Staying Active and Healthy in Butler County

Tired of being cooped up at home? Ready to take advantage of all the healthy lifestyle opportunities in Butler County? Well, let us help you out!

Shop for fresh fruits and vegetables at the farmers markets or dine at one of our farm-to-fork restaurants.

There’s a good meal and a fun activity out there for everyone. Experience Butler County while doing your mind and body some good!

Fresh Ingredients

Stock your kitchen with Freedom Farms’ fresh produce and local meat produced with no hormones, antibiotics, or steroids! While you’re there, ask about their upcoming events like Dinner in the Fields and the Sweet Corn Festival. You could also try your hand at “Goat Yoga” or take some photos in the sunflower fields during their Sunflower Happy Hours this summer from 3-8pm on the first Monday of the month.

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A unique addition to your shopping cart would be none other than the PA Simply Sweet Onion, a specialty of Harvest Valley Farms. They are also known for their greens and sweet corn, which is picked at peak timing to ensure freshness. Feel free to visit their online plant store or their Farm Market Store location, which is open daily.

To browse a selection of locally-sourced jams, dairy, eggs, meats, coffee, spices, and more, stop in at the Butler Farmers Market, Thoma Meat Market, and Sweetwater Farms! You can find Sweetwater Farms at their main storefront, Zelienople Open Air Market on Thursday nights and the Cranberry Township Farmers Market on Fridays! They also work closely with several other local businesses to help them incorporate fresh produce into their menu items. Check out their facebook page for details!

Dine Out

Visit health-minded Freshii for some delicious smoothies, soups, burritos and more at their Cranberry Township location. All meals are made to order, so customize it however you please!

North Country Brewing Company and Burgh’ers Brewing are the perfect choices if you’re looking for locally-sourced ingredients. Both of these breweries practice farm-to-fork and have received awards for their sustainability efforts. North Country Brewing Company was awarded for their “Growing Together Aquaponics” Program and Burgh’ers Brewing for sustainability practices. You will taste the difference of locally-sourced ingredients at both of these restaurants.

Situated right along Breakneck Creek, you’ll find Breakneck Tavern, which has a commitment to sustainability. Everything from their recycled materials used to construct the building to electronic billing and advertising practices was implemented with sustainability as a priority.

Indoor Activities

Get your body moving with a fundamentals course at Crossfit Recreate, designed to meet you at your skill level. Chat one-on-one with a trainer to see which class is right for you! Personal training, group classes, even kids and teen classes in everything from nutrition to athletic conditioning!

Get Fit Families is a great resource for getting the family out of the house and participating in something fun! They have events going on all year long and plenty of youth and training programs to choose from! They also facilitate a number of races in the area so if you are interested in training towards a goal, consider registering for one of their triathlons.

The Butler YMCA located in downtown Butler and Rose E. Schneider Family YMCA located in Cranberry Township are both fantastic options if you want variety or are on the hunt for something specific. Each has multiple pools and gymnasiums, and fitness centers. Browse the endless list of classes for all ages and interests. You can take a look at their class and event schedules or just pop in to use the open facilities.

One of Butler County’s most well known sports centers is UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex. It’s a great place for public skating, ice hockey or figure skating lessons, day camps, and performance training.

Outdoor Activities

With so many amazing trails, Butler County is a great place to go for a bike ride. Pedal along the paved bike path at Moraine State Park that runs along the shoreline of Lake Arthur. This scenic trail is 7-miles (each way) located on the north shore that winds throughout the park through various terrains. Another great option for biking is the Butler-Freeport Community Trail, a 21-mile rail-trail with a crushed limestone surface that runs north to south.

Need to rent a bike while out at Moraine State Park? No problem - just visit Spoke House Bike Rentals located along the North Shore. If you’re on the Butler-Freeport Community Trail, be sure to stop by the Derailleur Bike Shop Cafe for wholesome snacks, beverages or bike repairs.. If you’re looking for gear or a bicycle of your very own, check out Rapp’s Bicycle Center and Dapper Bicycle.

If you are an experienced mountain biker, Butler County has trails for you too! Moraine State Park is home to a challenging, six-mile long, off-road loop trail.. Another mountain biking destination is Alameda Park, which has an eleven-mile long single track with a variety of trails for differing abilities!

Get in touch with Cranberry Township Parks and Recreation for information on local programs and facilities. They have an array of parks varying from skate parks to water parks to dog parks! Don’t forget to pick up or download one of their program guides for even more ideas!

Recreational sports are the preferred way of many to stay active, and Butler County’s three championship disc golf courses are a great resource! Visit Lakeview Disc Golf Course in Moraine State Park, Slippery Rock University Disc Golf Course, and Cranberry Township Disc Golf Course in North Boundary Park to get in some practice! Each course offers a unique experience. Lakeview has the challenges of forests and meadows. Slippery Rock University is a campus course with hills and the Cranberry Township Course features the largest disc golf course in Pennsylvania!

Among the many activities available at Moraine State Park is SurfSUP Adventures. They offer an array of Eco Tours and Specialty tours such as a night-time glow tour and yoga tour on Lake Arthur. They also sell and rent paddleboard equipment and offer lessons.

Fresh Air

Clear your head and enjoy the outdoors on one of the area’s many trails. Most notably the Glacier Ridge Trail, part of the North Country National Scenic Trail and Butler-Freeport Community Trail. Stretching 4,625 miles, the North Country trail is the longest National Scenic Trail and you can experience it right here in Butler County! Butler-Freeport Community Trail is a 21-mile gorgeous rails-to-trails project, preserving the route of the county’s first railroad.

Moraine State Park is a nature lover’s paradise with opportunities for swimming, boating, hiking, bird watching, camping, and more on a total of 16,725 acres. Attracting about 1.4-million visitors each year, the 71 miles of trails and picturesque Lake Arthur provide the perfect getaway for those needing a breath of fresh air.

Perfect for children and families, Alameda Park is home to playgrounds, trails, a waterpark, picnic pavilions, and occasionally events! Whether your family is looking for a relaxing walk and picnic or a day full of play at the waterpark or playgrounds, Alameda park is the place to be!

Events

Looking for a fun and unique way to stay active? Sign up to compete in Tough Mudder! Everyone is welcome with a level for kids and two levels for adults. This year it will be October 2- 3, so start your training and don’t be afraid to get dirty!