I came here for a morning walk, as I saw there were trails to…read morewalk on and help me get my steps in. I used the Red Blazed trail and it was fairly decent, nicely cleaned (except spider webs, which I find very annoying) and it was just barely over a mile. The end of it was a very steeeeeep uphill that'll get the heart racing and the sweat running! This park features full restrooms, parking and is pretty well blazed and easy to navigate. Definitely worth a visit!

I have been taking advantage of this park from before they were finished building it. Be aware NO…read morePETS (unfortunately) because of all the sports fields & courts: baseball, football, soccer, lacrosse, hockey, tennis, pickle ball, basketball. There is a paved 3+ mile walking path (relatively flat) that spans the park. Lots of parking. Kids playground. Miracle League handicapped accessible ball field. A catch & release pond. Flower garden. Brush Creek runs through it. Three body weight exercise stations. Too bad the coffee shop at the entrance was ahead of its time & closed! Great park! Very clean.

The park has become overcrowded with people speeding through the park. Despite the speed limit…read morebeing 15 mph, people are clocking in at 25 mph and above as shown on the electric speed sign. These speeding cars are oblivious to the fact that it is a park full of adults, children, and special needs individuals. They are putting everybody at risk.

I've been coming to Raccoon Creek State Park for over 50 years now, and it's one of those rare…read moreplaces that has somehow kept its magic across generations. My earliest memories from the 1970s are filled with the smell of charcoal smoke at the picnic groves and the freezing shock of jumping into the lake on hot summer afternoons. As a kid, that beach felt massive, and a simple day trip with packed lunches (the peanut butter and jelly sandwiches melted to goodness from the sun) and blankets spread out on the grass was the best part of summer with my sisters and mom. As I grew into adulthood, the way I used the park changed, but I never stopped going. I didn't always go swimming but instead would explore the miles of hiking trails. The best part, though, was getting to experience it all over again through my daughter's eyes. Taking her there when she was little and watching her hit the water and run around the playground were special times indeed. Raccoon Creek isn't just a park to me; it's a constant in my life. Over five decades later, facilities might get updated here and there, but the familiar feeling of the place hasn't changed a bit. It's serene, nostalgic, and always feels like coming home.

Raccoon State Park is practically in my backyard. I love coming here to camp! I have disability…read moreissues that can slow me down. Raccoon state park offers campsites that are for people like me with disabilities. Everything is right where you would need it to be. Even the showers are designed to aid people with disabilities. Each campsite is very well maintained. They have their own water plant that the water comes from. There is electric and they are a pet friendly campsite. While it would be nice if they had a full hookup. This works just as well. The staff are absolutely great! Whatever you need, they are the ones who can get it for you. The landscape is amazing. If you would rather camp at a site with no tress you can do it there. I personally love the trees for the shading. This is definitely the place to camp. I look forward to making this our special campsite.

If you live in Pittsburgh or are just visiting the area, McConnells Mill is one of the best day…read moretrips around. It's only about 40 miles north up I-79, so it's an easy drive from the city, but it feels like a completely different world once you get down into the gorge. I've been going there for years with friends and family, and it became my go-to spot to take people when they would visit from out of town. Everyone always loves checking out the historic old gristmill and the red covered bridge right next to it. It's a great, classic view, and if you go during the summer, they usually open up the mill for tours so you can see how it all used to work. The hiking there is fantastic, too, with a good mix of trails depending on what you're up for. You can take a pretty easy walk back to Hell's Hollow Falls, or you can tackle the rougher, rockier trails that run right along Slippery Rock Creek. You definitely want to wear sturdy shoes because the terrain gets steep and the rocks get slick, but the scenery with the rushing whitewater and massive boulders is totally worth it. It's just a beautiful, simple place to get outdoors for a few hours. Whether you want a challenging hike or just want to sit by the water and look at the old bridge, it never disappoints.

Visited this state park for the first time earlier this month and had a blast!…read more I parked at what I think is the main lot, up above the mill itself. I didn't take a tour of the mill (which the park volunteers and staff do offer throughout the day) but I did walk through it and read the information in it about the history of the mill. Definitely enjoyed exploring and learning. That said, I was really there for the trails, so I spent most of my day hiking. I took a loop trail down from the mill and back (with a detour up a short trail to some falls) and it was great! I love being outside and I love a good challenge; these trails were not paved or even at all and I had a great workout navigating them. During hydration breaks I'd find a nice rock to sit on by the water, which was wonderful. It was noisy as heck by the mill because of the families, but the further out I got the more peaceful it got. Definitely met my goal of unplugging for a day during my trek on the trails. I want to come back in the future and begin to try to walk the Slippery Gorge Trail, as it sounds like the gorge is another beautiful part of the park. But that is definitely a long term goal, because that trail is not a short one! I loved visiting this park and I'd be back for sure. To everyone else, PLEASE remember water and wear the proper footwear - while I enjoyed my walk in the park, these trails are definitely not a walk in the park!

One of our local favorites! From the gardens to the cafe and the special events throughout the…read moreyear. Staff is always friendly at the door when you walk in and at the cafe. I sometimes go to the cafe to work - although not really set up for this (make sure your computer is charged). I love browsing the gift shop. There is always something there to gift or that I want (but don't need) for myself. I usually end up leaving with a new book for my daughter. Great spot for some holiday shopping for your nature loving friends and family or a gift exchange. Good in the cafe is usually fresh and tastes great. I've enjoyed their salads, kids menu options and baked goods. The gardens are a wonderful place to plan a picnic or just walk around and take in all the hard work that goes into maintaining the grounds. They have a few areas geared towards kids and a lovely pond to sit and relax by. We especially love to admire the local art exhibits that routinely change.

How have I never reviewed this fine establishment located just outside of Pittsburgh? It's actually…read morein Oakdale, PA about 15 miles from downtown Pittsburgh and worth the drive. I have attended a couple of events here (wedding, birthday) as well as regular visits. With over 65 acres, it was first established in 1988 and has certainly grown in leaps and bounds. It's a wonderfully peaceful and lovely garden that boasts walking paths, light shows (spectacular winter holiday displays), various exhibits, and more. So many plants and flowers to look at and smell. Everything you would expect a botanic garden to be. The last time I went home to Pittsburgh for a visit we took our dog with us and that was amazing. He loved it and I love that he was permitted to visit without issue at all. Everyone who works there is there for a reason, the love of nature and ensuring longevity.