5 Things to do in Punxsy

 

 

 

Punxsutawney was voted National Geographic's "Most Boring Town in America" in 2008.  Well not really, but that sentence may have grabbed your attention.  It probably even sounded believable because lets face it, there's not much going on in this little town.  This seems fitting because the town of Punxsy needs an attention grabber of itself to even put it on the map.  As most of you probably know, that attention grabber occurs every February 2nd, Groundhog Day.  Groundhog Day is an old tradition where crazy old men in suits and top hats go up on a stage at five o'clock in the morning to pull a rodent named Phil out of a fake stump and tell people if it saw its shadow or not.  If standing in a large crowd of people shivering from the cold throughout the entire night while watching dancers and entertainers sounds like your cup of tea, then go for it.  However, you can find out about Groundhog Day just by typing a few words into a search engine.  I'm going to tell you five things that us natives do in order to keep ourselves busy.

 

5.  Skate Park

 

        That's right, this tiny little town has a skate park.  Although the skate park may be proportioned pretty well with the town, at least it's something.  If you're the kind of person who likes to skateboard, BMX, or even play street hockey, then you will find interest in the park.  The park is located in East End behind the Kuntz car dealership. 

 

 

4.  Rails to Trails

 

 

         If you're from the city, you may have never heard of a rails to trails.  Let me explain.  Punxsutawney used to be a major railroad town, which you might find can still hold true when you get stuck behind a train changing cars for twenty minutes.  But the railroad industry has dwindled, causing many railroad lines to be removed.  Rather than just leave these old railroad beds abandoned, they have been turned into walking trails.  The trail in Punxsy runs along Mahoning Creek and goes right through town and then into the woods.  Along this trail you will find bicycles, joggers, and usually some wildlife (birds, deer, GROUNDHOGS).  So if you enjoy the outdoors or just want to get a workout in a more interesting environment, this trail is the place to go.  You can get on the trail almost anywhere in town.  The closest place to get on is by taking the road across from Kwik Fill (Water Street) down towards the river and you will find the trail.

 

 

3.  Eat

         

   

          Yes, eating can be one of the most entertaining things to do in Punxsy.  Although you're just eating, it gives you something to do and go spend quality time with friends.  We have your normal chain restaurants, but then we have some quality family owned restaurants and dives.  My personal favorites are Frankenstein's, Franks Star Lunch, Joe's Drive Inn, Rumor's Tavern, Tres Amigos, and Chinese Buffet.  A few other worthy of mention are Pizza Town, Punxsy Pizza, Lily's, Stone House, Gimmick's, Neko's, and the famous Punxsutawney Phil's.  If you're a breakfast lover, then Punxsy Phil's and Lily's are good choices, but the best breakfast you'll ever eat will come from the Amish.  Take a drive out to Big Run or Panic (both 10 minutes from town) and you will find goliath pancakes, homemade cooking from scratch, and the best donuts and sweets that a person can find.  If you like something from another land, try Tres Amigos for authentic Mexican, Chinese Buffet, or China Wok for authentic Chinese.  If you're a wings and pizza kind of person, try Rumor's, the Stone House, Pizza Town, or Wednesday all you can eat wing nights at Gimmicks.  For burgers and fries, my favorites are Joe's Drive Inn, Frankenstein's, and Frank's Star Lunch.  If you know me and you have any questions about these places or how to find them, don't be afraid to ask.  If you're a complete stranger, it's no different because a stranger is just a friend we've never met.  So I'd love to give all of you a personal tour of the best restaurants in Punxsy!

 

 

 

2.   Go Somewhere Else

 

 

 

           I know this might sound like cheating, but it's true.  There is only so much entertainment in Punxsy.  One of the most entertaining things to do is take a short road trip to Dubois or Indiana to go to a movie or the mall. 

 

 

 

1.   Hang Out

 

 

         The single biggest thing to do in Punxsy is hang out with your friends.  The thing I love most about living in a little town is that it teaches us how to make our own fun.  In my opinion, one of the most crucial skills a person can learn is how to have fun by thinking outside the box.  Rather than sit inside and watch TV, go out and play basketball or football.  Go do something that's going to keep you busy and keep you out of trouble.  Unfortunately, many kids here don't have the ability to make their own fun.  But you can be different, you should learn to make the best of any situation because no matter how bad you think you have it, the chances are there is someone who has it twice as bad.