Boldly Go Solo

Solo travelers can try falconry in Hershey, Pennsylvania

Falconry, the "sport of kings," is actually the sport of hunting. Instead of using a gun, or a bow and arrow, hunters go into the wild with a raptor that catches small game. Rabbits. Squirrels. Other small, edible animals.

In Hershey, Pennsylvania, you can do falconry, but without the bloodletting. Basically, you watch a demonstration with fake prey and you get to call to a Harris' hawk and watch it swoop in on you and land gently on your hand. Sans small animal in beak.

A story with more detail on Hershey's falconry program is in today's Washington Post. (Written by...well...me.) But the video? Only available here.

(Some of you may remember I did falconry once before.)

Below is Kristin Smith-Simon, who was in my group of "falconers."

This next video shows that even a young 'un can participate, although the minimum age is 8. That's Darius Robinson with falconer Jack Hubley.

Last time I was at Hershey, a substitute falconer ran the program. He did just fine. But he didn't do the final act that Jack Hubley, the regular falconer did. Which was to have a hawk fly between two lines of people.

Probably because there weren't enough people that first time I went. There were only a handful of us. This time, I was in a group of 11.

Hubley told us that hawks can squeeze themselves tight temporarily, wings to body, to get through crevasses and other small spots to reach their prey. We got a small taste of that as the hawk flew through our lines and brushed us with his wings.

(Falconry is a nice solo travel experience for social people because you will be with other people oohing and aahing together. Hm. "Social solos?" Have I coined a phrase?)

Photo and videos: Ellen Perlman

 

 

 

Posts on solo travel in Egypt win award from travel writers group

We here at Boldly Go Solo (we being me) are just bursting with delight over learning that this very blog was awarded top honors by the Society of American Travel Writers' Atlantic Caribbean Chapter.

On a related note, I just learned about a new book called Brag!: The Art of Tooting Your Own Horn without Blowing It. Unfortunately, I haven't read it yet. So if I'm bragging and blowing it, I apologize. I'll get the hang of it as soon as I get the book.

The posts that captured the hearts of the judges, in case you'd like to reread them were on taking a carriage rider in Luxor, Egypt, ballooning over the Valley of the Kings and falconry at Hershey in Pennsylvania.

The judges, comprised of journalism faculty at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, noted:

"Excellent scene-setting makes these posts stand out. Great theme for a blog."

I'm blushing! (reminder: I haven't read the bragging book yet...)

New Oxford, Pennsylvania, antiquing story in The Washington Post

A few weeks ago I wrote about antiquing in New Oxford, Pennsylvania. Well, the story is out in The Washington Post today. It's called,"Welcome to Antiquing." Which is what my friend Paula said to me when I commented about a musty smell in one of the antiques malls we were in.  

And rather than about solo travel, it's about my education on why people spend so much money for rusty and cracked stuff.

Anyway, take a read. It's a different story from the one I wrote here. Enjoy! 

Antiquing for solo travelers in New Oxford, Pennsylvania

If you're an antiques freak, I highly recommend a trip to New Oxford, Pennsylvania, to get your fill of Victorian, Civil-War era and other antique furnishings, toys and kitchenware.

I don't see it as an ideal place to travel solo if you don't love antiques because it's not exactly a hoppin' town, but for a couple of days it would be absolutely fine as a place to relax too.

New Oxford is a one-horse town in rural Pennsylvania that, as I said, doesn't have the bustle of an urban center. However, considering you could spend HOURS perusing goods from hundreds of dealers you would be quite the busy shopper/browser.

I went with a friend because I'm writing a story for The Washington Post on learning to like, or at least understand, antiques. So I took along a friend who has furnished her house in solid-wood oak pieces, green Depression glass and Watt pottery. (If you don't know what these are you're in the same boat that I started out in. I, at least, have begun to learn how to paddle.)

Take a tour of the home town of "The Office" in Scranton, PA

Raise your hand if you're a fan of "The Office." The American version. The one about the Dunder Mifflin company, whose Scranton, Pennsylvania, office is led  by the sublime dunderhead, Michael Scott, played by actor Steve Carell.

If you're a big fan, you can now take a peek around the gritty Scranton sights seen in various episodes.

I admit, this is a stretch as a concept. But it's also funny and the day itself could be a hoot. The four-hour tours, running on the next two Saturday afternoons in August, and the second Saturday of each month starting in September, begin at the Mall at Steamtown and end at Poor Richards Pub.

Are these familiar to you? Would you like to visit them? (I admit, I'm only an occasional watcher.) It's the kind of thing that would seem to be easy to do alone.

You join a tour and have a guide and companions. And you have something in common to talk about with your tour mates - your love of the show. "Hey, remember that time Steve Carell embarrassed the employees?" Oh wait. That's every show.

You'll visit locales that served as inspiration for the paper company and the watering holes in the program, including Farley's, The Bog and Paper Magic.

Okay, maybe the tours won't attract the numbers of, say, the Lord of the Rings ones in New Zealand. Which I think brought in hundreds, maybe thousands of people from around the world. But, those were based on a total of three feature-length films shown worldwide.

Fans of The Office are no less worthy of a location tour of their television show. And might enjoy seeing the familiar spots for real, and learning new trivia about the nut-case atmosphere that reigns.

You can buy tickets for $35, (or for $25 if you're under 21 and not drinking.) Some of the show's stars have showed up for the Saturday tours (they've been running since July), including Melora Hardin (Jan) and Ray Shafer (Bob Vance).

So check to see if a star is scheduled to join when you go.

Photos: Tom Bonomo, Times Shamrock.

1. A tour group. 2. Cooper's.

 

 

Take your solo self to falconry at Hershey for a wild good time

On a perch some 45 feet away from where I stand, Thunder awaits my call. "Hey, Thunder." At that, the Harris's hawk swoops in to land on my gloved hand. He's not there to socialize. The tasty bits of raw mouse and quail squeezed between my thumb and forefinger are the enticement for the visit.

And falconry was the enticement for MY visit to Hershey for The Falconry Experience by The Hotel Hershey. I traveled to Pennsylvania solo, with the idea of trying some aspect of the ancient "sport of kings."

Once Thunder's standing on my hand, I'm able to watch up close as his sharp beak dips down and he grabs his treat. I feel the tug of his talons, digging in for stability as he eats. Soon he's done. He takes a few steps and turns, eyeballing that perch in the distance. And off he flies.

One other guest was with me in the field. We took turns calling Thunder in for a landing. It was  a gorgeous sunny day and a little surreal to be that close to a majestic raptor. So similar to those I often see circling high in the sky, looking for prey. 

Bob Leonard, the falconer that day, taught the two of us the proper way to await a personal hawk landing. You stand sideways, arm straight out and ensconced in heavy leather. You don't want a bird with a sharp beak flying into your face by accident. Or landing on bare skin.

In the two hours of falconry, we got to touch Thunder's chest and wing feathers while he perched on Bob's hand. And visit with several other hawks and a peregrine falcon housed inside chicken wire on the green field.

The Hershey quiz and fun facts about chocolate town

In Monday's post I asked you to name which item did not belong in Hershey, PA. Now for a rundown of what Hershey has, and the one thing I put on the list that it doesn't. And, finally, whether this is a place for solo travelers.

Hershey has a large amusement park, as well as a minor league hockey team called the Hershey Bears. And a medical center that is the town's largest employer.

Milton Hershey opened a school for orphans that still operates today. And I saw Highmeadow Campground, with its 300 sites, with my own eyes. Who would have thought? A campground at Hershey? (It feels more KOA than Yellowstone in that it is not particularly woodsy rustic. But it's inexpensive and close to the attractions.)

There is a Chocolate Workers Local 464, the union Hershey workers must belong to. And an iceless "ice" skating rink, but let me tell ya, there is no real gliding without ice. Raptors? Yes, you'll find them there. I tried falconry and I highly recommend it. 

The rose-filled garden is down the hill from The Hotel Hershey and hosts many weddings. On the way to the new "cottages," which are actually modern stone buildings with luxury rooms good for business retreats, is an activity area with shuffleboard and croquet, along with bocce, horseshoes, volleyball, basketball and tennis. Shockingly non-gimmicky.  

There's a spa at the hotel, and the boardwalk and the tubing are at Hershey Park, the amusement park. Harvest Restaurant is under construction now and will open soon, serving food from local producers.

 The pond behind the hotel is filled with koi, a Hawaiian fish and the imports I mentioned? From Tanzania, Ecuador and Java? Those are the cocoas you can try during a cocoa tasting made with beans from six different countries. 
 
What doesn't Hershey have that I put on the list in Monday's post? An inline skating factory. (As far as I know.)

And the winner is...drum roll please...

ME! I'm afraid no one guessed correctly and I get to keep the Hershey's chocolate bar. But, as consolation, here is a view of the wrapper I designed, which would have wrapped around your very own imported Hershey bar.

As I've gone on too long already, I will save for the next post descriptions of the two things I think solo travelers would enjoy - the spa and falconry - and the things they might want to avoid.

Photos: Ellen Perlman

1. Cocoa pods at The Hershey Story's (it's a museum) chocolate lab; 2. Thunder, a Harris's hawk; 3. front porch of The Cottages; 4. the chocolate tasting at The Hershey Story.

Hershey, Pennsylvania - chocolate, sports, chocolate, amusements, chocolate, gardens and chocolate

When you think of Hershey, Pennsylvania, what comes to mind? Really, I want to know. I've just returned from a weekend there and having been there at least twice before, I now think of it with a new twist. 

But everyone seems to have their own impressions. What do you think? Is it land of chocolate? That's a given. What other impressions do you have? Talk to me.

And now, here's your chance for a prize. Which one of the items in the following lists is NOT found in Hershey? There's just one correct answer. The first one to send it, either via comment or email, wins.

Here we go. Hershey. Home to:

A large amusement park? Minor league stadium? Medical center? School for orphans? A campground?

An inline skating factory? Labor union? Raptors? Iceless ice skating rink?

Rose-filled garden? Museum? Old-fashioned outdoor games such as shuffleboard and croquet?

Luxury spa? Boardwalk? Tubing? Weddings? A restaurant with food all from local producers?

Hawaiiian fish? Business retreat? Imports from Tanzania, Ecuador and Java?

Name which one doesn't belong. The winner will get a prize: A milk chocolate Hershey bar imported directly from, um, Hershey. By me. Wrapped in a one-of-a-kind wrapper I created myself at The Hershey Story, a museum on Chocolate Avenue. At one of the interactive exhibits.

I will send this unique chocolate bar to the first person who correctly names the one item/answer that doesn't belong.

I'm going to limit the "contest" to U.S. residents for two reasons:

One, how well is a chocolate bar going to hold up over days and days during a trip overseas? And two, I have found from experience that non-Americans are not enamored of Hershey's chocolate. It tastes odd/unpleasant compared to what they're used to. So why waste the postage?

On Thursday, I will announce the "winner" (with permission) and reveal the wrapper I came up with. Don't get too excited. It's not like I'm an artiste or anything. I was just fooling around as best I could with the tools the exhibit provided. (And having a good ole' time doing so, too.)

The exhibit allows you to email your creation to yourself and print it out in the perfect size for a regular-sized chocolate bar.

Contest rules: Employees of Hershey and its affiliates not eligible. haha.

Photos: Ellen Perlman. The Hershey Hotel, from the front and back.

Philadelphia offers many options for the solo traveler

Like every city, Philadelphia has a range of activities for single, as well as partnered residents.Though they may be geared for locals, they are a good way for solo travelers to ease any isolation they may feel while visiting a big city. Philly also offers some excellent dining and drinking options for those on their own.

Let's start with some activities. The Bicycle Club of Philadelphia has regularly scheduled free rides in the evenings and on weekends, plus special events such as barbecues, banquets and picnics.

Are you a runner? The Fishtown Beer Runners has three- to five-mile runs on Thursday evenings followed by a visit to a local pub for some quality craft beer. The motto on their blog:

"Responsible running and drinking in the interest of science. 'So, ya wanna join us?' "

Fun! I might have to drive to Philly one Thursday just to experience that.

Dancer, or wannabe dancer? Try the Society Hill Dance Academy, where $20 gets you a drop-in class with a 45-minute intro to salsa, cha-cha, foxtrot and rumba. At DanceSport Academy, the timing might be tricky for visitors. The ballroom and Latin dance socials for $10, including drinks, dancing and performances, are only held monthly.

These dance socials usually are ways for studios to sell ongoing lessons to prospective dancers. But there's no reason you can't go and enjoy the dance as an out-of-towner, then be on your way. The Peppermint Dance Club caters to an older crowd, offering beginner and intermediate dance lessons followed by a dance party, three nights a week.

A solo traveler gets treated to a Christmas party at a Pennsylvania youth hostel

It being December, I'm reminded of a night I spent at a stone mansion in Quakertown, getting a taste of a Pennsylvania Christmas. Not having been to the manor born, this mansion experience provided a little taste of the high life.

But actually, it was a youth hostel. I was researching a travel story for The Washington Post on hosteling and I called the Weisel Hostel because it's within driving distance of Washington, D.C.

My hosts welcomed me to sign up for the night but apologized at the same time. Since they live in the 100-year-old country estate, as well as run the hostel there, they were inviting their neighbors for a Christmas open house the night I was going to stay.

It wasn't going to be a quiet night, they warned. But I was welcome to join the festivities.

I arrived after dark at the huge stone house in Nockamixon State Park (the hostel is operated by the Bucks County Department of Parks and Recreation) and let myself in. The first to greet me was Gunther, the dog.

Next were hosts John and Geri Ann McLaughlin and their two girls. I was to be the only paying guest that night. So I had a huge private room with my choice of any one of 10 bunk beds. Top or bottom.

What a great place. In the middle of nowhere. And that night, all decorated with red bows and welcoming lights. (That's the one problem with U.S. youth hostels. They're often far from public transportation. I went by car).

A couple of hours later, the "partying" began. My $15 guest fee got me not only a bed, but food and entertainment. Christmas caroling around a bonfire. Hot chocolate in front of an indoor fireplace. And a huge selection of homemade cookies. And no need to help with cleanup. There were plenty of neighbor teens who were conscripted for that.

Nice.