#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨
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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.

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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).

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛

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#flowertherapy might be right up there with #water #flowertherapy might be right up there with #watertherapy.  Love passing the time in secret wildflower patches. As you do. 🌸
I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon I remarked how pretty that tiny sliver of the moon was on the way home tonight, and my friend pulled over right away so I could grab a photo. That’s when someone really knows you! It was just too beautiful to resist. 🌙
Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ C Weekend photos in review, old school style. ✨ 
Context: 1/ picture perfect weekend, 2/ threw together a quick meal w udon noodles, steak and broccoli, so good, 3/ the sun reflections on this painting struck me today, looked like a cross 4/ it takes all afternoon but nothing like Sunday Gravy, 5/ six months old, 6/ when he wants some serious zzzz’s, he covers his eye with his ears, the cutest, 7/ breakfast pastries at @coniglios
I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New I have plenty of reusable shopping bags since New Jersey banned the plastic ones last year. But when I spied this beauty for a buck, how could I resist? It just is so darn happy, which makes me happy. The little things aren’t so little. 💛
Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged Cheers to the weekend! This may look like a staged photo, but Lola just has ZERO boundaries and Clifford is exceptionally patient. 😂
I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s I’ve been on a smoked salmon kick lately (it’s so good for you), so when I saw that a local patisserie has a smoked salmon croissant available (weekends only), I added it to my list of things to seek out. I popped into @chocolatinenj early on Mother’s Day and was rewarded with this deliciousness. Layers of soft flaky croissant dough, tender smoked salmon, light whipped cream, thinly sliced red and green onion slivers and dotted with capers… it was every bit as amazing as you’d imagine it would be. If you’re local, don’t sleep on this one. 😋
Weekend photos in review, the belated edition. 1/ Weekend photos in review, the belated edition.

1/ hit up a few yard sales and snagged this beautiful pasta dish from Italy with my favorite color for a buck, 2/ and one of these printer trays came home with me too, 3/ pre Mother’s Day celebrations with 30 local moms, 4/ finished the weekend supervising furniture assembly
Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd bir Today would have been my friend Cathy’s 53rd birthday. Unfortunately she’s not here to celebrate because she died suddenly at age 49. I think of her often … every Mother’s Day because we spent most of them together since her husband worked weekends … when I discover a new food adventure (we once did a day long donut crawl) … when I’m sharing a special time with my kids knowing that her then-11 year old is growing up without her. Before she passed, I always appreciated every day, but since then, even more so. You never know what the next day can bring, so relish in the sunshine, surprise rainstorms, making wishes over railroad tracks and all the wonderful randomness life can throw your way. Don’t waste a single second, say yes, live on the outskirts of your comfort zone, laugh often, tell people you love them, give eight second hugs, and squeeze every ounce of joy you can out of life. Do it for the people who can’t. ✨

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