Outdoors, here we come! With 4,300 acres of York County parks, including Rocky Ridge and Nixon Park, we can’t go wrong. Throw in a few lakes, the Heritage Rail Trail, and other fun spots, and summer just became even more awesome.
1. Channel Your Inner Tarzan:
Swing from the trees or zipline your way down 600 vertical feet at Roundtop Mountain Resort. Test your battle readiness at paintball. Equally fun, surf your way down the tubing runs in five gallons of water inside your own OGO ball.
Roundtop Mountain Resort / 925 Roundtop Rd., Lewisberry / www.skiroundtop.com/mt-adventures
2. Cowboy Up:
Pick a date with your favorite equine and roam five miles of wooded trails at Spring Valley County Park. Or bring your creek-walking shoes; the water’s nice and cool, and the fish don’t seem to mind at all.
Spring Valley County Park / Crest Road, York, just past Dover on Rt. 74/Carlisle Road / www.visitpa.com / 717-840-7440
3. Get Hopelessly Lost:
More than just a corn maze, Maize Quest offers lots of ways to challenge your sense of direction. The high-tech geocaching scavenger hunt is great for gamers, and the espresso bar is for parents who get purposely lost.
Maize Quest / 2885 New Park Rd., New Park / www.mazefunpark.com / 1-866-935-6738
4. Work Those Oars:
Develop your biceps and traps with a canoe ride at Lake Redman, or get your calf and quad muscles pumping on a pedal boat with a pal. Row your boat under the shady bridge or kayak around the hill for a quiet glide. Later, you’ll want your camera at the bird boardwalk. Great date option: moonlight boat rides.
Lake Redman / Church Street, Jacobus / www.yorkcountypa.gov/parks-recreation/the-parks/william-kain-park/lake-redman.html
5. Get High Legally:
Highpoint’s Scenic Vista overlooks the Susquehanna. There, anything goes: strollers, horses, wheelchairs, bikes. Walk down to the Mason-Dixon Trail or Native Lands Heritage Trail, then up to another great view at Sam Lewis State Park, where your kite will get a workout.
Highpoint: 1199 Hilts Rd., Wrightsville / www.yorkcountypa.gov/parks-recreation/the-parks/highpoint-scenic-vista-recreation-area.html Sam Lewis: 6000 Mount Pisgah Rd., York / www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/findapark/samuelslewis/index.htm
6. Bump, Set, Spike:
Work out for that picnic lunch with sand volleyball and a challenging hilly walking trail at York Township Park. When you need a break, chill on a blanket for outdoor movie nights.
York Township Park / 25 Oak St., York / www.yorktownshiprec.com
7. Walk on Water:
Find your water legs with SUP (stand-up paddleboard) lessons, or kayak on Lake Clarke. Oar up the nearby creek for a shady spot.
Shank’s Mare / 2092 Long Level Rd., Wrightsville / www.shanksmare.com / 717-252-1616
8. B.Y.O.B. (Bring Your Own Boat):
Take your pick of seven boat launches and twenty-six miles of shoreline at Lake Marburg, part of the 3,329-acre Codorus State Park. You can even rent a marina slip. An accessible, water park-style pool, horseback riding, and campsites mean you can enjoy the park even if you’re boat-less.
2600 Smith Station Rd., Hanover / www.stateparks.com/codorus_state_park_in_pennsylvania.html / 717-637-2816
9. Play Off-Leash:
Set your pooch loose to schmooze with other same-size dogs at Canine Meadows in John C. Rudy Park. Or put your BMX bike to the test on the tricky track where races roar Wednesdays and Sundays. A two-mile walking/biking trail loops around the park.
John C. Rudy Park / East Manchester Township, near Emigsville / www.yorkcountypa.gov/parks-recreation/the-parks/john-c-rudy-park
10. Hit the Rails:
The twenty-one-mile Heritage Rail Trail runs from York City to the Maryland Line, with seven stops along the way. Ride through the 1838 Howard tunnel, over bridges, and along the Codorus Creek, and you’ll be tracing the path of President Lincoln on his way to give the Gettysburg Address.
Heritage Rail Trail / www.yorkcountypa.gov/parks-recreation/the-parks/heritage-rail-trail-park
