Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Local trips that will put some spring in your step
Escape what’s left of winter with these mini-getaways that are sure to give you a taste of the warm weather to come
The bursts of warm days that have been teasing us with a taste of spring might have had you ditching your parka and throwing on a sweatshirt over a wool sweater while you went in search of a whiff of a hyacinth plant in full bloom at the grocery store.
Even though it’s been known to snow in February and March, during these warmer days we might have a skip in our step, extra energy to rake the lawn for a pre-spring cleanup and a renewed sense of gratitude for the sunshine.
You might even be fantasizing about improvements you can make to your outdoor space and thinking about what you might want to grow in your vegetable and flower beds.
To keep this sense of renewal up on the days winter reminds us it’s not over, here are some mini-escape ideas to help you continue to experience early tastes of spring regardless of the temperature outdoors.
To immerse yourself in butterflies, head to ...
PHILADELPHIA INSECTARIUM AND BUTTERFLY MUSEUM » Get up close and personal with butterflies at the museum’s year-round Butterfly Pavilion. The museum is home to a striking and immersive tropical ecosphere filled with 2000 tropical and native butterflies. If you wear bright colors on your visit the butterflies are more likely to land on you. Source: phillybutterflypavillion.com
WHERE » 8046 Frankford Ave., Philadelphia WHEN » Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. FOR MORE INFORMATION,
TICKETS » www.phillybutterflypavilion.com
To dine in a greenhouse, head to ...
TERRAIN AT DEVON YARD »
Terrain’s greenhouse cafe offers seasonally changing brunch, lunch and dinner menus featuring handselected local produce, meats and dairy alongside a thoughtfully curated beverage program from near and far. Meals are served in a deliberately designed environment to blur the line between indoor and outdoor spaces, aimed to provide an inspiring dining experience every time. Set some time aside before or after your meal to see the Terrain garden-themed store located just steps from the restaurant. Terrain is a garden concept restaurant and shop owned by URBN brands, which also owns Anthropologie. Source: www.shopterrain.com
WHERE » 138 Lancaster Ave., Devon, Chester County (there is also a location in Glen Mills, Delaware County)
WHEN » Open daily, visit website for hours; advance reservations encouraged to avoid long wait times FOR MORE INFORMATION
» www.shopterrain.com/ pages/devon-restaurant
To get inspired to garden, head to ...
THE PHILADELPHIA FLOWER
SHOW » The 2020 PHS Philadelphia Flower Show, “Riviera Holiday,” invites you to fall in love with your garden all over again. Explore the Mediterranean-inspired gardens with groves of citrus trees and sweet-smelling varieties of geraniums and roses. Embrace your inner romantic at the Flower Show and enhance your visit with the various experiences offered. Source:www.theflowershow.com
WHERE » Pennsylvania Convention Center, 12th and Arch Streets, Philadelphia
WHEN » Saturday through March 9, check website for hours since they vary daily FOR MORE INFORMATION,
TICKETS » www.theflowershow.com; tickets cost less if you purchase them online in advance. Children age 4 and under free.
To spot early spring growth, head to ...
HAWK MOUNTAIN » A visit to Hawk Mountain year-round means that each season is full of surprises. In prespring weather you have the chance to spot early spring growth in nature and have some peace and solitude at less crowded lookout points. As we get to spring you can hike the trails in comfortable weather, spot and hear returning songbirds and mammals,and you might catch some tree frogs and spring peepers in the pond and you can see changing blooms in their Native Plant Garden. They also offer free Spring Weekend Programs. Hawk Mountain has monitored the spring raptor migration intermittently since the 1960s, using several different observation points. Source: www.hawkmountain.org
WHERE » 1700 Hawk Mountain
Road, Albany Township
WHEN » Trails open daily dawn to dusk, Visitor center open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. COST » Trail admission fees, adults $10; seniors (65+) $7; children (6-12) $5; children 5 and under free FOR MORE INFORMATION » www.hawkmountain.org
Mark your calendar ...
SPRING IRON POUR & FORGE FEST, PRESENTED BY GOGGLEWORKS » Spring into the arts by joining the GoggleWorks Center for teh Arts, Albright College and PABA for the fourth annual Spring Iron Pour, now featuring Forge Fest. Forge Fest will take place from 3 to 7 p.m. on April 25, immediately followed by the Iron Pour from 7 to 10 p.m. Don’t miss this exciting display as 2,000 pounds of iron is heated to 3,000 degrees and poured into molds. While the furnace heats, experience the brute force required to shape steel with blacksmithing. Fire roasted food by Dundore & Heister, additional food & cash bar provided by The Den by Sly Fox. Source: www.goggleworks.org
WHEN » April 25, 3 to 10 p.m.
WHERE » 201 Washington St., Reading FOR MORE INFORMATION » www.goggleworks.org