🌊 Chasing waterfalls | Outdoorsy Newsletter

Happy first (official) weekend of summer.

History is rich with tradition and celebration this time of year. In ancient Egypt, the summer solstice was crucial as it indicated the start of the flood season and the rise of the Nile, nourishing the land and allowing crops to grow.

Today, we nourish ourselves by going with the (waterfall) flow, tasting the best amusement park food, and learning local science.

🌧️ Your weekend weather outlook: Expect humid air, and showers and storms scattering the skies, hopefully bringing some relief to Pennsylvania’s drought.

— Paola Pérez (@pdesiperez, outdoorsy@inquirer.com)

TLC told us not to chase ‘em, but here we are anyway.

I don’t know if being a water sign has anything to do with it, but there’s something about hearing, feeling, breathing in the rush of a waterfall. It’s almost primal for me. Maybe it’s the touch of chaos, the uncontrolled flow of energy. Being near can make you feel small in the grandeur of nature, but it can also shift perspective on how we see the world around us. It’s constantly in motion, with or without us.

An expert told our columnist Elizabeth Wellington that getting lost in the wonder of waterfalls can in fact be therapeutic: “Being near water tells us on a deeper level that we are safe.”

Let’s start our journey at Ricketts Glen State Park, a must-see on our waterfalls roundup.

🥾 Go the distance: This state park boasts an ambitious 7.2 miles worth of trails, but most of the falls are visible from a shorter 3.2-mile inner loop.

🌊 Watch for waterfalls: There are 21 of them! They’re so close to each other, you will be stopping along the trail every few minutes to see another.

🍇 Top it off: The long trip may make this worthy of an overnight stay in Benton, Pa., so you can also visit the Braces Stables and Lopez Winery and Vineyard.

🤝 Accessibility: This hike is not easy, so watch your step and take your time. The elevation is steep and some sections may be slippery.

Find the full list of the most regal falls within a two-hour drive of Philly (and smaller falls in local parks) complete with accessibility notes on each one.

🎤 Now I’m passing the microphone to Jason Nark. You’ll always find his work here.

Amid the clickety-clack of wooden roller coasters at Knoebels, the occasional scream from a haunted mansion, and the circus-like symphony marching out of the old Wurlitzer organ, there’s an unexpected silence. It’s the sound of people not complaining about amusement park food. You can’t hear it outside the baked potato kiosk, with its eight topping options, or at any of the pierogi stands, where you can get them deep fried or swimming in butter and onions. In a food court by the Phoenix wooden roller coaster, few people eating a “tiger tail” can explain what it is, because they’re licking their fingers.

“Well, it’s a pretzel rolled in cinnamon with caramel and chocolate drizzled across it,” said Tony Rodriguez, the food and beverage director at the 150-acre park.

Knoebels, pronounced with a hard “K,” is not just serving decent food out in Columbia County. That would be too easy in the world of amusements, where the standards, sadly, are often burgers that look like someone sat on them, droopy fries, and sodas that went flat while you were still packing the car. The family-owned amusement park was voted “Best Food” for the 2022 Amusement Today Golden Ticket Awards. Knoebels isn’t just a one-and-done champion, though. Since 2000, Knoebels has won the award 19 times. The park is the veritable New York Yankees of amusement food. — Jason Nark

Continue reading in Jason’s full feature story on the unique amusement park about 130 miles northwest of Philadelphia.

We’re trekking back into New Jersey’s Franklin Parker Preserve, this time in the name of science.

🌳 Catch up quick: Once home to the third largest cranberry operation in the United States, the 9,400-acre preserve is now a Pinelands hiking gem.

🌳 Home to many: Aside from bald eagles nesting in the preserve and the odd box turtle crawling around, the preserve is home to several threatened species such as the barred owl, northern pine snake and Pine Barrens tree frog. It also contains 29 species of rare plants.

🌳 Just one problem: Parasitic wasps. They’re creating nurseries within trees across the Burlington County oasis.

Watch biologist Emile DeVito explain how this happens in our latest series on Local Science.

🎤 Jason says: This is a smoky sunset from Keasbeys Creek in Salem, New Jersey.

Said it before and I’ll say it again...I’m a sucker for sunsets. Entranced by the tender ripple on the reflection, like something Bob Ross would paint.

This week, Diane Donato of Rittenhouse Square has a special request: “I would love to discover more gardens like this one on Spruce between 5th and 6th streets.”

Love hidden gems like this. They’re part of what makes any community thrive. A short, intentional stroll surrounded by the season’s vibrant blooms is enough to turn any day around.

Here’s a fun fact: Philadelphia is America’s Garden Capital.

🪷 There are 38 public gardens, arboreta, and historic landscapes, all within 30 miles of the city.

🪷 Some are free, while others require paid admission. Some have membership options with visiting benefits.

🪷 Aside from the splendor of nature, the gardens offer different activities and accessibility options. Find your next adventure by filtering this list by county, interests and even garden type.

🪷 They are also buzzing with fun outdoor markets, live music, and nighttime events. Check out this roundup of upcoming happenings.

🪷 Be sure to pick up or download a handy “passport” to collect stamps and keep track of your visits.

What a cool crown to carry, Philly. I’m making plans to stop by the Festival of Fountains at Longwood Gardens. Thanks for kicking off our garden tour, Diane!

📮 Know of a unique garden worth discovering? Give us a review of your outdoors experience for a chance to be featured in this newsletter by emailing me back.

Adventure awaits.