For the December edition of In Your Backyard, I wanted to be seasonal but also add a destination for those readers who do not celebrate the Christmas holiday. So the first stop on this adventure is going to be down Route 19 to the town of Leesburg, Pa which is located about 45 minutes south of Meadville in Mercer County.
As you enter this small town you will see Leesburg Station Rd onto which you will make a left turn. In a very short distance the road will make a sharp right turn and Falls Rd will continue straight, to you guessed it, a waterfall. Springfield Falls to be exact and I will warn you if use a navigation system to find this waterfall by name, it will actually have you turn right instead of left and it will likely argue with you to make the next legal U turn. (So, just trust me and turn left.)
There is a small parking lot on the right side of the road and the path to Springfield Falls is located across the street. It is a fantastic place for photos and is typically a very cool waterfall located on Hunters Run even when the weather has been dry. The view from the rock ledge above is great, but for the daring (or foolhardy) there is a very, very steep path that leads to the base of the falls. Yes, I have made the journey down the steep embankment and I recommend proper footwear for the trek. Be mindful of the leaves which hide hazards and are just plain slick when wet, and yes, this advice does come from experience. Which ever view you choose, I do not think you will be disappointed that you stopped. The town of Leesburg itself is an interesting place. Take a journey back in time in the old school which has been wonderfully converted to an antique store.
Now lets go to the holiday section of this adventure. Last year at this time I was in McAdenville, NC which is also known as "Christmas Town" we waited in line for nearly two hours to drive 4 miles per hour through this town completely lit with Christmas lights and displays. Now, North Carolina is definitely too far to be considered a day trip so I wanted to write about a wonderful place that is truly in our backyard.
Volant, Pa has my vote for a great little town with a lot going on. From Leesburg you continue south to the intersection of Route 208 west. For those that are possibly directional challenged, that is a right hand turn located AFTER Rt 208 turns left to go to Grove City... (yes, this also comes from personal experience because my vehicle loves to go to the outlet stores all on its own)
In Volant, there are over 20 specialty stores that have everything from bulk candy to fly fishing equipment, antiques to tea houses and everything in between. Plan to spend an afternoon walking the streets decorated for the holidays. When the sun goes down the lights go on and you can have the experience of our own little "Christmas Town". The town has an event each and every month, so if you are unable to make it down for the holidays then be sure to check out their webpage www.volantshops.com to get a schedule of events. It is a hidden gem of a place that is well worth the short trip south.
I hope that you take a bit of time while the weather is still nice for travel to explore a bit In Your Backyard and have a holiday adventure. Until next time just remember the words of the great J.R.R.Tolkien “Not all those who wander are lost.” -
