An Adventure with Melissa Callahan of Wandering With Wildflowers
Looking for a fun way to spend your day… without taking the kids in and out of the car? Then get everyone in their comfy shoes and head to Mount Gretna. Start at the cutest brunch spot, Porch & Pantry. Walk along meandering paths to the historic Gretna Theatre. Continue along winding paths, stopping at spots like Stacey’s Playground and the Gretna Fairy Garden. End your walking adventure with a well deserved sundae from The Jigger Shop.
Stop 1: Porch & Pantry
Bottomless coffee, mouth-watering food, friendly people, and the prettiest front porch you ever did see? SOLD! You get all of this at Porch & Pantry, your first Mount Gretna stop. Serving breakfast and brunch, the menu is packed with delicious options, including vegan and gluten-free. There is also a kids menu, with a variety of kid-friendly options.
We sat on the porch and even though it was hot and humid, the fans kept it cool and enjoyable. My kids ordered chocolate chip pancakes and scrambled eggs with bacon; both came with a side of house potatoes. I had avocado toast, and chef’s kiss, this was not your average avocado toast. Fresh avocado topped with a poached egg, arugula, and Hank’s red-hot aioli on rustic sourdough. So. Good.
Stop 2: Pennsylvania Chautauqua
Continue your walking adventure among the winding paths of Mount Gretna. Along the way, stop by the Mount Gretna Visitor Information Center, open Memorial Day through Labor Day. My kids absolutely adored Stacey’s Place Playground. Complete with old-school classics such as funnel ball, tether ball, monkey bars and merry-go-round. And finally, hands down, my kids favorite stop was the Gretna Fairy Garden. This enchanting garden, nestled among ribbon strewn trees, was pure magic. Have a tea party, peek inside the tiny houses and see if you can find a fairy!
Stop 3: The Jigger Shop
When you’re in Mount Gretna, you *have* to stop at The Jigger Shop. From May to September, they serve the most spectacular sundaes and fantastic food. Open for over 100 years, you can’t miss this spot! Enter into The Jigger Shop and get in line for either food or ice cream. Easily scan a QR code, found at the beginning and end of each line, so you can peruse the menu before it’s your turn to order. The menu can also be found above the counters.
We enjoyed The Jigger Shop so much, that we visited twice! On our first visit we each got a scoop of ice cream; vanilla, mint chocolate chip and chocolate eclair. Do yourself a favor and check out all the ice cream flavors they offer – so many fun specialty choices! On our next visit, we had to try their signature sundae, “The Jigger”, and it did not disappoint. With chocolate or butterscotch drizzled over French vanilla ice cream, topped with marshmallow fluff and Jigger nuts, it was the best sundae I’ve ever had. For real!
Find Your Next Adventure!
Discover more trip inspiration for your visit to the Lebanon Valley on our plan your visit page. From ideas on date nights and family fun to outdoor field guides and shopping itineraries, we’ve got you covered!