If you're like me, you've probably taken advantage of all this time off in the summer. You threw all your work and responsibilities aside for a moment so you could finally put on your favorite Netflix shows and relax.
But maybe you've lost track of the days after thirteen seasons of "Grey's Anatomy" or seven seasons of "Parks and Rec." You were immersed and felt that you were a part of the show yourself. Once you got slapped back to reality, you realized you're covered in two weeks worth of pizza and that there's only a month left of vacation.
You're going to need to pack in at least one adventure so you can answer the ultimate back-to-school question: "What did you do this summer?"
To add some liveliness to your answer, here's a list of five small vacations you could take near Pittsburgh before time runs out.
1. For the Adventure-seeker: Go Ape
Get outdoors and "Go Ape!" This is for those who want a little nature and a little thrill. It's a treetop adventure where you get to climb trees, do obstacle courses above-ground, zip-line, and you even get to swing on a vine like Tarzan! (Well, it's not actually a vine.)
It may seem frightening, but you get strapped in and the instructors are always close by. There's even a mini set up at the beginning: a crash course of climbing and zip-lining so you can practice before the big trees!
The park is less than thirty minutes from Pittsburgh, but it is pricey. It costs $58 per person, and it's best to reserve a spot for you and your friends. There's other stuff to do there too, like biking, swimming, kayaking, and hiking trails. This little adventure provides a thrill and worthwhile experience like no other.
Check it out here!
2. Go to an Amusement Park
Go with a classic day-out vacation with your friends to one of the amusement parks in Pennsylvania. There's many to choose from. Kennywood is just short drive from the center of Pittsburgh featuring the infamous Phantom's Revenge.
For a sweeter vacation, check out Hershey Park. It's a longer drive at about three hours, but it is worth the time. Get ready for the thrilling rides that twirl upside down, and cool down with the endless water rides that fill over half the park.
After all of the exhilarating screams and the heat of the summer wear you down, you can take a break at the Chocolate World. There you will find the unlimited amount of chocolates and candies you can buy, or you can even make your own chocolate bar where you choose the ingredients and design the wrapper!
Take this chocolate adventure for about $60 per ticket, or buy a bundle with your friends to save on the price! Check out the park here!
3. Spend a Day in Pittsburgh
What's better than a mini-vacation with a short drive and in a city overflowing with colorful events?
Pittsburgh is a trendy and artistic city, there's always something going on, and there's something for everyone. If you like nature, check out Phipp's Conservatory for beautifully extravagant flower arrangements. If you like art, there's numerous places to go like The Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Museum of Art, and the Mattress Factory. If none of those suit you, there's The Pittsburgh Zoo, the Rivers Casino, or check out this link for events in Pittsburgh (the next one coming up is a festival all about pickles, PicklesBURGH!)
4. Take a Splash at the Indoor Water Park: Kalahari
Kalahari is an indoor water park with ceiling-high slides. The resort is connected to their hotel, so you can spend all the time you want inside the park, take a break in your hotel room, and then go have more fun whenever you want!
You can go on huge tubes with your friends down the slides, or you can relax in the lazy river. The best part is that there's a bar in a hot tub that also connects outside. So you can grab a drink and chill indoors or outdoors without having to get out of the water at all. After all the fun, check out their little candy shop or cafe. The cafe has desserts better than any bakery I've ever tried.
The day passes are about $55, but if you want to spend the night you can save big when you bundle with one of their own hotel rooms. Some of their sites have an indoor and outdoor park, so check out what the nearest location has in store!
Check out Pennsylvania locations here, or check here if Ohio locations may be closer to you.
5. For a Beach Vacation: Erie
Everybody wants to go to the beach for vacation, but if you don't have the time or money, Erie's Presque Isle is your best option.
Erie's lake beaches are comparable to the coasts. There's sand, shells, and you can still can tossed by huge waves there! The plus side is Erie is only about a two-hour drive, and has numerous affordable hotels if you want to spend the night.
There's many things to do in Erie. There's several beaches on Presque isle ranging in popularity, so whether you want a quiet beach or a crowded one, you got it. You can explore a light house, take a boat tour, go to Waldameer Park, or go to a museum. There's mall strips, and any restaurant you can name. My recommendation is Sara's Restaurant which is right off of Presque Isle; featuring a retro feel with burgers and milkshakes and about twenty dipping sauces.
Pittsburgh has endless stuff to do, from art to little adventures. So hurry up, and get packing for your mini vacation before summer ends!
