Local family visits all 124 Pennsylvania state parks

It was March of 2016 when Dave and Sarah Bednar of East Earl first learned of the Pennsylvania State Parks passport book program. The pair was on their way back to the greater Lancaster County area from Pittsburgh and stopped at Greenwood Furnace State Park, outside State College. They purchased the book and got their first passport stamp at Greenwood Furnace, vowing to take their dog, Whalen - a border collie/sheltie mix - to every one of the 124 state parks in Pennsylvania.

Doing both day and weekend trips, the trio set out to meet that goal. "We did trips to get as many stamps as we could," said Sarah, who noted that it was harder to get stamps in the western part of the state, but that dog-friendly accommodations were often available in the parks. Sarah noted that some park cabins were more rustic, while others offered hot showers and kitchens. During a trip to northern Pennsylvania, the family stayed outside Erie and visited more than 20 parks in just a few days. The Bednars completed their journey with the final stamp in the book on Sept. 15 with a visit to Prompton State Park outside Scranton. "Each state park has its own unique stamp, which is very cool," said Sarah, who pointed out that Promised Land State Park's stamp has a bear because of its location in the Poconos.

The year 2020 was a bust due to the COVID-19 shutdowns. "We had a trip scheduled for the beginning April of 2020 in Linn Run State Park, and they canceled it," noted Dave. However, 2021 and 2022 saw the family return to traveling heavily.

"In 2021, we went to the Laurel Highlands and did 30 state parks," said Sarah. "Some days we started at 7 a.m. and didn't get home until 9 p.m." Sarah added that taking time to explore each park and see what it had to offer was important. "There are some really cool state parks in Pennsylvania," she said, adding, "We didn't just explore the park, but the surrounding area as well." Sarah explained that Pennsylvania set a goal that every resident would have access to a state park, and that admission to all parks is free. There was a nominal cost to purchase the passport book. "If the park is closed, there are labels you can use (instead of the stamp)," she noted.

Each of the Bednars has a favorite park. Sarah's is Prince Gallitzin, outside Johnstown, because she liked the size of the lake and the "fantastic" trails. Dave prefers Poe Valley State Park, near State College, because it is remote and off the grid. Whalen's favorites include the Kinzua Bridge State Park and the Washington Crossing Historic Park near Yardley in Bucks County.

Sarah said she would recommend the experience to other families. "Whatever your age, you can explore and see what the state has to offer," said Sarah. "Pennsylvania is diversified. It has mountains, plains, cities, rural areas, so you get a bit of everything."

Next, the family is looking forward to retracing its steps to the places it "liked the most." On the list is the Laurel Highlands and Potter County. "Whalen is happy to go wherever," said Dave.

Sarah called getting the last stamp a "bittersweet" experience, noting that making family memories was the best part of the experience. "We wanted to share it," she said. "Pennsylvania is such a great state because you have a little bit of everything."