With the current exorbitant fuel prices, it could be a challenge to find locations you and the family can enjoy without wrecking the budget. If you live anywhere in the area of Ohio and Pennsylvania bounded by Cleveland, Akron and Pittsburgh, a little known Pennsylvania county bordering Ohio may be just the spot for some budget weekend excursions. Mercer County, about 80 miles from Cleveland, 55 from Akron and 75 from Pittsburgh has a variety of attractions, several of which are sure to appeal to you and the other members of your family. I-79 connects the county with Erie and Pittsburgh and I-80 connects it with the Ohio cities to the west and many Pennsylvania cities to the east.
   Hot on the want-to-see list is Daffins Candy Factory, Home of the Chocolate Kingdom and the world's largest candy store at 7 Spearman Ave in Farrell (724-983-8336). The factory tours are available (by appointment) from mid September to mid April. Their nearby retail store at 496 E State Street in Sharon is open during normal business hours the entire year. Here is where you can collect your reward for visiting Mercer County.
   To get to Daffins retail store, if you're eastbound, take exit 234-B of I-80 in OHIO. Follow US-62 northeast into Pennsylvania all the way to PA-718 (S, Dock St). Turn left of Dock St and follow it to State Street. Turn right and Daffins, the 'Chocolate Kingdom' is on your right about 1/4 mile east.
   If you're westbound, take exit 4-B in Pennsylvania which puts you on the PA-60 freeway. The freeway ends a little less than a mile from I-80 and becomes Broadway. Just follow Broadway 5 miles to State Street in Sharon. (Note: when you leave Farrell and enter Sharon, Broadway becomes Dock Street.) At State Street turn right and Daffins, the 'Chocolate Kingdom' is on your right about 1/4 mile east.
   To visit the Winner, world's largest off-price fashion store, when you get to State Street instead of turning right, turn left and the Winner store is on your right about 1/4 mile west of Dock St.
    To visit Reyers, the 'world's largest shoe store', continue a bit further west on State Street to South Water Ave. Turn left and they are about 150 feet south of State..
   The Vocal Group Hall of Fame & Museum, 82 W State St, Sharon (724-983-2025). Their overall goal is to honor and respect the true legacy of Vocal Group members, serving to maintain the highest degree of integrity of the true pioneers and makers of America’s music.
   Sharon has a unique restaurant. But it is the name that really grabbed our attention: Quaker Steak and Lube at 101 Chestnut. We found that it is a home-grown fast food chain now franchising units in many other states in the Eastern U.S. Though you can "cook your own steak", their specialties seem more in the area of chicken wings and hamburgers. The 'lube' bit is a reflection of their race car and motorcycle theme (there are even a few on display).
  Follow the above directions from I-80 to State Street. When you reach State Street, turn left, go 2 blocks to Chestnut, turn left, again, and you'll see their unique building about 150 feet south of the intersection.
   Philadelphia Candies at 1546 E State St (724-981-6341) in Hermitage, just east of Sharon, also manufactures exceptional chocolates and confections. They are open during normal business hours throughout the year.
   Hermitage is home of the famous Avenue of 444 Flags and the American Freedom Museum. Here is a wonderful example of American patriotism that doesn't just pup up sporadically with some disaster. It is a reminder, and memorial, of the poeple and events than have ensured a continuance of our freedoms -- unique to the United States of America.
   Buhl Farm Park, 300 acres of scenic trees and flowers and fun attractions in both Sharon and Hermitage, offers almost unlimited outdoor activities and has 'the only FREE 9-hole golf course in the world'. The property was donated to a special private foundation to assure the property would always be available to people to enjoy. The park also has 5 miles of roads for walking, jogging and biking.
   Hermitage has several seasonal offerings that have become very popular. The Golden Run Clydesdales at 4816 Lamor Road (724-962-9195) helps celebrate the harvest season with their hayrides. The hay wagons are pulled, of course, by their huge Clydesdales. These start with the last weekend in September and will be available every weekend in October.
(There is a small charge of $5 for folks over the age of 3.)
   Kraynak's Christmasland & Easter Bunny Lane, 2525 E State St, Hermitage (724-347-4511) - has two seasonal annual attractions. Santa's Christmasland which will open on the 10th of September at 0900. This has been very popular with the younger set. In the Spring for several weeks preceding Easter they ost a special Easter Bunny Lane.
   Up in the northern end of Mercer County is Greenville with its Canal Museum featuring a full-size replica of a typical canal boat operating on the canal from 1842-1871. Also in Greenville is the Railroad Museum featuring Engine 604, an original steam locomotive, plus a typical flat car and caboose from the steam engine period.
   Shenango River Lake, an 11-mile-long impoundment, is the largest body of water in Pennsylvania. Boating, probably the most popular of the varied recreational activities at Shenango River Lake, is made very convenient with their six boat launch ramps (including one in Sharpsville near the dam). Most of the lake is available for unlimited horsepower operation and water skiing though some areas are designated for 10 horsepower motors and minimum wake only. Campers visiting Shenango River Lake can enjoy the spacious and modern facilities available at the Shenango Recreation Area 330 campsite campground. Hot showers, flush toilets and a sanitary disposal station are provided. Many of the campsites are equipped with electric hookups and are RV friendly.
   Campsites can be reserved in advance through the National Recreation Reservation Service (NRRS), an interagency one-stop center for recreation reservations. Reservations can be made up to six months before arrival by calling the NRRS (toll-free) at 1-877-444-6777 or on their web site .
   If you are traveling in an RV, you can view a list of RV parks near I-80 at the I-80 RV Guide.
   We suggest that you visit Mercer County some weekend and check it out. There is an excellent Radisson hotel just of I-80 with an indoor heated pool and courtyard, Health Club and exercise gym, Sauna, high speed internet access and on-premises restaurant. This makes a convenient base from which you can explore the many attractions of Mercer County.