Neat places to visit during a pandemic

We’re all ready to take day trips in our backyard when the governor opens things up. I’m planning and preparing in advance.

Some like to be called travelers rather than tourists. Call me what you want, but I have itchy feet and need to hit the road.

We’re all ready to take day trips in our backyard when the governor opens things up. I’m planning and preparing in advance. What follows are places to visit without boarding a plane.

• Ringing Rocks Park, Upper Black Eddy-Take a hammer and bash a rock or 10. You will hear what sounds like a ringing bell. Not every hammer works, so bring a spare. Also, here, visit the largest water fall in Bucks County and take a hike in this 123-acre park.

• Centralia-The coal still burns beneath this nearly deserted and spooky town. Few residents remain in this ghost town.

• Borgota Hotel Casino and Spa, Atlantic City—In the aisles, surrounding the floor and even among the slot machines, are pieces of Dale Chihuly art work. The huge, colorful glass sculptures nicely temper the harried gamblers.

• Turkey Hill Experience, Columbia—Learn how ice cream is made, milk a plastic and rubber cow or make your own flavor of ice cream. Part museum, part advertisement. Get a free ice cream cone and sample some of Turkey Hill’s signature iced teas.

• Knoebels, Hershey Park, Great Adventure and Dorney Park-Dream! Once they open, should be a blast for all of us after looking at four walls.

• Lehigh Gorge State Park, Jim Thorpe-Ride a bike in the 6,107 acre park, which runs along a river gorge. If you head south, the trail goes along a railroad bed and runs gradually downhill. Rent a bike or bring your own.

• MGM National Harbor Resort and Casino, in Maryland, just outside Washington-See the huge welded sculpture by Bob Dylan. He doesn’t just sing.

• Northbrook Canoe Co., West Chester-Dunk your buns for a couple of hours, while tubing the Brandywine Creek.

• Ricketts Glen State Park, Benton-At this amazing 13,193-acre park you can tour 21 waterfalls. Amazing. Nuff said.

• State Capitol Legislative Hall, Dover-take a tour of this small state capitol where the general assembly meets. And don’t pass on Harrisburg.

• Maryland State House, Annapolis-Perched at the top of a hill, explore the joint and then grab some

fresh crab. Also, take a sailboat ride on the Chesapeake Bay and go patriotic and walk around the U.S. Naval Academy. All that will keep you busy!

• Chester County Historical Society, West ChesterThe museum galleries are now undergoing massive renovations in the Thomas U. Walter designed building. Expect exciting new things. Visit the library and do a search for your last name; the place is packed with old newspaper clippings.

• Grotto Pizza, Wilmington, Rehoboth Beach and other spots-The cheese goes first on the crust here and then is topped with the sauce. It is perfect.

• DK Diner, West Chester-It’s breakfast all day. Take a look through those big windows, while enjoying perfectly cooked and served bacon and sunnyside up eggs. Yum!

• The Foundry, PhoenixvilleA little museum, with a big view of a huge wooden crane, is set in this event venue. The steel production building was saved from the wrecking ball and lives a second life.

• Wharton Esherick Studio, Malvern-Tour the amazing abode of this gifted wood craftsman. And unlike most museums, you are encouraged to touch.

• Eclat Chocolate, West Chester and Lores Chocolates, Philadelphia-Just the smell at these two shops makes the visit worthwhile. And you can’t eat just one.

• Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square-More than 1,000 acres of pure delight.

• Brandywine River Museum, Chadds Ford-The ultimate Wyeth experience. A

real feast for the eyes.

• Martin Guitar Factory and Museum, NazarethWatch them hand make guitars, one-by-one. The smell of wood and glue only adds to the experience.

• Herr’s Snack Factory, Nottingham-Eat hot chips just off the line in this huge factory. At the factory store you can buy flavors you’ve never heard of at a steep discount.

• Grounds for Sculpture, With 42-acres, it’s a delight to take a slow walk while viewing 270 contemporary sculptures.

• Princeton UniversityStroll around the ivy covered walls and visit the museum featuring a Van Gogh self-portrait and one of the water lilies paintings by Monet.

• Strasburg Railroad, Ronks-Who doesn’t love a train ride? A steam locomotive brings out the kid in all of us.

• Ephrata Cloister-A former communal society whose members used wood for pillows. Partly, since they believed in celibacy, the society didn’t last. And don’t miss Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site either.

• Valley Forge National Historic Park. Get the heart racing with a hike up Mount Misery and Mt. Joy, but don’t forget the history here. Take the shuttle tour.

• Philadelphia-Hit the Rocky Steps and take a peek inside the Parkway museums, including my favorite, The Rodin Museum (it’s free.) Head around back of the Philadelphia Museum of Art and visit the Waterworks. This is the best view of Boathouse Row. Hike across the Ben Franklin Bridge. Take a ride to the top of City Hall, peek down the Parkway and take the City Hall tour to view many of 160 sculptures.

There’s no free samples on the block long U.S. Mint tour, but the tour is given gratis on weekdays. I watched them sweep up a huge pile of new dimes with a broom. Fireman’s Hall Museum is a restored 1902 firehouse that showcases many fire trucks, at no cost. Second Bank of the U.S. Portrait Gallery hosts the best collection of portraits in America, hence the name. Don’t miss the brick work in the basement. Sideby-side are portraits of the only two guys who weren’t presidents but still appear on paper cash.

• Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine, Ashland—Ride the tracks into what was a working coal mine. It’s a bit creepy, but you’ll receive new respect for coal miners.

• Roadside America, Shartlesville-Eight thousand square feet of miniature trains. Stick around for when the lights go out.

• Kinzua Bridge, McKean County-The bridge was 301 feet tall and 2,052 feet long before a tornado took down most of it. You can walk on what is left of the railroad bridge, but hold on tight. This is a long day trip, but doable.

Some of the above places are still open, while most others are not or are only virtual for now. You don’t need to fly overseas or head out West to see some cool stuff.

To steal a line from the ketchup folks, “Anticipation, anticipation is making me wait.”

We’re all waiting-some more patiently than others.

Keep on truckin.’

Bill Rettew is a weekly columnist and Chester County resident. He won’t need to be told twice just when to go. You may contact him at brettew@ dailylocal.com

SUBMITTED PHOTO Here’s what is left of the Kinzua Bridge.