One of my favorite parts about hiking is talking to other hikers! A few weeks ago, while wrapping…read moreup a different trail, another hiker asked where else I liked to hike. When I admitted I'd never been to Opossum Lake, she looked at me like I was missing out and told me I needed to check it out. Well...challenge accepted! When I got home, I looked it up and discovered it was only about 25 minutes from my house. Somehow, yet again, I had managed to overlook another great outdoor spot practically in my own backyard. A beautiful four-mile trail around a lake? Count me in! I headed out early on a mid-July Sunday morning, hoping to beat both the heat and the crowds. GPS brought me right to the parking area without any trouble, and even though there were already quite a few people there fishing, I had no problem finding a parking spot. The trail itself was fantastic! One of the things I appreciated most was how much the terrain changed throughout the loop. Parts of the trail were covered with crushed stone, others with pine needles, tanbark or natural dirt. It kept the hike interesting without ever becoming difficult. The entire four-mile loop is well-marked, easy to follow and beautifully shaded, making it an excellent summer hike even when temperatures start creeping up. The recent rain left a few muddy spots along the trail, but nothing that slowed me down. PRO TIP: If you're hiking after a rainstorm, use a little extra caution on the wooden footbridges. They can get a bit slick. The trail offered plenty to see along the way. I spotted birds, turtles and beautiful views across the lake and I found myself stopping more than once simply to enjoy the peaceful scenery. One unexpected highlight came when I crossed the spillway bridge. The interpretive signs explaining the history of the dam, the high-water markers and why the bridge was built so high above the creek added a neat educational element to the hike that I wasn't expecting. I always appreciate when a place teaches me something while I'm out exploring. Beyond hiking, it's easy to see why Opossum Lake has become such a popular recreation area. Throughout my visit I saw anglers casting from the shoreline, boats out enjoying the water and families making use of the many picnic areas scattered around the lake. Whether you're looking to hike, fish, paddle or simply enjoy a peaceful picnic, there's plenty of room to spread out and enjoy the scenery. I can already tell Opossum Lake is going to earn a permanent spot on my short list of local hikes. It's close to home. It's easy enough to enjoy without needing to mentally prepare for a mountain expedition. And it's beautiful enough that it never feels like "just another walk." Sometimes you want a huge adventure. Sometimes you just want to lace up your hiking boots, get a few peaceful miles under your belt and spend some time outside. Opossum Lake is absolutely perfect for those days!

'Possum Lake is a great place to go for a quick hike or paddle. My favorite thing is to hike…read morearound the lake in the evening then head out in the kayak. The distance around the lake is, I think, about 3 or 3 1/2 miles and there are some small hills, steps, and mostly dirt or pine-needle-covered terrain. In terms of kayaking, I can paddle around all areas in about an hour. It's a convenient, easy-to-get-to location and it's open until 10pm.

This year, we tried Hummel Run. It was a lot of fun. My kids and I loved it. We saw deer and a…read moremuskrat and a lot of birds. In previous years, we have twice done the three-hour Bald Eagle Run. I really want to do the midnight moon kayak, and also the historic Union Canal tour; however, we have not had good luck with the timing of these two tours. Cocoa Kayaks is always a highlight on our trips to Hershey! I highly recommend them!

Had a great trip with Cocoa Kayaking this afternoon. We did the Bald Eagle Run today and half way…read morethough the run we had a Bald Eagle fry right over us. The equipment and staff were great and Mike who took us to the drop of point gave us some great knowledge about the Swatara Creek and the creek biosystems on the way. I highly recommend the company if you want a great creek Kayaking adventure!

When my adventure buddy casually asked, "Hey...do you want to ride The Pride of the Susquehanna on…read moreSunday?" my first response, surprisingly, wasn't "YES!" like it usually is. It was..."WAIT...THAT THING STILL FLOATS?!" I distinctly remember riding The Pride of the Susquehanna probably 30 years ago on a school field trip, but somewhere along the way I guess I just assumed it had quietly retired into the history books. Nope. She's still cruising the Susquehanna! And I was WAY more excited about that than a 40-something-year-old probably should have been! My adventure buddy grabbed our tickets ahead of time through the website for $20 per adult and we picked the 2:00 p.m. sightseeing cruise. The Pride offers a variety of cruises throughout the season, from narrated sightseeing trips to specialty cruises and private charters, making it a pretty unique ways to experience the Susquehanna River. We arrived a few minutes before departure, checked in quickly, and walked aboard. Instant nostalgia! It was exactly how I remembered it! Downstairs featured the same warm, dark wood interior with a bar, while upstairs offered the open-air deck where you can sit back, relax and enjoy some beautiful views as the only authentic stern-driven paddlewheel riverboat operating on the Susquehanna makes its way upriver before turning around for the return trip. Naturally, we made a quick stop at the bar before heading upstairs. Two beers and a bottle of water came to around $12, and with drinks in hand we settled in to enjoy the sunshine. Was this the most thrilling boat excursion you'll ever take? No. Absolutely not. You're not racing through rapids or spotting whales. You're simply enjoying a peaceful 45-minute cruise along one of Central Pennsylvania's most recognizable rivers. And honestly...that's kind of the point. The breeze coming off the water, the sunshine, the familiar skyline of Harrisburg and the gentle rhythm of the paddlewheel made for a wonderfully relaxing Sunday afternoon. Sometimes slowing down for 45 minutes is exactly what you need. Parking on City Island is plentiful and free, and the dock is conveniently located near the baseball stadium, exactly where I remembered it from all those years ago! One bonus tip...if you're looking to stretch your afternoon into an even bigger adventure, the Harrisburg Beach Club is just a short walk down City Island after your cruise. It makes the perfect follow-up stop for food, drinks, live music and soaking up a little more sunshine. The Pride of the Susquehanna may not be the flashiest attraction around, but it's one of those classic Central PA experiences that somehow manages to stay charming decade after decade. I'm really glad it's still floating. And I'm even happier that I finally climbed back aboard!

Great evening on the Pride of the Susquehanna! We listened to music provided by Lil Brother Band…read more They are great musicians and fun to listen to as they bring energy and joy to the stage. The ride on the riverboat is amazing as you pass under the bridges and by many sites and buildings of our wonderful city. Highly recommend doing the music events in the Pride !

We had a fantastic family day at Long Level Marina! The pontoon boat was in great condition and…read moremade for a relaxing and fun trip on Clarke Lake. The weather couldn't have been better, and the water was warm and perfect for enjoying the day. The employees were friendly, helpful, and made the entire experience easy from start to finish. Even docking the boat was part of the fun! Everything came together for a memorable day with family. If you're looking for a great place to spend time on the water, I highly recommend Long Level Marina. We can't wait to come back!

Not going to write out another long story. Suffice it to say don't take your boat here if you want…read morecompetent sales or service people handling your prized possession. Took a boat here after an accident and they totally botched the whole process; wouldn't work with my insurance company, installed the wrong motor, total idiots!

We just bought our first boat from Big Bees!! Pretty good experience; wish you could test drive…read morelike cars, but I understand. Looking forward to a fun summer!

Wonderful buying process at big bee boats & rv from start to finish! Very knowledgeable…read morecompassionate staff to help with all boating needs! I highly recommend them for all of your parts, accessories,service & boat needs! Great people for excellent boating experience!

Through a series of unfortunate circumstances my lovely outboard ended up underwater. I brought it…read morehere hoping to revive it. The owner "pickled" my engine, bringing it back to life. The turnaround was amazing, he had it done the next day! I am infinitely appreciative of his talent and skill with 2 stroke outboards, and look forward to getting back on the water soon! I would recommend this place to anybody looking for honest work from a solid dude.

Helpful and knowledgeable with reasonable turnaround times and prices. Compare that to the other…read morelocal boat repair shop and the guys at Riverside are a no brainer. Like most new boat owners I had some questions and the guys at riverside actually took the time to listen and answer. If you are looking for flashy this isn't your place but if you are looking to get back on the water quickly and with confidence then Riverside is where I will tell people to go

Wow, How do I review this... We wanted to go and hike around…read morepinnacle overlook, so we found some info and went. Boy some parts were great, others....well.. THE VIEW: Spectacular. At the peak, you can look out over a bend in the river and see the whole valley. Its really a cool summit. Its something that you need to see as there arent very many places like it in Lancaster county. HIKING: These are some of the poorest marked trails Ive ever been on. It would be pretty easy to get lost but they are well defined trails. They have 2 separate trails that have red marks, if you can find the mark that is, then you can guess at which one your on. They were faded, hidden behind a bush or non existent. And they have no starting point. Some places put up a sign. They could at least clearly mark a tree to show where it starts. Oh and the map! Talk about a doodling! The trails had forks that werent even on it. We just pick one and hoped for the best. The hike itself was nice tho. Anyway.... Id give it 1.5 stars for hiking trail issues. The view is pretty awesome tho. Check it out just for that!

Wow, I visited here yesterday with a Meetup hiking group. This place was fantastic. There were…read moreseveral stream crossings since our leader took us off the beaten path a few times. Eventually, we followed the orange trail markers to the pinnacle. You will notice as well there is a parking area as well if you just want to drive up there. However, it's more satisfying trekking up to the top. The view is spectacular and you get a great view of the Susquehanna River. Plenty of wonderful boulders and small waterfalls to see here and photograph.

Great selection of paddleboards and excellent service. Also have kayaks, leasing, lessons, and…read moretrips. Store is cute and personnel wonderful and informative.

I rent kayaks from here. The current price for a single-person kayak is $26 for 2 hours (which…read moreincludes kayak, paddle & life-jacket), then $8 for every hour after that. The kayaks are already lined up at the launch point until the day is over. Go play, then after you return your rental gear, go pay. The Susquehanna River is a gentle river...the water is more like that of a bay or a lake. There are beaches and islands to explore. There are marinas and and docks so there is some traffic areas with boaters and jet-skiers, but it isn't daunting...just stick to the river bank until you're comfortable...you will be paddling in the middle of the river, soaking up the view like a pro before you even realize it! The staff is really, really nice, friendly and helpful. I highly recommend spending the day on the Susquehanna and Shank's Mare. note: the launch point is directly across the shop where there is public parking, picnic tables, docks, fishing, duck feeding, etc.

I like this park. It is peaceful and there is plenty of parking. There is a monster hill. So beware…read moreif you are not in shape. My only issue with this park is that it prohibits dogs. It isn't just dogs not on leashes. I was so sad to read the signs for no dogs at all. I also read that there have been some geese that are very territorial at this park. That is a more recent situation.

This place is a hidden gem. Birding, Hiking and Fishing is great here…read more Have nothing negative to say.