Michael J. Metzger

The Pennsylvania National Fire Museum is a very important testament to time and of history of not only the local Harrisburg PA fire department but the fire department in general as a whole from its humble beginnings and where it started to what it has become over the years all the way up to today. I recently visited with my wife and kids, and we had a great time exploring all there is to look at. Whether you want to explore for yourself or have someone show you around they will accommodate you. When we went it was on a Saturday, so I figured there would be more people there but there was not. The museum does apparently run at least partly on the admission fees and or donations from the public so your visit would not only be interesting and fun for you for whoever you go with but go toward a good cause as well. The museum is also very well laid out, the pictures speak for themselves. It is also filled with many fire-department artifacts, and they even let the kids and I ring the bell in the
bell tower before we left.

Hog Rock Nature Trail comes off of the Hog Rock Trail parking lot off of Park Central Road. It is a nice short walk from the parking lot and also holds a great view at the rock once you get there. From the rock if you stay on the trail you can get to the falls as well in just one short mile. For me Hog Rock is kind of special and brings back memories of camping at places like Camp Green Top and Camp Round Top which are both also not to far from this trail and the rock when I was in high school. If you like wildlife you are sure to see some interesting critters along the way too making it a great hike for the kids and with the family.

Welcome to Catoctin Mountain Park visitor center. If you have never visited Catoctin Mountain Park you should definitely make a stop at the visitor center before you proceed to the other attractions within the park. This location is full of information in the cases on the walls on the outside of the building related to the park, when it is open and once again what it has to offer. Once you go inside it is no different there is information about the history of the park and even some interactive things for the kids to do. It is also maned by park employees who are forever ready and willing to answer any questions you might have about the park, the trails and animals or plants and trees you might see while your hiking. I took my kids there when they were younger and the park employees even swore my kids in as deputy rangers and gave them little plastic badges to wear around. There are bathrooms at this location as well and even a place to charge your electric vehicle if you have one.