The 7 Best Retirement Activities in Pennsylvania! By
Penny Fox
Retirement doesn’t have to mean inactivity. There are so many things to experience at this stage of life that the only difficulty you’ll have is in deciding what to do first. Whatever your interest, you’ll find activities that range from slow and relaxing to bucket list adventures. Pennsylvania is the perfect place to enjoy retirement and below are the 7 best retirement activities in the state.
1. Rediscover the arts
Arts and cultural activities are alive and well in Pennsylvania. A great place to experience community involvement in music and art is to visit a revolutionary place called tellus360 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.
Dedicated to being a state-of-the-art venue for artistic expression and a place for celebrating life, tellus360 can handle just about anything from private gatherings to educational seminars, fundraising events to movie screenings, and more. This unique setting includes a rooftop garden and an authentic Irish pub with full sound system and stage.
If dance is more your interest, fall in love with movement at one of the amazing productions scheduled at BalletX. Located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, BalletX is the city’s premier ballet company that specializes in contemporary dance. The thought behind this troupe is that when properly done, dance is an expression that has the power to take people along in the journey. One of the performances done by the company is called “Beautiful Decay,” and features mature dancers, and the goal of this production is to showcase the beauty of life at all stages. Not to be missed.
2. Go golfing
The beautiful Poconos in the northeastern part of the state are home to Great Bear Golf Club. Located in East Stroudsburg, the course was originally a private course that closed in 2010. When it reopened in 2012, it was open to the public, and is the perfect place to practice your swing. Designed by renowned professional golfer, Jack Nicklaus, known as the Golden Bear, this unique signature course is full of ups and downs reflective of the mountains. With bent grass greens and fairways and a great mix of holes, the challenging but fun course is open from April to November.
Another great course to try is Mystic Rock at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. Located in Farmington, Pennsylvania, this is the former site of the PGA’s 84 Lumber Classic, and was named among “America’s 100 Greatest Public Courses,” #14 “Best Public Course in PA, and on the list of “America’s Top 50 Courses for Women.” This gorgeous course was designed by Pete Dye, sits on the Allegheny Mountains, and is a par-72 layout with beautiful scenic overlooks. Green fees include caddies, and are available to help beginners navigate the course.
3. Reconnect with nature
Buttermilk Falls Natural Area in New Florence, Pennsylvania, is the perfect place to unwind and escape the hustle and bustle of the city. This amazing 45-foot waterfall provides a great photo opportunity, and you can even go behind the falls for a unique perspective. Originally owned by the grandfather of famed Fred Rogers of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood, you’ll find peace and tranquility as you reconnect with nature in the nature area and surrounding park.
Rickets Glen State Park in Benton, Pennsylvania, is open for year-round enjoyment and is one of the most visited scenic spots in the state by young and old. Covering more than 13,000 acres, the park is open dawn to dusk every day, and has 22 waterfalls.
Another outdoor activity that is appealing to folks with a little extra time on their hands is camping. Pennsylvania has 19 national parks including designated National Heritage Areas such as the Oil Region Alliance where you can learn about the history of oil in the state. Besides hiking, biking, and walking trails, there are water activities like kayaking, canoeing, and fishing, and wildlife-watching with great photo opportunities. If you’re into camping and you’re over 62 years of age, you can get a discount on overnight camping anywhere in the state just by showing proof of age.
4. Become a foodie
Foodies will be in heaven at Bolete in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Leave the hustle and bustle of life behind when you visit this unique restaurant. Created from a vision to share basic good food in a casual relaxed atmosphere, the owner’s mission of getting to know the people who dine there is part of the charm and influences the dishes prepared and served. You can try the Chilled Moonstone Oysters to start off your meal, and then move to one of the delicious entrees like the grass-fed beef ribeye or cast-iron seared wild striped bass. Dessert offers palate-pleasing treats like Butterscotch pudding and a cardamom crème caramel that you’ll wonder how you ever lived without. You may enter a stranger, but you’ll leave as a friend.
5. Relax
You’re worked hard all your life and now it’s time to relax. What better way to do it than with a trip to the spa. Deerfield Spa, located in East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania, is a wonderful place to retreat and pamper yourself for the day, a weekend, or longer. Overnight guests can take advantage of unlimited exercise and access to the facilities, hiking and lifestyle programs, and educational opportunities, and all meals are included in the price. For those visiting during the day, you can enter bliss by having a personalized facial or one of the special full-body treatments done by one of the trained massage therapists.
6. Experience history
The saying is that you don’t know where you’re going if you don’t know where you’ve been. Folks entering retirement age have personal history, but it might be fun to experience history from another perspective. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, has a number of great things to do that give insight into our country’s history during the Civil War, and one of the coolest things to do is travel along the Confederate Trails of Gettysburg on horseback or by carriage. You have a choice of viewing the battlefield on a 1.5 or two-hour tour with either mode of transportation with trained and licenses battlefield guides who will share details into the soldier’s lives during this tumultuous time in history. Appropriate for ages eight and up, you don’t have to have riding experience, but closed-toe shoes are mandatory and since it’s an outdoors tour, you should dress for the weather. For carriage tours, you can bring your favorite hot beverage and a blanket on chilly days.
7. Go shopping
There are definite benefits to growing older and discounted shopping opportunities are one of ways you can see significant savings. Scattered all over Pennsylvania are hidden gems of savings where all you have to do is ask for them. If you’re into arts and crafts and are 55 or over, you can get a 10 percent discount at Michael’s stores throughout the state in cities like Monaca, York, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia, and any online purchase made a Dress Barn is good for a 10 percent discount that can be sent to your home or store location for folks over 65.
