Brigita McKelvie - Lehigh Valley, PA, Residential, Rural & Horse Properties

The Trexler Nature Preserve has opened for all to enjoy in the Lehigh Valley area in Pennsylvania.

Gen. Harry C. Trexler, who died in 1993 and was Lehigh County's most influential citizen, left more than 1,100 acres in the Schnecksville area to the people of the county to enjoy the great outdoors. He wanted to help conserve some of our wildlife in the proper setting. Gen. Trexler loved the outdoors and gave the property to share his love of the outdoors with his fellow people and future generations.

Friday, October 30th, 2009, county and other officials formally dedicated the Trexler Nature Preserve. It is now open for hiking, walking, biking, horseback riding, bird watching, picnicing, fishing, and bow hunting in season.

For years, the Lehigh Valley Zoo, located in a small section of the property, was the only accessible part of the land to the public. A few years ago the county leased the zoo to a private operator. The county then developed a plan for the preserve.

The project included removing non-native plants, allowing native brush to grow and animals such as red fox, coyotes, deer, turkey and bluebirds to thrive.

Stream beds were also restored so people could fish.

The Wildlands Conservancy helped in developing the plan. Community groups such as The Valley Mountain Bikers, the International Mountain Bikers and the Lehigh County Equestrian Council helped build the trails and the Appalacian Mountain Club helped the county parks department with trail mapping.

For more information, click here.

Once again Halloween is upon us with lots of "haunted houses" and parks open to scare us out of our wits.

Did you know that the Lehigh Valley here in Pennsylvania does actually have haunted buildings? It's true!

Here are some of the buildings with actual ghost sightings:

1. State Theaterin Easton

2. Sun Inn in Bethlehem

3. Former Carbon County Jail in Jim Thorpe

4. Inn at Maple Grove in Alburtis

5. The Widows Tavern & Grillein Stockertown

6. King George Inn in Allentown

7. Riegelsville Public Libraryin Riegelsville (of course)

-(Source: Morning Call research)

I'm sure there are many other buildings in the Lehigh Valley that ghost sightings have occurred. If you have, or know of any, feel free to post it in the comments to share with everyone.

If you want to encounter a real ghost on Halloween, visit one of these buildings, if you dare. OOoooooooooo.

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!

The Halloween Parade for Nazareth, Pennsylvania will be held this coming Saturday, October 31, 2009.

The parade is great to watch. It has many great floatsput on by area businesses, groups and clubs, bands, some really neat costumes, fire trucks, Rajahs driving their little antique cars, and much, much more.

There are a number of divisions in the parade and every float is judged in each division.

The parade usually has a huge turnout.

The parade was actually supposed to have been held on October 17th, but due to rain, it was postponed until this coming Saturday.

Come early to get a good seat to see the parade.

The Lipizzaner Stallions are coming to the Lehigh Valley this weekend! Sunday, October 18th, 2009, they will be performing at Lehigh University's Stabler Arena at 2PM and 6PM.

The Lipizzaner breed originated in Vienna, Austria around 1700. The horses and riders ride the routines to music. It seems as if they are dancing.

The highlight of the performance is the "Airs Above the Ground". This routine includes leaps and maneuvers once used by soldiers in he battlefield to protect themselves.

The horses show strength and skill in the Levade, in which they maintain a hunched position at a 45 degree angle, The Capriole, in which the stallions leap into the air, simultaneously tucking their forelegs under their chests and fiercely kicking out their hind legs, and the Courbette, in which the horse rears on it's hind legs and hops forward.

Tickets are availalable in advance or at the show.

If you missed last weekend's Northampton County Open Gate Farm Tour, don't fret. You have another opportunity. This Sunday, October 18th, 2009, Lehigh County is holding theirs.

The Lehigh County Open Gate Tour will run from 1-5PM, rain or shine, and it's FREE. Fifteen farms will open their gates for the public to see their agriculture based operations.

The participating farms will include an equestrian center, a vineyard, a native plant nursery, restored historic farm, fruit stand with cider mill and an alpaca farm.

Some farms will be selling cider, pumpkins, apples and other locally grown items.

Click here for a list of participating farms, their locations and if you would like more information.