Day Trips: Schuylkill Center, Penn Cave and Carinwood Estate

Looking to save money and get away? Try one of these trips you can enjoy on just one tank of gas: the Schuylkill Center in Roxborough, Penn Cave in Centre Hall and Carinwood Estate in Bryn Aythn.

Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education   

Address: 8480 Hagys Mill Road  Philadelphia
Admission: Suggested donations vary based on different events.
Hours: 

• Main building and offices—9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon-Sat.
• Bookstore/gift shop—9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mon-Sat

Summary: Located in rural Upper Roxborough within the City of Philadelphia, the Schuylkill Center is a unique urban environmental center open to the public. The nonprofit offers a variety of seasonal lectures, environmental walks, animal/bird watching events, team building activities, or volunteer opportunities on its grounds. In addition, the Schuylkill Center is ideal for hikers who want to wander nature. There's also an art gallery and book store.

Links:

• Website
• Facebook
• Patch Listing

Penn's Cave and Wildlife Park

Address: 222 Penn's Cave Road, Centre Hall
Admission: 

Cave Tour

• $16.95 adults
• $8.95 children
• $15.95 senior citizens (65+)
• Free for children one and under

Combined Cave & Wildlife Tour

• $30.95 adults
• $16.95 children
• $29.95 senior citizens (65+)
• Free for children one and under

Hours: 

• 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. June 1 to August 31 (last tour at 7 p.m.)
• 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. September 1 to October 31 (last tour at 5 p.m.)
• See website for off-season schedule 

About: Penn's Cave, located near State College, is a great place to cool off in summer because the temperature in the cave is a constant 52 degrees. Your visit will feature a one-hour guided cavern tour by motorboat on an underground stream. Trout swim and jump up for feed along the limestone corridors, stalagmites, stalactites and flowstone cascades.

The farm and wildlife tour is a guided 90-minute motorized tour more than 1,500 acres of Penn's Cave forests and fields which have been preserved as a natural habitat for birds, plants, and animals. North American animals, such as bears, wolves, elk, deer, bobcats, bison, longhorn cattle, mustangs as well as the Penn's Cave Icon, the cougar, are seen, along with the African adventure museum.

Link: 

• Penn's Cave

Historic Tours of Cairnwood Estate

Address: 3032 Huntingdon Pike, Bryn Athyn
Admission: Adults are $8, student and seniors are $6
Hours: Tours are offered daily at 11:00 AM.

Summary: Cairnwood Estate is located in the historic district of Bryn Athyn. Originally the home of John Pitcairn, today the Mansion is a non-profit organization owned by the Academy of the New Church. Daily tours are given of this incredible home, which features nineteenth century architecture and fully furnished rooms. Cairnwood Estate is part of the Bryn Athyn Historic District, and is associated with the Academy of the New Church Secondary Schools and Bryn Athyn College.

Links:

• Cairnwood Estate Site