Cheap Trips: Nature, Diving, Food and Wolves

Each week Patch suggests a few interesting destinations you can get to on one tank of gas, or less, round-trip. This week's ideas—The Schuylkill Center in Roxborough, Hilltop Diving in Schwenksville, Dairy Cottage in Springfield and Lakota Wolf Preserve in Columbia, NJ.

Dairy Cottage

Address: 328 W Woodland Ave, Springfield
How far from Malvern? About 15 miles or 30 minutes.
Hours:

• Sunday-Thursday: 7 a.m. - 11 p.m.
• Friday-Saturday: 7 a.m. - midnight

Summary: This Delaware County landmark is a great place for the entire family as well as a community gathering place. Built in 1917 and known as Duncan’s Dairy Cottage for many years, the charming diner and ice cream bar offers Italian specialties such as pizza and stromboli and also serves cheesesteaks, burgers, salads and sandwiches. Fifteen flavors of ice cream are available. Breakfast specials start at $4, and lunch, dinner and dessert specials are also available.
Links: 

• Patch Place Listing
• Dairy Cottage Website
• Dairy Cottage History

The Schuylkill Center

Address: 8480 Hagys Mill Road, Philadelphia
How far from Malvern?: About 20 miles or 35 minutes
Admission: Varies depending on program/activity
Hours:

• Trails are open Monday through Sunday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• The main building is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Summary: The Schuylkill Center was founded in 1965 and is one of the first urban environmental education centers in the country. The mission of the center is to promote environmental education as well as the preservation and improvement of our natural environment by fostering appreciation, understanding and responsible use of the ecosystem, disseminating information on current environmental issues, encouraging appropriate public response to environmental problems and to maintain the facilities of the center and conserve its land for the purpose of environmental education. The center offers programs for children including scouting, after-school activities and nature for the young. The center also offers a number of programs and activities for families, adults and teachers. A full calender of events is available on the center's website.
Links:

• The Schuylkill Center Website

Hilltop Diving

Address: 55 Pennypacker Road, Schwenksville
How far from Malvern? About 20 miles or 40 minutes.
Hours: By appointment (610-287-7270)
Summary: Hilltop Diving in Schwenksville is a full-service scuba and snorkeling facility. Hilltop offers private events, and has worked with area organizations including scouts, the Perkiomen Valley High School WAVE Post-Prom party and Magee Hospital’s fair for disabilities.
You can also take a class and/or attain certification.
Links:
•
• Hilltop Diving Website

Lakota Wolf Preserve

Address: 89 Mount Pleasant Road, Columbia, NJ
How far from Malvern? About 100 miles or 2 hours
Admission:

• $16.05 for ages 12 and older
• $7.49 for ages 2-11

Hours:

• Arrive by 10 a.m. for morning wolf watch
• Arrive by 2:30 p.m. for afternoon wolf watch

Summary: See Arctic, Timber and Tundra wolves in a preserve on the grounds of Camp Taylor Campground in western New Jersey. A scenic walk or short shuttle bus ride takes visitors to an observation area amid four packs of wolves. Guides give an informal talk. The tour concludes with a stop at the bobcat and fox enclosure. You'll never get this close to wolves in the wild. Autumn is a good time to visit the preserve because the wolves have their fluffy winter coats.
Links:

• Website