The Pine Creek Gorge is the “Crown Jewel of Pennsylvania,” also known as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon or The Little Grand Canyon. By any name, this scenic gem sits atop a must-see list of attractions in the Allegheny region. Your three day itinerary is full of highlights including PA’s famous Route 6, the Victorian charm of Wellsboro, the mighty Susquehanna River, The Lackawaxen Valley and more. Explore it all on a river cruise, covered wagon and vintage train ride!
Day 1 – Everyone’s A Millionaire (D)
Begin your Pennsylvania Wilds adventure in the town of Williamsport, dating back to the 1800’s with storybook architecture. Once the Lumber Capital of the World, Williamsport had more millionaires per person than any other city in the US. With your expert guide, tour the town, including Millionaire’s Row, where these lumber barons lived. Step aboard the Hiawatha Riverboat for a narrated cruise of the Susquehanna River, which was the center of the town’s lumber industry.
Check into the recently renovated, highly regarded Penn Wells Lodge in Wellsoboro, PA, famous for its gaslight lined streets and smalltown Victorian charm. Located in the heart of downtown, The Lodge offers guest rooms on two levels accessible by stairs. While we are unable to confirm what floor you’ll be on, be assured, bags and suitcases will be delivered to and from your room by hotel staff. Finish the day with a group dinner at the hotel’s historic dining room before turning in.
Day 2 – PA’s Grand Canyon (B)
Begin the day with a stop for your sweet tooth! Visit Wellsboro’s own Highland Chocolates, beloved for its chocolate pretzel bark and non-profit efforts in the community. Next up, the Canyon! On the way, feel the beauty of PA’s scenic Route 6, named by National Geographic as “one of America’s most scenic drives.” Be amazed by the Canyon’s Pine Creek Gorge, which runs almost 50 miles long and more than 1,000 feet deep. Our first overlook will be on the canyon’s east rim at Leonard Harrison State Park, providing the most famous views of this natural wonder.
Continue your Pennsylvania Wilds adventure with a once-in-a-lifetime experience on a comfortable covered wagon ride! Travel into the Upper Gorge along the shores of Pine Creek, deep into the heart of the canyon. See the canyon walls “grow” around you as you ride deeper into the gorge. Back in civilization, enjoy the town of Wellsboro for shopping, sightseeing and dinner on your own.
Day 3 – Hawley to Home (B, L)
Eastward bound, we head to the Lake Wallenpaupack Valley in the Poconos. Tuck into a family-style lunch at the historic Settlers Inn in scenic Hawley, PA. After lunch, take a last trip through nature
aboard the Stourbridge Railroad, riding the rails along the Lackawaxen River.