Raccoon Creek State Park is a short drive from Aliquippa, and a good day there starts with a car that is packed before you leave the driveway.
Start with the car
Back roads out to the lake are pretty, but they are also where a soft tire or a dead battery leaves you waiting a long time for help. Two items do most of the work: a cordless tire inflator you can set to the right pressure, and a trunk kit with jumper cables, a tow strap and basic first aid.
- Check tire pressure the night before, while the tires are cold
- Keep the emergency kit in the trunk all year, not only in winter
- Throw a phone charger and a paper map in the glove box, because signal drops near the water
Pack for the people
Bring shades, slip-on shoes for the beach and the trails, a cooler, and more water than you think. If the kids are swimming, pack a dry change of clothes for the ride home.
Pack for the dog
Most trails welcome leashed dogs. A paw cleaner cup by the back door means the mud from the lake stays in the yard. A few squeaky balls keep the dog busy at the picnic table.
On the way home
Five minutes with a handheld vacuum takes care of the sand on the floor mats before it gets ground in. Then the car is ready for next weekend.
