City Island - Harrisburg, PA

Website: City Island
Season: City Island is open year-round but many of the activities are seasonal
Costs: free to walk around, various prices for other activities
Expected length of visit: a couple of hours, longer if taking a boat ride or watching a ball game
Recommended ages: all ages

City Island in Harrisburg is a nice place to visit, not exactly something to go out of your way to experience, but a nice way to kill some time on a nice day. If nothing else you can get some great exercise walking around the island.

We went on a Saturday afternoon, specifically to ride the little steam train that goes around the island. The ride was $2 for a short trip (in 2007). Warning: The whistle is loud and may scare small children so sit towards the back. We weren't that smart and by the end, my son was insisting that I cover his ears tightly.

Other activities on the island include a small arcade, batting cages, a small carousel, a play area (that consists mainly of miniature buildings, a small boat, etc), an area of food vendors, miniature golf, a small beach (at your own risk - I've often seen it closed because bacteria levels were too high), carriage rides, the Pride of the Susquehanna, and of course, Commerce Park which hosts the Harrisburg Senators minor league baseball team. There are areas and pavillions available for picnics. It's also just a nice place to walk, run or ride bikes. You can cross over the pedestrian bridge and cover the ground along the waterfront on Front Street too.

Parking was free when we got there but by the time we left they were charging. I believe they only charge during the week and on weekends when there are events (there was a Senators game starting soon after we left that day). I'm not completely sure though - I didn't see any clear signage explaining how it works.

Refreshment prices didn't seem unreasonable. The soda machines actually sold sodas for 50 cents. I'm so used to machines charging exhorbitant amounts in entertainment areas, that was refreshing. We purchased 2 cans of soda, a soft pretzel and a root beer float ice cream treat and it was $3-$4 for all of it.

I'm sure we'll visit again. It's only about a 20 minute drive so it's a place we can always visit at the last moment when there's nothing else on the agenda.

Please add your comments regarding this activity or let me know if you have any questions about it that I might be able to answer.