An Everyday Adventure: Leaser Lake and Wanamakers General Store. Kempton, PA
On Saturday we went on a little adventure. I had been in the mood to do some adventuring locally, within a one hour radius of our house. You see, I have a tendency to go overboard and plan something that feels like too much of a reach for our family. I know this about myself, still I often have to remind myself that the boys aren’t really very old and don’t need a long day adventure after having gone to school all week.
So I limited myself searching for adventures within a one hour drive of our house. I had done some reading about waterfall hikes in the Poconos, but upon further research I found that they were either a) kind of pricey and commercialized (Bushkill Falls) or b) more than a one hour drive from our house (Dingman’s Falls, Raymondskill Falls, Glen Onoko, et al.). Sometimes we don’t need a long ride and a long adventure. Sometimes a medium to small size adventure fits the bill.
Visiting Leaser Lake in northern Lehigh County ended up being just the perfect amount of adventure. First, at 31miles away, we were able to travel there in under one hour. Secondly, we have never been there before so it proved the novelty I, and maybe other members of the family, craved.
What We Did at Leaser Lake
Visitors to Leaser Lake can fish, walk and picnic. We took a hike on the Leaser Lake Loop Trail. Mr. Katie made a delicious blue juice on the hike out of a bottle of water and blue electrolyte powder that gave the boys the sustaining power to keep walking. We walked for a while before the sky started to get very dark and foreboding. At that point, we decided that it would be most prudent to turn around and start on our way back to our car incase the sky opened up.
While we walked, we observed some nature. I saw these brightly colored bugs on this milkweed stalk. Some research after arriving home helped me learn that these are called milkweed bugs.
Mr. Man found this Woolly Bear on our walk. It will grow up to be a Isabella Tiger Moth when it fully matures. He walked around with it for while on our hike.
Then a storm blew in.
We knew it was coming. It was the kind of early afternoon where the sky is sunny one minute and overcast the next. There was also always one corner of the sky that was dark blue.
Then the storm finally came just as we were leaving.
So we headed to our next destination, Wanamakers General Store in Kempton, PA. It was just a few short miles from the park.
Wanamakers General Store
It is a delightful spot side trip or it could be a fun destination on it’s own. It is a true general store with something for everyone including: antique soda bottles and cans, wooden toys that you can buys, gifts, baked goods, multiple local potato chip brands, organic produce, a deli that makes sandwiches, and ice cream.
With a porch with seating on the front and behind the store, customers are invited to sit and stay a while.
I picked out sandwiches and chips at the deli and we ate in our car because one of the boys fell asleep on the three mile drive from the park to the store.
In conclusion, good food, good company, good adventure makes for a great day. Perhaps if you find yourself in Upper Lehigh County you might want to check out these great places.
Until next time,
Katie
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