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PACK ALONG
• Blanket and/or lawn chairs
• Picnic: basket, corkscrew, plastic wine glasses, utensils, etc.
• Sunglasses, Sunscreen/insect repellent
• Bicycles/Kites/Fishing gear
• Dog and leash (except for the "Music in the Vineyards" festivities
• Cooler with ice and alternate beverages — only water and wine are available at
the Vineyard
• Portable tables
• Camera, film, batteries
DIRECTIONS
1. From Harrisburg, follow 283 East
2. Take the 441 South exit (Airport exit, but stay on 441 toward Middletown)
3. Follow 441 South approx. 10 miles
4. After the Scuba instruction center, turn left at the sign for the Vineyard
5. Follow the signs to the Vineyard
PLACES TO STAY
Cameron Estate B&B: 653-1773
Old Fogie Farm B&B: 426-3992
The Railroad House B&B: 426-4141
PLACES TO EAT
Josephine’s
Country French Cuisine
in Marietta, (Lunch and Dinner, closed Mondays) 426-2003
Village Homestead Restaurant
In Bainbridge, (Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner) 426-2740
The Railroad House - Marietta, (Lunch and Dinner Tues. - Fri; Dinner only
Sat; Brunch and Dinner Sun)
Cameron Estate
Continental Cuisine, (Dinner Mon - Sat, closed Sundays),
653-1773
Bottling Works Catacombs Alois’s - casual to Continental Cuisine,
(Lunches and Dinners, varying by restaurant), 653-2056
Groff’s Farm
PA Dutch, (Lunch and 2 Dinner seatings each day, Tues - Sat, closed Sundays) 653-2048
Loreto’s Ristorante
Northern Italian, home-made pasta, (Lunch and Dinner Tues - Sat, closed Sundays)
684-4326 |
One Tank Getaway highlights weekend adventures to many of
the places that make Central Pennsylvania so special — all within a roundtrip tank of
gasoline. In addition to the information you’ll need to get there, stay there and eat
there, we’ll point out some of the activities we’ve found to make your visit
more enjoyable. We hope you’ll be inspired to go to these places and create great
memories; discover new places, that up ''til now, you’ve just never gotten around to.
So, please post this One Tank Getaway on your refrigerator and make plans to enjoy these
hassle-free escapes.
Our maiden voyage was spent at the Nissley Vineyards in the Bainbridge/Marietta area
— approximately a half-hour drive from downtown Harrisburg.
Getting there - its so easy,
even Grandma Mabel could find it!
From Harrisburg, take Route 283 East to Route 441 South (Middletown/Airport exit). Follow
441 South through Middletown. Approximately 10 miles past Middletown, you’ll enter
Bainbridge. Marietta is a few more miles down Route 441.
Along the way, there are some stops you might want to make right along the main road.
First, if you forgot to pack your picnic items (which you won’t if you pay attention
to the Pack Along information) you’ll want to stop at Fox’s Market in Middletown
(open on Sundays). Be creative. After all, there’s a lot more to a picnic than
plastics and potato salad! There’s a local deli just down the street, Eats Deli, that
will set you up, too.
The ultimate Central Pennsylvania tour is through Three Mile Island. You’ll know
you’re there when you get to the, oh heck, you’ll figure it out. This will be
the MAJOR PHOTO OPPORTUNITY so get the kids out of the car and do a pose.
All along the way there are produce stands dotting the street (further up the road,
Elmer’s Produce is open on Sundays!). You can also find some nifty antique shops
along the way — a highly unusual sight in Lancaster County, to be sure. You can also
stop off at the driving range or take a side trip to Haldeman Mansion. After you pass the
junction of Route 241 to Elizabethtown, you’ll find a Getty gas station/UniMart,
which should be utilized, if needed. Conoy Township Park and the ever-interesting Scuba
instruction site will be further along Route 241.
Now what do I do?
The main attraction of your visit will probably be spent around Nissley Vineyards, not too
far after the Scuba place. You’ll see the signs instructing you to take a left onto
Wickersham Road and then Stackstown Road. After taking another left into the Winery,
follow the driveway and you’ll find an ample gravel parking lot.
This 46 acre winery offers self-guided tours (guided tours are available for groups of 15
or more people), wine tasting and lots of picturesque areas to drop your blanket and laze
around.
It should be said that this is not an intimidating winery. The Nissley family is still
very involved in the day to day operations and the staff are all very friendly. So, who
cares if you don’t know what you’re doing? Get in there and taste the varieties.
(Of course, those of you who like to fake it — and your friends know who you are
— can still talk the talk). After the tour and the tasting, the most important thing
you can do is pick up a chilled bottle of wine at their shop and relish in a civilized
picnic. Find a spot on the property and laze and daze as long as you want. You deserve it!
(If you forgot your picnic and elected not to stop along the way, the Nissleys sell cheese
and crackers, available at the wine shop)
If you brought along your bikes, the country roads offer numerous trails throughout these
farmlands and small communities. Just be careful, except for Route 441 and other major
roads that offer large shoulders, you’ll be sharing the road with the, albeit
limited, traffic.
Fishing in the streams on the Nissley property is also available, but is subject to the
hours posted at the fencepost just before the parking lot.
If possible, plan your One Tank Getaway on a summer Saturday evening during their Music in
the Vineyards series. These musical events add extra magic to the charm of the Nissley
Vineyards. You are encouraged to bring the family, pack picnics and dance on the outdoor
dance patios, but you can’t bring in pets or alcoholic beverages.
You can contact Nissley Vineyards at 426-3514 for additional information. |
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