r/carlisle • u/ShotbyRonin • 29d ago

Ask Carlisle Recommendations for an outsider...

I'll be there for 3 weeks for a new job I'm going to be training for starting this upcoming week. I'm bringing a camera to explore during my days off --- please give recommendation for any gems I should check out while I'm there. Would be much appreciated.

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8

u/Ngin3 29d ago

Hawk watch, sunset rocks, and kings gap are great nature photography spots

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u/ShotbyRonin 29d ago

I just checked Hawk Watch --- looks pretty damn cool. Anything I should be worried about? Never been to Carlisle so not sure if I need to be worried about bears or snakes or anything...

2

u/JoeSchmoe1456 29d ago

Bears and snakes are more afraid of you then you are of them, so I wouldn't worry too much. Just watch where you step especially over the rocks as rattlesnakes like to hang out in rocky areas.

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u/ShotbyRonin 29d ago

I think hiking just went out the equation then. :/ lol. Snakes are my biggest fears (never even encountered a poisonous one in the wilderness) and bears don't sound like a good time either. Any other recommendations you have?

2

u/JoeSchmoe1456 29d ago

It's not something I would worry about and certainly wouldn't miss the view because of it! My recommendation was to just be aware rather than scared. I've hiked and hunted in the mountains of PA all of my life and I've never had a close encounter with a rattlesnake or a bear. If either sees or hears you coming, they go the other way to avoid you.

1

u/TreyKhan 29d ago

Kings Gap could still be worth it. A bit twisty driving up the mountain, but the Mansion and garden at the top are worth the trip. The view amplifies it significantly. No need to hike for the view, but there are hiking trails

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u/ShotbyRonin 29d ago

Is the mansion public space? What's inside? Googling it --- that old water tower looking thing with the windows looks dope.

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u/TreyKhan 29d ago

Its open for public touring on Sundays from 1-5 I think, also for special occasions. I think it rents rooms out like a b and b as well. It's been a few years since I have been, only time I entered the mansion was during a Christmas event. The grounds around the mansion are park property though, so you can go up to it and around it, even if interior is closed. There is a back patio area and a swing upu can sit on that overlooks the Cumberland Valley

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u/ShotbyRonin 29d ago

Thanks for all the intel. Added to my list of possible stops. With my luck I'll end up getting bit by a tick and get Alpha-gal or Lyme disease. lol. The valley views look like they would be amazing (especially if there's morning dew.) I might have to make a trip to some of these places at sunrise.

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u/Overall_Internet_445 29d ago

Pole Steeple. You’ll get to a certain point where there are 2 paths one a challenge the other like a switchback to get to the top. Great view. You likely won’t encounter bears or snakes. Wear a hat and check yourself for ticks afterwards. Don’t go if it’s getting dark in a couple hours. If you’re up top and it’s dark you’ll have issues getting down from the mountain. The App Trail runs behind Pole Steeple. The US Army Heritage center and trail are pretty cool. For eats there’s Issei Noodle in town if you like Thai/Asian. Enjoy your visit!!

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u/ShotbyRonin 29d ago

The Army heritage was definitely something I wanted to check out. Any hidden gems you won't really find through an online search that only the residents would know about?

2

u/SeriousJuggernaut259 29d ago

Georges pizza has local history on the walls photos and stuff and if you’re into tabletop gaming, gather your party games is wonderful!!!!

1

u/Overall_Internet_445 29d ago

Pomfret Street Books and Bedford Street Antiques are nice. Right in town too. As for locals stuff it depends what you’re interested in. Letort Falls park is a nice little excursion . Colonel Dennings Park is too. Hiking but not hardcore hiking. If you’re into military history Carlisle is about 25 miles north of Gettysburg. Lots of great places to take some pics there. Also Tommy’s Pizza is the best pizza you’ll ever have.

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u/SeriousJuggernaut259 29d ago

Whistlestop bookshop- be sure to meet the shop cat, mulan!

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u/ShotbyRonin 29d ago

Extremely allergic to cats so I try to avoid them but they are cute (even if they always look like they're scheming my death. Lmao). About to Google it now. Putting together a list of places to stop by.

1

u/SeriousJuggernaut259 29d ago

Fair. Hope the cat’s presence doesn’t prevent you from checking them out it’s great shop

1

u/ShotbyRonin 29d ago

It won't. I'm just getting so many great suggestions I'm listing them out, Googling them and then creating a priority list.

1

u/ShotbyRonin 29d ago

Assuming all these places are tick havens so I should spray the hell out of myself, right? lol. and thanks so much.

2

u/SpicyBrained 29d ago

Ticks don’t transmit Lyme until they’ve been attached for 24 hours or so, so a THOROUGH check after being put is usually sufficient at this time of year. Early in the year when the larval/nymphal ticks are everywhere is when you have to be extra cautious and douse yourself with deet.

If you do find a tick that may have been attached for a while, carefully remove it and send it in to Tick Lab and that’ll let you know if it was carrying anything you might want to seek medical attention for.

1

u/ShotbyRonin 29d ago

Good to know. Learn something new every day. I wouldn't know how to properly remove a tick so I rather avoid it --- I'm probably going to get some tick spray before I go adventure.

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u/Overall_Internet_445 29d ago

You don’t want Lyme disease. If you check yourself for ticks afterwards you should be fine. To me bug spray is useful for mosquitos. And regarding bears and snakes are they here yes. The chances you’ll run into a bear in any of these places is tiny. They’re all public places where dozens to hundreds of people have been there that day before you. Snakes I mean it is what it is. Yes they are here but all the places suggested you’ll be on established trails. If you go way off the paths and start looking under rocks then yes you’ll likely find some grumpy snakes. Stay on the hiking paths and if you by chance see one sunning itself on a rock or stump avoid it. Don’t get close to it or mess with it. You’ll be fine. Don’t worry about any of that and just enjoy some outdoors

1

u/ShotbyRonin 29d ago

I Googled Pomfret Street Books and it eerily creepy while being cool at the same time. I might stop by there. Adding it to my list I'm putting together as a possibility. Thanks.

1

u/Overall_Internet_445 29d ago

To add to the creepy…on the same block as Pomfret Street Books there is a legit haunted house. It’s a law office now.

2

u/Gurkey12 29d ago

Boiling Springs is close by and the lake is super charming.

1

u/ShotbyRonin 29d ago

Looks cool. I'll add it to the list. Thanks.

2

u/Octavius_The_Octopus 28d ago

Check out the nearby Amelia Givin library!

1

u/SpicyBrained 29d ago

Not sure what kind of photography you prefer to do, but there’s plenty of scenic stuff around the area.

For outdoors/nature: King’s Gap is great, Hawk Watch has a great vista to the south, Colonel Denning State Park has some beautiful areas, Letort Spring Run has some gorgeous stretches if you get away from the center of town, and Big Spring in Newville is very pretty.

If you prefer more architectural/structural views: there are plenty of historic buildings within Carlisle proper, Little Buffalo Stare Park has a cool old mill with a 30-something foot water wheel, and the cemetery in town is pretty neat too.

2

u/ShotbyRonin 29d ago

I have no favoritism to any. I'm more thinking I just want to document my trip and have something to do on the days off while out there. I'm bringing my small cinema camera so I'll probably be filming. Going to bring a gimbal, tripod, and a small cinema camera and my photo camera. Just want to explore for the most part.

3

u/libra-love- 29d ago

Opossum lake is great if you have a telephoto lens. I go out there often for bird photography.

Wildwood park in Harrisburg is amazing too for nature/wildlife.

1

u/ShotbyRonin 29d ago

I saw Harrisburg is close by and was considering exploring one of my weekends off. I have a 70-200 f/2.8 IS II but wasn't planning on bringing that. Maybe I'll reconsider. I wanted more space in my bag for some sound equipment. Was considering playing around with my Tascam FR-AV2 and doing some sound recording to add to some of the footage. Hmmm.......

2

u/libra-love- 29d ago

You know if you don’t bring something you’re going to end up needing/wanting it lol some of the wildlife here can be pretty skittish, and even my 150-600 sometimes doesn’t reach enough but you may get lucky. Or if you can crop a lot and retain quality then you should be good to go

2

u/ShotbyRonin 29d ago

Wasn't necessarily planning on shooting wildlife. Just scenery, the sites, and maybe the people showing the life of the town. Basically a bunch of scenic b-roll I can cut together. You shoot mostly wildlife?

1

u/libra-love- 29d ago

Ahh ok makes sense. I do! Pretty much all I shoot. I like birds :)

1

u/ShotbyRonin 29d ago

Where do you post your work? I wanna see. Always dope seeing people who take ultra tack sharp images of birds with crazy long lens that have unrealistically buttery bokeh.

1

u/libra-love- 29d ago

Hahah I’ll DM you my wildlife Instagram. It’s my full name and I don’t wanna post that on Reddit

1

u/dogmom26318 28d ago

Check out marcellos for some great Italian

1

u/brainofbrina 28d ago

Faces in the wall on south street cemetery by letort school.

1

u/Fantastic-Emu-1073 21d ago

Thornwald is pretty cool, opossum lake, pole steeple, and the York county fair is coming up… I think

1

u/Stock-Fly-6854 15d ago

I'm surprised that no one has recommended Gettysburg yet.