Time Travel Transportation

Trip duration: 1-2 days

Begin your day with some locally renowned breakfast treats. Stop at the bakery at Sandy Ridge Market in Orbisonia to pick up one (or 12) of their iconic jumbo doughnuts. Then head down the street to Martin General Store for some grab-and-go breakfast pizza and hot coffee. You’re on ‘Ray’cation, right? 

With your belly full, experience America's Industrial Past at the East Broad Top Railroad, voted #3 Best Scenic Train Ride by USA Today. A National Historic Landmark, the East Broad Top Railroad is the only original narrow gauge railroad east of the Rocky Mountains. The immaculately preserved locomotives, train station and machine shops offer visitors an immersive experience like no other, with train rides through some of Pennsylvania's most spectacular scenery, exciting events, shop tours, shopping and more! Visit https://eastbroadtop.com/ for tickets and information. 

Across the street from EBT, continue your journey back in time to the Rockhill Trolley Museum, where visitors hear the ting-ting of the trolley bell, the growl of the gears, and the ticka-ticka-ticka of the air compressor as they ride through Blacklog Narrows in a real trolley car. Visit https://rockhilltrolley.org/ for more information. Combo tickets for the EBT and Rockhill Trolley Museum are available at https://eastbroadtop.com/ride/combo-tickets/. 

After riding the rails, wet your whistle with a famous root beer float combo at A&W Restaurant at Sandy Ridge Station. 

Wanna call it a day? Keep the railroad experience alive at Iron Rail Bed and Breakfast, located right next door to the EBT. Situated on the corner of Iron & Meadow Streets in Rockhill Furnace, this 1885 Victorian home was built by the East Broad Top Railroad for the General Superintendent, A.W. Greenwood and his family. The home offers guests five bedrooms and four bathrooms. Relax on the side porch and enjoy the antique decor throughout.

Got more gas in the tank? Keep the wheels rolling right over to America’s oldest antique automobile museum - Swigart Auto Museum - where you’ll see original Hollywood legends like Herbie the Love Bug and Tucker #1013. The museum offers a rotating collection of automobiles and carriages on display dating back to 1896. Get information and schedule your tour at http://www.swigartmuseum.com/.

Stay close to the auto museum and keep the classic - and classy - vibes going! Historic Gage Mansion Bed & Breakfast, in the heart of downtown Huntingdon, is a gorgeous Victorian equipped with seven luxurious guest rooms complete with private bathrooms. Enjoy the period details, including six fireplaces, stunning light fixtures, stained glass windows, a welcoming courtyard, and off-street parking. Relax in one of the turret rooms or entertain friends in the billiard suite. Gourmet breakfast is included! 

Notice the delicious scents of Thompson’s Candle Company filling the town with fragrance? Thompson's handcrafted, super scented products have been made in Huntingdon for over 20 years. You will find them in stores all over the U.S. and Canada, but for the complete selection of 72 fragrances in a variety of 23 shapes and sizes, visit the gift shop behind Gage Mansion. 

For dinner, take it easy and stroll across the street to the epicurean Three Twelve Kitchen & Cocktails. Featured in an episode of Road Trip Masters, the meticulous dishes and drinks there are both beautifully presented and memorable on the palate.

Mountaintop & Underground Adventures

Start your morning with a gourmet drink and breakfast at Standing Stone Coffee Company, located in historic Downtown Huntingdon. The sit-down cafe offers a full seasonal and breakfast menu along with a wide variety of specialty hot and cold beverages.  

After breakfast, head up Stone Creek Ridge to begin your deep dive into the wonder of the Raystown Lake Region! Enjoy a guided tour of Isett Heritage Museum, which offers a menagerie of local historical and Americana treasures. The museum is family-oriented, educational and entertaining for all ages. Visitors have an option to browse the several buildings at their leisure or take the recommended narrated tour that normally takes about two hours. Individuals, organizations, churches, schools and bus tours are all welcome with no reservations required for small tours. The museum is open year-round, handicapped accessible, with convenient parking for buses or large groups.

Shift gears to something natural as you discover the hidden wonders beneath your feet at Lincoln Caverns, a breathtaking underground world filled with dazzling crystal formations, delicate stalactites and intricate passageways. Located just outside Huntingdon, this family-friendly destination offers thrilling guided tours through two beautiful caves - Lincoln Caverns and Whisper Rocks. Perfect for explorers of all ages, Lincoln Caverns also features a fun gift shop, gemstone mining and educational programs. Whether you're seeking a memorable day trip or a unique adventure, Lincoln Caverns promises a journey through nature's underground masterpiece!

No visit to the spectacular Raystown Lake Region would be complete without a stop at Ridenour and Hawn’s breathtaking overlooks of Raystown Lake, dubbed the “Crown Jewel of Pennsylvania.” 

Take a break and stop for a delicious buffet lunch at Hoss’s Steak & Sea House in Huntingdon before an afternoon drive to Raystown Lake Visitor Center and Raystown Reflections Gift Shoppe. There you’ll find out more about the largest lake within Pennsylvania, with 118 miles of unspoiled shoreline spanning multiple counties. Raystown Lake still holds the record for the largest striped bass caught in the northeast - at over 50 lbs! The visitor center offers information on all there is to see and do in the region as well as an exhibition area, overlook deck, walking trail and more. 

Time to relax and recharge! Head south along the lake to the gorgeous Lake Raystown Resort, an RVC Outdoor Destination, where you’ll check in and get settled until a memorable evening dinner cruise aboard the Proud Mary Showboat. Or, book a room at one of the gorgeous vacation rentals or cabins in the region that offer a fireplace or woodstove for cozying up and making priceless family memories! 

Hiking & Biking Through the Region

First things first. Grab a homestyle breakfast and coffee at Donna's Family Restaurant off Route 22 - you’ll need your energy for Raystown Lake. The massive freshwater lake is the largest within Pennsylvania with 118 miles of unspoiled shoreline for visitors to explore. Adjacent to the Raystown Lake Visitor Center is a 2-mile walk along the Greenside Pathway rubberized trail (easy on the knees!) and a half-mile walk along the Hillside Nature Trail. Later you might stroll along the 4-mile loop of the Old Logger’s Trail and look at exhibits on forest management practices or test your strength on the 26-mile Terrace Mountain Trail around the eastern length of the lake. 

Prefer mountain biking? Ride the acclaimed Allegrippis Trail System. The 36 miles of single-track trails were designed by mountain bikers and built by the International Mountain Bicycling Association. The Allegrippis Trails at Raystown Lake is a premier single-track mountain biking trail system offering a fun, flowy bucket list of trails for all skill levels. 

After a lunch in downtown Huntingdon at one of nearly a dozen restaurants in a 6-block area, head for the massive flagpole overlooking the town for a hike or mountain bike ride on the Flagpole Hill Trail system that connects to Juniata College's Elizabeth Baker-Evans Peace Chapel. The Peace Chapel is an open-air stone circle designed by world renowned architect Maya Linn for meditation and finding harmony with the natural surroundings.

Now relish some afternoon relaxation at Juniata Riverside Retreats in Huntingdon, where nature meets downtown convenience. These two apartment Airbnbs are nestled between two parks overlooking the Juniata River and are walking distance to all the downtown restaurants and shops. Fishermen and kayakers love the close access to the river. Tubes for the river and fishing gear are provided for use by guests. There is also free and plentiful boat parking onsite.

Wet your whistle at the nearby Village Tavern Bar & Grill, with sandwiches, homemade soups, pizza, salads, wings and more. Free pool Sundays!

Keep the good times flowing with a nightcap at nearby Juniata Brewing Company or Reklaimed Vines & Defiant Distillery. All three are featured in the Alleghenies Tasting Trail, so don’t forget to get your free mobile pass, and check in to earn points to unlock themed prizes! 

Ready for something a little more hard core? Two of Pennsylvania's "Trails of the Year" have significant distance along Huntingdon County's ridges and valleys. The 80+ mile Standing Stone Trail connects Cowans Gap State Park in the south to Greenwood Furnace State Park and the Rothrock State Forest in the north. The most popular segment of the SST is the Thousand Steps between Mapleton and Mount Union. These hand-laid stone steps climb Jack's Mountain on the north rim of Jack's Narrows, one of PA's deepest gorges. The steps themselves were first established by quarry workers in the 1930s as their daily commute to work from the communities along the Juniata River up to the ganister rock quarries at the top of the ridge. The SST was awarded PA's Trail of the Year status in 2016.  

Near the Thousand Steps at Jack’s Narrows is the deepest gorge in Pennsylvania. This area offers renowned paddling, hiking and history, all within a 3-mile stretch! In 2018, two new community-owned river access projects opened convenient public launch areas to this historic portion of the Juniata River in Huntingdon County. These two launches bookend the gorge. The peaks of Jack’s Mountain on the south side of the gorge is just over 2,120 feet in elevation, and 2.9 miles away on the north of the gorge is just over 2,320 feet. The river surface of the Juniata River drops from 566 feet above sea level at Mapleton to 545 feet above sea level 3.3 miles downstream at Mount Union. That makes the gorge nearly 1/3-mile deep! The launches provide access for paddlesports, fishing and leisurely inner-tube floating. This stretch of the Juniata River is gentle and easily navigated by paddlers of all experience levels. 

Wrap up your paddling excursion at Bricktown Kickn' Chicken! Serving delicious,  chicken and classic comfort sides Bricktown Kick’n Chicken delivers mouthwatering bites that keep locals and visitors coming back for more!

The 2019 Trail of the Year is the Mid-State Trail, which snakes a path the entire breadth of Pennsylvania from the Maryland line to the Finger Lakes region of Upstate New York. This ambitious backpacking trail traverses about 50-miles through Huntingdon County mostly following the ridge of Tussey Mountain until it intersects with the aforementioned Standing Stone Trail in the lush Rothrock State Forest before continuing northeast through Centre County.
 

Accessible Adventures

Trip duration: 2-3 days

Start your adventure by visiting the Raystown Dam Pagoda! This scenic overlook provides visitors with views of the dam, the spillway, the lake and maybe even see one of Raystown’s bald eagles! A short seven-minute drive from the Pagoda lies Ridenour Overlook. This overlook is easily accessible from the adjacent parking area, and nearby benches provide the perfect spot to enjoy the unique view of the 225-foot-high dam and the Juniata River Valley beyond.

Head to Standing Stone Coffee Company to enjoy lunch. In addition to their exceptional coffee, Standing Stone offers a variety of homemade baked goods, fresh sandwiches, and seasonal drinks. If the weather is nice, enjoy your meal on their patio!

With your belly full, head to Lincoln Caverns & Whisper Rocks to tour stunning underground landscapes. While the main entrance to Lincoln Caverns is not wheelchair accessible, visitors can access portions of the caves through its original entrance. Those needing accessible tours must call in advance. 

Isett Heritage Museum offers a fascinating journey through time with its extensive collection of antiques and artifacts, showcasing over 40,000 items that tell the story of local history and innovation. Spread across multiple buildings, visitors can explore exhibits ranging from vintage cars and farm equipment to household items and early communication devices. The museum is also committed to making its experience accessible to everyone with ramps, wheelchair-friendly pathways, and accessible parking.

Time for dinner! Head to Donna's Family Restaurant for delicious homestyle cooking!. The restaurant is accessible and offers seating options suitable for all visitors. 

After a day of exploration, check into the Comfort Inn for a restful evening. Wheelchair-accessible rooms with plenty of grab bars are available. 

Before you begin day two of your adventure, enjoy a delicious breakfast in the hotel’s dining area.

Spend your morning exploring the Seven Points Recreation Area. The Raystown Lake Visitor Center features an educational exhibition area, a gift shop, and some spectacular views of Raystown Lake. Seven Points is also home to the Greenside Pathway, a 2.5-mile path made from recycled rubber materials. 

Refuel at the Marina Café, located at the Lake Raystown Resort. The café offers waterfront views of Raystown Lake and has accessible seating both indoors and outdoors. 

After lunch, embark on a scenic train ride at the East Broad Top Railroad (EBT)! The coach lifts allow wheelchair users to ride in the same coach as the rest of their group for the 9-mile trip through the countryside. Interested in seeing more of the EBT? With the help of grant funding from the Foundation for Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, and Capital Region, they recently acquired a wheelchair-accessible golf cart, allowing access to experience the historic shop complex!

After your journey through history, head to Hoss’s Steak & Sea House for dinner. With a menu that features a variety of steaks, seafood, and classic American dishes, and their soup & salad bar, Hoss's has something for everyone!

With your belly full, head back to your hotel room to unwind.

As you depart the Raystown Lake Region in the morning, consider a visit to DelGrosso’s Amusement Park & Laguna Splash! Special wristbands allowing alternative access to certain rides are available for guests with mobility restrictions and other needs. The park provides accessible parking, ramps, and pathways, making it easy to navigate for those using wheelchairs or mobility aids. The fun continues over in the water park! Several attractions can be accessed using their aquatic wheelchair, ensuring that everyone can enjoy a day of splashing and relaxation.