How about panning for gems at nearby Parker's Indian Trading Post, where "miners" get to keep all they find? Also pan for arrowheads and fossils from around the world. While there, check out their rock shop and gift shop featuring the Monfort collection, American Indian collectibles and a covered wagon display.

The Holgate Factory Store and Museum in Kane boasts "America's Finest Wooden Toys." Ride the Kane-Kinzua scenic railway from the terminal one block from the store.

Holgate's roots go back to a woodworking shop established in 1789. Years later, Jarvis Rockwell, brother of famous illustrator Norman Rockwell, designed many of Holgate's most popular toys such as the Rocky Color Cone, Jumbo Lacing Beans and the Classic Bingo Bed.

Stop by the Lock Haven Area YMCA, where families can tackle the rock-climbing wall, two rappel towers and vertical caves in addition to pool and gym equipment. Visit http://kcnet.org/~lhymca for more information.

PITTSBURGH DIVERSIONS
Mention of this gritty industrial city doesn't always conjure images of tackle-busting angling action, but the Pittsburgh Countryside Region is loaded with great family fishing destinations.

Keystone Lake offers 78 acres of warmwater and coldwater fishing with year-round stocking. Largemouth bass, tiger muskellunge, northern pike, black crappies, yellow perch, carp and brown bullheads can all be caught here. Nearby Kooser Lake doesn't allow boating or night-fishing, but it's a great fishing hole for trout, bass and bluegills.

Laurel Hill State Park contains thousands of acres of pristine forestland complete with a 63-acre lake swimming with bass, trout, catfish, suckers, bluegills, perch, crappies and sunfish. Nearby Laurel Hill Creek and Jones Mill Run are excellent trout streams. The Laurel Hill Trout Fishing Pond is heavily stocked and offers great family fishing. Rental poles, bait and a cleaning service are available.

The park's campground has 264 sites; 149 with electricity, flush toilets, hot showers and drinking water. Three cottages are also available. Hiking offers great wildlife watching in old-growth stands along Hemlock Trail. Remains of a logging railroad can be seen along Tramroad Trail.

Boat rentals are available at the beach including paddleboats, canoes and rowboats. Environmental programs are offered year-round in the park, and interpretive programs include guided hikes, outings and campfire presentations. Log on to www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/parks/laurelhill.aspx for more information.

Ohiopyle State Park is the gateway to the Laurel Mountains and has 14-plus miles of the Youghiogheny River Gorge passing through it. The "Yough" boasts some of the best whitewater boating in the Eastern U.S., spectacular scenery and fantastic fishing! Fingerling trout are stocked along the entire section of the river within the park and an all-tackle trophy trout program is in place for 3.5 miles from Ramcat downstream to the state Route 381 Bridge in Ohiopyle. Meadow Run has good trout for anglers who prefer small- stream fishing.

Surrounding Ohiopyle Falls is a day-use area complete with parking, restrooms, gift shop, snack bar and platforms overlooking magnificent scenic vistas.

Kentuck Campground has 226 sites, 27 of which are walk-ins. Each site has a picnic table, fire ring and parking space. A few sites have electricity, plus three platform tents pre-pitched for visitors with reservations, and several cottages.