Are you looking for a place to enjoy the summer and take the family on a trip but can't afford it? WJAC-TV's Chief Meteorologist Jim Burton is coming to the rescue by hopping on his Harley and taking a trip to some of the best places in the Alleghenies to have fun and enjoy a one-tank trip.

Burton started out by rolling north from the Laurel Highlands up Route 119 to Punxsutawney, where he picked up Route 36 North into Brookville through Sigel and into Cook Forest.

His first stop was at the Double Diamond Deer Ranch on Route 36 North, where Rusty the Deer Lady is always ready to greet visitors with a laugh and a smile. Rusty is well-known and respected across the state for her knowledge of white tail deer and provides her herd with acres and acres of natural habitat and an abundance of love. People of all ages can have one-on-one encounters with her deer, and the youngest visitors love to care for the tiniest members of the deer family -- the 1-month-old fawns -- come feeding time.

The Double Diamond boasts all types of deer from typical white tail, white deer and piebald deer. While there, people can spend time visiting the museum there which is full of mounted animals like moose, bobcat and some of the former residents of the deer ranch, including "Gloith," the most celebrated deer of all, or duck out of the hot sun and play a round of glow-in-the-dark mini golf.

After saying goodbye to Rusty, Burton headed back on the bike for a short trip on Route 36 to the Clarion River Valley, where a dip in the river sounds inviting to visitors on a hot summer day.

People can choose from renting canoes and kayaks to taking a more laid-back trip down the river in an inner tube with the help of Brent Lipford, who will take people up the river a few miles and let the gentle current bring people back to the landing area in Cook Forest.

For those who don't like the water, the area offers plenty of hiking, biking and horseback riding trails to suit every skill level too.

Finally, after a day full of adventure, people can stay in the forest for a relaxing night in a log cabin. There are many places in the area offering accommodations from rustic campgrounds and small cabins and other places ready to host a huge family with all of the comforts of home. Couple that with well-stocked stores, trading posts and a variety of great restaurants, travelers are set for a fantastic one-tank trip to a great destination.

Cook Forest is a great family getaway destination for a week, a weekend or even a day, and for local people, they can go on just one tank of fuel. Round trip from the Laurel Highlands is about 220 miles, and people can get there by taking Route 119 or 219 North to 36. The forest is about 16 miles north of Interstate 80.

To get your vacation started, call Cook Forest State Park at 814-744-8407 or visit cookforest.com.