Greenwood Furnace State Park

Not long ago, a friend asked where I would go and what I would do if I could get away, anywhere, for a few days.  I immediately thought of the beach... I spent a lot of time at the beach when I was young and have such great memories of trips with family or friends over the years.  I imagined watching the sun rise during morning walks along the beach; I imagined reading books by the ocean; I imagined strolls along the boardwalk at night... what I clearly did not imagine in this scenario were two little people!

And while I am not complaining, I do in fact have two little people who seem to dictate how my life works these days...

I miss the beach, especially in the summer, and am just a little jealous every time a friend gets back from a beach vacation. I am salivating just thinking about our big group trip to the Outer Banks next June!  Until then, we'll try to make do with what we have here in Central PA, and that includes several nice state parks with beach areas along the lake.  Our latest destination: Greenwood Furnace State Park.

For all the years we've lived in Centre County, this is the first summer we've been to Greenwood Furnace (though we've been to Bald Eagle State Park and Whipple Dam plenty).  When a friend pointed out that it had the best bathroom facilities around, we deemed it worth checking out. 

I don't think you ever realize how important a good beach bathroom is until you take your child into the not quite (but pretty darn close to it) outhouse out at Whipple Dam. Where you walk uphill through the woods only to be overwhelmed by the stench of it before you've gotten within 50 feet of the place.  Greenwood Furnace's facilities are pretty good - only steps away from the beach, complete with water fountain, flushing (smell-free) potties, and hot showers.  It's only 15 or so extra minutes past Whipple and is totally worth the extra time in the car!!!

Emily, Cathy, Jaidon, Matt

Our friends Jaime, Jaidon, and Emily joined us on the beach, which was so great.  Emily is one of Cathy's favorite friends and I am always glad for the times when we can get the girls together.  And after seven months as a stay-at-home mom, I TOTALLY appreciate any and all adult conversation I can find! 

I keep getting reminded to NOT say this out loud, or at least not to put it down in print, but I am just about ready for the summer to be over.  Not that I am eager to send my baby to kindergarten (I am certain I will be a basket case that day) or am welcoming the cooler weather of fall (although it's been a really hot summer, so maybe I am).  It's just that I am becoming more and more aware with each passing day that while this summer has been a gift and I am having great fun with the kids, I'm just not cut out for this.  I am tired.  I lose my patience easily.  I have grown weary of the volume of laundry that comes from almost daily beach or pool outings. 

But... back to the beach.

Greenwood Furnace is great for what it is.  In our two visits, its never been crowded, even on the 4th of July with my brother Bob and his family.  It has nice picnic facilities.  The water is relatively clean (and cold) for a tiny lake.  It has a fun playground at the far end of the beach.  The kids can chase the little tadpoles that swim near the shore line for hours (happily without catching any of them) and build castles in the sand.  And most importantly, we can easily pass a summer's day here.

It's funny... it took the kids a good two or three hours before the playground hit their radar, but once it did, there was no place else they wanted to be.  Matt is becoming such a skilled monkey-bar climber, swinging across over and over again - stopping for pictures whenever the mood struck. 

The girls, meanwhile, had the most fun sliding down the slide together and swinging side-by-side.  I especially enjoyed Emily's lessons to Cathy on how to move her legs in order to swing all by herself... unfortunately, the lesson didn't stick and I pushed the whole time. 

I can't wait to see it in the fall!

As I sat on the beach looking out over the trees that surround the lake, I decided that if I am still unemployed come October, this is where you will find me.  I love fall with all it's changing colors and cooler temperatures.  It's my favorite time of year for running or hiking in the woods.  And soon, I think it will be my favorite time to grab a beach chair after I put the kids on the school bus and read quietly for a few hours (please feel free to comment away if you have any suggestions for my beach reading list)... a small part of that fantasy trip to the ocean, right here in Central PA.

By the way, if you decide to spend some time here, I have just one request: Please keep the beach clean... My summer oasis is no place for your bloated swim diapers!