Leap Day falls on Saturday only once every 28 years, and 2020 is one of those special years.

It’s an occasion worth noting, since the average person will experience it twice or — maybe — three times in a lifetime.

Keeping with the special day theme, here are five Leap Day day trips to consider. Listed in alphabetical order, they are all within easy driving distance of the region.

Erie

Presque Isle State Park is open year-round and worth a visit even in mid-winter. Like the other Great Lakes, Lake Erie is way above its average water level — get a gander at this bit of history in the making from one of the park’s beaches.

In town, learn about the history of the lake, including its part in the War of 1812, at the Erie Maritime Museum.

If you can’t wait for summer to swim, consider a stop at Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park for the pools, slides, surf machine, lazy river and more aquatic attractions. The water temperature, they say, is always 84 degrees.

If you’re interested in wildlife, stop by the Erie Zoo, where a frog-themed opening day celebration is planned for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Feb. 29. Admission is free and festivities will include presentations, activities, carousel rides and treats.

If you’re feeling lucky, swing by Presque Isle Downs & Casino and try your hot hand at the slots, table games, poker or sports betting.

The Erie area also offers plenty of variety in terms of restaurants, craft breweries and wineries.

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Harrisburg

Educational opportunities abound in the state capital, beginning with tours of the Pennsylvania State Capitol Complex. It’s good to book ahead for Saturday tours.

At the State Museum of Pennsylvania, peruse exhibits on founder William Penn and other iconic people, places, products and events; anthropology, geology and archaeology; transportation and industry; and the Civil War. History buffs also might like the National Civil War Museum and The Pennsylvania National Fire Museum.

View the mighty Susquehanna River from the downtown Riverfront Park, then walk a few blocks from water’s edge to the Broad Street Market to browse 40 vendors for locally grown and organic produce, meats and baked goods to take home or a meal to eat on-site. Founded in 1860, Broad Street is the oldest continuously operated market house in the United States.

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Johnstown

You can’t visit the Flood City without a stop at the Johnstown Flood Museum — forever etched in the local psyche is the legacy of the 1889 storm and dam break that swept the city and took 2,209 lives.

Grandview Cemetery is also worth a stop for the views that reflect its name and as the final resting place of many flood victims, including the “Unknown Plot” section, where lie 777 victims who could not be identified.

More information on the flood and the immigrants and industry that shaped the city can be found at the Heritage Discovery Center in the city’s Cambria City section. Take a walking tour of the area for its grand old ethnic churches and historic homes and businesses, some of which now house a growing art community.

You can linger for some Leap Day night life by signing up for “Mardi Crawl” food and drink specials and entertainment at downtownjohnstown.com.

Just a note: Johnstown’s almost-900-foot Inclined Plane is billed as the world’s steepest vehicular incline. Unfortunately, the incline is closed until the end of March, but the upper station in Westmont offers a spectacular view over the city and surrounding ridges.

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State College

The big draw in Happy Valley is, of course, the Pennsylvania State University.

Take a leisurely stroll around the 8,000-acre campus and take in the wonder that is Beaver Stadium — though the 107,000-seat arena will be quiet Feb. 29. Next, hoof it to the Berkey Creamery for more than 20 flavors of ice cream made from the milk of an on-campus herd of cows. Work off the calories by trekking to the Nittany Lion Shrine for selfies.

Other campus draws are the Palmer Museum of Art and the Penn State All-Sports Museum. In nearby Boalsburg is the Pennsylvania Military Museum, dedicated to the military history of the commonwealth from 1747 to the present.

For outdoor adventure, hike the trails of Mount Nittany just a few miles east of town and providing a sweeping view of campus. If the weather cooperates, there will be skiing, snowboarding and tubing at nearby Tussey Mountain.

And, in a town that 46,000 college students call home-away-from-home, there are plenty of food and drink establishments.

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Wheeling, W.Va.

Nestled between the Ohio River and the Appalachian foothills, Wheeling has a rich history as the state’s first capital and as a manufacturing center. That history is reflected in the Greek Revival and Victorian architecture of homes and businesses. Worth a walking tour, the central business district was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979.

Also notable is the Wheeling Suspension Bridge between the city proper and Wheeling Island. Completed in 1849, it was destroyed by a tornado five years later and rebuilt in 1856. From 1849 to 1851, it was the world’s longest single-span suspension bridge.

For fun, check out Oglebay Resort or Wheeling Island Casino. Oglebay offers something for everyone, from spa and shopping to hiking and horseback riding. The casino has, well, gambling — along with dining and nightlife.

Finally, Feb. 29 is “Penguins/Yinzer Night” as the Wheeling Nailers (the Penguins’ ECHL affiliate team) take on the Cincinnati Cylones at WesBanco Arena. Special guest will be former Penguins star Max Talbot. Best of all, tickets are $15, or $10 for ages 3-14.

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