Cheap Trips: Zip-Lining, Guitars, Battles and History

Save money by checking out some regional attractions and making day trips.

Below are four possible destinations.

Paper Mill House Museum

Address: St. David's Road & Paper Mill Road, Newtown Square, PA 19073
How Far From Broomall? About 5 miles or 10 minutes.
Hours: Typically open on Sundays from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. during July and August, and otherwise by appointment.
Admission Fee: No entrance fee but donations are happily accepted.
Summary: Originally known as the Paper Mill House, the Paper Mill House Museum is located off of St. David's and Paper Mill roads in Newtown Square and is also the current home of the Newtown Square Historical Preservation Society. The building was constructed in 1770 and a large addition was added in 1820. This historic building provided housing for four families of Darby Creek mill workers. The older section was converted into a general store in 1845. In 1976, the property was deeded to the township. Tours of the colonial home and its property are given throughout the year . A General Store and gift shop are also on site. The Paper Mill House (also referred to as the Crosley-Garrett Mill Workers' Housing, Store and Mill Site) was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003.

Website: http://www.historicnewtownsquare.org/museum/

Link:

Paoli Battlefield and Memorial Grounds

Address: Monument Ave & Malvern Ave., Malvern, PA 19355
How Far From Marple Newtown Patch? About 11 miles or 25 minutes.
Admission Fee: Free
Hours: Sunrise to sunset
Summary: While neighboring Valley Forge National Park gets most of the attention by many Revolutionary War historians, it was the site of the Paoli Battlefield where Gen. George Washington’s army had one of its biggest setbacks of the war. On Sept. 20, 1777, the British routed Anthony Wayne’s troops in what later became known as The Paoli Massacre. Fifty-three American soldiers were killed in the nighttime surprise British ambush while they camped at Paoli. Today in Malvern Borough, the Paoli Battlefield features educational programs and conservational activities, as well as Revolutionary War reenactments and public lectures and workshops.

Website: http://www.ushistory.org/paoli/history/index.htm

Link:

Canopy Tours at Spring Mountain Adventures

Address: 757 Spring Mount Road, Spring Mount, PA
How Far From Marple Newtown Patch? About 34 miles or 45 minutes.
Admission Fee: $25-150 per person, depending on peak/off-peak pricing, selected program, and number of people in party
Hours:

• Monday-Wednesday, 9:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.
• Thursday-Friday, 9:30 a.m.- 10 p.m.
• Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 10 p.m.
• Sunday 8:30 a.m. - 9 p.m.
• Individual tours for each program run at specific times during these hours of operation. Visit the website for details.

Summary: Spring Mountain is still best known in our region as one of the closer (and milder) winter slopes for ski bums, but Spring Mountain Adventures operates year round. The Canopy Tours are the facility's flagship warm weather offering, and with good reason. Hidden in the woods between the erstwhile ski slopes is a labyrinthine network of platforms, rope ladders, and steel cables that enable harness-wearing thrill seekers to careen through the treetops at freeway speeds under the watchful eyes of Spring Mountain's expert guides.
Tours range from 30 minutes to several hours and can include a number of  challenges, such as scaling a rope ramp or crossing a low-tension bridge the width of a skateboard, that look as though they're on loan from Parris Island. Spring Mountain requests that participants weigh between 70 and 250 pounds and be in "good to moderate health." Children younger than10 are not permitted. Children from 10-17 must be accompanied by an adult. A liability waiver is required to enter any of the courses. A 10-20 percent tip for the guides is expected at the conclusion of each tour.

Website: http://www.springmountainadventures.com/canopytours.php

Link:

Martin Guitar

Address: 510 Sycamore St., Nazareth, PA 18064
How Far From Marple Newtown Patch? About 72 miles or an hour and 20 minutes.
Admission Fee: Free on a first come, first served basis. Group tours can be arranged in advance.
Hours: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. for tours
Summary: C.F. Martin & Co. has been handcrafting guitars for 175 years for musicians like Johnny Cash, Eric Clapton, Jimmy Buffet and Sting. A free tour takes visitors onto the factory floor to watch the guitar-making process from start to finish. A museum and shop are also open to the public. Martin offers a private music room where visitors can try out one of the instruments.

Website: http://www.martinguitar.com/visit/tour.html
Links: