Pennsylvania may not be known for its maple syrup production, but after this tour you will wish you could eat pancakes every day while on vacation.
Sure, the sweet scent of maple syrup makes every pancake lover’s mouth water. But what if you smell it all day? Is it possible to hold out until dinner to try your favorite batch of flapjacks? If you are asking yourself these questions, here is the answer. And it’s a damn good answer.
Take a tour of Pennsylvania’s maple syrup production facility. But of course there are other ways to enjoy maple syrup than just eating it on pancakes. Other than that, the white goop has many health benefits. But for this delicacy, we’ll focus solely on those delicious pancakes.
Pennsylvania’s Maple Syrup Tour
The Pennsylvania Maple Syrup Tour is the opportunity for visitors to experience the entire maple syrup process. The tour consists of 64 miles of back roads in Center County, includes eight privately owned sugar shacks where tourists can watch the juice being made into syrup and a hot meal.
The tour starts at 8:00 AM and ends at 5:00 PM for $ 25 per person or $ 20 per child (ages 6-12). To reserve a place on the tour, click here.
The tour runs on one day in March, maple season, weekends only and includes several stops familiar to residents of central Pennsylvania:
- The Nittany Mall
- The Angus barn
- The Ag arena
- Penn State University
The itinerary is as follows:
- 8:00 am, meet at Nittany Mall (7th parking lot on College Ave.). In Milesburg, take Route 550 via Lickdale and Huntsdale Road to Sugar Camp Woodshed.
- 9:30 am: Drive to Pioneer Campground and Sugar Shack on Route 550 in the Lamar Valley via Lickdale Road, Duffield Road, Trout Run Road, Mt Nittany Rd., Upland Game Trail, and Gaffney Run Road.
- 11:30 am: Drive to Sugar Camp Woodshed on Route 550 in Milesburg via Huntsdale Road, Lickdale Road, Mt. Nittany Road and the Upland Game Trail.
- 12:30 p.m .: Drive to Pioneer Campground and Sugar Shack on Route 550 in the Lamar Valley via Mt. Nittany Road, Trout Run Road, Duffield Road, Lickdale Road, and the Upland Game Trail.
- 2:00 p.m .: Drive to Sugar Camp Woodshed on Route 550 in Milesburg via Mt Nittany Rd., Huntsdale Road, Lickdale Road, and Upland Game Trail.
- 2:30 pm: Drive to Sugar Camp Woodshed on Route 550 in Milesburg via Mt Nittany Road, Trout Run Road, Duffield Road, Lickdale Road, and the Upland Game Trail.
- 4:00 p.m .: Arrive at Pioneer Campground and Sugar Shack on Route 550 in the Lamar Valley via Mt Nittany Road, Trout Run Road, Duffield Road, and Upland Game Trail.
- 4:30 p.m .: Arrive at Sugar Camp Woodshed on Route 550 in Milesburg via Huntsdale Rd., Lickdale Rd., Mt Nittany Rd., Upland Game Trail and Gaffney Run Road.
- 5:00 pm, return to Nittany Mall via Route 322, I-99, and Park Avenue. Payment of USD 25 per person (USD 20 for children ages 6-12) is due when making reservations by credit card or check. Children up to 5 years travel for free. Payment can be made by cash, check or credit card. Accepted credit cards are Visa and MasterCard.
Here’s how to plan your Pennsylvania maple syrup tour
Every year, thousands of curious travelers from around the world travel to Pennsylvania in search of the perfect batch of wild maple syrup. This state is truly a paradise for anyone who wants to indulge their passion for harvesting sap in the wild. While many choose to do this on their own (by pounding or drilling holes in a tree to collect sap), others are happy to pay someone else to do the hard work for them. It is truly a remarkable experience that anyone can enjoy provided they are properly prepared.
Below is a guide on how to plan a great trip and where to find the best syrup:
- Select an operation, be it from the list of scheduled tours or a private one that has already been arranged.
- Check the dates and make sure they fall on the schedule for visiting PA – especially if visitors want to visit any of the other attractions mentioned above.
- Find accommodations across Keystone State – especially near where they’ll be touring. There are lots of great hotels, B & Bs, and Airbnbs to choose from. And we’ve researched them all so you can easily find the best of the best (and we’ve done all of the research for those planning to visit).
And to make your job easier, below are some of our tips. (Selected for its proximity to the PA Maple Syrup Tour and other popular attractions in Pittsburgh and across the state).
- Hotel Pick: The Omni William Penn | Pittsburgh, PAA stylish hotel overlooking the city skyline is minutes from downtown and within walking distance of many other popular attractions.
- Airbnb Tip: Lovett Grove Farmhouse | New Bethlehem, PA Located in a picturesque rural area, this location will take visitors away from the hustle and bustle of Pittsburgh while still offering the comforts of home.
- Bed and Breakfast Picks: The O’Leary House | Pittsburgh, PA Located in one of Pittsburgh’s most historic neighborhoods, the hotel has its own parking lot and a driveway that allows visitors to drive right to the front door – great for convenience when arriving after a long drive out of the PA countryside .
Come to the selected establishment and get ready for a truly unique experience – one that visitors will remember for years to come!
In addition, there will be a Maple Weekend – Taste and Tour on March 12th and 13th, 2022.
If travelers are looking for a fun destination that has something for everyone, Pennsylvania is ideal. The possibilities are endless and the adventure of finding your own syrup among the trees is sure to please every family member – regardless of age or level of experience when it comes to the sweet nectar of the season. So if you are looking for a unique and memorable trip then it can certainly be enough to plan ahead to visit PA during the time of year when you can enjoy this hobby!
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