Cheap Trips: Tyler Arboretum, Nature Center and Cement Kilns

Try one of these three trips you can enjoy on just one tank of gas: Tyler Arboretum in Media, Great Valley Nature Center in Phoenixville, and the cement kilns in Coplay.

1. Tyler Arboretum

Address: 515 Painter Road, Media, PA 19063
How Far From Palmer-Forks Patch? About 75 miles / About one hour and 37 minutes

Admission:

• Free for members
• $9 for adults
• $8 for seniors
• $5 for children

Hours:

• Check website for seasonal hours

Summary: The Tyler Arboretum's 650 acres, donated to Delaware County by Laura Tyler in 1944, offers hiking trails, historic buildings and all types of events year-round.

Have you ever collected your own syrup? In February, the Tyler holds its Maple Sugaring Celebration and you can try tapping a tree yourself and learn about the maple sugaring process.

There are also wildflower and bird-watching walks, a watercoloring class and an owl prowl. In the summer months, stop by the butterfly house and get up close to tiny, beautiful butterflies.

Links:

2. Great Valley Nature Center

Address: State Road and Hollow Road, Phoenixville, PA 19460
How Far From Palmer-Forks Patch? About 64 miles / About one hour and 27 minutes

Hours:

• Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Closed Sunday

Admission:

• The entrance fee is $2
• The entrance fee is free for members of Great Valley Nature Center and members of Association of Science—Technology Centers and the American Horticultural Society.

Summary: Great Valley Nature Center provides environmental education at its historic facilities. The center takes in injured birds of prey that can be sponsored by community members. GVNC features programs for elementary students, and staff members often attend community events. The center also sponsors trips to regional parks and more, such as Hawk Mountain, Cape May and Chincoteague Island.

Links:

• Patch Places
• Website

3. Coplay Cement Kilns 

Address: Saylor Park, N. Second Street, Coplay, PA 18037
How Far From Palmer-Forks Patch: About 14 miles / About 25 minutes

Hours:

• Open daily dawn to dusk

Admission:

• Free

Summary: Saylor Park's 2.6 acres in the Lehigh County town of Coplay feature nine red brick kilns built in 1893 and used until 1904 to make cement. The 90-foot-high kilns marked a technological improvement in manufacturing higher quality cement.

The site honors David O. Saylor (1827-1893), father of the American Portland Cement industry. Saylor helped lead the United States to become the world's largest cement maker -- producing four times as much to its nearest competitor, Great Britain, by the 1920s.

Saylor Park includes a playground, benches and a walking/biking trail open to the public.

Links: 

• Lehigh County Parks and Recreation Website
• National Historic Places Website