This is just one of the beautiful sites you can see here  at Ohiopyle State Park. This photo was taken by Brandi one of our employees here at White Water Adventurers. Near where our Family Rafting Trips begin. Planning a DC Weekend Trip ? Stop in Pennsylvania just to see what we have to offer. No traffic jams on our Beltway.

Summer is finally here. The rafting in Ohiopyle State Park has been unbelievable all spring - great water levels, not to cold. But now, the water is 3 feet on the gauge and the temperture is in the 90's. The first wave in Entrance rapid will definately get you going!

 Ohiopyle is such a great place for a family vacation. There are so many things to do. You can rent bikes for very reasonable prices. The bike trial is located at the end of town where you can either go to the left which will take you along the lower yough.This is also nice because you can walk from the bike trail right down to different rapids on the river and watch some of the rafting trips go by. Then if you decided to go to the right side of the bike trail that will take you along side the middle yough. The Middle yough is the part of the river which is mellow and great for young children to enjoy the outdoors. 

When you think about family rafting trips, you might think about yourself and family traveling to our area for rafting near Pittsburgh.

We consider family rafting trips a different way...our staff. Being in the tourism industry, we have had many employees come and go over the 37 years we've been operating. They come to us from high school or college and usually spend several years with us before leaving to pursue their real careers.

But then a funny thing happens. They come back. They call on the phone just to see how things are going. They send Christmas cards and let us know what's going in their lives. They come back and guide on the river for the summer, on the weekends, during their vacations. Just like parents, we welcome them home, like lost family members.

So when you come rafting with us this summer, ask your guides what they do for their "real" job. You might have Tim who does web design, John who is an EMT, Michael or Chad who are both firemen, Steve who works in graphic design, Pete or Jeff who are both teachers, Joe who is a chef,  Pat who is a political consultant, or one of our many other returning family members.

Several years ago, my husband & I had the opportunity to go horseback riding through the rainforest in Puerto Rico. Guess what? It rained...no check that... it poured. We ended up soaked.  To this day, we laugh at the memory of the time that we got "rained on" in the rainforest.

Pennsylvania rafting is somewhat similar. You never know what is going to happen on any given day. Because we are in the mountains, our weather is unpredictable and we experience the full range of the seasons and all mother nature has to offer.
I was recently speaking with one of our guests who took one of our rafting guided trips on a cold, spring day. When I asked her if she had a good time, she replied, (I'm paraphrasing) that anyone could go rafting on an 80 degree summer day, but to wake up in the morning and see it snowing and still go rafting...That was an adventure.

How true. You only live once so you need to capture adventure where and when you can find it.  And just like my horseback riding experience through the rainforest, family rafting trips in the cold and rain create those lasting memories that bring a smile to your face when someone says, "Remember that time when..."

You might think that it was too cold for Pennsylvania white water rafting, but we had a trip today. Everyone donned plenty of cold weather gear (wetsuits, booties, and gloves) and headed for the river. They all looked quite colorful in their blue suits, and red life jackets.

Our wetsuits are farmer john style (like bib overalls) and come with either a nylon jacket or neoprene paddling jacket. So...you might be wondering, just what do you wear under a wetsuit? They must be right up against your skin for maximum effectiveness. Bathing suits are generally the preferred attire.

Part of the fun of Pennsylvania rafting is getting into a wetsuit in the spring. Not always the most attractive river attire but who cares when you get a day of fun on the river instead of being at work or school.