Connect with us

Pennsylvania

Glamping comes to Pa. state parks: Reservations are being taken for 2026

Published

on

Glamping comes to Pa. state parks: Reservations are being taken for 2026


Love the idea of camping but not the setting up of the tent, sleeping on a sagging air mattress or lack of climate control?

Pennsylvania state parks have a solution: glamping.

Officials this past week introduced glamping — a portmanteau of glamorous and camping — at eight state parks, and reservations are being taken for 2026.

The Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources says it invested $400,000 in improving these parks’ campgrounds where glamping is available, including restroom upgrades and new utilities.

Advertisement

The department is offering 61 glamping sites through a partnership with Timberline Glamping Co., under a five-year contract. It’s the first venture in the northeastern United States for the private company that offers glamping franchises, and Pennsylvania will now host more Timberline glamping locations than any other state, according to DCNR officials.

“This new offering is another way we’re ensuring that our state parks remain welcoming and enjoyable for all Pennsylvanians,” said DCNR Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn. “By transforming underused campsites into beautiful glamping experiences, we’re expanding overnight options in a way that’s affordable, sustainable, and beneficial to local communities.

“These are truly places where adventure feels like home.”

How it works is outdoor enthusiasts, or maybe the outdoor curious, reserve a site through DCNR’s “Stay the Night” webpage or go directly to timberlineglamping.com.

Under this collaboration, DCNR says it will receive a flat rate plus a share of revenue from Timberline’s operations, generating funds for additional park improvements.

Advertisement
Through a partnership with Timberline, eight of Pennsylvania’s 124 state parks are offering 61 glamping sites that feature safari-style tents with real beds, heat and air-conditioning, lighting, décor and outdoor seating.Joe Ferreras/PAcast photo

Guests can expect safari-style tents with real beds, heat and air-conditioning, lighting, décor and outdoor seating. Each park with glamping sites will include one tent accessible to people with disabilities — ensuring access for all visitors.

Guests can book one-night weekday stays or two-night weekend and holiday stays, with check-in at 3 p.m. and checkout at 10 a.m. Nightly stays range from $130 to $200 a night depending on the time of week, with weekdays running cheaper than weekends, DCNR spokesman Wesley Robinson told lehighvalleylive.com.

Add-ons include local experiences, firewood bundles, games and gourmet s’mores kits, connecting visitors with local communities and businesses, according to the DCNR.

The new amenities are in response to the department’s “Penn’s Parks for All” plan developed with extensive public input that included a call for this type of overnight accommodations, Robinson said: “So we expect them to be popular.”

Glamping reservations are now open at the following eight state parks, with availability based on each park’s season:

Advertisement
  • Poe Valley: March 27–Dec. 12
  • Hills Creek: May 1–Oct. 17
  • Laurel Hill: April 10–Oct. 17
  • Pymatuning: April 10–Oct. 31
  • Codorus: April 10–Oct. 31
  • French Creek: March 6–Dec. 31 on the park’s Loop A and April 24–Oct. 31 on Loop B
  • Hickory Run: April 10–Oct. 17
  • Promised Land: May 1–Oct. 11

Pennsylvania state parks offer a wide range of overnight accommodations, including tent and glamping sites; RV full-service sites; yurts; rustic cabins with fireplaces and modern cabins with heat and bathrooms; and the eco-lodge The Nature Inn at Bald Eagle in Centre County.

Glamping comes to Pa. state parks: Reservations are being taken for 2026
Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn introduces glamping sites at a news conference Tuesday, Oct. 7, 2025, at French Creek State Park.Joe Ferreras/PAcast photo

“We believe that time spent in the great outdoors with family and friends can create some of life’s most meaningful memories,” said Timberline Glamping Co. co-owners Nathan and Rebeka Self. “We are passionate about creating beautiful, truly unique, and unforgettable spaces, where people can explore our incredible State Parks, without sacrificing comfort, luxury, and style. We believe in the traditional camping experience happening outside while the convenience of modern amenities happens inside our accommodations. Each of our locations offer add-ons and experiences unique to that location, which means each guest can truly customize their stay.”

DCNR officials note all Timberline glamping tents are made in the U.S., using materials crafted by American manufacturers in Denver.

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.



Source link

Pennsylvania

Breakfast for dinner is on the menu at these Western Pennsylvania eateries

Published

on

Breakfast for dinner is on the menu at these Western Pennsylvania eateries


Breakfast dishes can be a fun departure from traditional dinner foods when dining out. While plenty of diners serve breakfast all day, many of those spots close at 2 or 3 p.m.

“It’s one of those things that everybody wants — we sell a lot of breakfast at night,” said Back To The 80’s Diner co-owner Shane Hissem. “After 4 p.m., we sell about 30% breakfast. I think sometimes people just get hungry for it.”

Hissem, his wife Kari Hissem and Aimee Bell co-own the Greensburg diner decked out in ’80s memorabilia, including a mounted E.T. in a bicycle basket, servers decked out in ’80s leg warmers and fanny packs, Pac-Man wall art and a MTV-themed wall.

The cheesy hash browns ($3.49) and fruit-filled stuffed pancakes ($8.98) are a hit, along with eggs Benedict ($9.99).

Advertisement

“People love the vibe and the breakfast at night,” Hissem said.

Server Bria Boyle said her customers really dig the pancakes for supper.

“French toast, pancakes and a lot of omelets are ordered at night. Customers come in at 7:30 p.m. and get their coffee and breakfast — we even serve Spam,” Boyle said.

Oakmont Bakery retail manager Billy O’Block holds three specialty breakfast sandwiches sold all day at the bakery/cafe in Oakmkont. (Joyce Hanz | TribLive)

Advertisement

 

Breakfast, er, dinner sandwiches

Cameron Wycich of Shaler likes to get creative when he orders build-your-own breakfast sandwiches at Oakmont Bakery in Oakmont.

The cafe there serves 10 different breakfast sandwiches all day, until 7 p.m.

Advertisement

“Today I ordered a blueberry bagel with bacon, egg and cheese. I occasionally order one for dinner,” Wycich said.

Oakmont Bakery co-owner Tony Serrao said offering breakfast options all day has proved popular with customers.

“People come in and order them all day long, especially kids coming over from the high school after school. They love to get hash browns, breakfast sandwiches and they even like to put the hash brown on the sandwich,” Serrao said.

Sandwich prices range from $6 to $10.

Breakfast for dinner is a concept that just “caught on” for Oakmont Bakery.

Advertisement

“We just revamped our cafe and offer fresh-squeezed orange juice all day now, too. We are a bakery, but our cafe has just evolved over the years,” Serrao said.

9551220_web1_ptr-breakfast-050926-11

The Giant Cinnamon Roll Pancake at Youngstown Grill in Youngstown near Latrobe. (Courtesy of Youngstown Grill)

 

Advertisement

Extra large pancakes

Craving a mega-sized pancake for supper?

You’ll find them at Youngstown Grill near Latrobe. The best seller is the giant cinnamon roll pancake ($6.95), which covers the plate.

A homemade cinnamon sauce is made in-house and you can add chocolate chips or blueberries for $1.50.

Breakfast here is served until 8 p.m. Another popular breakfast choice is the Youngstown scramble ($9.95) served with eggs, onions, green peppers, home fries and a choice of bacon or sausage, all mixed together.

Advertisement

Hash it out

9551220_web1_ptr-breakfast-050926-10

The Corned Beef Hash Breakfast served at Tap It Brewery and Grill in Mt. Pleasant. (Courtesy of Tap It Brewery and Grill)

 

Advertisement

Tap It Brewery & Grill in Mt. Pleasant is another spot for hearty breakfast-for-dinner options. They serve breakfast until closing between 7:30 p.m. and 9 p.m., depending on the day.

The house-brewed beers pair well with breakfast.

The most popular breakfast meal is corned beef hash ($10.95), which is made with braised beef in a brine and served with breakfast potatoes, two eggs and toast.

Menu highlights include The Mammoth Special ($10.95) featuring two eggs, choice of sausage, ham or bacon, choice of two regular pancakes or two waffles or two French toast and one side. Three stuffed pancakes ($8.95) are served folded like a taco and stuffed with a homemade cheesecake filling (apple, strawberry, cherry or blueberry) and served with a side.

Advertisement
9551220_web1_ptr-breakfastdinner006-050926

Frederic Rongier, owner of Paris 66, folds a breakfast crepe inside his East Liberty restaurant on May 6. (Kristina Serafini | TribLive)

 

Savory crepes

Authentic French crepes are served for dinner at Paris 66 Bistro in East Liberty.

Advertisement

Proprietor Frederic Rongier studied at a crepe-making French institution in 1999.

One of the two dinner options is made with buckwheat and is gluten-free. Both can be made with Swiss cheese, egg and a choice of ham or bacon.

Crepes are $25 each and adding smoked salmon is $12 more.

Rongier is keen on buckwheat crepes.

“It’s 100% French and the taste is not comparable with anything else,” he said, also recommending pairing a crepe with French cider Cidre Brut ($42), a dry, crisp alcoholic French drink.

Advertisement

Crepes are commonly eaten for supper in France, particularly in the Brittany region, said Rongier, a native of France.

“Guests feel like they are in France when they eat one,” he said.



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Pennsylvania

What each Pennsylvania 3rd Congressional District Democratic primary candidate would do on Day 1

Published

on

What each Pennsylvania 3rd Congressional District Democratic primary candidate would do on Day 1


It’s one of the hottest-contested races on the May 19 ballot in the 2026 Pennsylvania primary election. Four Democrats are running to succeed retiring U.S. Rep Dwight Evans in what has been rated the most Democratic-leaning district in the nation, Pennsylvania Congressional District 3.

The candidates are tax attorney Shaun Griffith, state Rep. Chris Rabb, Dr. Ala Stanford and state Sen. Sharif Street.

CBS News Philadelphia interviewed all four candidates to discuss a bevy of topics important to voters. On Wednesday, the focus was on affordability. On Thursday, the focus was on what makes these candidates stand out in a sea of Democrats. Friday’s focus is on what each candidate would do on the first day in Congress if elected.

State Sen. Sharif Street

Street has his eye set on economic and funding issues. The state senator says bringing down prices, funding mass transportation, and education are at the top of his priorities.

Advertisement

“We got to make sure we continue to get prices down. We got to make sure we continue to create jobs,” Street said. “We got to make sure we continue to fund mass transit. We got to get money for our schools. And by the way, I have talked about, and I’m the only candidate in this race who has consistently talked about we need a massive federal infrastructure program for schools.”



PA-03 Congressional District candidate interview: state Sen. Sharif Street

13:49

Dr. Ala Stanford

Stanford, a medical doctor, says her top agenda item is making healthcare more affordable.

Advertisement

“Restoring the subsidies to the Affordable Care Act, it has to be,” Stanford said. “It impacts everyone, whether you have private insurance or whether you are a Medicare/Medicaid recipient. Because we know right now, people are not getting the preventative care, the screening, and the treatment that their doctors have recommended.”



PA-03 Congressional District candidate interview: Dr. Ala Stanford

18:35

Tax attorney Shaun Griffith  

Griffith talked about plans to regulate data centers and hold the White House accountable. But priority one for him is universal healthcare.

Advertisement

“Making sure that we have Medicare for All or some similar bill put forth for a vote. Let’s put it on record,” Griffith said. “Who in the house believes health care is a human right, and who doesn’t?”



PA-03 Congressional District candidate interview: Tax attorney Shaun Griffith

10:14

State Rep. Chris Rabb

If elected to Washington, Rabb says he’d first look to rein in the Trump administration.

Advertisement

 “We have to begin the de-Trumpification of government,” Rabb said. “Trump and his thugs need to be held to account. But we also have to make sure we restore all the things he’s sought to destroy, institutionally, politically, operationally, we have to start there.”



PA-03 Congressional District candidate interview: State Rep. Chris Rabb

11:01

Advertisement



Source link

Advertisement
Continue Reading

Pennsylvania

An Outpouring of Frustration Over Pennsylvania’s Rapid Data Center Growth – Inside Climate News

Published

on

An Outpouring of Frustration Over Pennsylvania’s Rapid Data Center Growth – Inside Climate News


The latest example of burgeoning opposition to rapid data-center development in Pennsylvania came at a town hall meeting overflowing with frustration about how the state is managing the surge.

As about 225 people watched, more than 20 speakers in the two-hour online forum late Wednesday spoke about resistance to an industry they blame for rising electricity prices, heavy water use, noise pollution and rural industrialization. Gov. Josh Shapiro, who has tried to thread the needle of welcoming data centers while proposing some guardrails, was a frequent target.

“This is a public trust and transparency issue,” said Jennifer Dusart, a small business owner and resident of Mechanicsburg, near the state capital. “Too many Americans are finding out about these projects after decisions have been made. We have been bulldozed over, and when citizens have raised concerns, they are often dismissed as uninformed, emotional or anti-progress.”

According to the Data Center Proposal Tracker, Pennsylvania has nearly 60 data centers that have been officially proposed, are in early planning stages, have received approval to build or are under construction. 

Advertisement

Karen Feridun of the environmental nonprofit Better Path Coalition, which organized the town hall, said the Pennsylvania Data Center Resistance Facebook group she started in January with a few dozen members now has more than 12,000 followers. Kelly Donia of East Whiteland Township in southeastern Pennsylvania, who lives near a proposed data center, said she’s a registered Democrat who had been excited about speculation in 2024 that Shapiro would be the Democratic vice presidential candidate. But she said she no longer supports him because he has courted data centers. “He is losing his base,” she said. “I want him to hear this loud and freaking clear. I’m going to make it my job to make sure that man never gets elected again for any office.”

While an Emerson College survey in November found that Pennsylvanians were split on data-center development—38 percent supported it, while 35 percent opposed it—opposition to such development close to home was more pronounced. A February poll of registered voters in the state by Quinnipiac University found even more pushback: 68 percent said they would oppose a data center for AI in their community. 

Neither the Data Center Coalition, an industry group, nor Pennsylvania Data Center Partners, a developer of large data centers, responded to requests for comment, though industry advocates have said the growth will bring jobs and tax revenue to the state. 

The Shapiro administration said it seeks to protect communities while reaping the economic benefits of the booming data center industry.

“If companies want the Commonwealth’s full support — including access to tax credits and faster permitting — they must meet strict expectations around transparency, environmental protection, and community impact,” Rosie Lapowsky, a Shapiro spokesperson, said in a statement. “This is about setting a higher bar for projects, not lowering it, and ensuring development happens responsibly and in a way that benefits Pennsylvanians.”

Advertisement

In February, Shapiro proposed standards as part of his budget address, including that new data centers seeking state support must either provide their own power rather than drawing it from the grid, or fully fund their power needs and the transmission infrastructure that comes with them.

Feridun said Shapiro did not respond to multiple invitations to attend the town hall, which she thinks the state should have hosted to give people a chance to express their concerns about data centers. 

This story is funded by readers like you.

Our nonprofit newsroom provides award-winning climate coverage free of charge and advertising. We rely on donations from readers like you to keep going. Please donate now to support our work.

Donate Now

Advertisement

Colby Wesner of the activist group Concerned Citizens of Montour County, which successfully opposed a data center, criticized House lawmakers for passing the Shapiro-supported HB 2151, which would require state officials to draft a model ordinance that towns could use to respond to data center applications. 

Supporters say its use would be voluntary and it would help local officials protect quality of life in their communities. But Wesner believes it will benefit the industry if enacted: “There is absolutely no way this ordinance won’t be a data center developer’s dream.” 

Donia urged townships to change their zoning so they have the legal right to deny data center applications in places they don’t want them. Without carefully zoned land, towns are vulnerable to lawsuits from developers, she said.

“If you’ve got terrible ordinances in your township, and you add in bad zoning, guess what? You get a hyperscale data center,” she said.

The surge in data center projects in Pennsylvania has been driven by tax breaks for developers, as allowed by a 2021 law that lawmakers should repeal, said Republican state Rep. Jamie Walsh, who spoke at the town hall event. In Virginia, the state with the most data centers, developers have to pay a sales and use tax, but Pennsylvania doesn’t require that, he said.

Advertisement

“That has made Pennsylvania a target. In Virginia, they have to pay tax on the contents of those buildings. Pennsylvania will never realize that. That is why we’ve become ground zero,” said Walsh, who represents Luzerne County in northeast Pennsylvania.

State Sen. Katie Muth, a Democrat who represents part of the Philadelphia suburbs, plans to introduce a bill to place a three-year moratorium on data center development so state and local governments can first study and plan for the industry. She announced the bill in a legislative memo in February and expects to introduce it soon, a spokesman said.

Muth told activists at the town hall that the data center industry has not done enough to fully disclose its plans to the public. ”This has all been planned long before any of us had a clue, so don’t feel that you missed all these things,” she said. “You were supposed to; no one wanted you to know about it.” 

Michael Sauers, a retired school teacher from Bloomsburg, southwest of Scranton, called on officials to amend the Pennsylvania Municipalities Planning Code, a regulation first published in 1970.

“This has to be strengthened to empower communities to be able to say no to unwanted development that is being shoved down their throats,” he said. “Communities must be empowered to reject top-down development that gives them little or no voice in the future.”

Advertisement

About This Story

Perhaps you noticed: This story, like all the news we publish, is free to read. That’s because Inside Climate News is a 501c3 nonprofit organization. We do not charge a subscription fee, lock our news behind a paywall, or clutter our website with ads. We make our news on climate and the environment freely available to you and anyone who wants it.

That’s not all. We also share our news for free with scores of other media organizations around the country. Many of them can’t afford to do environmental journalism of their own. We’ve built bureaus from coast to coast to report local stories, collaborate with local newsrooms and co-publish articles so that this vital work is shared as widely as possible.

Two of us launched ICN in 2007. Six years later we earned a Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting, and now we run the oldest and largest dedicated climate newsroom in the nation. We tell the story in all its complexity. We hold polluters accountable. We expose environmental injustice. We debunk misinformation. We scrutinize solutions and inspire action.

Donations from readers like you fund every aspect of what we do. If you don’t already, will you support our ongoing work, our reporting on the biggest crisis facing our planet, and help us reach even more readers in more places?

Please take a moment to make a tax-deductible donation. Every one of them makes a difference.

Advertisement

Thank you,

Advertisement



Source link

Continue Reading
Advertisement

Trending