Chambersburg

Day Trips

Begin your day with a steaming cup of locally roasted coffee at a cozy café on Main Street. Wander through the historic brick sidewalks as you admire Victorian storefronts and ornate architectural details. Pop into the Chambersburg Visitors Center to pick up a map and learn about the town’s storied past.

Enjoy a farm-to-table lunch at a charming bistro just off the square. Browse unique treasures in antique shops, then head to Molly Pitcher Candles for a guided wick-making demonstration. Stroll through Memorial Park and pause at the Civil War memorial for a moment of reflection.

Dine at The Black Sheep Pub, sampling craft beers and hearty pub fare in a warm, rustic setting. Catch live acoustic music at a nearby art gallery or performance space. Finish the night with a leisurely walk along LeTort Spring Run Park’s illuminated trails, soaking in the tranquil waterside ambiance.

Hit the trail early to beat the heat, starting on the scenic Rocky Mountain Trail overlooking the lake. Listen to birdsong as the sun filters through the towering pines. Pause at a hilltop vista for a homemade breakfast sandwich and panoramic views.

Rent a kayak or paddleboard from the park office and glide across the crystal-clear lake waters. Snorkel near the shoreline to spot small fish and aquatic plant life. Dry off on the sandy beach while savoring a picnic lunch with locally baked bread and fresh fruit.

Set up camp at one of the park’s wooded campsites and toast marshmallows around a crackling fire ring. As dusk falls, gaze at a canopy of stars undimmed by city lights. Share ghost stories and the quiet symphony of nocturnal wildlife before turning in.

Fuel up with a hearty Southern-style breakfast at a family-run diner off Norland Avenue. Explore nearby art studios where local painters showcase vibrant landscapes of the Susquehanna Valley. Step inside the Capitol Theatre lobby to admire its vintage marquee and elegant lobby murals.

Take a guided backstage tour of the Capitol Theatre to learn about its renovation and ghost-light tradition. Grab a light lunch at a downtown deli before browsing rotating art exhibitions in the theater’s gallery. Join a ticketed workshop on set design or stagecraft hosted by visiting performers.

Attend a live performance—be it a Broadway touring show, a jazz quartet, or a community theater production. Savor intermission treats like gourmet popcorn and local ciders at the concession stand. After the final curtain, discuss the evening’s highlights over dessert at a nearby artisanal bakery.

Step back in time with a guided tour of the Old Jail Museum, exploring cell blocks and hearing tales of 19th-century prisoners. View original artifacts and the haunting gallows where justice and tragedy intertwined. Imagine the dramatic escapes and rescues that once played out within these stone walls.

Enjoy lunch at a riverside café before embarking on an Underground Railroad walking tour. Follow discreet city alleys and hidden alleyways where Freedom Seekers once passed under cover of night. Your guide shares moving stories of bravery and the network of safe houses in Franklin County.

Dine at a historic tavern offering colonial-inspired cuisine by candlelight. Engage in a living-history demonstration featuring early American folk songs. Cap off the evening with a moonlit stroll along the Conococheague Creek bridge, reflecting on the day’s poignant history.

Drive out to Tuscarora State Forest and lace up your boots for the Tuscarora Trail. Trek through mixed hardwood forests and across gentle creek crossings as morning light dances through the canopy. Pause to photograph wildflowers carpeting the forest floor.

Reach a scenic overlook for a packed lunch of sandwiches, nuts, and locally grown apples. Continue along ridge-top paths that reveal sweeping views of rolling farmland below. Spot deer and songbirds while enjoying the fresh mountain air.

Return to town for a relaxed dinner at a farm-steakhouse serving grass-fed beef and seasonal sides. Sip on a glass of Riesling from a local winery as you swap hiking stories. Head back to your accommodation to unwind, lulled by the distant hoot of owls.

Arrive early at the Rockhill Trolley Museum and board a vintage streetcar for a narrated ride along scenic tracks. Learn about the golden age of interurban transportation as you pass pastoral fields and shaded woodlands. Peek inside the restoration barn to see volunteers at work on century-old trolleys.

Break for a picnic lunch in the museum’s picnic grove, surrounded by the gentle clatter of overhead wires. Tour interactive exhibits showcasing historic railway artifacts and preserved signal stations. Hop back on a trolley for a round-trip journey, camera in hand to capture every polished brass detail.

Return to Chambersburg and dine at a riverside grill with outdoor seating. Order fresh trout or seasonal pasta while twilight paints the sky. Top off your meal with a locally produced ice cream cone enjoyed on the scenic trail by the Conococheague Creek.

Start with a guided fishing excursion on the calm waters of the North Branch of the Susquehanna River. Learn local casting techniques from an experienced angler and reel in smallmouth bass or catfish. Enjoy a light snack of freshly baked muffins and cold brew coffee by the water’s edge.

Head to Memorial Lake State Park for a leisurely bike ride around its 2.5-mile loop. Spot turtles basking on logs and herons stalking the shallows. Pause midday at a picnic pavilion to sample sandwiches made with local deli meats and cheeses.

Return to town for pizza cooked in a wood-fired oven at a popular family pizzeria. Order a flight of regional craft beers to pair with your pie. After dinner, stroll along Main Street soaking in the warm glow of gaslight-style street lamps.

Visit Springdale Farm for a behind-the-scenes dairy tour and meet friendly goats and Jersey cows. Taste freshly churned butter on warm rolls while learning about sustainable farming practices. Wander through blooming herb and flower gardens bursting with color.

Drive to a nearby orchard for apple picking and enjoy freshly pressed cider under a shaded pavilion. Sample tangy goat cheeses and homemade preserves at the farm store. Join a late-afternoon cooking demo featuring farm-fresh produce in a seasonal quiche.

Dine at a farm-to-fork restaurant that transforms local ingredients into creative tasting menus. Pair each course with craft ciders or small-batch meads produced on site. End the evening by gathering around an outdoor firepit, roasting s’mores and swapping stories under the stars.

Set off early for the short drive to Gettysburg National Military Park, arriving just as the field comes alive in dawn light. Take a guided battlefield trolley tour to learn about pivotal moments and key figures of the Civil War’s bloodiest battle. Wander through the cyclorama and museum to absorb immersive displays.

Enjoy a hearty lunch at a historic tavern in downtown Gettysburg, tasting heirloom recipes passed down generations. Explore Confederate and Union monuments along Cemetery Ridge on foot, listening to the gravel crunch underfoot. Visit President Lincoln’s cottage at the Soldiers’ National Cemetery for deeper context on the Gettysburg Address.

Return to Chambersburg for a casual BBQ dinner at a local smokehouse, sampling slow-smoked ribs and pulled pork. Unwind on a covered patio with live folk music drifting through the air. Toast marshmallows at a communal fire pit, swapping reflections on the day’s poignant history.

Begin with a sunrise yoga session on the banks of Falling Spring Run, led by a local instructor. Follow with a nourishing smoothie bowl at a farm-fresh café, featuring berries picked from nearby fields. Rent a bike and explore wooded trails that wind along the babbling creek.

Enjoy a packed charcuterie lunch under a canopy of mature oaks beside the small waterfall. Listen to the steady rush of water as you read or sketch in the park’s tranquil meadows. Try your hand at fly fishing in the cooler pools upstream, guided by a local expert.

Settle on a scenic bluff overlooking the waterfall for a sunset picnic supplied by a gourmet deli. Watch as the sky transforms into hues of pink and gold, illuminating the cascading water. Conclude your final night with a slow, reflective walk back to town, savoring every lingering note of tranquility.