Summer 2017 Bucket List
Meadowcroft Rockshelter
JIM MCNUTT
The Ebenezer Covered Bridge in Mingo Park was originally constructed in Fallowfield Township.
Summer. We enter in to it with the best of intentions – this year, we will not let it fly by without taking advantage of the beautiful weather and all our area has to offer. Then, the calendar starts getting booked up with weddings, graduation parties, picnics and other obligations. Before you know it, the nights are colder and the smell of fall is in the air. With a little more than a month before fall officially begins, we created a local list of offerings that will provide you and your family with memories for years to come.
• Summer just isn’t summer without at least one game of mini golf! Try Tower Golf & Driving Range in Washington.
• Visit the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum, where you can take a ride on a trolley, see the exhibits and shop the museum store.
• Brush up on local history with a visit to Meadowcroft Rockshelter in Avella.
• Take a bike ride – or go for a walk – on the Montour Trail. If you happen to be near mile 27, stop for ice cream or a cold drink at The Tandem Connection.
• Looking for a new place to take your ATV? Four Seasons Resort in West Finely has 35 miles of trails for all skill levels. And, if you aren’t in to riding, they’ve got an Olympic-sized swimming pool, a stocked pond and a variety of other activities.
• Fly a model airplane at Hillman State Park’s model airplane field. Note: you must preregister by calling 724-899-2200.
• It’s not summer without multiple trips to Lovie’s Frosty Twist in Houston. Soft serve ice cream in a variety of flavors, sundaes, shakes and more are on the menu.
• Stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables, as well as local cheeses and meats while catching some live entertainment at the Main Street Farmers Market in Washington, Thursdays, 3-6 p.m.
• Watch the Washington Wild Things take on the Lake Erie Crushers at Wild Things Park, 7:05 p.m. Aug. 4. Bonus – it’s fireworks night and Free T-Shirt Friday!
• Opening day of the Dick’s Sporting Goods Pony League World Series at Lew Hayes Pony Field in Washington is Aug. 11. The Home Run Derby takes place at 11 a.m., and the Opening Night Game #1 starts at 5:30 p.m.
• A concert on the river is a great way to spend the evening. Second Helping – A Salute to Lynyrd Skynyrd plays the Monongahela Aquatorium, 7:30 p.m. Aug. 12 (gates open at 6 p.m.).
• Pack a picnic lunch and some Frisbees and head to Mingo Creek County Park.
• Visit the Washington County Agricultural Fair and catch the Hobbs Sisters’ performance. The girls are from Peters Township and perform catchy country tunes 8 p.m. Aug. 16.
• Beer lovers and wine enthusiasts, grab a designated driver and check out the third annual Corks & Kegs Festival at the Meadows Racetrack and Casino (Aug. 19-20). Full disclosure – it’s an Observer Publishing Company event!
• A number of local municipalities and townships offer nighttime movies outside. Grab some chairs, blankets and popcorn and head out!
• Grab your yoga mat and head to Yoga on the Farm at Bedner’s Farm and Greenhouse in McDonald, 10 a.m. Aug. 26.
• Sip wine on the patio at J & D Cellars in Eighty Four.
• There’s more live music to hear! Donora’s Palmer Park is the setting for The Sky-Maestras on Aug. 20, part of the borough’s Free Summer Concert Series.
• Burn some summer energy in the pool at Sunset Beach Park in Claysville.
• Cheer for Cal U’s football team as they take on Ohio Dominican in the season opener, 6 p.m. Aug. 31.
• Sept. 1 is your last chance to experience a First Friday, presented by Observer Publishing Company, at the Community Pavilion on Main Street. Penguin fans take note – Jeff Jimerson is performing.
• On Labor Day, let your pooch cool off with a dip in the pool at Mineral Beach in Finleyville. Bonus – it benefits the Washington Area Humane Society.