One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻
When you really really really want to be best frie When you really really really want to be best friends. 💛
When a stressful week with deadlines ends with Nat When a stressful week with deadlines ends with National Cheese Lovers Day, how could I not partake? Tbh, I wasn’t especially hungry, and the appetizers are always the best section of any menu, so the queso blanco from El Mejicano in town wasn’t too hard a choice. It’s smoky and cheesy and I could have licked the bowl clean, but a girl’s gotta have some boundaries. Happy weekend, friends! ✨
A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her of me and dropped it off in our mailbox, which really touched me. 💛 Life is too freaking short not to make conscious decisions to do more of what makes you happy, and to cut out the things that don’t. Rainbow Rowell said it best, “So, what if, instead of thinking about solving you whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow.”
The face and the daily hiccups… 😍 The face and the daily hiccups… 😍
I mean, I might have a slight obsession but also m I mean, I might have a slight obsession but also my lips are never chapped, so there’s that. 😂 And this is only one of my refill stashes. When I was in middle school, I had literally THE WORST chapped lips ever. Like a complete red ring around my top and bottom lips. I don’t think that’s where my lip balm obsession started, but it certainly didn’t help. Jersey winters are no joke (or our hot summers), so don’t mind me while I just add to my collection. What’s your fave?
  • Home
  • About
  • Recipes
  • Press
  • Writing
  • Contact

Sweetnicks

Food and Life

Review: Lost River Caverns {Hellertown, Pennsylvania}

September 10, 2013 · Narrative

When we visited Dorney Park last weekend, I needed to have a back-up plan in case it rained. Especially with three kids in tow. The disappointment of doing nothing might have been too much. We ended up lucking out with the weather, but stopped at one of my back-up plans along the way home anyway.

Untitled

The Lost River Caverns, in Hellertown, Pennsylvania, is very easy to find and worth a quick stop. Educational, fun, and photo ops all rolled into one. Madeline and Nick’s friend had never been here before. The Ex and I took Nick years ago (I think he was four years old), but he doesn’t remember it at all, so first time wonderment for all.

A small parking lot in front of the building, and a larger parking lot across the street, there is ample space. Picnic areas and a small covered bridge across the street mean you can stay and enjoy some free time long after your tour has ended. The caverns are open year ’round, closing only for three days (Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years).

Untitled

Untitled

We ended up arriving just as a tour was departing, which meant we didn’t have to wait at all. And since waiting means waiting in the gift shop area, this Mom was happy about that. Year ’round, the cavern temperature is 52 degrees, no matter if it’s the height of summer or the dead of winter. It was particularly steamy on the day that we visited, so 52 degrees felt absolutely perfect to me.

The tour groups are about twenty people, and you are led by a guide the entire time (about 45 minutes).  Our guide was young, but very well-informed. It turns out that she was actually baptized in the caverns (at the spot pictured below with the cross). For many years, weddings were actually held deep in the caverns as well, and it was also a popular spot for square dancing, with even an area for horses to wait. It was a beloved spot for square dancing because of the cool temperatures and the reverberation underground. With many areas being slightly cramped when our tour group was down there, I can’t even imagine a group of ladies and gentlemen square dancing down there, but somehow they made it work.

Untitled

Untitled

Untitled

The caverns are so named because there is a “lost river” in the middle of it, water coming in and exiting, yet they haven’t been able to determine where the water leads to when it exits the caverns. Two tests were done to try and find out where the water ends up. One time, they dumped a mass of colored golf balls into the river, with their telephone number on it, waiting to see where the balls ended up and to receive phone calls of people finding them. Nothing. Another time, they poured a non-toxic red dye into the water. Again, expecting news of nearby water suddenly turning red. Again, nothing. The mystery continues.

Once the tour is done, you end up at the gift shop (just no escaping it!). It was pure nirvana for Nick, as they had a huge selection of rocks, minerals, and other gemstones available, something he has been collecting for years. Both kids armed with a $10 limit, they chose treasures that they couldn’t live without.

Untitled

Untitled

Wear sturdy, but comfortable shoes (a bit of steep climbing and sometimes a wet cavern floor), and bring a sweater, just in case you find it’s too chilly once you’re underground. The kids loved the cavern visit, and if you’re in the area, or looking for a fun day trip, it’s worth a stop.

Lost River Caverns
726 Durham Street
Hellertown, PA 18055
610-838-8767
web site

Hungry for another Pennsylvania activity?
Our trip to the trout hatchery was definitely a highlight.

Print Friendly, PDF & EmailPRINT

Posted In: Narrative · Tagged: day trip, Hellertown, Lost River Caverns, Pennsylvania

Comments

  1. Joanne says

    September 11, 2013 at 6:24 am

    Whoa! Very cool! I’m super intrigued by the mystery of the water now and will probably spend a fair amount of time at work today reading about it lol.
    Joanne recently posted..Ch-,Ch-,Ch-, Chia Bars!

    Reply
  2. Casey says

    September 11, 2013 at 11:02 am

    I totally love weird places like this. So unique! We’ve gone to the Innerspace Caverns in Texas. Similar.
    Casey recently posted..Balboa Park Professional Pics

    Reply
  3. Meg says

    September 11, 2013 at 4:48 pm

    How interesting! I tend to get claustrophobic in caves and caverns (all stemming back from a somewhat ill-fated trip to Virginia’s Luray Caverns as a kid), but this looks neat. I could see some members of my family being all over it.
    Meg recently posted..Wordless Wednesday: Wine time at the Grape Discovery Center, Westfield, N.Y.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

Storytelling…
Through photos.
Words. And recipes.

Archives

Categories

Instagram

One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻
When you really really really want to be best frie When you really really really want to be best friends. 💛

Pinterest

One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a One of us hops like a bunny down the steps, has a serious case of FOMO on the daily, gets hiccups more than anyone we know and has perpetual bed head. She’s quite the unique roommate but may be exactly what our home needed. 💛
I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw th I haven’t had a bagel in ages, but when I saw that @njdotcom had picked six bagel shops at the “best in the state,” and one was reasonably local, all the sudden I needed one. I was never one to fall prey to peer pressure, but I’m very definitely a marketer’s dream. 😂 Alfa Bagels is on Route 10 in Randolph and has a good assortment of bagels, including all the usual suspects, but with a few others like rainbow, Asiago and French Toast throw in for good measure. Their bagels always seem to have a nice chew, which I appreciate and I love their sesame one. My go-to order lately is a double toasted flagel with lox spread and tomato. Their lox spread is a little ho hum, but the bagel is delish. Check them out next time you’ve got a craving (or get motivated by a local news story 😝). What’s your bagel order?
✌🏻 ✌🏻
When you really really really want to be best frie When you really really really want to be best friends. 💛
When a stressful week with deadlines ends with Nat When a stressful week with deadlines ends with National Cheese Lovers Day, how could I not partake? Tbh, I wasn’t especially hungry, and the appetizers are always the best section of any menu, so the queso blanco from El Mejicano in town wasn’t too hard a choice. It’s smoky and cheesy and I could have licked the bowl clean, but a girl’s gotta have some boundaries. Happy weekend, friends! ✨
A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her A friend saw this placard and said it reminded her of me and dropped it off in our mailbox, which really touched me. 💛 Life is too freaking short not to make conscious decisions to do more of what makes you happy, and to cut out the things that don’t. Rainbow Rowell said it best, “So, what if, instead of thinking about solving you whole life, you just think about adding additional good things. One at a time. Just let your pile of good things grow.”
The face and the daily hiccups… 😍 The face and the daily hiccups… 😍
I mean, I might have a slight obsession but also m I mean, I might have a slight obsession but also my lips are never chapped, so there’s that. 😂 And this is only one of my refill stashes. When I was in middle school, I had literally THE WORST chapped lips ever. Like a complete red ring around my top and bottom lips. I don’t think that’s where my lip balm obsession started, but it certainly didn’t help. Jersey winters are no joke (or our hot summers), so don’t mind me while I just add to my collection. What’s your fave?

Copyright © 2023 Sweetnicks · Theme by Vicki Harrison Design