LUZERNE COUNTY, Pa. — There's plenty of space on the asphalt for sidewalk chalk creations, and it's just one of the things Alayna Weber of Hunlock Creek likes to do with her cousins when they come to Frances Slocum State Park to camp.
"We tie-dye, we paint, we go to the pool, and we go to the park up there," Alayna said.
Coming here for the Fourth of July has been a tradition in her family for 18 years.
"It actually started with my sister, who has been coming here for many years. And this year, fortunately, we are able to come also to spend the time not in a house to show the kids that it's OK not to be on a phone or an iPad to enjoy fishing, hiking, and swimming," said Michelene Butler of Noxen.
"Get exercise, and you can ride your bike or scooter, and you can take a hike," added Alayna.
"Get in touch with nature," said Michael Latella of New Jersey to the list of things campers can enjoy.
"Listening to the birds and stuff and animals, and I don't know, look at the water and see the sunrise, sunset. So to sit in your house on your phones and doing that kind of stuff."
Latella has camped all over the country and says Pennsylvanians are lucky to have such beautiful state parks.
"They take care of the parks. They clean up the parks real well here, and we've been out as far as Arkansas down to New Orleans down in there and just love Pennsylvania state parks. We come to a lot of them," Latella said.
The next time you're looking for a way to connect with nature or try camping, these folks say you won't have to travel far for some good options.
If you plan on camping at Frances Slocum over the holiday, there are a few campsites available starting Saturday.