Cabela's In PA...what else is there to do in that area?

[moopdog]

Our yard sale is/was a huge hit and my DH and I decided to take the kids somewhere for one or two nights. He's an avid hunter and really wants to visit the big Cabela's 2 hours away in Hamburg, PA.

I want to make sure there is something else to do within 30 miles or so for the kids for the next day to make it more of a family trip and not just a "him" trip! He agrees, so I need to now decide what to do and where to stay (cheap).

Anyone been there or live down that way?

Thanks

 

[lisaross]

i just wrote out a check to Cabelas for the time we visited in Hamberg the end of June! If its your first time using a Cabelas cc, they have a great deal - open a card in the store and if you get approved you get $15 dollars to spend - open a joint card $30.00. I bought a pair of Teva sandals - on sale for about $40.00 - they only cost me $7.00 bucks! can't beat that - the store is HUGE - we spent a couple of hours in the store! Prior to the store we ate at Cracker BArrel which is a cool place to eat as we don't have it here in NY! We hit Cabela's on our way home from a Hershey Weekend - so i'm not too sure what else there is to do besides Hershey maybe Knoebels - not sure how far it is or which way you are coming from. Have fun shopping.........

lisa

 

[Malibelle]

I am in Quakertown. Cabela's is not far from Allentown, there is Dorney Park. Hershey is not that far as well. In the fall we used to take a train ride from Hamburg on an old steam train to Jim THorpe. It was beautiful. Its only on certain weekends in October for the fall foilage. Cabela's is about 40 minutes from Allentown on RT 78. Allentown i having thier big fair on Labor Day weekend with concerts like carry Underwood, American Idol..etc.

 

[karliebug]

Hershey park is only about 30-40 minutes away. Your kids will enjoy Cabela's too,though. They have real animals stuffed on a beautiful mountain display.They also have a restaurant right in the store. About 5 miles away is a place called "Roadside America" which is like a minature town setup with trains that my husband says is neat. I've never been there. Also, the outlets in Reading are maybe only 20-30 minutes away.

 

[moopdog]

Thanks... I will be coming from NEPA. I have been to Knoebels, Hershey and Dorney, and was thinking one of them might be nice to visit again. I just wondered if there was something I hadn't heard of before. The train ride sounds nice. Anyone ever stay at the Appalachian Campground before?

 

[karliebug]

Yes, it is a pretty nice campground. It has activities for the kids and okay pool and a fishing pond. They have hay rides and ceramics, too.

 

[TaraPA]

I am in Quakertown. Cabela's is not far from Allentown, there is Dorney Park. Hershey is not that far as well. In the fall we used to take a train ride from Hamburg on an old steam train to Jim THorpe. It was beautiful. Its only on certain weekends in October for the fall foilage. Cabela's is about 40 minutes from Allentown on RT 78. Allentown i having thier big fair on Labor Day weekend with concerts like carry Underwood, American Idol..etc.

Hi Quakertown - Hellertown/Coopersburg here! I was also going to suggest Dorney Park, it's about 30-40 min. from Cabelas. Also there is Roadside America within 10 min. of Cabela's, it's like a little miniature town with trains. You can spend hours inside of Cabelas. Hey do I smell a Cabelas DISmeet????

 

[englishteacha]

If I had to choose, I'd pick Hershey over Dorney. I like them both but Hershey is more family friendly, I think. If you're going on a weekend, either park could be really packed. We could hardly move at Dorney on a Saturday night.

 

[GraysMom]

If you're looking for a small time filler, there is a cute candy store in Port Clinton, which is probably less than 10 miles away. I'm not sure what the name is, but Port Clinton is not a very big place so it would be hard to miss it.

If you go to Hershey, you could also do the Hershey "factory" tour at their visitor center and check out Zoo America.

Hi Q-town and Hellertown/Coopersburg . I'm in Emmaus.

 

[TaraPA]

Hello Emmaus! I'm over there all the time. POTC3 is at the Emmaus Theater for $3 next week!

Anyway - that candy store is the Port Clinton Peanut Shop & is very neat. It used to be set up like an old time candy shop & soda fountain, with a lot of hard-to-find old time candy. It's right on Rt 61 about 1 mile north of Cabelas. In that same area is the Port Clinton Hotel - they have the best sandwiches, cheesesteaks & fries ever! You get a lot of food for your money there. VERY casual PA Dutch atmosphere.

 

[TaraPA]

Graysmom - is that Marty in your avatar - are you Christine?? If so we know each other! If not, sorry!

 

[Kycha]

Well, you could make it a family shopping trip by hitting the outlets in Reading. Or a Reading Phillies baseball game. There is also the Bethlehem Musikfest which starts next week. Do you know when you are going? Blue Marsh Lake, for biking, hiking, and swimming is just down the road. How about Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, or Daniel Boone Homestead, or Crystal Cave Park. There is a ton of stuff to do in the area. If you need more info, feel free to pm me.

 

[katerkat]

One of the best Dunkin Donuts is right in front of Cabelas.

 

[iNTeNSeBLue98]

Here are some websites for you to check out.
http://www.berksweb.com/msberksweb.html
http://www.readingberkspa.com/
http://www.free-attractions.com/state_pages/pennsylvania.htm
http://www.factorytoursinpa.com/factorytours/assembly/index.jsp
http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/recreation/camping.aspx#cam13

I was going to suggest a Reading Phillies game, or depending on when you're traveling you could see the Reading Royals ice hockey team in action. Maybe there's a show at the Sovereign Center or Sovereign Performing Arts Center?

 

[GraysMom]

Graysmom - is that Marty in your avatar - are you Christine?? If so we know each other! If not, sorry!

Not Marty Nothstein, it's Lance Armstrong . Sorry, I'm Jess, not Christine, but DH, DS and I love to ride and we go to the velodrome quite often to watch the racing. DH is up your way at Saucon Valley Bikes all the time (he's captain of their race team).

It's funny you mentioned POTC3 at the Emmaus Theater. DH and I FINALLY went to see it this past Wednesday at that theater. What can I say, we don't get out much as a couple with DS 2.5 around.

 

[TaraPA]

Too funny Graysmom - as soon as I replied to you previously, I looked at the pic again & went DUH it's Lance Armstrong! I don't know what I was thinking! Ironic though that you knew exactly who I was talking about. And SV Bikes - I'm about 3 miles from there, what a great shop. If you're ever out this way & need to kill time while DH does bike stuff, bring your Disney pics over & we can look at them. I love looking at Disney pics!

I promised the kids (DSs ages 6 & 10) that we'd see POTC3 in the theaters. Well I waited too long & now it's only at Emmaus - but of course one DS has football every night from 6-8, so I doubt we'll get over there. We'll have to wait for the DVD I guess.

Ok what was this thread about anyway??? I kind of got off topic here & hijaked it!

 

[GraysMom]

Too funny Graysmom - as soon as I replied to you previously, I looked at the pic again & went DUH it's Lance Armstrong! I don't know what I was thinking! Ironic though that you knew exactly who I was talking about. And SV Bikes - I'm about 3 miles from there, what a great shop. If you're ever out this way & need to kill time while DH does bike stuff, bring your Disney pics over & we can look at them. I love looking at Disney pics!

I promised the kids (DSs ages 6 & 10) that we'd see POTC3 in the theaters. Well I waited too long & now it's only at Emmaus - but of course one DS has football every night from 6-8, so I doubt we'll get over there. We'll have to wait for the DVD I guess.

Ok what was this thread about anyway??? I kind of got off topic here & hijaked it!

Thanks for the invite, I'll keep it in mind . Likewise if you're in Emmaus and you have free time, we're only about 2 miles from the theater, so stop in and say hi!

Does your DS have football on Sat/Sun too? POTC3 is shown every night at 7:30 if you get a chance (or practice is rained out ). You can check http://www.emmaustheatre.com to see if it's still playing.

 

[moopdog]

Okay, just to update you all. I think our plan is to leave first thing this Thursday morning and spend the day at Dorney (except now you guys have me considering Hershey!) and then getting a room for the night. Waking up Friday and spending the majority of the day at Cabela's and then heading home.

IF I can convince my DH to take Wed off of work we might do it all a day early and then have an extra day to check out some of the other things mentioned.

I have been to both Hershey and Dorney and was leaning towards Dorney because of the Wild Water Kingdom. I know that Hershey now has a water park area, but I don't know what the reviews are on that...anyone else?

Does anyone think one or the other will be more or less crowded? It'll be this Thursday (HOT HOT HOT, according to our weather station).
Thanks to all of you!!!

 

[Helene]

Okay, just to update you all. I think our plan is to leave first thing this Thursday morning and spend the day at Dorney (except now you guys have me considering Hershey!) and then getting a room for the night. Waking up Friday and spending the majority of the day at Cabela's and then heading home.

IF I can convince my DH to take Wed off of work we might do it all a day early and then have an extra day to check out some of the other things mentioned.

I have been to both Hershey and Dorney and was leaning towards Dorney because of the Wild Water Kingdom. I know that Hershey now has a water park area, but I don't know what the reviews are on that...anyone else?

Does anyone think one or the other will be more or less crowded? It'll be this Thursday (HOT HOT HOT, according to our weather station).
Thanks to all of you!!!

My vote would be Hershey. I haven't personally visited yet, but several of my friends have and said the waterpark at Hershey was great. Overall, Hershey is a cleaner, friendlier park. JMHO.

 

[TaraPA]

I've been to both Hershey & Dorney many times, although never to the Hershey water park. I would take a poll on here, but I would head to Hershey anyday over Dorney - and I live much closer to Dorney. Hershey is much more family-oriented, cleaner, more spread out. In the last few years they bus tons of kids from big cities into Dorney & drop them off, which has become a problem if you ask me. It's not what it used to be when I was growing up. Some days it's as crowded as WDW, and it seems to be filled with unruly teens. I also love the Chocolate World tour at Hershey Park! From Cabelas the traffic out to Hershey would be a much easier drive than the traffic into Dorney, in my opinion.

GreysMom - I did see the theater is on weekends as well, I will have to try & get over there soon, before POTC3 is gone!