Jara Farms

More on those state parks… while there are plenty of fishing ponds about this area, you're likely to have good luck with your fishing rod in Vandermark State Forest (15 minutes’ drive). This forest is packed with opportunities for other activities, such as snowshoeing, horse riding and birdwatching. It’s a similar story in Plumbottom State Forest (half an hour) too, where hunting and hiking are some of the go-to outdoor activities. Biking’s a way to up the pace a little and a good place for that is Phillips Creek State Forest (10 minutes). As well as cross-country skiing and snowmobiling, this forest has both hiking and cycling trails, and many a place to stop and put your camera to work on the wildlife. Of course, for some more challenging trails – this time for ATVs and dirt bikes – Tall Pines ATV Park (10 minutes) is your guy. Swimming’s simply splendid around the state too and it shows in Allegany State Park (an hour and five minutes), where there’s a sandy beach, two fishing piers and launches for canoes and kayaks. Another wild swimming spot is Wiscoy Falls (55 minutes), which feels properly wild with its challenging walking trail.