History lovers rejoice! Spots are still available on this year’s McKean County Historical Society’s annual bus trip. This year’s overnight excursion will take guests through the heart of Northern Pennsylvania when they experience Tunkhannok, Scranton, Bloomsburg and Williamsport.
“We need 32 people to sign up by July 10 to make the trip happen,” said Lu Vandermark, executive director of the McKean County Historical Society’s Old Jail Museum.
Total cost for the two-day trip will be $499 per person, or $449 per person if a pair of guests plan on sharing a double room. A deposit of $100 is due by July 10 for those who are interested. The historical society is accepting installment payments for the trip as well. The total cost will be due Sept. 1.
The bus trip will leave from the Smethport Fire Hall on Oct. 10 and travel to Lazybrook Park, where guests will enjoy a lunch brought from home. They will travel to the Lackawanna RR Viaduct before heading into Scranton. There, they will visit the Electric City Trolley Museum and Trolley Ride, and the SteamTown National Historic Train Park and Museum. Guests will check into their hotel at 5 p.m.
“There are lots of restaurants in that area so it should be easy for people to find somewhere they want to grab a bite to eat,” Vandermark said.
The next morning, guests will be able to grab a free breakfast at the hotel before heading into Lackawanna for the Lackawanna Coal Mine Museum and Tour. They will then travel to Scranton for lunch at Cooper’s Seafood House. The price of this meal is included in the ticket cost.
Next, they head into Bloomsburgh to visit Bill’s Old Bike Barn Museum.
“The grand finale is the Hiawatha Paddlewheel Riverboat Ride and dinner that day,” said Vandermark.
A buffet will be available for guests to partake of as they enjoy a leisurely paddle down the Susquehanna on the historic vessel. As they travel down the river, it is not uncommon for guests to see a wide variety of wildlife, including blue herons, ducks and bald eagles. Some lucky people even get to see deer swim out and stand on the logging islands — large square manmade structures that were used to help guide trees down the river when Williamsport was a major center of the lumber industry.
“We have been doing overnight trips since 2009 and we always have a wonderful time,” Vandermark said. “These are great, immersive experiences that really help to bring history alive.”
