Tap into Pennsylvania’s sweet side with maple syrup tasting and tapping events — you’ll have your pick of items to cross off your maple “bucket” list this season! Check out these unique and interactive maple sugar experiences that can be done right here in the Keystone State. Happy tasting!
1. Sugaring Demos
Head over to one of the several maple sugaring demonstrations at Parker Dam State Park and Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center. Here, you’ll learn the history behind maple sugaring, how to identify maple trees in winter, choosing the perfect tree for tapping, and how to make your own luscious maple syrup.
2. Tapping the Trees
When sap season arrives mid-February in this region of Northeastern Pennsylvania, the Loch family begins the generational practice of tapping the trees. Watch Loch’s Maple produce the popular Made in PA product used for the family’s syrups, candies, and Loch’s signature “Maple Popcorn”— an Endless Mountains favorite confection.
3. Miracles on Maple Hill
Take a family-friendly trip to Hurry Hill Maple Farm and Museum and Farmstand in Edinboro for a maple sugaring experience. Interact with “Tree-to-Table” exhibits, sugaring antiques, maple production displays, and hands-on activities. Be sure to check out the Miracles on Maple Hill Room featuring the 1957 Newbery Award for Miracles on Maple Hill, written in Edinboro by Virginia Sorensen.
4. Get a Sneak Peek
Grab the family and watch the maple syrup operations at Miller’s Purely Maple in Wellsboro. Run by a husband and wife, Miller’s produces around 1,000 gallons of syrup on their farm each season. The couple uses recycled wood from a nearby baseball bat maker to fire the evaporator and modern methods of tapping. The store is filled with goodies, including maple candies, coffee, jelly, and granola.
5. Meet the Best in the Biz
Stop over at one of Pennsylvania's most popular destinations to discover the great maple products and production facilities. Visit Brookfield Maple Products, which is renowned for its certified organic maple producers, or check out nearby Patterson Maple Farms, which is known for its syrups and product line, and is the largest maple producer in the state.
6. Savor the Sweetness
Hamilton's Maple Products opens the doors to its seasonal pancakes house from early February to mid-April. Every weekend from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., you’re invited to a “no sugar-free” breakfast featuring all-you-can-eat pancakes, pumpkin spice waffles, and French toast — topped off with all the maple syrup and maple mousse you can handle.
To learn more about Pennsylvania’s maple experiences, visit the VISIT PA website and check out the list of maple events for this year. Make sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Instagram to stay up-to-date on more sweet experiences around our state.