Every once in awhile, but increasingly so lately, Ryan and I like to escape the concrete jungle with our pup and head into the woods. This past weekend we decided to revisit a favorite Pennsylvania trail, Glen Onoko Falls. Located near the almost-too-perfect town of Jim Thorpe, it's a great day trip outside Philadelphia. It takes about 2.5 hours to get there (toll-free), but the picturesque mountain views and tree-lined roads make the trek 100% worth it. Here's photo proof:

The Glen Onoko Run Trail is a pretty strenuous hike up to the top, but the 10+ cascades are the perfect excuse to stop and take in the view, or splash around in the icy water a bit. There seems to be several different trail options, something we experienced first hand this time around. We couldn't figure out how to get down the mountain, and ended up going down the way we came up! Not necessarily the best hike for the novice hiker, or for older dogs, it is a great workout and beautiful way to spend a late summer day. Afterwards I recommend heading into Jim Thorpe and finding something to eat- you'll be desperate for a snack. - b.

On Sunday we packed a backpack full of water, put our hiking shoes on, and headed out to the Lehigh Gorge State Park. It was a nearly perfect day for the trip and we were excited to leave Philadelphia behind for an afternoon, in pursuit of some nature. Our mission was to hike the Glen Onoco Falls trail which loops around a massive cascade of waterfalls and back down the mountain. It was as picturesque as it sounds.

The trail was far from deserted; masses of people gathered around the cool pools of water every step of the way. With sky-rocketing humidity, this was as much a necessity as it was an attraction. The falls themselves were massive, and as you drew close the temperatures would drop 10-15 degrees. At times it felt more like a tropical paradise than a mountain retreat less than 2 hours from home.

Because the trail was new to us, I left my nicer camera at home and decided to rely on my iphone and instax mini to capture the adventure. One of the stranger (i.e. cooler) events of the trip was stumbling upon a shrine of rock statues under a cliff edge. The rock art interplayed beautifully with the fauna and flora surrounding it and I'm glad I managed a few quick pictures before a giant group passed by.

Nellie was beside herself on this hiking trip, jumping in and out of the water as we meandered up the mountain. I'll be honest and say I probably watched her enjoyment of the day more than the scenic views surrounding us. At one point Ryan turned to me and said "I've been needing this." I think we all did. -b.