Nothing better than a fly fishing festival on a warm summer day. And it feels like an upgrade when you add in Troegs Brewery and lobster rolls from Cousins Maine Lobster.
This was my first trip to the Boiling Springs, PA event. Would definitely recommend it as a summer weekend destination.
I decided to sandwich the festival between a camping trip to Pine Grove Furnace State Park in PA and Shenandoah National Park in VA. I’ll include brief overviews of these in this post.
Pine Grove Furnace State Park
Dusted off the camping equipment for this trip. Took my smallest tent, best suited for me, the dog and not much else. Added in a camp stove, cooler and and a minimal amount of cooking gear for good measure. Just enough to meet my needs and fill a small SUV.
Left Friday for the four-hour trek to Pine Grove Furnace State Park. The location is only 20 mins from the festival, and received good ratings from other visitors. The park did not disappoint. In addition to a museum and various historical artifacts, it has two lakes and small stream. It is easy to walk/hike/bike and also has a camp store.
The campground area is nice, with good separation between sites, which cater to both tents and RVs. The bath houses were clean and conveniently located. Note: Internet and cell tower access is almost nonexistent, which is a positive or a negative, depending on your point of view.
This trip also gave me an opportunity to refresh my camp stove skills.
Cumberland Valley Fly Fishing and Outdoor Festival
The festival is held at Allenberry Resort, a venue which hosts a number of different events throughout the year. Parking is plentiful, and golf cart shuttles to take you over the hill to the festival grounds. The Yellow Breeches Creek is only a few feet away. A perfect setting for just about any occasion.
The pics help tell the story: Brands, outfitters, food trucks, fly tying demos and solid presentations on a number of topics, ranging from PA smallmouth to saltwater excursions.
The weather cooperated. It was a warm sunny August day. There were plenty of interested anglers and their families in attendance, with local musicians on stage for most of the festival.
I met a number of attendees. Some from the area, and others like me, travelers to the festival. There was something for everyone.
Shenandoah National Park
On Sunday I packed up and headed to Shenandoah National Park. I’ve passed it several times, but never had the chance to stop and truly enjoy the winding Skyline Drive with its magnificent views. My daughter joined me for two days of exploring and catching up before heading back to school for the fall.
We stayed in the park at Skylands Resort. While the accommodations were closer to a log cabin than a 4-star hotel, the views of the valley were unparalleled. Skylands has a restaurant, tap room, and a number of activities in the area.
My daughter was interested in the horseback riding, so we signed up for an afternoon trip. And while I greatly enjoyed the hourlong tour through the forest (we saw deer and turkeys), I have to admit, it was more than enough time in the saddle. That became apparent when I dismounted.
As the Indigo Girls’ song says, “Summer’s beginning to give up its fight”. Acorns are dropping and leaves are starting to land on the lawn. Hope you get out to a festival, or for one of the last remaining warm evenings for solid dry fly action.
Enjoy!
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