Grey Towers Historic Site-Festival of Wood

Had the chance to visit the National Historic Site-the Grey Towers, former home of Gifford Pinchot long considered the forefather of the American Conservation Movement and first head of the US Forest Service. The Mansion and grounds are registered National Historic Significance Site. For the last 7 years the facility has hosted the Wood Festival on its grounds. Run by the Forest Service the 2 day event featured free parking and admission and a whole host of crafters and food tents all of which were reasonably priced. Billed as an educational event to showcase the Pennsylvania forestry industry there was no shortage of eye opening exhibits for young and old alike. The event was well organized running shuttle buses from the overflow parking lots well down the hillside from the main grounds and the Pinchot mansion. Did i say "free parking and admission"? Cannot remember the last time i was able to take the entire family out and leave my wallet firmly in the back pocket. Food and beverage vendors were spread throughout the event sites and all were very reasonably priced. There were numerous lumber cutting, carving and educational tents and all the exhibitors were friendly and knowledgeable. The Forest Service Rangers put on a great show for the kids. The main mansion and grounds were well maintained, the recent beneficiaries of Federal Reconstruction Grants which upgraded the walking paths and benches that lined the grounds. Shuttle busses ran from zone to zone throughout the event at regular intervals making travel throughout the festival easy for event the most physically drained parents amongst us. The kids are already asking when the next festival will be held and we have poenciled onto our calendar for 2012.