Top 25 Winter Activities in the Lebanon Valley
Looking for something to do this winter? Look no further than these 25 activities, all found right here in the Lebanon Valley! From snow tubing to axe throwing to spa treatments, the Lebanon Valley has just what you need to fight off cabin fever this winter.
1.Take a Tour of the Smokehouses
Did you know that Seltzer’s Smokehouse Meats offers tours of their iconic smokehouses? Learn all about the smoking process from a Seltzer’s expert as they lead you through a 30- to 40-minute tour of the facility where they’ve been making Lebanon Bologna since 1902. These tours taking place during normal operations, so you’ll even get the chance to watch Seltzer’s talented smoke masters at work.
- Seltzer’s Smokehouse Meats: 209 N. Railroad St., Palmyra, PA
2.Go Axe Throwing… Or Axe Forging
Whether you’re looking to throw some axes or forge some axes, the Drunken Smithy’s have got you covered! Take a guided workshop with the Smithys and create your own forged good, with options ranging from metal flowers and horseshoe hearts to Viking axes and chef knives. Or bring along a group of friends for a competitive (or not so competitive) round of axe throwing!
- Drunken Smithy: 2236 Lebanon Valley Mall, B13, Lebanon, PA
3.Cozy Up with a New Book
Escape from the wintry weather between the covers of a great book! At the Book Bar in Palmyra, discover your next read from their diverse collection of books, ranging from the latest BookTok crazes to cult classics. The Book Bar also offers a coffee and mocktail bar, baked goods from Quentin Confections, and all kinds of book accessories. Curl up with a new book on one of the couches in their cozy living room and forget about the frigid temps outside as you lose yourself in a good read.
- Book Bar: 50 N. Railroad St., Ste 1, Palmyra, PA
4. Go Ice Skating…
It’s winter and that means we’re embracing all the classic winter activities—ice skating included! Head over to Klick Lewis Arena in Annville for a public skate on one of its three rinks. With skate rentals available, you don’t need any equipment for a fun time at the rink. Just don’t forget to bring a pair of socks if you’re renting skates!
- Klick Lewis Arena: 101 Landings Dr., Annville, PA
5. Or Go Roller Skating
Not a fan of the cold? Enjoy a retro roller-skating experience at the Mount Gretna Roller Rink. This roller rink is one of the oldest in the state and still boasts a classic wood floor for all the nostalgic vibes of yesteryear. Mount Gretna Roller Rink offers both skate and blade rentals on-site, as well as plenty of specialty skate sessions like family night, mixed music night, or pop night!
- Mount Gretna Roller Rink: 451 PA 117, Lebanon, PA
6. Experience the “Snow Globe” Effect
Each winter, from mid-February to mid-March, hundreds of thousands of snow geese stop by the Lebanon Valley. Much like a family hitting a rest stop along the Turnpike, the geese land at Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area during their northern migration every year! Head over to Middle Creek during the geese’s’ stay to experience the “snow globe” effect, a term for the snow-like appearance of the birds when they rise up as a flock from the lake.
Insider Tip: Visit at dusk or dawn to see the most action from the geese!
- Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area: 100 Museum Rd., Stevens, PA
7. Join the Java Journey
If you like coffee (or just like coffee shops), you should join the Java Journey! From Jan. 16 through March 15, pick up a mug & passport at any of the participating coffee shops on the Java Journey, collect a stamp at all 15 locations, and turn your passport in at your last stop to receive a limited-edition sticker and entry to win prizes! Prizes for this year’s Java Journey include a stay at the Londonderry Inn & Estate and gift cards to each of the Java Journey locations. Join us for the Java Journey’s sixth year! #fueledbyjava
8. Go Snow Tubing
Wintertime in the Lebanon Valley means it’s time to get out on the golf course… no, literally. At Iron Valley Golf Course, golf carts are traded out for snow tubes during the winter season as the course transforms into a 900-foot snow tubing hill! Experience fun for the whole family with a day on the slopes! And the best part? Iron Valley has a tow lift to pull you and your tube back up the hill—no exhausting hill-climbing required. After you’re done tubing, fuel up with a warm meal at Iron Valley’s Miner’s Pub.
- Iron Valley Tubing: 201 Iron Valley Dr., Lebanon, PA
9. Take a Painting Class
The Lebanon Valley is home to many amazing arts organizations, one of which is 3 Summer Arts. Located in Mount Gretna, 3 Summer Arts offers step-by-step painting classes led by Patricia Reichenbach, a talented local artist who has spent over 22 years teaching all levels of the Bob Ross technique. With classes taught in a step-by-step fashion, painters of all skill levels can enjoy spending time behind the easel with a piece to bring home after it’s all over!
- 3 Summer Arts: 14 Park Ave., Mount Gretna, PA
10. Go Bowling
When was the last time you went bowling? If you can’t remember, it’s time to get to Palmyra Bowling Center! With rental equipment, specialty glow bowling hours, multiple leagues, an arcade, and 32 lanes, this family-owned-and-operated bowling alley has been providing fun for all ages in the Lebanon Valley since 1981. Palmyra Bowling also operates the Sinkhole Saloon & Grille next store, where you can fuel up with a meal before a round and cool down with a cold beverage after!
- Palmyra Bowling: 1218 E. Main St., Palmyra, PA
11. Learn Along the African American Heritage Trail
Pick up the Lebanon County African American Heritage Trail at the Visit Lebanon Valley Welcome Center or download the trail digitally and discover stories of Black history throughout the Lebanon Valley. From Light’s Fort, the oldest building in Lebanon County, to Governor Dick Park, a forested area where slaves once lived and worked, each of the sites on this trail provides a unique perspective on the experiences of Black Americans throughout both our county’s and our country’s history.
- Visit Lebanon Valley: 115 Springwood Dr., Ste. 500, Lebanon, PA
12. Pump Some Iron…
Nope, we’re not talking about the gym! We’re talking about the Cornwall Iron Furnace, a place where iron was once pumped—or rather produced—for shot, shell, and cannons during the Revolutionary War. Today, the furnace stands as the only fully intact charcoal-fueled blast furnace remaining from the hundreds that once populated the United States. Experience a guided tour of the furnace this winter to learn more about this unique survivor from Pennsylvania’s once booming iron industry.
- Cornwall Iron Furnace: 94 Rexmont Rd., Cornwall, PA
13. Try a Ceramics Class (Hello, next date night?)
KRB Ceramics offers the only step-by-step, clay hand-building classes in the area. Whether you go solo, with the kids, or perhaps as your next date night, enjoy creating your own ceramic masterpiece under the instruction of Karen Rich Beall, a nationally recognized artist. From adult ceramics classes to kids’ summer camps and classes, Karen provides a relaxed and supportive environment for all levels of artists. Need a last-minute holiday gift? KRB also offers gift certificates!
- KRB Ceramics: 278 Northwood Dr., Lebanon, PA
14. Enjoy a Wintry Walk
Enjoy the fresh air and quiet wintry scenes of the Lebanon Valley with a walk along one of the many trails woven throughout the county. Whether walking alone or with a friend by your side (two- or four-legged) the many benefits of an outdoor stroll still stand even in the colder temperatures. Snow covering the trails? No problem! You’re welcomed to bring out the cross-country skis on both the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail and the trails in Swatara State Park (such as the Bear Hole Trail, which leads to Bordner’s Cabin, as pictured above).
15. Shop the Lebanon Valley
The benefits of shopping local are far too numerous to list in this blog, so we’re just going to keep it simple: the Lebanon Valley has some great gifts and goodies! From one-of-a-kind folk art made by hand at Tweed Weasel Folk Arts & Primitives (as seen above!) in Schaefferstown to curated dry goods found at MG Mercantile in Mount Gretna, we could make a whole guide on where to shop and what to get… Oh wait, we already did! Check out our Holiday Gift Guide with featured ideas for foodies, collectors, kids, and experience-seekers!
16. Book that Trip to the Spa
Let us be the sign you’ve been looking for: book that spa treatment! At Cooper Spa in Lebanon, enjoy their one-of-a-kind Brazilian massage techniques with a luxurious massage, facial, or body treatment. At Your SPAcial Place, also in Lebanon, try a new type of spa with a Himalayan Salt Room session or an infrared sauna session—both of which can help increase immunity and improve overall wellness. Plus, both locations offer gift certificates, making for a great holiday gift!
- Cooper Spa: 418 Chestnut St., Lebanon, PA
- Your SPAcial Place: 115 Springwood Dr., Ste. 500, Lebanon, PA
17. Discover a New Brew
Get to know the Lebanon Valley through its many local breweries! Each brewery boasts a unique flavor and look, making for a fun brew-through tour all within a 30-minute drive! From Snitz Creek Brewery and Schaylor Brewing Company in the City of Lebanon, to Lebanon Valley Craft Brewery and Isaac’s Craft Kitchen & Brewery on the outskirts of the city, to Rotunda Brewing Company in Annville, you’re not going to want to miss any of these spots as you track down your favorite new brew! Check out our Libations Trail page to find all of these breweries, as well as the restaurants and distributors that carry their drinks.
18. Take a Tour of an Art Gallery
When it’s too chilly for strolling outside, take a stroll inside at a local art gallery! In the quaint town of Annville, peruse the Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery on the campus of Lebanon Valley College, where they’ll be featuring an exhibit titled “Floating Beauty: Women in the Art of Ukiyo-e,” from Jan. 31 through April 6. In downtown Lebanon, discover the works of local artists with the rotating art exhibit at Lebanon Picture Frame, where you can even purchase some of the pieces on display.
- Lebanon Picture Frame: 847 Cumberland St., Lebanon, PA
- Suzanne H. Arnold Art Gallery: 75 N. White Oak St., Annville, PA
19. Shop the Lebanon Farmers Market
Whether you’re shopping for a holiday get-together or just craving a homemade soft pretzel, the Lebanon Farmers Market is the place to be! Grab fresh, high quality poultry products at Keener’s Poultry, order a custom charcuterie arrangement from Berry Unique, and top it all off with something sweet from Zig’s Bakery or Candy Rama (for your get-together, of course, and definitely not the car ride home). Swinging by around lunch? Pick up a fish sandwich from Aunt Hocker’s Fish Fry or take home a hand-twisted pretzel from Foltz’s Pretzels!
- Lebanon Farmers Market: 35 S. 8th St., Lebanon, PA
20. Go to the Movies
Enjoy an escape from the winter blues with a movie at a local theater in the Lebanon Valley. From heated recliners at Flagship Cinemas to live music and retro flicks at the Allen Theatre, the Valley is the perfect place to sit back, relax, and enjoy the show! Plus, if you’re looking to see a movie at Regal Cinemas in Lebanon, the adjacent Lebanon Valley Mall provides the perfect place to shop around before or after your film.
- Flagship Cinemas: 2 N. Londonderry Sq., Palmyra, PA
- Allen Theatre: 36 E. Main St., Annville, PA
21. Fight Cabin Fever at Paramount Sports Complex
Get the kiddos out of the house with some indoor fun at the Kidmazium at Paramount Sports Complex. Designed for children aged 2 to 12, this play structure takes McDonalds’ PlayPlaces to the next level with slides, nets, tubes, tunnels, and a bouncy house, all within an enclosed, supervised area. Under the same roof, Paramount also offers a full Ninja Warrior course just like the ones on NBC’s American Ninja Warrior! Bring the kids to an open gym at the ninja course to test their strength on all of the obstacles that they see on TV, and should they discover an inner passion for the sport, check out Paramount’s upcoming ninja training for something to do in the spring!
- Paramount Sports Complex: 21 Landings Dr., Annville, PA
22. Tag Up at the Lazer Factory
If you’ve got older kiddos, head just down the road from the Kidmazium to the Lazer Factory, where children ages six and up will find a state-of-the-art laser tag arena for battling with friends and foes. Outside of the arena, the Lazer Factory offers a bounce house and play structure for younger children, as well as an arcade and a snack bar. With laser tag games running every 20 minutes, pop over to the Lazer Factory anytime for a fun-filled battle!
- Lazer Factory: 211 Piper Cir., Annville, PA
23. Attend a Cupcake Decorating Workshop
Lancaster Cupcake in Lebanon not only offers cupcake decorating classes for children, but they also offer cupcake decorating workshops for adults too! During the adult workshops, participants can enjoy a 45-minute, step-by-step decorating class in which they’ll get to decorate and take home six delicious Lancaster Cupcakes. During the children’s cupcake decorating workshops, kids will have the chance to hear a story and then decorate a special cupcake themed after the story they hear!
- Lancaster Cupcake: 111 Springwood Dr., Ste. 200, Lebanon, PA
24. Take on Trivia Night
Q: What’s the best way to catch up with friends, enjoy a bite to eat, and show off your knowledge of U.S. presidents?
A: Trivia Night at one of the Valley’s many restaurants! From Monday night trivia at Babe’s Grill House in Palmyra to Thursday night trivia at the Bluebird Inn in Lebanon, there’s no question you’ll be able to find trivia all across the Lebanon Valley. Check out some of the Valley’s restaurants at the link below!
25. Get Here & Getaway!
As you can see, there’s quite a lot to do this winter in the Lebanon Valley… so why not make your visit a vacation? Whether you’re looking for traditional hotel accommodations, a cozy bed & breakfast, or a unique Airbnb that’ll fit the whole family, you can find it here in the Valley! Check out our lodging page for more information on all the accommodations here in Lebanon County, and discover the perfect landing spot for your winter vacation.
Want to discover even more to do in the Lebanon Valley this winter? Check out our event calendar for the Who, What, Where, When on all our favorite winter events (and every other time of year too!).