Pack up a picnic lunch. Roll up a few beach towels. Lace up the hiking shoes. We’re getting out of town for the day on a quick trip to beautiful Frances Slocum State Park. And we’re not doing any of the driving. That’s where the Luzerne County Transportation Authority and their popular #24 bus comes into play.

Every summer, the LCTA offers their Frances Slocum Express route from the Transit Center in Wilkes-Barre to Frances Slocum State Park in Wyoming. This year, the route will run from Monday, July 1 to Saturday, August 31.

The convenient, 30-minute route features 3 departures on weekdays and 2 on Saturdays. From the transit center, the bus makes stops in Kingston, Edwardsville, Luzerne, Forty Fort, Exeter and Wyoming on the way to the park. And with a late afternoon return, you can plan to spend an entire day enjoying one of NEPA’s favorite natural spaces.

Plan a whole day of fun & chill poolside

Claim a picnic table and set up for the day. Bring a volleyball or badminton set. Toss around a frisbee in the wide-open green fields. Load up your gear and drop a line in the 165-acre lake. Just make sure you have your fishing license. You can also rent a canoe, kayak, paddleboat or row boat and head out on the water. Explore nearly 14 miles of trails including the Lake Shore Trail which runs along the shore and offers a closer look at some of the park’s abundant wildlife (keep an eye out for turtles).

And of course, you’ll want to cool off in the massive, clear blue park pool. Spread out. Lay down some towels. Enjoy water slides and a shallow entry section for small children. The pool does require a small fee and also includes a full-service concession stand.

Take a day off. Hop on the #24 bus. And spend a lazy, summer day at beautiful Frances Slocum State Park.