Color Me Mine: Show Your Artistic Side

People looking to flex their creative muscle have been coming to Harrisburg’s Color Me Mine for years. The wide range of artistic activities on offer at Color Me Mine encourage repeat visits. Here’s how it works: first, you select from the literally hundreds of ceramic pieces available to paint on. This stuff runs the gamut from plates and tiles to more complicated pieces, and the prices are very reasonable. Second, pay an eight-dollar studio fee and then start painting. The fee covers everything you’ll use at Color Me Mine… and there’s a lot of stuff. The sheer number of paints and glazes available boggles the mind, and the staff is always available to help you with your artwork. Once it’s done, you leave it there to be fired in the kiln and come pick it up approximately five days later. It’s a great creative outlet for people of all ages, and Color Me Mine offers a number of special deals and packages throughout the week.

Color Me Mine
5110 Jonestown Road
Harrisburg, PA 17112
(717) 909-8170
www.harrisburg.colormemine.com

Raise a Glass to Gettysburg at Hauser Estate Winery

Hauser Estate, a young winery with robust presence, is gathering a following. On what was once an apple orchard, Hauser Estate is committed to preserving agriculture in the Gettysburg area.  They’ve perched their tasting room and rental facilities to take advantage of a 360-degree view of the countryside, while the wine-making takes place underground. Besides arranging catering to your own special events, Hauser Estate offers happy hour on Thursday evenings and After Hours weekend parties with live entertainment. The Tasting Room is open seven days a week. You can taste Hauser’s products at two other sites—in Gettysburg and Chambersburg—as well.

Hauser produces a number of different choices for different tastes, including reserve wines and Jack’s Hard Cider. The winery gives the nod to local history with its Jenny Wade White, named for the only civilian known to be killed in the battle of Gettysburg; and Devil’s Den Red, named for the site where Union soldiers died from Confederate sniper fire.

Hauser Estate Winery: Tasting Room and Winery
410 Cashtown Rd
Biglerville, PA 17307
(717) 334-4888
www.hauserestate.com

National Civil War Museum: It's About People

On high land overlooking Harrisburg and the Susquehanna sits the National Civil War Museum.  Built in 2001, this non-profit museum prides itself on presenting the military and civilian aspects of the war without bias to the Union or Confederacy. Instead, it emphasizes the human side. Here you’ll find stories and artifacts not available anywhere else.  The total collection tops 4,400 artifacts and 21,000 archival pieces; of course many of these are only displayed on a rotating basis, or by appointment, or are still in the process of being catalogued and transcribed for access to an online database. 

Visitors generally spend from two to four hours in the galleries. Audio-visual presentations intersperse dioramas and exhibits.  So in addition to seeing weapons, you can watch videos explaining how they were loaded and fired. There’s a music station, displaying instruments and sheet music, where you’ll hear Civil War period songs. Throughout the dioramas, you can follow the story of particular characters of the time.  You’ll learn about camp life and what the war meant to women and children; you’ll see sides of slavery you may have previously missed. The museum continues to be a popular work in progress. Prepare for your visit with a look at the museum website. 

National Civil War Museum
One Lincoln Circle at Reservoir Park
Harrisburg, PA 17103
(717) 260-1861
www.nationalcivilwarmuseum.org

Harrisburg City Island: An Island Getaway You Can Do in a Day

Harrisburg City Island is a stunning park right in the middle of the busy state capital. This beautiful and popular destination preserves the natural beauty of the local greenery, while offering more attractions than any visitor could hope for. Kids and adults alike can enjoy batting cages and a full arcade or pick up a kite to glide along the easy breeze and stop off at the antique carousel. There's also a scaled version of a Civil War era steam engine train to ride, classical horse drawn carriages, riverboat tours, and docks for boaters of all kinds. Forget isolated desert islands, Harrisburg City Island is one piece of water-locked turf you'll be happy to get stranded on.

Harrisburg City Island
Off Market Street Bridge
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 255-3020
www.harrisburgevents.com

Ride the Trails of Civil War Generals

Here’s a new way to take in the Gettysburg scenery: go horseback. Confederate Trails of Gettysburg premiered its first season in 2010.   Small groups of six guests are led along scenic equestrian trails behind the Virginia Monument to Spangler Farm where they can glimpse Peach Orchard and Little Round Top in the distance. A two-hour option continues along through Pitzer’s Woods to Longstreet Tower.  Perhaps from there you can catch sight of the Eisenhower Farm.

The pace is comfortable for novice riders (only age 8 and above). The operators have accommodated individuals with a range of disabilities and they assure nervous prospects that, upon request, they’ll send a person to walk alongside the horse to ease their anxiety. This is not a historic tour, so riders seeking informative narratives might wish to get that background before setting out on this venture. However, when children are in the group, consider requesting in advance a living history re-enactor at no additional charge. Helmets (provided) are required for guests under age 18, and adults who decline must sign a waiver.  Reservations go rain or shine. Military families receive a 10 percent discount. Check the website for additional details.

Confederate Trails of Gettysburg
www.confederatetrailsofgettysburg.com

Visit the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts For Educational Entertainment

There's no need to choose when to visit the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts. The unrivaled facility in downtown Harrisburg is the home to several resident arts companies, science exhibitions, and plenty of educational and entertainment-oriented programs. Whether you're in the mood to see a recently released movie on IMAX, check out three-floors worth of interactive science displays (all hands-on, of course), or take in a top-notch dance or theater performance, the Whitaker center is the place to be. True to its dedication as a resource for educational and expressive experience, the facility also offers 16 flexible spaces to accommodate practice spaces, private viewing events (for up to 1,500 guests), and elegant lobbies for private functions or gatherings. The Whitaker Center is one of the pulsing centers of Harrisburg's cultural activity.

Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts
222 Market St.
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 214-ARTS
www.whitakercenter.org

Ring the Alarm, Get on Your Gear, and Visit the National Fire Museum

Honor America’s unsung heroes at the Pennsylvania National Fire Museum, where the history of firefighting is celebrated to its fullest potential. Located in a beautiful 1899 Victorian firehouse, the museum represents a long chronology of firefighting history and artifacts—from classic hand-drawn equipment to contemporary tools to save lives. Wander throughout the venue to catch a glimpse of unique old fire engines, a fully restored Gamewell alarm headquarters, an 1867 parade carriage, video presentations, and hundred of other unique items that will illustrate the history of this life-saving activity. Once you've had your fill, be sure to stop off at the gift shop where a bevy of souvenirs—from kitschy to collectable—will round out your memorable experience.

Pennsylvania National Fire Museum
1820 North 4th St.
Harrisburg, PA 17102
(717) 232-8915
www.pnfm.org

Harrisburg's Finest Musical Venue: The Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra

Get a taste of classical music with a visit to the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra. Featuring top trained musicians of all styles and instruments, this orchestra is one of the best organizations for high-quality music lovers. Led by beloved music director Stuart Malina, the orchestra runs a range of popular events such as the Masterworks Series (spotlighting seven pairings of masterworks every year) and the Capital BlueCross Pops (focusing on three pairs of lighter, contemporary works). Other special events range per season to cater to particular holiday events, social gatherings, and weather-contingent concerts. But if you want to get in on the action, check out the educational program of lectures, clinics, and demonstrations, or head down to support the Harrisburg Youth Symphony's free performances.

Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra
800 Corporate Circle
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9346
(717) 545-5527
www.harrisburgsymphony.org

How to Celebrate Halloween in Harrisburg

1. Check out Spirit Halloween for your last minute Halloween needs. The gigantic superstore has every costume you can possibly dream of, from scareworthy frocks to garments with sex appeal. You'll also find decorating supplies galore to make your pad look festive and freaky for the big night.

2. Scare yourself silly at the 2nd Annual Harrisburg Zombie Walk on October 30, 2010, from 4 – 6 p.m.! Meet at the Harrisburg Mall to watch this scary spectacle, or make youself look ghastly to walk with the rest of the city's living dead. A spooktacular zombie bar crawl will follow at 8 p.m.! Check out the Harrisburg Zombie Walk Facebook page for details. 

3. Taking your kids trick-or-treating, or enjoying a night out for yourself? Check out the CDC's Halloween Health & Safety Tips to keep you and your little trick-or-treaters safe and sound.

4. Get in the spirit. Halloween may seem like a holiday that's meant for kids, but adults can enjoy it too! Host a costume party at your house, check out local community events, and most imporant of all, have fun!

Get Your Sports Fix at the SkyLine Sports Complex

You can always spot a good sports complex when there are numerous resident and visiting teams that come to use the facility. The SkyLine Sports Complex is just that, with a stadium and multiple fields that are home to the Harrisburg City Islanders soccer team and Central Penn Piranha football team. Whatever the shape of the ball or the length of the field, there's always something to see and plenty of teams to cheer for when you come down to SkyLine. The reasonably marked tickets make this a great destination for a group of friends and there's plenty of room for a quality tailgate pre-party, so stock up the car and roll out. The newly renovated venue is also in tip-top shape—from the stadium seats to the freshly planted grass—so there's no need to worry about getting stuck at a decaying relic of bygone sports glory.

SkyLine Sports Complex
City Island
Harrisburg, PA 17101
(717) 255-3020

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