What would you do with an extra 24 hours in your month? Well, this year, you get to find out because 2024 is a Leap Year, and February has 29 days instead of the usual 28. The reason for the extra day is to realign our calendar year (which consists of 365 days) with the solar year (which has 365.25), otherwise our seasons as we know them now would shift, and eventually, after many years, February would bring summer weather and August would bring snow.
So the question is, how will you spend your extra day this year? In the Our Road, Your Communities section below, you'll find lots of great ideas! You could do a "Leap Day March" at Vosburg Neck State Park, learn how to tap maple trees at the Nature Center at Asbury Woods, or improve your photography skills at a class with PA Route 6 Artisan Trail member Curt Weinhold. All of these things prove that PA Route 6 is not just a place to visit, but a place to learn!
Another great option for a road trip is to visit all or part of the Public Art & Mural Trail. Tucked away among the beautiful scenery of the PA Route 6 corridor is a vast collection of inspiration and imagination. Sometimes “hidden” in plain sight, other times camouflaged as parts of larger works, dozens of murals and public art pieces are waiting to be discovered. Spend a day or a weekend enjoying many of these public displays of creativity.
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Our Road, Your Communities!
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February 14th is Valentine's Day |
Every year, approximately 200 million roses are grown in preparation for Valentine's Day. But have you ever wondered why it's often a dozen roses that are given as an expression of love and not 5, say, or even 11? Well, that's easy. The dozen roses supposedly represent the 12 months that you're thinking of your sweetheart. |
Scranton Ice Festival is February 9th and 10th |
Get ready for a frosty blast as Scranton Tomorrow presents Downtown on Ice on Friday, February 9, and Saturday, February 10, 2024, right in the heart of the Downtown Scranton Business District. This year's extravaganza, themed "Under the Big Top," promises a family-friendly spectacle with jaw-dropping ice carving displays, a curling rink, winter wonderland activities on Courthouse Square, live music, selfie stations, a scavenger hunt, and delectable eats and drinks at downtown establishments.
The 2024 festival is set to refresh the beloved Scranton Ice Festival, which was a hit among community members in both 2021 and 2022. With fresh frosty activities and family-friendly fun, it's the coolest way to celebrate the season. Don't miss out on this chilly extravaganza! Check out the Downtown On Ice details for a wintry good time!
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Here's a list of more happenings along PA Route 6 this month:
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Saturday, February 10th: Soak up some winter fun at the Pymatuning Winter Fun Day 2024 at Shelter 4 in Pymatuning State Park. Enjoy dog sledding, snowmobile club activities, ice fishing, wood carving, and a maple sugaring display.
Saturday and Sunday, February 10th-11th: Celebrate a romantic Valentines season by sampling chocolate candy, red wine, and bubbly for free from 11:00AM-5:00PM at Conneaut Wine Cellars. They will also have chocolate dessert samples for a small fee. Purchase any red wine (including rose & blush wines, red specialty wines, and pink bubbly) during the event and get a special price.
Saturday, February 17th: Head to Erie for the Erie RV and Outdoor Adventure Expo from 10:00AM-8:00PM at the Bayfront Convention Center. This is a good chance to shop the latest in campers, RVs, camping, travel, off-roading, and more!
Saturday, February 17th: Join the Friends of Lyman Run for a winter adventure hike on the trails throughout Lyman Run State Park. Take this great opportunity to get outside in the colder months and see the winter beauty. Be prepared with good hiking boots, hiking poles/sticks, and water. No pre-registration required. Hike is from 1:00-3:00PM and hikers will meet in the Day Use Parking Area.
February 17th and 24th: Visit the Nature Center at Asbury Woods in Erie County and learn how to tap maple trees in a hands-on demonstration from 1:00-2:00PM. Meet their naturalist in the exhibit hall and come dressed for the weather. All ages are welcome and no pre-registration is required.
Sunday, February 18th: Enjoy stories, crafts, and educational activities all about animals in winter at Chapman State Park from 10:00-11:00AM. This program is best suited for children ages 3-8, but all families are welcome. Materials and space are limited, so please register for this program. Please meet at the Environmental Learning Center, located across from the Park Office. Parts of this program will take place outside, so please dress for the weather.
Saturday, February 24th: Take a beginning/intermediate photography class with PA Route 6 Artisan Trail member Curt Weinhold at the Potter County Artisan Co-Op in Coudersport. Weinhold is a PA Wilds Juried Artisan, former wedding photographer and teaches starry sky photography at Cherry Springs State Park. Class is from 1:30-3:00PM and costs $35.00. To register, please call the center at 814-274-8165.
Thursday, February 29th: Enjoy a Leap Day March at Vosburg Neck State Park. On the last day of meteorological winter, take a walk through the woods in anticipation of the coming change in season. They will be traveling on Whitetail and Vista Trails. Trail conditions could be muddy, wet, or slippery this time of year, so please wear sturdy hiking boots.
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Heritage Community Spotlight: |
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The quaint Pennsylvania Heritage Community of Youngsville sits amidst Warren County’s PA Wilds region, nestled in the Brokenstraw Valley, surrounded by the Allegheny Mountains and Allegheny National Forest. This location—along with peaceful parks and scenic trails—makes Youngsville a nature-lover’s paradise! Youngsville’s changing seasons each provide a uniquely stunning backdrop for all of your vacation adventures.
Youngsville is also a PA Heart & Soul Community that has worked hard to bring people together to build a stronger, healthier, and more robust community based on fellowship and respect. Visit Youngsville and see why they call themselves "The Biggest Little Town on the Map!"
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2024 Trail and River of the Year Awards |
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The Trails at Jakes Rocks is a 35-mile natural surface trail system located in the Allegheny National Forest in Warren County. The trails are used primarily for mountain biking, but other types of recreation such as hiking, trail running, and cross-country skiing are also permitted.
The Trails at Jakes Rocks was established to address a notable gap in Warren County's recreational landscape: high-quality mountain bike trails. The unique design as a stacked-loop system significantly reduces the typical gaps found in point-to-point trail systems.
The Trails at Jakes Rocks has not only created a fantastic trail system but also serves as an economic driver. A recent economic impact analysis found that the Trails at Jakes Rocks draws over 25,000 users annually and generates an estimated $9 million in annual tourism spending.
"The impact that the Trails at Jakes Rocks has made on Warren County has far surpassed our expectations,” said Jim Decker, President and CEO of the Warren County Chamber of Business and Industry. "Locally we have long recognized the unique beauty and outdoor recreational opportunities our region offers and celebrate the catalyst that the Trails at Jakes Rocks has provided to allow us to share these attributes to a much larger audience. We are humbled by this recognition and sincerely thank DCNR for their assistance with our efforts to create this asset as well as the conveyance of this prestigious award to the Trails at Jakes Rocks."
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The historic Allegheny River starts as a stream in Potter County, meandering through a field of wildflowers before crossing briefly through New York and then through six counties in Western Pennsylvania.
The 325-mile river ends in Pittsburgh where it meets the Monongahela River and flows into the Ohio River, providing drinking water to more than one million people and acting as an ecologically and economically precious water trail.
The fertile valleys and abundant biodiversity have led many communities to call this place home, including the O-non-dowa-gah (Seneca Nation) who call the Allegheny Ohi:yo’ (beautiful river), the Lenni Lenape (Delaware Nation) who named it welhik-heny (most beautiful stream), and French settlers who referred to it as La Belle Riviere.
A series of locks and dams were constructed in the early 20th century to make the Allegheny River navigable for barges to transport goods, and now swimming, boating, and fishing are profoundly enjoyed by residents and visitors. The Allegheny River was also named River of the Year in 2017.
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Growing Outdoor Recreation for Pennsylvania |
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Shapiro Administration Creates Action Plan To Grow Pennsylvania’s Outdoor Recreation Sector In New Report |
The more than 50 actions listed in the 32-page report will assist with the larger strategic priorities of building capacity within Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation industry, building community and economic development capacity, and building the capacity for inclusive and equitable wellbeing for Pennsylvania.
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Nominate Your Favorite Hiking Trail in the PA Wilds |
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The PA Wilds region is home to the greatest concentration of public lands in the commonwealth, more than 2 million acres, which includes more than 1,600 miles of trails. The hiking book is meant to highlight just some of the amazing trails and vistas that define the PA Wilds region as a premier outdoor recreation destination. The finished hiking book will include hiking trail options for all 13 counties that make up the PA Wilds region as well as stewardship messaging.
The PA Wilds is asking you to nominate your favorite hiking trail in this region to be included in the book. Here's the link to the nomination form.
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Join the Artisan Trail in 2024! |
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The PA Route 6 Artisan Trail began in 2004 with the goal of raising awareness of the arts and creative industry of the Route 6 Heritage Corridor. The trail now boasts a network of 400+ northern Pennsylvania artisans, creative businesses, cultural organizations, tourism businesses, and arts supporters. Encouraging the success of these artisans and arts organizations has proven to enhance the economy, culture, and quality of life across the region.
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"Pennsylvania's mid-20th-century Route 6 brought together appealing natural environments, historical events, and cultural landscapes. The eastern length of the route crosses an area featuring rolling mountains and tranquil valleys dotted by farms and towns. To the west, Route 6 traverses a more level landscape that also includes lakes. This book presents the entire scenic drive as a destination in itself. It covers the secluded setting of northern Pennsylvania where Route 6 and its towns have experienced minimal changes associated with larger metropolitan regions and interstate highways. As a result, the mid-20th-century landscapes of Route 6 have lingered a little longer. The authors give the reader a peek of a past not entirely swept away."
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11 West Main Street
Galeton, PA 16922
814-435-7706
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