PA on Pause

10/10/2024

You can also follow on Instagram to see more exciting photos and get all the tips we share!

09/10/2024

We've visited many of the state parks in Pennsylvania. These 5 state parks often get overlooked, but we think you should definitely plan a visit soon!

👇🏻Link in the comments👇🏻

22/08/2024

The Delaware Water Gap isn’t just for hardcore adventurers—it’s also the perfect place for a family day out! From easy hikes to picnic spots, there’s something for your family, regardless of age or skill level.
What’s your favorite family activity here?

21/08/2024

Nature is at its best in the Delaware Water Gap. 🌿 From wildlife sightings to the vibrant plant life, there is a chance to connect with the natural world on every visit.

We didn't even have to get out on a trail. A mama black bear and her two cubs crossed the road in front of us while we were driving through early in the morning once!

What’s the most memorable wildlife encounter you’ve had here?

20/08/2024

Let’s all do our part to keep the Delaware Water Gap beautiful for generations. 🌱
Remember to pack out what you pack in, stay on the trails, and respect the wildlife.

How do you practice Leave No Trace?

19/08/2024

Sometimes, all you need is a breathtaking view to remind you of the beauty surrounding us. The Delaware Water Gap never disappoints—whether you’re hiking to a mountaintop or just taking in the scenery from below. 🌄
Have you ever experienced these DWG views?"

19/08/2024

3 Tips For Visiting the Delaware Water Gap 👇🏼

We visited during possibly one of the busiest times of the year, over the Fourth of July weekend. During this time, we were still able to visit some of the most popular sites, and have some of the most popular waterfalls all to ourselves for periods of time.

This is how we did it!

1. Everyone tells you to get up and visit early in the mornings, but also consider evening visits. We plan to have early dinner, or grab an appetizer, and then head to the popular waterfalls, like Raymondskill falls. We were able to explore and photograph this waterfall for quite some time on our own.

2. Don’t just visit the highlights. There are more than just Raymondskill and Dingmans Falls. We absolutely loved exploring, both Hornbecks Creek and Hackers Falls.

3. Check out some of the local state parks near Delaware Water Gap, too. Some of our favorites include Promised Land for more hiking, Big Pocono for overlook views, and Hickory Run for all kinds of adventures.

A couple of the photos included are from Bushkill Falls, which is not a part of the national recreation area. This is a private nature park, and you’ll have to pay separate entry fees. It’s a little on the pricey the side, and it does get often busy during the afternoons. As long as you get away from the first couple of waterfalls, you’ll have a little more room to spread out.

14/08/2024

🚨 UNPOPULAR OPINION 🚨

I was just looking through our photos from our adventures up to this post, this year. And one of the popular hikes we did, that I wouldn’t necessarily recommend, is Subway Cave in Sedona.

While we loved our time in Sedona, this was our least favorite hike. We hiked lots of trails with plenty of hikers on them, but this one was in another category.

And while it was kind of cool to see the Enchantments resort from above, I’d rather not hear construction noises during the first couple miles of my hike, if I can help it.

Also, to actually get to the cave, you’ve got to walk around this red rock ledge. While it’s a few feet wide in most places, it is uneven and slants down away from the rock wall. As someone who is afraid of heights, I WAS NERVOUS.

The parking situation was also nuts. We’ll skip this one next time we head back to Sedona.

Have you been disappointed in a trail you’ve seen on social media?

24/06/2024

🤤 Must Try Foods in Shipshewana:
(SAVE THIS POST FOR LATER PLANNING!)

➡️ Soft Pretzels (I tried both Ben’s and Jojo’s)
➡️ Cookies
➡️ Fry Pies
➡️ Amish Haystack Dinner
➡️ A slice of pie from the Bluegate
➡️ A meal from one of the great restaurants in LaGrange

You’ll find some absolutely fantastic food in , so come hungry and bring a big cooler on your road trip!

We got to learn how to make soft pretzels from Ben of Ben’s Soft Pretzels himself, (photo 4) and I also tried Jojo’s sour cream & onion pretzel while shopping at the Davis Mercantile.

All the desserts, sweets, fresh breads, cheeses, and Amish peanut butter will leave you full and happy.

And if you want to check out some other great food stops, Lagrange is the place to go! , , , and Five Star Pizza are all within walking distance of each other, right on the Main Street through town.

07/06/2024

🏕️🗻YOU CAN ONLY CHOOSE 2! (HIKING EDITION)🗻🏕️

I know which ones we’d choose, but I want to know what combo you’d go for!

LET IS KNOW IN THE COMMENTS! ⬇️

06/06/2024

Last weekend, we spent some time hiking and exploring Lyman Run State Park (and a couple of others in the area that we'll talk about later!). We were pleasantly surprised by this park, and it was a great place to spend a morning outdoors.

If you're planning your own visit, here are a few things to check out:
1. Rock Run Trail to Lyman Lake Vista
2. Lyman Run Trail to Bridge, create a loop by returning on Lyman Run Road
3. Check out the lake's small beach

Have you visited this PA State Park?

03/06/2024

🚴‍♂️🌳 Happy World Bicycle Day! 🌳🚴‍♀️

Exploring the scenic trails of Pennsylvania’s state parks is the perfect way to celebrate! We've explored quite a few state parks on our 2 wheels, and we can't wait to get to more. Keep your eye out for history at Oil Creek State Park and enjoy the beautiful green landscapes of Maurice K. Goddard State Park. Take a ride to the beach, catching views of the stunning shores of Presque Isle State Park. These are just a few ideas on the western side of the state, but there is so much more!

Whether you’re a seasoned cyclist or just looking for a fun outdoor activity, there are some great bike trails in the PA State Parks.

22/05/2024

The Allegheny National Forest isn't usually the first spot people think about when chasing waterfalls in Pennsylvania, but you sure can find some unique ones here! Hector Falls, in particular, is one of the most unique with it's rectangular-shaped rock pushing water over each side.
Have you explored any of these spots yet? Which one is your favorite? 📸✨

21/05/2024

❓❓Did you know that if you set out on a goal to hike every trail in the US National Parks, conquering one per day, it would take you over a decade❗️❗️

The US National Parks System is huge, and some of our favorite hikes are in the parks. We're nowhere close to exploring every single trail, though! So we're always happy to hear about your favorites. Send yours our way!

➡️These are just some of ours!

20/05/2024

There are plenty of ways to enjoy a "flight" these days that don't include hopping on a plane and climbing to 30,000 feet. We've had our fair share of flights at local breweries on our travels.

But have you ever had a cheese and ice cream flight?!

We couldn't say no! I almost forgot about this great little spot until scrolling through my photos from last summer, and I couldn't help but share.

Check them out at the Shtayburne Farm Creamery, just north of Watkins Glen. You can enjoy beautiful Seneca Lake views while enjoying these tasty treats this summer.

19/05/2024

Did you celebrate this year? If not, you still have time, but today is the last day!
We're sharing some of our favorite spots in state parks throughout the Great Lakes region because we couldn't choose just one.
There are so many great spots! Do you recognize any of our favorites?

17/05/2024

Are you busy planning all of your hiking adventures for this summer? We definitely are!

To help you plan, I created this tool to calculate how long your hike will take. Hopefully, we can help you plan to get the most out of all those days spent enjoying the outdoors.

⬇️ Link in the comments ⬇️

16/05/2024

🤔Have you visited Pennsylvania's oldest state park? 🤔

Do you even know which park we're talking about?

It definitely isn't the most well-known, most popular, or even one of the biggest...

We're talking about Mont Alto State Park. ✨ Established in 1902, this little gem doesn't have long, difficult trails. Mont Alto does have a great round picnic shelter and a rich history. Enjoy a peaceful afternoon by the stream behind the shelter, or just stop and have a look! We stopped by while also visiting Caledonia and Pine Grove Furnace.

Have you visited Mont Alto State Park?

15/05/2024

Ready to get outside and explore? Check out my top 5 destinations to visit this summer! 🌞

1. Voyageurs National Park
2. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
3. Lake Placid & the Adirondacks
4. Central Pennsylvania
5. Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore

Do you recognize any of the spots in these photos?

14/05/2024

The Watkins Glen Gorge Trail is open for the season! You'll definitely want to get out early or swing by this trail at the end of the day. It gets busy, especially on weekends and holidays. However, it's worth it!
Have you seen this trail this empty?

13/05/2024

I'm sure your feed has been full of these photos over the last few days. But can you believe we got to see both a total solar eclipse and the Northern Lights within about a month?
Pretty. Dang. Cool.
Did you get to witness either of these shows?

06/05/2024

Lake Huron is the one in the Great Lakes that we often forget about. That's why we're spotlighting it this week, and hope you enjoy these 5 fun facts. Use them for trivia on your next road trip!

1. Lake Huron is home to the world's largest freshwater island, Manitoulin Island, which itself contains over 100 inland lakes.
2. With over 30,000 islands, Lake Huron has more islands than any other lake on the planet.
3. The lake has the longest shoreline of the Great Lakes, when you include its islands, stretching over 3,800 miles.
4. Lake Huron is connected to Lake Michigan by the Straits of Mackinac, and they share the same surface elevation, essentially making them one hydrological body of water.
5. It's a diver's paradise, featuring nearly 200 shipwrecks in its waters, making it part of the Great Lakes’ "Shipwreck Alley."

We loved spending some time right next to the Straits of Mackinac with views of the bridge after our UP road trip (more details in the comments).
➡️Follow us for all your Great Lakes and outdoor travel content!

29/04/2024

This week, we're spotlighting Lake Erie! We love the sunsets and beaches at Presque Isle State Park, but there are so many great things about the areas surrounding Lake Erie.

5 Fast Facts for Your Next Road Trip to Lake Erie:

1. Lake Erie is the warmest and most biologically productive of the Great Lakes, supporting a vibrant fishing industry.
2. It's the fourth largest of the Great Lakes by surface area and the smallest by volume.
3. Lake Erie is famously shallow, with an average depth of just 62 feet, making it the shallowest of the Great Lakes. This contributes to its quick warming in the summer and frequent ice cover in the winter.
4. The lake is reputed for its intense storms, which can rise quickly and have historically been called "Lake Erie's Fury."
5. Lake Erie is home to Pelee Island, the southernmost inhabited point of Canada, and a haven for wildlife and wine enthusiasts.

➡️Follow us for all your Great Lakes and outdoor travel inspiration!

24/04/2024

If you've been following us for any length of time, you know how we love our Waterfall Wednesdays! This week, though, we're switching it up to share some of our favorite national park wildlife sightings. From the grizzlies, mountain goats, and bighorn sheep in Glacier to the elk herd in Rocky Mountain to the gators of the Everglades, there are so many opportunities to see different animals in their natural places.

22/07/2022

Heading to the Adirondacks? We absolutely love it there! One of our favorite spots to explore is on the AMR land. You need a permit to explore, but this land is the gateway to a number of high peaks, wateralls, and the fjord-like Indidan Head over Lower Ausable Lake.
Here's how to do this hike:
https://paonpause.com/hiking-indian-head-adirondacks/

Explore the beautiful trails around Indian Head and Fish Hawk cliffs in the Adirondacks. Discover some of the best hiking spots in New York State!