Take a cool and unusual road trip to these memorable spots near Philly, including an underground cave, wolf sanctuary and construction theme park, all within about 100 miles of Center City.
LessKnown as the only construction-themed amusement park in America, this West Berlin, N.J., spot recently reopened to visitors. There, you can play around on a variety of construction vehicles, hit up more traditional amusement park rides like bumper cars, or — season permitting — spend the day at the Water Main, Diggerland’s new water park.
For a more nature-y art museum experience, Jersey’s Grounds for Sculpture offers about 300 massive outdoor sculptures set on 42 beautiful acres of land.
You can get a taste of the Old West without ever leaving the tristate area at Cowtown Rodeo, which is considered the longest-running weekly professional rodeo in the country. Running on Saturdays, the rodeo, features events like bull riding, steer wrestling, bareback riding, and barrel racing.
Out in bucolic Bucks County, there is a field of boulders that will ring like bells when struck, but why they do it is something of a scientific mystery. If that sounds weird, try experiencing it firsthand — and don’t forget to bring a hammer. And, as a bonus, High Falls, the tallest waterfall in Bucks, is in the same park.
Out in Lancaster County, there is an 80-acre tract of natural woodland that is a refuge for dozens of displaced wolves and wolf hybrids collectively known as the Wolves of Speedwell. The sanctuary offers guided tours again, though reservations are required for a visit.
This Celtic-inspired outdoor sanctuary is known for its massive rock formations, which are situated in a peaceful spot in the Appalachian Mountains. Featuring about 90 stone settings, the park is intended to be used for spiritual, meditative purposes, so feel free to quietly reconnect with nature here.
Sure, Cape May Point State Park is a 244-acre outdoor getaway down the Shore, complete with a popular lighthouse. But one of the more offbeat sites there is a massive, World War II-era concrete bunker constructed as part of the Harbor Defense Project of 1942, the remains of which you can still see today. The bunker isn’t the only piece of aging concrete history in the area. About a mile away at Sunset Beach, you can see the wreck of the S.S. Atlantus — a concrete ship built during World War II.
About 125 feet underground, you can get a glimpse of the massive calcium crystal formations that have entranced visitors at Crystal Cave for nearly 150 years. The attraction’s one-hour guided tour takes you through the cave, where it is a constant 54 degrees, to see ancient stalactites, stalagmites, and other formations, many of which have names. Don’t miss: It’s not just an underground experience here — Crystal Cave also offers a hiking trail, a mini-golf course, and gemstone panning.
Fans of Jason Voorhees will appreciate a visit to Camp No-Be-Bo-Sco, where the original Friday the 13th was filmed in 1979. But don’t try to go visit the property, which is still an active northwestern Jersey Boy Scout camp, yourself — instead, sign up for a tour with Crystal Lake Tours, which offers guided tours of filming locations used in the flick.