Hex signs point to Pennsylvania Dutch country

BY SYLVIA E. KING-COHEN | sylvia.king-cohen@newsday.com

April 20, 2008

See a miniature train-view of the country during different period of history at Roadside America in Shartlesville. At 6,000 square feet, it offers hours of fun and discovery as you watch miniature trolleys, read tiny signs in shop windows and operate parts of the display. (Newsday / Norman E. Cohen)

The next time you're on the way to Hershey, Pa., or other spots along Interstate 78, get off - on the Hex Highway.

Lesser-known Old Route 22 is an 87-mile stretch of two-lane highway that begins at Exit 54A and runs mostly parallel to Interstate 78. Folk art, known as hex signs, adorns barns in Pennsylvania Dutch country. It's a debate as to whether the signs, which easily can be seen from the highway, were strictly art or were designed to "ward off" bad things. Whatever the back story, these circular disks are a treat. You'll spy them on farm buildings, large red barns, sides of restaurants, on the doors of homes and other places. It is fun to make a game of spotting them. For information on hex signs visit hexsigns.org.

ATTRACTIONS

In between hex signs, Crystal Cave Park (610-683-6765, crystalcave pa.com), near Kutztown and Route 222, is about halfway between Reading and Allentown. You can spend a few hours - or a day - there taking part in a 45-minute guided tour of the caves ($11 adults, $7 kids 4-11) panning for gemstones (keep what you find), hiking and picnicking among its nearly 125 scenic acres. Or, skip all the educational stuff and go straight to the gift shop, ice cream parlor, mini-golf and Dutch food building.

Another fun surprise is Shartlesville's Roadside America (610-488-6241, road sideamericainc.com), which touts itself as "the world's greatest indoor miniature village." At 6,000 square feet, it's a model train aficionado's dream, with running water, tiny moving people and animals. Visitors can push buttons to make parts move. Open daily, admission is $3-$6.

A more adult break is a stop for wine tasting at Pinnacle Ridge Winery (610-756-4481, pinridge.com), just outside Kutztown on Old Route 22. It is housed in a restored 1851 barn that sports multiple hex signs, in fact, one of the best examples along the highway. Tasting room closes at 5 p.m. Also in the area is Clover Hill Vineyards and Winery (9850 Newtown Rd., 610-395-2468, cloverhillwinery.com) near Breinigsville, which opened to the public in 1985.

Located near Kempton along the Appalachian Flyway in east-central Pennsylvania is the scenic Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, hawkmountain .org, about five miles off the Hex Highway. It provides visitors an outstanding, year-round nature experience with its mountaintop vistas and 8 miles of hiking trails.

If you make it all the way to the end of the Hex Highway, which becomes Route 501, you'll hit part of the Appalachian Trail. The parking isn't great - about 10 spaces near a locked metal gate - but stepping on a bit of the 2,175-mile trail that stretches from Maine to Georgia is. Call 717-258-5771 or visit appalachiantrail.org for details.

WHERE TO STAY

Bethel Comfort Inn - Midway, off Interstate 78 at Exit 16 in Bethel, 717-933-8888, is about 25 miles from Hershey Park. Rates range from about $84 to $125 a night, plus tax. If you want a little more activity in your evening, try the Campus Inn, 15080 Kutztown Rd. in Kutztown, Pa., 610-683-8721, where you're within walking distance of Kutztown University. Double occupancy rates are $60-$75, plus tax. Microtel Inns & Suites, 50 Industrial Dr. in Hamburg, 610-562-4234, costs about $92-$120 a night. Hawk Mountain Bed and Breakfast, 610-756-4224, hawkmoun tainbb.com, 221 Stony Run Valley Rd., Kempton, which has eight rooms, is about two miles off the Hex Highway. Two of the eight rooms have fireplaces in the bedrooms and two-person whirlpool baths. Rates run $140-$190 a night, double occupancy, and include full breakfast.

WHERE TO EAT

The Country Cupboard, 71 Penn St. in Lenhartsville, 610-562-5844, serves homemade soups and fresh-made sandwiches. They're happy to make you a take-along snack or picnic-size box.

Haag's Hotel, Main Street in Shartlesville, 610-488-6692, opens for breakfast at 7 a.m. and stays open until 7:30 p.m. Pennsylvania Dutch-style dinner, an all-you-can-stand affair is $15-$16.50 per adult (one to three meats); $8 ages 7-12; and $4 ages 3-6, free younger than 3. You also can order from the menu.

Pappy T's Pub and Lounge (50 Industrial Dr., Hamburg, in the Microtel, 610-562-4234) offers casual dining and 18 TV screens. Bar food, burgers, sandwiches and drinks can easily be had for less than $15 a person.

Dietrich's Meats and Country Store (Interstate 78, Exit 40 in Krumsville; 610-756- 6344,dietrichsmeats.com) is a traditional Pennsylvania Dutch butcher and country store with a massive selection of smoked beef, pork, lamb and outstanding soft beef jerky.

Deitsch Eck Restaurant (87 Penn. St. in Lenhartsville, 610-562-8520) is popular with the locals for Dutch treats such as chicken potpie, lettuce with hot bacon dressing, smoked sausages and Shoo Fly Pie. Meals average $10 to $15, including dessert.