Day Trips: White Water Rafting, Ludington Library

Want to get out of town and go for a trip, but looking to save money?

Try one of these three trips you can enjoy on just one tank of gas: Ludington Library in Bryn Mawr and Lehigh Gorge State Park in Carbon County.

Ludington Library

Address: 5 S. Bryn Mawr Ave., Bryn Mawr
Distance from Southampton: About 28 miles
Hours: 9 a.m. - 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday; 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Friday; 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. Saturday; 12 - 5 p.m. Sunday 
Summary: Founded in 1916, Ludington Library reopened on Saturday after being closed for more than two years. The newly expanded and renovated library includes a much larger children's department with separate sections for younger and older kids, new sections devoted to the library's most popular subject matter, a new elevator and two new meeting rooms—one fits up to 12 and contains a local history collection, and the other up to 120 and is the 1926 funded by Charles Ludington. There will soon be a used book salesroom in the basement. There is also some notable artwork, including a professionally restored bronze bust of Christopher Columbus atop a 7-ton marble plinth and a steel sculpture, "Beangold's Phoenix," made of metal salvaged from a burned-down barn originally built with steel from Phoenix Steel Works in Phoenixville. Lower Merion Library is the flagship library of Lower Merion and prior to its closing was the most used library in Montgomery County.

Links: Patch Place Listing | Website

Lehigh Gorge State Park

Address: Multiple access points in Carbon County
Distance from Southampton: About 86 miles
Admission: Free
Hours: Dawn to dusk
Summary:  The 6,107 acres of park land in Carbon County follow the Lehigh River from Francis E. Walter Dam in the north to Jim Thorpe in the south. The Lehigh Gorge Trail follows more than 20 miles of abandoned railroad grade along the river, providing opportunities for hiking, bicycling, sightseeing and photography. The trail is closed to motor vehicles. Parking areas are provided in White Haven, Rockport and Glen Onoko (outside of Jim Thorpe). Steep, treacherous terrain and fast-moving water make the gorge hazardous. Visitors should wear proper hiking shoes and be careful. Whitewater rafting is one of the most popular activities in the park.

Link: Website