The snow has thawed (for the most part), and the birds have resumed their early-morning chirping; it’s finally spring. But with the change in season, we’re also due for a change in pace. I suggest brightening up your spring days with a trip to one (or all) of these places.
The Clay Cup
Located in downtown Altoona, The Clay Cup has been a staple for local crafters and cafe-enjoyers alike. As everyone knows, with spring often comes lots of rain, and what better way to spend a rainy day than painting pottery in a warm cafe?
While painting pottery might sound expensive, there are plenty of affordable, smaller pieces for sale; and if you can’t stay and paint, you can take your pieces to go and bring them back to be fired in their kiln.
Even if you don’t have the time to make a reservation for the pottery portion, The Clay Cup’s menu should be enough to keep your interest. Of course, being a cafe, their drinks are the highlight. They serve just about any flavor of coffee or matcha, and their coldfoam is just as special. A personal favorite of their food is their grilled cheese, but they also serve a variety of breakfast sandwiches, bagels and baked goods.
Antique Depot
Antique Depot is one of those places where you could easily spend anywhere between a few minutes to a few hours. As the name suggests, Antique Depot is a huge warehouse filled to the brim with antiques.
You can find just about anything in its walls, though if you’re on the hunt for something specific…it might take you a while to find it among everything else. That “everything else” includes tea cups and other fine china, old magazines and books, vintage clothing and accessories, clocks and home decor.
Another fun detail about Antique Depot is its cat room. Fully decorated in cat memorabilia, the room’s outer walls are chicken wire, giving customers the opportunity to see the cats (and kittens) housed there.
Although the store is out in Duncansville, it is also right across the street from Coffee on 3rd, making it a prime location for a full day of spring fun.
Chimney Rocks
While it may be a bit of a drive depending on where you live, Chimney Rocks is worth the trip. Yes, spring brings rain, but it also brings a preview of summer. On days when this is especially apparent, Chimney Rocks is the best place to spend your free time.
You can hike the trails, walk around the park or go just for the scenic views. Hike up to the big star that is lit around Christmas time and see it up close and personal, or hike up to one of the lookout points and take in the incredible rock formations that give the park its name.
No matter what you decide to do, the nature that blankets the area will not disappoint. Plus, because it’s a park, it’s free, so even if you somehow didn’t enjoy your time there, you can rest easy knowing that it wasn’t a waste of money.
Adler’s Landscape Nursery
Not far from our own Mansion Park stands Adler’s Landscape Nursery. Adler’s may look unassuming from the outside, but the nondescript paneling is more than made up for once you step inside. Seasonal decorations and plants fill the store floor to ceiling, lit by the warm glow of overhead light fixtures. A walk through Adler’s is much like a walk through a museum or curio shop, if said place was as aesthetically pleasing as it was interesting.
Still, the best part is as the seasons change, so does Adler’s. What felt like a pumpkin patch in October and a winter wonderland in December, will feel like a floral festival now.
The shop may be small, but that really only adds to its atmosphere. Adler’s has the feeling of magic and life that makes it so much different than anything else in Altoona. In short, it’s a must-visit.
