Describes state parks, nature sanctuaries, county parks, environmental education centers, and state forest natural areas in each region of the state

An illustrated guidebook that describes forty-nine natural places in Pennsylvania to explore and enjoy. In this sequel to the popular guidebook Outbound Journeys in Pennsylvania, Marcia Bonta describes forty-nine new outstanding natural places in Pennsylvania, featuring their old-growth forests, scenic rivers, spectacular waterfalls, rare botanical localities, outstanding wetlands, unique geological formations, endangered ecosystems, and special birdwatching areas. The book is divided into three sections--Eastern, Central, and Western Pennsylvania--and covers unique natural features in state parks, state forests, private nature sanctuaries, state game lands, county parks, environmental education centers, and a National Military Park. Each chapter discusses the flora and fauna of the site, as well as its unique features and also contains historical information so that people can learn about Pennsylvania's natural heritage without necessarily visiting the places. Bonta gives precise directions on how to reach each area, most of which are easily accessible from the major population centers of the state. In addition, she offers complete information on each site, including the best trails to follow, telephone numbers, hours, availability of group tours, and admission charges. A special section on sources and the detailed bibliography give readers more information on how to obtain maps and books that will add to their appreciation and knowledge of the places and natural history covered in the book. Most of the outings are not too strenuous and are ideal for families and groups of all kinds and ages. Aimed at a broad audience of naturalists, both armchair and active, More Outbound Journeys in Pennsylvania will also interest birdwatchers, hikers, campers, fishermen, hunters, canoeists, and wildflower and plant enthusiasts. Anyone who is interested in outdoor Pennsylvania can use this book to discover and enjoy the natural beauty of the Keystone State.

From Philadelphia to Pittsburgh and everywhere in between—take to the road and discover the Keystone State’s most iconic drives. In this updated edition of Backroads & Byways of Pennsylvania, David Langlieb takes readers down country roads, through lush farmland vistas, and into bustling cities and small towns. Pennsylvania’s rich history, cultural narratives, and natural beauty make for great themed driving tours. Trace the state’s Civil War stories, peek into the world of the Amish, or simply absorb the breathtaking views of the Pocono Mountains. And discover unique sites along the way: • Explore the shores of Lake Erie in Presque Isle State Park. • Enjoy picturesque Delaware River views along River Road in Bucks County. • Experience must-see concert venues like SteelStacks in Bethlehem. Whether in the east, west, or central valley, readers will find the perfect drive to suit their interests, along with helpful maps and beautiful color photography.

With natives as your guides, this series leads you down the road less traveled. Pack a lunch and take off on any of these 17 drives into all corners of PA. Visit the beaches of Lake Erie or the banks of the Delaware, the Endless Mountains of the northern tier or the Amish farms of Lancaster County. Explore old mining villages, lumber towns, battlefields, college campuses, and so much more. Each trip covers history and trivia, recreation, shopping, and what to see and do along the way. About the series: Whether you need to get away for a weekend or longer, want to explore your home state or make plans for free time in an area you don’t know well, take to the road with a Backroads & Byways book. You’ll discover the most interesting places to visit on and off the beaten path. Destinations will appeal to foodies, history buffs, families with kids, couples, adventurers, hikers, bikers—in short, everyone. With itineraries appropriate for visits of differing durations and in different seasons, tips for comfortable accommodations, great food, and good shopping too, look to Backroads & Byways for the most interesting and diverse short trips available.

The complete reference to recommended trails in the state. The best of each region from Keystone Trails Association members. Descriptions of hundreds of trails plus a chapter on state's nine long-distance trails.

Marcia Bonta is a naturalist-writer who has lived on a 500-acre mountain-top farm in central Pennsylvania for twenty years. Appalachian Spring is her personal account of that glorious spectacle - the coming of the spring to the woods and fields of Appalachia.The book begins with spring preliminaries in January and February when gray squirrels mate and the great horned owls conduct their courtship rites. Then, with the onset of true spring, the intricacies of the season unravel day by day in journal entries that combine Bonta's own meticulous observations with the research reported by botanists, entomologists, and other natural scientists.She recounts her hours spent watching an active red fox den or observing the drumming of a male ruffed grouse - all without the benefit of a blind. She discovers new-born fawns on the trail and hen turkeys with their poults in the field. A black bear peers into her sitting room window; deer play tag in her front yard.Birdwatching is an integral part of her spring ritual; she records both the return of nesting species and the passing through of migrants. She spends a blustery St. Patrick's Day following a flock of American pipits foraging in her field, discovers and watches an ovenbird nest beside her trail, and counts twenty-three species of wood warblers during one spectacular day in mid-May.Every aspect of the natural world catches her eye, from tthe life cycle of a tent caterpillar to the sex life of a jack-in-the-pulpit. But while she considers her book to ber her own love sone about the place and season on earth she loves most, she also mourns the continual exploitation of the natural earth by humanity for its own often superficial uses. She hopes, by recounting the wonders of the natural world, to convert others to what she calls the "third stage" in humanity's relationship with nature, that of empathy with all of nature for its own sake. "To know the earth better, to grasp a little of its workings, to look on it with awe and wonder as well as with respect, is to want to save it from destruction."

Throughout Pennsylvania, within the state forest system, are 61 officially designated Natural Areas, each offering a bit of wildness deemed worthy of protection: rare-bird breeding sites, stands of old-growth trees, fragile wetlands, ice age remnants, mineral-rich mountainsides. To experience first-hand the unique features of each natural area, nature writer Charles Fergus spent a year visiting all 61. In this information-filled book, he reports on what he found, offering readers a guided tour of some of natural Pennsylvania's most distinctive places. He also provides information on how to visit the areas, each of which is open to the public.