Lago Winery in Jamestown, Pennsylvania

Last summer we began hearing great things about a new winery in nearby Jamestown. Being used to California wines, we're always a little skeptical about Pennsylvania wines - they're generally much sweeter than we're used to. Thankfully, we put our biases aside and visited Lago. 

The winery, located on a 200 year old estate, is absolutely gorgeous. We sat outside on a patio overlooking the estate and enjoyed delicious wood fired pizzas. In the picture above, you can see the fresh basil for our margarita pizzas. 

In case you're wondering, the wine was good! We'll be back for that, the pizzas, and eventually for the beer - they're in the process of building a brewery on the property.

Jamestown Pioneer Days

We go to Pioneer Days almost every year. Like every other time, we spent a pleasant afternoon talking to the various re-enactors.

President Lincoln was even there!
























You wouldn't see this in California! They're raffling off over fifty guns!

Jamestown Soapworks

Colleen's girls requested that their week at the lake include a Happy Feet Party at Jamestown Soapworks. Soapworks sits on beautifully landscaped property, where all of the natural soaps and lotions are made on site. When you go for a Happy Feet Party, you sit on the deck, enjoy lunch and then soak your feet in a peppermint-y foot bath and sample other Soapworks products. All for the whopping price of $2 each. While it does seem like an incredible bargain, I have to mention that the lunch tastes like a $2 lunch.

The girls...




The sisters...




Me and my cousin...




Our Happy Feet Party...

Happy Feet Party at Jamestown Soapworks

New on our activity list this summer - a Happy Feet Party for the girls at Soapworks in Jamestown!

All of the girls made these flip-flops before our 'party'.

Located in a beautiful, lush garden in Jamestown, Soapworks sells soaps, lotions and body scrubs - all made on site. Even the wooden soap holders are made by the owner's husband. The grounds were unbelievable.

A few days before our visit, we sat on the beach and made our flip-flops.

We strolled around the grounds before the party began.

Getting our instructions and Mardi Gras beads (this year's theme)

Wine, iced tea, lunch and dessert

Inside the store

The happy feet part - a foot soak in refreshing peppermint, then an exfoliating scrub. So relaxing!

Jamestown Pioneer Arts Festival

Every year, for I don't know how long, we've gone to the Jamestown Pioneer Arts Festival. On the bank of Pymatuning, the festival has Civil War and Native American encampments as well as arts and crafts and food booths.

Civil War Encampment from Pennsylvania Bucktails.

This guy is there every year. He had a new trick this year where he'd challenge people to a tug of war while standing on blocks of wood. As soon as his opponent began pulling he'd loosen his grip. He won every time.

New this year - Abe Lincoln himself! He even handed out cards with one of the newly designed Abe Lincoln pennies.

Pioneer Arts Festival in Jamestown

We go to the Pioneer Arts Festival every year. It's held nearby, on the banks of Pymatuning (in a beautiful area, not near the Spillway and those bread-eating fish). The two day event includes everything...Civil War reenactment, Native American village, crafts, kids activities, and pie eating contests.

Civil War reenactment...

Firing the guns...

In the Native American area...

The Native Americans in this area ate well! Examples of their food...

Candle making...

Blacksmiths...