Activities

Spend a Pennsylvania vacation at The Mercersburg Inn, take part in local activities, and visit area attractions.

On-site

Weekend Cooking Classes: Cook in the country with world-renowned Chef Francois Dionot of the celebrated L'Academie de Cuisine. Click here for complete details and upcoming dates.

Minutes Away

Skiing: Less than a 10-minute drive from the Inn is Whitetail (717-328-9400) - the best ski resort in the Mid-Atlantic. Nineteen super-wide slopes spill down the resort's 935-foot vertical drop (the biggest vertical anywhere close to us!), and the high-speed chairlifts whiz skiers up the mountain for a day packed full of runs.

Golfing: Tee off at your choice of three 18-hole championship golf courses - all less than 15 minutes away.

  • Great Cove Golf Club (717-485-9924) includes "country club" services, such as a swimming pool, tennis courts, lessons from a PGA golf professional, and a fully stocked pro shop.
  • Greencastle Green Golf Club (717-597-1188) offers attentive personal service and a well-designed course that caters to beginners and tournament players alike.
  • Whitetail Golf Resort (888-493-4169) is a beautiful, scenic course with mountain views and a state-of-the-art GPS golf cart navigation system.

Baseball: The Hagerstown Suns, a quick 25-minute drive. See "real baseball".

  • Hagerstown Suns Website (301-791-6266) every seat is a "winner". You can order your tickets through us when you make your reservation, and they will be waiting for you at check-in time.


      Prime Outlets: A short trip to Hagerstown, MD. With names such as COACH Factory, Polo Ralph Lauren Factory Store, Kate Spade, Lucky Brand Jeans, and more, Prime Outlets in Hagerstown has quickly become one of the most popular attractions.

      • Prime Outlets Hagerstown Website when you make your reservation, ask us about our free coupon booklet (a $7 value) for your shopping trip to Prime Outlets.


          Historical Walks: Home to the acclaimed Mercersburg Academy and the site of many Civil War battles, Mercersburg is a picturesque town with lovely, preserved homes and business structures dating back 250 years. Stroll through the historical village (click here for a map of historical sites) or saunter through the garden-like grounds of the academy. Ask your innkeepers for directions to the best walking paths.

          Hiking: Cowans Gap State Park (717-485-3948) has hiking trails, a lake with a beach area for swimming, paddle and row boat rentals, fishing, and a concession stand. The innkeepers will happily provide beach towels and even pack you a picnic lunch with 24-hour advance notice.

          For guests who enjoy a more challenging pace, a portion of the magnificent Tuscarora Trail runs through nearby Buchanan's Birthplace Historical State Park. A bypass to the Appalachian Trail, the Tuscarora Trail follows the crest of the Tuscarora Mountains and offers day hikers one of the most striking treks in Pennsylvania.

          Antiquing: From fine-quality furniture to trinkets of yesteryear, these treasure-filled antique markets offer a wonderful opportunity to stroll and shop.

          • Beaver Creek Antique Market (301-739-8075) Located in nearby Hagerstown, MD, this spacious, laid-back antique marketplace houses 150 dealers. You'll be welcomed with a smile and a fresh pot of coffee as you browse the many booths.
          • Greencastle Antique Mall (717-597-9198) Right down the road in Greencastle, this expansive 14,000-square-foot mall is the innkeepers' favorite. Room-like booth settings display beautiful lamps, furniture, glassware, and linens.

          Fly Fishing School: Revel in the meandering rivers and spring-fed streams of the Blue Ridge at Dusty Wissmath's Fly Fishing School (717-328-9400, extension 3531). Take a one- or two-day class or explore local waters on a guided tour. Experienced, professional instructors introduce you to the magic and tradition of fly fishing.

          Railroad Museum: Train buffs will thrill at the extensive collection of model trains and railroad memorabilia at the John McFadden Model Railroad Museum (717-328-2151) on the Mercersburg Academy campus. Featuring 80 different Lionel engines, as many as 200 pieces of rolling stock, and more than 200 feet of track, the collection also includes Lionel operating accessories, railroad stations, and industrial buildings.

          Summer Theatre: Enjoy professional summer theatre in beautiful Caledonia State Park - just 30 minutes from the Inn. The Totem Pole Playhouse (888-425-0098) is known nationally for attracting high-quality professional artists and for its wide variety of theatrical programming.

          Farther Afield

          Civil War Sites (each a 45-minute drive):

          • Antietam Battlefield (301-432-5124) Site of the bloodiest fighting of the Civil War, the Battle of Antietam claimed more than 23,000 lives in a single day - September 17, 1862 - and led to Lincoln's issuance of the Emancipation Proclamation.
          • Gettysburg Battlefield (717-334-6274) One of the Civil War's most significant battle sites is now the largest battlefield shrine in America with more than 1,000 monuments and historical markers.
          • Harpers Ferry (304-535-6298) Best known as the site of John Brown's Raid to free slaves before the Civil War, lovely Harpers Ferry - set on a bluff in West Virginia above the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers - witnessed many historical events over the years. Thomas Jefferson once called the view from the ridge over town, "perhaps one of the most stupendous scenes in nature."

          Other Attractions:

          • Fallingwater, two-and-a-half-hour drive (724-329-8501) One of Frank Lloyd Wright's most acclaimed works, Fallingwater was designed in 1935 for the Edgar J. Kaufmann family of Pittsburgh. A stunning feat of architecture embracing nature, the house is built right into a waterfall. Fallingwater remains the only Wright house open to the public with its setting, original furnishings, and artwork intact. Only 20 minutes from Fallingwater is Kentucky Knob (724-329-1901), another Wright masterpiece. Constructed in 1954, it is an exceptional example of residential architecture from the final decade of Wright's career.
          • Hershey Park, two-and-a-half-hour drive (800-HERSHEY) Heralded as the "sweetest place on earth," Hershey Park is 110 acres of excitement, including nine thrilling roller coasters and six drenching water rides. A great place for kids of all ages, the amusement park also offers Broadway-style reviews and interactive strolling shows.
          • Lancaster County, two-hour drive (717-392-4633) This major center for Amish and Mennonite culture has many traditional farms, food and craft markets, restaurants, and museums that demonstrate local life and illustrate its history.

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