Header Graphic
Pennsylvania Wilds Weekend

Pennsylvania Wilds All-Inclusive Weekend   August 14th - 16th, 2020 (Fri – Sun)

 

$499 (Per person based on double occupancy)

$599 (Single room, must be 18 years old)

Sorry, but no child discount on this tour.

To reserve a seat for this tour you must pay a $100 deposit per person. Remaining balance is due latest July 23rd. 2020. If the remaining balance is not received latest July 23rd, the reservation will be considered cancelled with loss of the deposit. Reservations for this weekend tour made after July 23rd.must be paid in full at time of reservation. (If seats are still available)

The following is included in the price of this 3 days/2 nights Pennsylvania Wilds Weekend Tour:             

  • 2 nights accommodations at a 2-3 Star comfortable hotel
  • 7 full meals - Friday lunch through Sunday lunch
  • Unlimited Water
  • A light breakfast to start the day with Friday morning
  • Transportation with air conditioned vehicle roundtrip from NYC
  • Friendly and professional tour guide
  • Entrance fee for Penn’s Cave
  • Entrance fee for Lake Tobias Wildlife Park
  • Ticket for 4-D educational Elk presentation
  • Ticket for horse drawn wagon ride (If we can get tickets, please read below)
  • Free Wifi in your room
  • All taxes and fees

Not included in price:

  • Any food/snacks/beverage between the main meals
  • Alternative activities to what we are planning.
  • Gratuities for your guides/driver (Tipping your tour guide is left to your discretion)

 

We will start our tour at 7 am. We will meet at 8th. Ave between 33rd and 34th Street in Manhattan by the Duane Reade. DON'T BE LATE! Please come 20 minutes early to check in. You will be greeted by your tour guide for the weekend. You will sign our liability waiver and after departure a light breakfast be served on board the van.

 

 

­

 

             

Pennsylvania Wilds
Pennsylvania Wilds is a region occupying much of northern Pennsylvania, covering approximately 25% of the state's land and includes 13 counties. Despite its large size, the area is home to less than 4% of the state’s population. The region is home to more than 2 million acres of public land and is one of the best outdoor recreation destinations in North America.

 

ELK Country
Pennsylvania Wilds is home to the largest wild elk herd in the northeastern United States. As part of a major conservation effort, the Pennsylvania Game Commission released 177 Rocky Mountain elks into Pennsylvania between 1913 and 1926. Today, this wild herd has over 1,000 elks.

 

We will drive around stopping at different viewing areas looking for a chance to see the elks in their natural setting. We will indulge our self in a ¾ mile relatively “easy” hike in prime elk viewing habitat. On the trail you will find interpretive displays and will take us to a very nice viewpoint.

 

We will visit the official Elk Country Visitor Center. Here you will find interactive panels, educational displays rich with wildlife information, hands-on exhibits and an indoor observation area.

By the Visitor Center you will also find three observation trails with viewing areas and interpretive wayside displays. We will also experience an informative 4-D educational presentation in a theater. This show features multimedia sights and sounds, plus a new level of sensory experiences, all to showcase a historical account of elks in Pennsylvania as well as the behavior of elk during all four seasons and ongoing conservation efforts.

The center also features a gift shop with apparel, unique works by Pennsylvania Wilds artisans, and other one-of-a kind Elk Country gifts. All proceeds from the gift shop go to help support the conservation of elk in Pennsylvania.

 

We will attempt to join a horse drawn wagon ride, this is one of the best ways to experience Elk Country, but we can unfortunately not guarantee this ride since reservations are only possible from the day before and since the ride is weather permitting. 

 

 

Kinzua Bridge State Park
Visit one of the most scenic Skywalks in the World,” the Kinzua Sky Walk located in the Allegheny National Forest. The Kinzua Viaduct was the highest and longest railroad bridge in the world when it was built in 1882. Six of the bridge's 20 towers were taller than the Brooklyn Bridge and it was 301 feet (92 m) tall and 2,052 feet (625 m) long.

Most of its structure collapsed during a devastating tornado in 2003. The Tornado snapped and uprooted nearby trees, as well as causing 11 of the 20 bridge towers to collapse. There were no human deaths or injuries.

The state decided not to rebuild the Kinzua Bridge. Instead, it was proposed that the ruins be used as a visitor attraction to show the forces of nature at work.

After the tornado, the remaining part was made into a sky walk which now extends 624 feet into the Kinzua Gorge offering panoramic views at 225 feet above the valley. The skywalk features a walkway with a set of railroad tracks leading to the end of the overlook which has a partial glass floor.

 

You will also find a large visitor center including educational exhibits halls and a well stocked gift shop featuring handcrafted items from the region.

 

You will also have time to hike down to the bottom of the valley to get another perspective of the bridge.

 

 

Bilger’s Rocks
Bilger’s Rocks is an area with unique and amazing rock formations, laid across the land from glaciers during the ice age.

 

Walking through a Labyrinth of Boulders, various openings, crawlspaces and natural passageways is almost surreal.

 

You will find tress growing in crevasses between the rocks, combined with moss and ferns, this is a truly mesmerizing place. Enjoy yourself exploring this vivid landscape with walls of huge stones, interesting hanging vegetation and uniquely shaped passageways. 

 

                        

Visiting Bilger’s Rocks reminds some people of the ancient temples of Angkor Wat in Cambodia. If Angkor Wat is on your bucket list but you can’t quit afford it, this tour might be for you.

 

Penn’s Cave

We will visit Penn’s Cave. This is Americas only All-Water Cavern tour. The guided, interpretive tour by boat winds through cavern passageways and you get to see stalactites and stalagmites, often in mysteriously familiar shapes, such as “The Statue of Liberty” and “The Garden of the Gods.”

 

 

We recommend bring a light jacket or a sweater, as the inside temperature of the cave remains 52 degrees all year round.

 

See how dripping water has sculpted magnificent flowstone, curtains, cascades, and draperies against a background of pillars and gigantic columns.

 

 

Lake Tobias Wildlife Park
We will visit Lake Tobias Wildlife Park. This wildlife park has been open since 1965. The wildlife park is both a “regular” zoo where you can walk around and explore wildlife exhibits on foot, but are more famous for their Safari rides.

 

An open-air cruiser will bring you around the 150 acres of rolling land where you see herds of wild and exotic animals from around the world. The experienced tour guides will share their knowledge about the various species you encounter, as well as their habitats.

 

With approximately 500 animals roaming freely, you will see many different herds of animals interacting with each other, but the best part is that you can actually hand feed most of the animals from the comfort of your seat. In fact, many of the animals will come right up to you whether you have food for them or not. Getting so close to the animals is definitely a unique and interesting experience. At the park you can buy food for the animals, you are not allowed to give them your own food.

 

 

At the wildlife parks more “traditional” zoo section you can walk around to different enclosures finding other animals including lions, bears, alligators, and tigers.

 

At the park you will also find a petting zoo where you will find a collection of friendly creatures from all over the world. You will find everything from domestic farm animals and exotics like camels and alpacas. You will also find a very nice reptile house that houses animals such as snakes, frogs and various amphibians. They also periodically have reptile shows.

 

Accommodation

To make this tour affordable for most people, we will choose a basic but comfortable 2-3-star hotel with a minimum Google & TripAdvisor guest rating of 3.5 (on a 1 to 5 scale). Your room will have private bathroom, a refrigerator, microwave, coffee maker, cable/satellite and comes with free Wifi. 

 

The Hotel also has a heated indoor pool

 

And the hotel has a workout facility.

 

We anticipate to be back in NYC Sunday evening at approximately 6:30 - 7:30 pm.

 

 Pennsylvania Wilds Weekend - Suggested Packing List

BAGS: We have limited space in our transportation vehicle. Please don’t bring more than one small to medium size suitcase or duffel bag and one small backpack for day tours per person.

 

DOCUMENTS

□   A valid government issued identification

□   Email or letter confirmation from Hines Tours

 

CLOTHES

□   Underclothes and socks

□   T-shirts

□   Sweater/Sweatshirts

□   Light jacket

□   Light hiking pants

□   Shorts

□   Swimsuit

□   Hiking Boots / Sneakers

□   Rain Gear

 

ELECTRONICS

□   Phone and charger

□   Camera + charger and maybe extra memory

□   Flashlight

 

MEDICATION

□  Allergy medicine if needed

□  Pain relievers

□  Band-aids

□  Motion sickness medicine if needed

□   Any prescribed medication

 

TOILETRIES

□   Toothbrush and Toothpaste

□   Travel-sized lotion, shampoo, and body wash

□   Contact lens case and solution

□   Hand sanitizer

 

MISCELLANEOUS

□   Water

□   Food / Snacks for the first afternoon

□   Insect repellant

□   A Towel

□   Bottled water

□   Sun block and sunglasses

□   Cash and a credit card/debit card

 

INSURANCE

If you are concern about losing money due to illness (including Covid-19) or other unpredictable matters, we highly recommend you buy a travel insurance. We can recommend www.insuremytrip.com or www.squaremouth.com (Hines Tours is not affiliated with either of these sites in any form). We do not give tour refunds or tour credits if you are not able to make the tour for unforeseen reasons.(We will pay for the hotel room, but you will have to give the hotel your credit card which only will be used for incidentals such as long distance phone calls or any damages done to the hotel room incl. cleaning after smoking)

 

 

MULTI DAY DRIVING TOURS CANCELLATION FEES (Per Person)

61 days or more before departure - $25

22 – 60 days before departure - Loss of deposit.

8 – 21 days before departure - 50% of tour price

7 days or less before departure - No refund or tour credit.

   

Hines Tours Privacy Policy       Call us at 646-403-5653

Copyright © 2005-2024 Hines Tours LLC. All rights Reserved