Cheap Trips: Schmitter, Lost River Caverns, Philly Outlets and Green Lane Park

Try one of these four trips you can enjoy on just one tank of gas—the Schmitter Sandwich at McNally’s in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia Premium Outlets in Limerick, Green Lane Reservoir Park in Green Lane and Lost River Canyons in Hellertown.

Address: 8634 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. Chestnut Hill, 2.5 miles from Mt. Airy.
Price: The original sandwich on a Kaiser roll is priced at $8.35, and a double-meat Schmitter on a long roll is $13.95.
Hours: Monday to Saturday: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday: noon to 8 p.m.
Summary: For this one you may not even need the car at all. McNally’s has a long history in Chestnut Hill—it opened on Germantown Avenue in 1921. Since then, the shop has developed the famous Schmitter sandwich, which has been featured in The New York Times and Saveur magazine as one of the best sandwiches in the country. The sandwich is a cheesesteak topped with tomatoes, fried onions, grilled salami and special sauce. In recent years, the Schmitter has become available at Citizens Bank Park and Lincoln Financial Field and was served at Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, Fla. Chestnut Hill is the only place to get the sandwich at its original venue.

Links: 

• McNallys Tavern Website

Philadelphia Premium Outlets
Address: 18 West Lightcap Road, Limerick, Pa., 32 miles from Mt. Airy.
Admissions Fee: Free to enter; pay to shop.
Hours: Monday to Saturday: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Summary: If one-stop shopping is your thing, then the Philadelphia Premium Outlets is the place to go. With easy access off the Sanatoga exit on Route 422, the Philadelphia Premium Outlets is a collection of 150 stores that offer the finest designer labels and brands at great discounts. The outlet includes plenty of benches as you walk from store to store and is designed in a circle so you won’t miss a thing. The food court is located in the middle of the outlet and is a great place to eat after a long day of shopping. Some of the stores include Ann Taylor, Banana Republic, BCBG Max Azria, Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein, Coach, Cole Haan, DKNY, Gap Outlet, Guess, J.Crew, Last Call by Neiman Marcus, Michael Kors, Last Nike, Polo Ralph Lauren, Puma, Sony, Tommy Hilfiger and more.

Links:

• Premium Outlets Website 
• Store Listings

Green Lane Reservoir Park
Address: 2144 Snyder Rd, Green Lane, Pa., 32 miles from Mt. Airy
Admissions Fee: Free
Hours: Dawn to dusk (camping permit required for overnight stays).
Summary: Part of the Schuylkill River National & State Heritage Area, Green Lane Park's more than 3,400 acres encompass some of the most beautiful natural vistas in southeast Pennsylvania. As the largest member of the Montgomery County Parks system, admission is free, but you'll need to rent a boat to explore either the 814-acre reservoir or the park's two smaller lakes. Paddleboats, canoes, kayaks and motorboats are available starting at $10 per hour. For those who prefer to stay on solid ground, an extensive trail network invites hikers, cyclists and horseback riders to explore a landscape of rolling hills and forested uplands. Ice skating is popular during the winter months. Camping facilities are also available.

Links:

• Green Lane Park Website
• Patch Articles

Address: 726 Durham St., Hellertown, Pa.
Admissions Fee: Adults, $10.50. Children, $6.50.
Hours: Summer (Memorial Day through Labor Day): Daily, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; winter (Sept. through May): Daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Gilman's at the Cave gift shop is open late (until 8 p.m.) Fridays year-round.
Summary: Lost River Caverns is a natural limestone cavern that was discovered in the late 1800s. It was opened for tours in 1930. Tours run every half hour, taking visitors roughly 120-feet into the ground. Highlights include the Crystal Chapel, which has hosted dozens of weddings since 1949, and the Lost River itself.

Links:

• Lost River Caverns Website