Travel Opportunities

2021 Travel Update:

You will notice trips are beginning to be planned as shown below, please maintain patience with our Travel Committee as changes may be necessary due to COVID; any changes will be communicated to those registered for various trips. If you have questions, contact someone on the travel committee.

The Pennsylvania Association of Retired State Employees (PARSE), the Central Penn Chapter is a non-profit organization comprised of volunteers who, for the benefit of all Retired Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Employees, their family and friends, sponsor travel trips for excursions, theatre and cruises. PARSE, The Central Penn Chapter is solely responsible for its own affairs and is completely independent of Pennsylvania State Government.

Rules for Travelers


When filling out the Reservation Form, please fill out completely. Complete address, pick-up location, phone number and number in your party, so that we know with whom you are traveling.

When traveling with PARSE, all seats are pre-assigned and your seat is assigned based on when you submitted your deposit. If you think you are interested in a trip, send a deposit of $50 per person for day trips or $100 per person for overnight trips. Seat assignments are set two to three weeks before the trip and then mailed out.

If you have a special request to sit in a certain area, you must make that request when you send in your registration (which should be as early as possible). This does not guarantee you will be in the front of the bus based on the number of special requests. If you are traveling with more than one other person, one will be sitting with you but the other people could possibly be placed further from you based on when you submitted your deposits. You will be seated together for all other activities. It is imperative that you send in your registrations as soon as you can. In the case of overnight trips, there are times that the money and number traveling must be submitted to the travel agency 30 to 45 days prior to the event. If we do not get enough reservations by that time, we will have to cancel the trip.

If there are two or more traveling together and are paying separate, please make sure that both payments are made in a timely manner. If one sends in and says their traveling partner will send theirs in separate, make sure they do. If not, and there are no seats left, the second person will be put on the back-up list. We cannot put you on the travelers list without payment. If you call and say you will be sending a payment and to please put you name down, our response will be that we can put your name in pencil on a separate sheet of paper but we cannot put your name on the list until we receive payment.

Date Trip Cost Status
November 5, 2026Revolutionary History$174 P.P.Available
Join PARSE on this day trip to Valley Forge and Philadelphia! Upon arrival at Valley Forge, enjoy a narrated tour of Valley Forge followed by a picnic lunch under a pavilion. In the afternoon, a different step-on guide will give a narrated tour of Philadelphia and its Revolutionary History. Trip Includes: Transportation, Valley Forge Tour, Boxed Lunch, Philadelphia Tour, Dinner at Black Power Tavern, Meal Gratuities. Driver Gratuity is not included.
December 9, 2026Dutch Apple Theatre: Holly Jolly Holiday$133 P.P.Available
Join PARSE on this day trip to the Dutch Apple Theatre! Enjoy a delicious lunch before the show - Holly Jolly Holiday! Trip includes: Transportation, Luncheon, Concert, Meal Gratuities. Driver Gratuity is not included.
February 4, 2027Dutch Apple Theatre: Shear Madness$155 P.P.Available
Join PARSE on this day trip to the Dutch Apple Dinner Theatre for *Shear Madness*! Enjoy a delicious lunch before this hilarious, interactive murder mystery comedy set in a hair salon, where the audience helps uncover clues and solve the crime! With spontaneous humor and an ending that can change from performance to performance, will you be able to crack the case? Trip includes: Transportation, Lunch, Show, Meal Gratuity. Driver Gratuity is not included.
March 31, 2027Sight & Sound Theater: Jonah$185 P.P.Available
Join PARSE on this day trip to Sight & Sound Theatre for Jonah! Enjoy a delicious smorgasbord luncheon at Hershey Farms Restaurant before experiencing the incredible biblical story of Jonah. Follow Jonah's unforgettable journey as he attempts to outrun God's calling, encounters a fierce storm, and finds himself inside the belly of a giant fish. This powerful theatrical production brings to life a story of grace, mercy, and second chances. Trip includes: Transportation, Buffet Lunch, Show, Meal Gratuities. Driver Gratuity is not included.
April 8, 2027Magic and Wonder Dinner Theater: Enchanted$143 P.P.Available
Join PARSE on this day trip to the Magic & Wonder Dinner Theater for Enchanted! Enjoy their delicious Grand Magical Buffet before stepping inside a mysterious magic shop where every artifact holds a secret and every room reveals an impossible surprise! Experience an unforgettable theatrical adventure filled with breathtaking illusions, spectacular storytelling, fascinating characters, and magical surprises. Trip includes: Transportation, Buffet Lunch, Show, Meal Gratuities. Driver Gratuity is not included.
April 28, 2027Penn's Peak: The Country Jamboree$137 P.P.Available
Join PARSE on this day trip to Penn's Peak for The Country Jamboree! Enjoy a delicious family-style luncheon featuring Penn's Peak signature Pot Roast before an afternoon celebrating the greatest hits of classic country music! This entertaining tribute brings the music of legendary artists like Hank Williams, Patsy Cline, Johnny Cash, Loretta Lynn, Merle Haggard, and Tammy Wynette to life. Trip includes: Transportation, Buffet Lunch, Show, Meal Gratuities. Driver Gratuity is not included.
May 15, 2027Hunterdon Hills Playhouse: Grease Is The Word$186 P.P.Available
Join PARSE on this day trip to Hunterdon Hills Playhouse for Grease Is the Word! Enjoy a delicious hot luncheon before taking a musical trip back to the 1950s! Get ready to hand-jive, sing along, and rock around the clock as this lively tribute to the music of *Grease* brings the unforgettable spirit of the '50s to life with powerhouse vocals, dazzling choreography, comedy, and audience participation. Trip includes: Transportation, Buffet Lunch, Show, Meal Gratuities. Driver Gratuity is not included.