Bethany & Brent
Things To Do
Carlisle Restaurants
Some of our favorite spots to eat are North Hanover Grille (they have the best wings in town,) Fay's for breakfast (cash only), The Hamilton for a "hachee dog," (you won't see it on the menu, but they'll know what you mean when you order their version of a chili dog! Also cash only) Helena's Chocolate Cafe & Creperie for coffee and crepes, George's Pizza & Subs, El Rodeo, and Issei Noodle.
Carlisle Brews
Carlisle has several great local breweries but our favorites are Molly Pitcher Brewing Company, Desperate Times Brewery (where Amber works!), and Grand Illusion, which is a cider brewery, though you'll usually find us ordering their flights of craft sodas! For coffee brews we recommended Denim Coffee or Squarebean!
Carlisle Shops
Downtown Carlisle is full of unique shops to wander around! Some of our favorites are the Whistlestop Bookshop, Georgie Lou's Retro Candy, Miss Ruth's Time Bomb for retro and vintage clothing, The ClothesVine clothing boutique, The Greatest Gift for local artisan goods, and the three-story Carlisle Antique Mall.
Massey's Frozen Custard
I mean, we took engagement pictures here... That should tell you just how much Brent loves this ice cream spot...
U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center
Carlisle has a long-standing military history and is home to the Army War College. The Army Heritage Trail and Museum is an indoor and outdoor museum covering every era of US Army history. You can check out the indoor museum and walk the one-mile trail of full scale reconstructions of encampments, battlefield scenes, trenches, as well as see retired armor, aircraft, and artillery.
Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center
If you're a history buff like Bethany, a stop at Gettysburg is a must! We personally enjoy the self-guided auto tour through the battlefield and a meal at the Dobbin House Tavern, which will make you feel like you stepped back in time!
Pine Grove Furnace State Park
For the outdoorsy type, Pine Grove Furnace State Park is one of our favorite spots! You can hike along the midpoint of the Appalachian Trail or hike Pole Steeple Trail - a short, easy hike with one heck of a view at the top! There are also two lakes where you can swim or rent kayaks.
Flat Rock Trailhead
For a more challenging hike, we recommend the Flat Rock Trail in Colonel Denning State Park. Only a 30 minute drive from Carlisle, this hike is a little over 2 miles one-way, and has an incredible view of the valley!
Hershey
It's only a 45 minute drive to Hershey, PA, where you can go ride the roller coasters at Hershey Park or tour the chocolate factory at Hershey Chocolate World!
Harrisburg
Harrisburg is only a 30 minute drive away and has some neat things to do. Book a ride on the Pride of the Susquehanna Riverboat or check out the National Civil War Museum.