An Overnight Stay in Wellsboro, PA

By Linda G. on July 20, 2016

We left Eagles Mere on Sunday, July 10, at 1:40 pm, en route Wellsboro, PA. We arrived in Wellsboro around 3:30 pm and checked into the Sherwood Motel. Soon after checking in we walked to the Wellsboro Diner for dinner. Dinner was OK but nothing to rave about. We relaxed in our room, after dinner, until 6;00 pm. We, then, went for a walk to The Green, where we said hello to Wynken, Blynken, and Nod.

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod water fountain on The Green

Wynken, Blynken, and Nod

Bob suggested taking in a movie at Arcadia Theatre. The last time we watched a movie in a theatre was January 2010, when we watched the 3D presentation of “Avatar”. The movie we watched in Wellsboro was called “The BFG”. The storyline, as written by Jwelch5742 on the IMDb.com site is as follows: “Ten-year-old Sophie is in for the adventure of a lifetime when she meets the Big Friendly Giant. Naturally scared at first, the young girl soon realizes that the 24-foot behemoth is actually quite gentle and charming. As their friendship grows, Sophie’s presence attracts the unwanted attention of Bloodbottler, Fleshlumpeater and other giants. After traveling to London, Sophie and the BFG must convince Queen Elizabeth to help them get rid of all the bad giants [that eat children] once and for all.” It was an enjoyable movie.

From the movie theatre we walked back to the Sherwood Motel. We were in bed by 9:30 pm.

The next day we awakened at 5:30 am. The Sherwood Motel provides hot beverages and oatmeal for breakfast, but not until 7:00 am. After Bob got showered and dressed, he walked to McDonald’s, while I got showered and dressed, and picked up breakfast. We ate breakfast in our room.

We checked out of our room at 6:45 am, leaving the key in the room as instructed by the desk clerk when we checked in the prior afternoon.

We drove to Leonard Harrison State Park. Leonard Harrison State Park is on the east rim of Pine Creek Gorge, also known as the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon. We hiked the Overlook Trail (0.6 mile) that goes to Otter View, a vista looking to the south. I made it only 2/3 of the way to Otter View, as the trail got a little too steep for my comfort. I have an arthritic knee. The knee is always stiff in the morning. Walking will usually eliminate the stiffness. The stiffness just wouldn’t leave that morning.

Overlook Trail
Bob is hiking to Otter View.

Overlook Trail
Bob took this picture, as he neared Otter View.

Overlook Trail: Otter View
(photo by Bob)

Another point of interest on the Overlook Trail is an old incinerator, a reminder of the Civilian Conservation Corps’ work in the park.

Overlook Trail
an old incinerator
(photo by Bob)

The Overlook Trail is not the only trail that Bob hiked. He also hiked the Turkey Path Trail.

Bob at the Turkey Path Trail
He will walk 1 mile down the trail and another mile back up the trail.
See you in about 1 1/2 hours!

The Turkey Path Trail follows Little Fourmile Run down the side of the canyon, descending over 800 feet to Pine Creek and the rail trail at the bottom of Pine Creek Gorge.

While Bob was hiking the Turkey Path Trail, I stayed near the Visitor Center and enjoyed the canyon vistas from there.

Two Leonard Harrison State Park views of Pine Creek Gorge

From Leonard Harrison State Park we drove to the west rim of the canyon, to Colton Point State Park. The west rim of the canyon provides good views of Pine Creek Gorge as well.

Two Colton Point State Park views of Pine Creek Gorge

After checking out a couple of the overlooks from the west rim, we exited Colton Point State Park via Colton Road and Painter Run Road. These were mountain roads with steep descents and switchbacks.

We reached US Route 6 at 11:55 am and began our drive home.

We ate lunch in Galeton at the Brick House Cafe. The cafe has good reviews, but we didn’t care for it. Bob ordered beef on weck, and I ordered a bacon cheeseburger. Bob liked his beef on weck; my bacon cheeseburger was dry. We ordered onion rings too. They were good. The peanut butter cookies Bob bought were blah. We didn’t get plates for the onion rings; they didn’t ask if I wanted any catsup, mustard or mayonaisse. They provided no silverware. Beverages were “help yourself”. When it was time to pay, we would told “we will ring you up over there”. “Over there” resulted in the purchase of the peanut butter cookies that weren’t good tasting. We won’t go back to the Brick House Cafe.

We returned home at 3:45 pm thankful for another great vacation but happy to be home!