Pocono News Section

One Tank Trip: Farm Vacations

One Tank Trip: Farm Vacations - Friday, July 18, 2008 at 5:50PM EST

Reported by: Jeff Chirico
Friday, Jul 18, 2008 @ 05:50pm EST
MCCLURE, SNYDER COUNTY--So what's your idea of a perfect vacation? Relaxing on a beach? Traveling to a European city? How about working on a farm? Farm vacations are becoming more popular. Pennsylvania has more than 2 dozen places to become one with the cows. Farmer Jeff joins us now with this week's One Tank Trip.

As more of us become environmentally conscious, many are leaving the city and suburbs to experience life on a farm --for at least a few days. This week's One Tank Trip takes us to McClure in Snyder County where visitors get down and dirty at Mountain Dale Farm.

As morning dawns over Mountain Dale Farm, farmhands get busy. It's hardly work for these vacationing cityslickers.

Nick Wells/Philadelphia "I like doing the farm chores and getting away from the city."

This Philadelphia family gave up car horns for cow bells.

Tony Wells/Philadelphia "It's a much better educational experience than Disneyland or something like that."

Sally Hassinger/ Mountain Dale Farm "We enjoy getting to know other people."

The Hassinger's have welcomed guests to their Snyder County homestead for more than thirty years.

Ken Hassinger/Mountain Dale Farm "Mountain Dale Farm is a place where we think, as a farm family, people can come and recharge their batteries." Visitors stay in modest cottages and twice a day roll up their sleeves to feed Mabeline or care for kids.

Justine Gluck/Paoli "It's really fun. I love animals so I get to help out with them."

Lynn Gluck/Paoli "We live in the suburbs so we don't have this experience at home of farm life."

New memories --and new lessons about where our food comes from.

“I think for them it's a thrill to go in a chicken hut and pick up an egg." "Everything starts here. If it wouldn't be for a farm, you couldn't live."

And it's not easy work. But as guests here, you do as much or little as you want. "People should come here if they want a relaxing vacation that's a little bit change of pace." An escape from busy lives in the peaceful Pennsylvania countryside.

For a list of Pennsylvania Farmstay locations go to

For more information about Mountain Dale Farm go to