30+ activities within a 30-minute drive of Selinsgrove
You’ll find plenty to do in Selinsgrove and the surrounding valley communities.
Attractions
Chill with the Big Cats, Pet the Alpacas
Lions, tigers and bears — oh my! T&D’s Cats of the World is an animal sanctuary for exotic felines and other wildlife, such as lynx, coyotes, lemurs, parrots and more. Take a guided tour during the week or wander through the exhibits at your own pace on the weekend. There’s even a picnic area for you to relax in, so feel free to bring a packed lunch. At Country Vale Alpaca Farm you can meet, feed and pet the alpacas, as well as learn about their lifestyles and interact with them.
Locations: Mountain Rd., Penn’s Creek, PA 17862 (T&D’s Cats of the World); 492 Ridge Rd. New Columbia, PA 17856 (Country Vale Alpaca Farm)
Make Feline Friends at the Cat Café
The Scratching Post in Lewisburg is the purrfect place to meet some new feline friends! Bring a lunch from one of Lewisburg’s many restaurants or your books to study and hang out with the adoptable cats for only $5.
Location: 230 Market Street, Lewisburg, PA 17837
Assist Rescued Animals
If you’re an animal lover or you’re dearly missing your furry friends back at home, consider volunteering with local organizations that help animals, such as Ashburn’s Animals or Mostly Mutts. Reach out today and see if you can be of assistance!
Locations: 291 Scrubby Hill Rd., Selinsgrove PA 17870 (Ashburn’s Animals); Sunbury, PA visits made by appointment (Mostly Mutts)
See Cars Built for Speed
On campus, you’re sure to hear the buzzing sound of the races over at the Selinsgrove Speedway. While you’re here, take some time to go see the action unfold in person. Built in 1946, the speedway is a half-mile dirt track that hosts weekly sprint and stock car races on Saturday and/or Sunday nights from March through September.
Location: 47 Sand Hill Rd., Selinsgrove, PA 17870
Arts and Culture
Catch a Film at the Cinema
The Campus Theatre in Lewisburg first opened in 1941 and is one of the few remaining single-screen art deco theaters in the country. It offers a variety of programming including popular, fine art and independent films. Selinsgrove also has a 12-screen AMC Theatre.
Locations: 413 Market St., Lewisburg, PA 17837 (Campus Theatre); 1 Susquehanna Valley Mall Drive, Selinsgrove, PA 17870 (AMC Theatre)
Create Arts and Crafts
Take sewing, crafting, crochet, spinning, weaving, braiding, felt crafting or pottery classes. Even if you are a beginner, The Creative Space in Selinsgrove is just a few steps from campus.
Location: 201 W Pine St., Selinsgrove, PA 17870
Explore the Stacks
Take a break from reading your textbooks to page through a New York Times bestseller at the Rudy Gelnett Memorial Library. (It’s a great place for students to work, and for early childhood education majors to stock up on materials for lesson plans.)
Location: 1 N. High St., Selinsgrove, PA 17870
See more valley arts and culture.
History and Museums
Tour the Covered Bridges
There are 17 covered bridges throughout Northumberland, Snyder and Union counties. Download a map from the Susquehanna Valley Visitors Bureau and see if you can visit them all!
Locations: Various across Northumberland, Snyder and Union counties
Let History Come to Life
Visit some of the oldest buildings in the area with rich and diverse histories, like the Mifflinburg Buggy Museum or the Gutelius House Museum. Or do a tour of history, including valley ties to the Underground Railroad. The Hunter House Museum in Sunbury goes back to the days of the French and Indian War through the close of the American Revolution. The Central Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society station has 10 pieces of rolling stock and a 44-ton switcher engine.
Locations: 598 Green St., Mifflinburg, PA 17844 (Mifflinburg Buggy Museum); 1150 North Front Street, Sunbury, PA 17801 (Hunter House Museum);148 Depot Rd., White Deer, PA 17887 (Central Chapter of the National Railway Historical Society)
Dine with Tunes at Historic Places
The Selin’s Grove Brewing Company building is on the National Register of Historic Places and dates back to the early 1800s and often has musical performances. The Front Street Station in Northumberland, an authentic train station that was converted into a restaurant that has live entertainment and barbeque cookouts. Head up the road to Mifflinburg’s Rusty Rail Brewing Co., which has won national craft beer awards and offers dining and live music in a renovated three-story brick building from the 1800s.
Locations: 121 North Market St., Selinsgrove, Pa. 17870 (Selin’s Grove Brew Pub); 2 Front St., Northumberland, PA 17857 (Front Street Station); 5 N. Eighth St., Suite 1, Mifflinburg, PA 17844 (Rusty Rail Brewing)
See more valley history and museums.
Recreation
Bounce Your Cares Away
Head over to Hooplas Xtreme for plenty of fun, including trampolines, a sky-rail rope course, arcade games, mini bowling and mini golf.
Location: 15 Stetler Ave, Shamokin Dam, PA 17876
Bring Your Best Buds Bowling
Planning a fun night out with friends? You won’t strike out with this idea: try your hand at bowling! Best Bowl has glow bowling every Saturday night from 8 to 10:30 p.m. The Strike Zone has Glow Rock n’ Bowl on Friday and Saturday nights from 9:30 p.m. to midnight.
Locations: 300 Packer St., Sunbury PA 17801 (The Strike Zone); 2208 Route 522, Selinsgrove, PA 17870 (Best Bowl)
Get Golfing
Take a swing at this idea: Grab a group of your friends and get golfing! There are many sites near Susquehanna where you can play. Susquehanna Valley Country Club offers a student golf membership rate and there are the Shade Mountain Golf Course and the Bucknell Golf Club.
Locations: Various locations across Selinsgrove, Middleburg and Lewisburg
Make It Mini Golf, or Batting Practice
Swing a golf club or a baseball bat. Tucked among beautiful gardens and trees is a 22-hole mini-golf course that feels like a nature walk! Susquehanna Sports Place also has batting cages with a 60mph baseball machine, a 75mph baseball machine and a slow-pitch softball machine. Hooplas, in addition to a mini-golf course, has mini bowling, trampolines, a sky-rail rope course and arcade games.
Locations: 17 Commerce Ave., Selinsgrove, PA 17870 (Susquehanna Sports Place); 15 Stetler Ave., Shamokin Dam, PA, 17870 (Hooplas)
Roll to the Rhythms of the Rink
Coast your way around the Sunset Roller Rink during a matinee or evening skating session. You can rent regular, speed or inline skates. Monday nights are open exclusively to those 18 years and older for Adult Country, Oldies and Top 40 Night.
Location: 2755 North Susquehanna Trail, Shamokin Dam, PA 17876
Parks, Trails and Nature Areas
Discover the Scenic River Valley and Nearby Isle, Creek
The university’s namesake river is a quick walk from campus. The Isle of Que is the perfect place to enjoy the river’s close proximity by walking, running or cycling along its banks. You can rent kayaks or inner tubes and float your way down the Susquehanna or its tributary, Penn’s Creek, where you can also go fly fishing.
Location: Various river spots
Picnic at the Best Spots
Picnic at McKees Half Falls, which features scenic rapids, or at Shikellamy State Park Overlook, which is 360 feet above the river confluence.
Location: Various river spots
Take to the Trails
Get some exercise by taking to the trails to bike or hike. There are plenty of great trails throughout the Susquehanna Valley, such as Buffalo Valley Rail Trail or Dale’s Ridge Trail in Lewisburg. Consider combining your love for the outdoors with Susquehanna’s commitment to service by participating in an Adopt-a-Road or Adopt-a-Trail program.
Location: Lewisburg, PA
See more valley parks, trails and nature areas.
Shopping
Go on a Shopping Spree
Browse the small boutique stores in downtown Selinsgrove, rated as a ‘Best Walkable and Shoppable’ College Town. During the annual Chocolate Stroll in Selinsgrove, held in April, collect sample chocolate-y goodies at various establishments and enter to win prizes. For even more shopping, drive up to The Strip or the Street of Shoppes in Lewisburg. Selinsgrove is also home to some of the best thrift shopping at CommunityAid and the Mustard Seed.
Locations: Selinsgrove, PA; Lewisburg, PA
Renew a Love of Reading
A small clean well-lighted store in Selinsgrove, DJ Ernst-Books offers a diverse interesting stock of out-of-print, used and antiquarian books with a great selection of serious literature, history and art. It’s a gem of store that was established in 1975.
Location: 27 N Market St, Selinsgrove, PA, United States, 17870
Find Fresh Foods at the Farmer’s Market
Pick up some of your favorite locally grown and homemade foods at the Selinsgrove Farmer’s Market, held Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., mid-May through November. There are musical acts to enjoy for free. The market sells fresh fruit, vegetables, meats, cheese, eggs and breads. And don’t forget the whoopie pies! If you miss the Saturday Selinsgrove market, you can visit the Amish-run Weaver’s Market & Bakery down the road in Port Trevorton, but note they only accept cash.
Location: The Selinsgrove Commons (on the corner of Market and Pine Street); 8160 Susquehanna Trail, Port Trevorton, PA 17864 (Weaver’s Market & Bakery)
Savor a Scoop or Two of Ice Cream
We all scream for ice cream! In Selinsgrove, Clever Crow’s Milk & More offers small batch ice cream, hand-crafted milk shakes and a wide array of goods from local farms. Up the road in Mifflinburg, the Old Mill Creamery serves hand-dipped ice cream created with milk from their own cows.
Locations: 513 North Market St., Selinsgrove, PA 17870 (Clever Crow’s Milk & More); 6542 Buffalo Rd Mifflinburg, PA 17844 (Old Mill Creamery)
Snack in Selinsgrove
For the foodies, we recommend the bongo bongo dip at BJ’s Tavern & Oyster Bar. The craft burgers and hot dogs are served to order at the Wicked Dog Grille. For late night hand-crafted cookies and coffee, A small, good thing cafe is a few steps from campus.
Locations: 17 North Market St., Selinsgrove, PA 17870 (BJ’s); 28 South Market St., Selinsgrove, PA 17870 (Wicked Dog Grille); 209 W Pine St., Selinsgrove, PA 17870 (A small, good thing)
Visit the Local Vineyards
If you’re 21 years or older, you can visit some of the Susquehanna Valley’s vineyards, like Shade Mountain Winery or Fero Vineyards & Winery. There are always wine tastings and other events at these locations.
Locations: 16140 Route 104, Middleburg, PA 17842 (Shade Mountain Winery); 965 JPM Rd., Lewisburg, PA 17837 (Fero Vineyards)
Seasonal Activities
Frolic on a Fall Foliage Tour
In early October, the Susquehanna River Valley is exceptionally glorious. It is a perfect time to take a drive to tour the dense woodlands that surround the region, home to some of Pennsylvania’s most beautiful old-growth forests.
Location: Various routes
Flock to the Festival
The Market Street Festival is an annual event held each fall that takes place just a short walk from campus. Rows of booths line Market Street featuring local food and craft vendors, games, a petting zoo and live bands.
Location: Downtown Market Street, Selinsgrove
Go for an Outing at the Oktoberfest
Can’t quite make it to Germany for the country’s annual Oktoberfest? That’s okay; there’s one right nearby in Mifflinburg. Celebrate the area’s German heritage with a broad array of food, drinks and live music. (IDs are required)
Location: VFW Fair Grounds on Route 45 just west of town (10770 Old Turnpike Rd., Mifflinburg, PA 17844)
Maneuver the Maze at Ard’s
Ard’s Farm features a fresh food market, restaurant and various events, including its annual Corn Maze. Just make sure that you let your most directionally savvy friend lead the pack!
Location: 4803 Old Turnpike Rd., Lewisburg, PA 17837
Get into the Spirit with a Parade
Celebrate with special parades for Halloween and Christmas in the fall. Local marching bands, fire companies and other organizations toss candy to parade watchers. The the Christmas parade at the mall ends with Santa and Mrs. Claus. And don’t miss the Santa Pet Parade when Downtown Selinsgrove invites pets and their humans to break out their finest holiday attire to march.
Locations: Halloween and Santa Pet parades are on Market Street in Selinsgrove; the Christmas parade is at the Susquehanna Valley Mall
Enjoy Goodies of a German Christmas
Get in the holiday spirit by visiting Mifflinburg’s Christkindl Market. The free German-style marketplace opens in early December, right around final exams, so take a little study break to enjoy the market’s vast assortment of food and drink, craft vendors and live entertainment.
Location: Mifflinburg, PA (the main entrance is located at the intersection of 4th and Market streets)
