PENNSYLVANIA TRAVEL GUIDE
Welcome to the Bigroads ultimate travel guide to Pennsylvania! Hopefully this page helps provide some inspiration and tips to help you plan your next trip to Pennsylvania.
Take note that I build and maintain this website as both a hobby and public service. I take joy in performing travel research and sharing my experiences and adventures. I currently do not make a profit from this website, and you will see no invasive or annoying ads on it. Your constructive feedback about this site and its content is encouraged. Please email me if you have any suggestions or ideas for improvement.
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Pennsylvania is one of the most popular states for tourism. There's just so many interesting places to be discovered all across the state. Do you enjoy amusement parks? Pennsylvania has a ton of top-rated amusement parks. Like waterfalls? Pennsylvania's got dozens of excellent ones. Like rail trails? Pennsylvania may just be the #1 state in the U.S. for cycling trails. Pennsylvania also has a lively Amish/Dutch culture region as well as several key Civil War and Revolutionary War sites. On top of all that are the attraction and museum-packed cities of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
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TOP 10 ATTRACTIONS IN PENNSYLVANIA
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Are you short on time or struggling to choose something to do or see in Pennsylvania? Here are my selections for the top 10 attractions or experiences in Pennsylvania, in no particular order:
✮ Take in the Revolutionary War and other historic sites in downtown Philadelphia
✮ Enjoy the sights and food of Amish/Dutch country
✮ Tour a decommissioned prison at Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia
✮ Visit the Civil War sites and museums of Gettysburg
✮ Ride the famous rollercoasters of Hersheypark
✮ Try a famous Philly cheesesteak, they definitely meet the hype (I recommend Dalessandro's or Sonny's)
✮ Cycle one of Pennsylvania's legendary rail trails (e.g. the Great Allegheny Passage)
✮ Visit other top-rated amusement parks in Pennsylvania, including Knoebels, Kennywood, Dutch Wonderland, Dorney Park, and Waldameer
✮ Hike the waterfall-infused trails of Ricketts Glen State Park
✮ Take a coal mine tour at Lackawanna Coal Mine
If I could select only one place to visit in Pennsylvania, I would choose the Amish/Dutch country area, which also isn't far from Hershey and its attractions.
Interested in discovering great attractions in other U.S. states? My 10 Great Attractions in Each U.S. State guide covers the best attractions from coast-to-coast. And here is a guide to the best One-Week Vacations in the U.S..
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5-STAR ATTRACTIONS IN PENNSYLVANIA
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Here is my opinionated list of 5-star attractions in Pennsylvania. I believe each of these attractions should be on your Pennsylvania bucket list since they are all noteworthy from a national perspective:
Northwestern Pennsylvania (including Erie)
✮ Freedom Falls, Kennerdell - a pretty, 20-foot tall waterfall reached via a short hike
✮ PennDOT Road Sign Sculpture Garden, Meadville - a giant art project made of retired PennDOT road signs; a top PA roadside attraction
✮ Presque Isle State Park, Erie - offers excellent beaches plus bike paths and hiking trails
✮ Pymatuning Spillway, Linesville - see hundreds of carp fish gather in a spillway on the Pymatuning Reservoir; "where the ducks walk on fish"
✮ Splash Lagoon, Erie - a large indoor Polynesian-themed water park and hotel; to date, you don't need to stay the night to visit the water park
✮ Waldameer & Water World, Erie - one of the best theme parks in the U.S.; features more than 75 attractions
Pittsburgh (see below for the rest of southwestern Pennsylvania)
✮ Acrisure Stadium - the home of the Pittsburg Steelers NFL football team
✮ Andy Warhol Museum - the largest museum in North America dedicated to a single artist often called a "pop art icon"
✮ Bicycle Heaven - the world's largest bicycle museum
✮ Carnegie Museum of Natural History - one of the premier natural history museums in the U.S.
✮ Carnegie Science Center - a great science museum; Pittsburgh's most visited museum
✮ Duquesne Incline - take an inexpensive and scenic ride up a historic steep incline railroad; offers great views of Pittsburgh
✮ Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts - a highly-rated performing arts center and concert hall; home of the Pittsburgh Symphony
✮ Heinz History Center - Pennsylvania's largest cultural and history museum
✮ Monongahela Incline - take a ride up the oldest continuously operating funicular railroad
✮ Mount Washington - a Pittsburgh neighborhood famous for its panoramic city views
✮ National Aviary - the "only independent indoor nonprofit aviary in the U.S." features more than 150 species of birds
✮ Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens - spend 1-2 hours walking around this beautiful botanical garden
✮ Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium - a combination zoo and aquarium with more than 4,000 animals
✮ Point State Park, Pittsburgh - a beautiful urban park with walking trails and historical sites along the Ohio and Monongahela rivers
✮ PNC Park - one of the finest MLB baseball stadiums in the U.S.; home of the Pittsburgh Pirates
✮ Randyland - a colorful building that is self-described as "the most painted house in the galaxy"; one of PA's best roadside attractions
✮ Three Rivers Heritage Trail - an excellent 33-mile long, partially-paved urban rail trail network all within Pittsburgh city limits
✮ West End Overlook Park - a small park with excellent views of the Ohio River and Pittsburgh
Southwestern Pennsylvania (including Altoona; see above for Pittsburgh)
✮ Fallingwater, Mill Run - tour a world-famous Frank Lloyd Wright-designed home that is known for its integration of nature and home
✮ Flight 93 National Memorial, Stoystown - a powerful memorial to those that died on 9/11
✮ Go Ape Zipline & Adventure Park, Allison Park - a fun aerial adventure park with zip-lining
✮ Great Allegheny Passage Trail ("GAP") - one of the top rail trails in the U.S.; travels 150 miles from Cumberland, MD to Pittsburgh
✮ Idlewild & SoakZone, Ligonier - a good children's amusement park; about 50 miles east of Pittsburgh
✮ Johnson Inclined Plane, Johnstown - take a ride up the world's steepest vehicular inclined plane (railway); features a 71% grade
✮ Kennywood, West Mifflin - a large amusement park with rollercoasters and more other rides and attractions
✮ Laurel Caverns, Farmington - guided underground tours of a large natural calcareous sandstone cave
✮ Ohiopyle State Park, Ohiopyle - known for its whitewater kayaking, waterfalls ("the Niagara Falls of western PA"), and hiking/cycling trails
✮ Tubing the Stonycreek River - the best river tubing in western Pennsylvania
✮ Whitewater rafting the Youghiogheny River - the most popular whitewater rafting in western Pennsylvania
Central Pennsylvania
✮ Bill's Old Bike Barn, Bloomsburg - an excellent motorcycle museum with nearly 200 motorcycles on display
✮ Coffee Pot, Bedford - an 18-foot tall building in the shape of a coffee pot; one of PA's most famous roadside attractions
✮ D.G. Yuengling and Son Brewery, Pottsville - visit America's oldest brewery (established in 1829)
✮ Kinzua Bridge State Park, Mt. Jewett - walk 600 feet out onto a railroad structure for great views of the Kinzua Gorge
✮ Knoebels Amusement Park, Elysburg - an excellent free-admission amusement park with a variety of pay-as-you-go rides and attractions
✮ Lake Tobias Wildlife Park, Halifax - a 150-acre wildlife park and zoo; known for their safari rides
✮ Leonard Harrison State Park, Wellsboro - offers scenic views of the east rim of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon ("Vista View")
✮ Lincoln Caverns, Huntingdon - guided underground cave tours
✮ Penn's Cave & Wildlife Park, Centre Hall - offers top-rated guided underground cave tours and bus tours of a 1,600-acre wildlife park
✮ Pine Creek Rail Trail - an outstanding 62-mile long crushed stone (unpaved) rail trail that passes through Pine Creek Gorge
✮ Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine & Steam Train, Ashland - guided underground coal mine tours plus steam train rides
✮ Ricketts Glen State Park, Benton - one of the most dense collections of waterfalls in the U.S. (there are more than 20 waterfalls here)
Southcentral Pennsylvania (including Gettysburg)
✮ Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center, Gettysburg - part visitor center, part excellent history museum
✮ Gettysburg Museum of History, Gettysburg - a privately-owned museum that is a great compliment to the official national park
✮ Gettysburg National Cemetery, Gettysburg - the site of Gettysburg Address and the final resting spot for 1,000s of troops
✮ Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg - visit the site of one of the Civil War's most important and bloody battles
✮ Hickory Hollow Horse Farm, Gettysburg - a highly-rated horseback riding farm
Northeastern Pennsylvania (including Scranton, the Delaware Water Gap, and the Poconos region)
✮ Bushkill Falls, Bushkill - a tourist attraction that features trails to several excellent waterfalls
✮ Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark, Tannersville - the largest outdoor water park in Pennsylvania
✮ Columcille Megalith Park, Bangor - a 19-acre park with walking trails that visit 90-plus megaliths (aka large stone monuments or structures)
✮ Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area - known for its outdoor recreation in and around the longest free-flowing river in the East
✮ Dingmans Falls / Silver Thread Falls, Dingman Township - two great waterfalls found within the Delaware Water Gap Nat. Recreation Area
✮ Hickory Run State Park, White Haven - known for its giant boulder field, 40 miles of hiking trails, Hawk Falls, and excellent trout fishing
✮ Kalahari Waterpark, Pocono Manor - supposedly the largest indoor water park on the East Coast
✮ Lackawanna Coal Mine, Scranton - underground guided tours of a coal mine
✮ Raymondskill Falls, Milford - one of the fine waterfalls found within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
✮ Seven Tubs Recreation Area, Pinchot State Forest, Wilkes-Barre - a series of interesting potholes and waterfalls
✮ Steamtown National Historic Site, Scranton - a great railroad museum that also offers train rides
✮ Zippo/Case Museum & Flagship Store, Bradford - features the flagship Zippo lighter store and a Zippo repair clinic
Hershey/Harrisburg/York area in southeastern Pennsylvania (see below for Amish/Dutch country)
✮ AACA Museum / America's Transportation Experience, Hershey - a large and excellent auto museum with many types of vehicles on display
✮ Haines Shoe House, Yorklyn - a home designed in the shape of a shoe; one of Pennsylvania's most famous roadside attractions
✮ Harley-Davidson Vehicle Operations, York - factory tours of the famous motorcycle manufacturer
✮ Hershey Chocolate World, Hershey - a tourist attraction and retail shop that is obsessed with all things-chocolate; very close to Hersheypark
✮ Hershey Gardens, Hershey - a lovely 23-acre botanical garden and arboretum
✮ Hershey Story Museum, Hershey - features five major exhibits that tell the story of the famous chocolate company
✮ Hersheypark, Hershey - a world-class, chocolate-themed, family-friendly theme park with more than a dozen thrilling roller coasters
✮ Indian Echo Caverns, Hummelstown - excellent underground 45-minute guided cave tours
✮ National Civil War Museum, Harrisburg - one of the best Civil War-focused museums in the U.S.
✮ Northwest Lancaster County River Trail - an excellent 14-mile long, partially paved rail trail that connects Columbia to Bainbridge
✮ Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire (event), Manheim - one of the best Renaissance Faire festivals in the U.S.
✮ Pride of the Susquehanna Riverboat, Harrisburg - sightseeing cruises on an authentic stern-driven paddlewheel riverboat
✮ Troegs Brewing Company, Hershey - one of Pennsylvania's largest and highest-rated breweries
✮ United States Army Heritage and Education Center (USAHEC), Carlisle - indoor and outdoor exhibits of various military vehicles and gear
Amish/Dutch country in southeastern Pennsylvania (including Bird-in-Hand, Ephrata, Intercourse, Lancaster, and Strasburg)
✮ American Music Theatre, Lancaster - a top-rated, 1,600-seat theater that features concerts, Broadway shows, comedy acts, and more
✮ Amish Experience, The, Bird-in-Hand - a tourist attraction with Amish buildings, farmlands, a theater, Amish food, and guided tours
✮ Amish Farm and House, Lancaster - guided bus tours of Amish country and an Amish farmhouse
✮ Bird-in-Hand Farmers Market, Bird-in-Hand - an excellent farmers market with many local goods; try the local shoofly pie!
✮ Choo Choo Barn: Traintown U.S.A., Strasburg - a museum with a huge model train display (one of America's largest)
✮ Dutch Apple Dinner Theater, Lancaster - a popular dinner theater; eat while being entertained!
✮ Dutch Wonderland, Lancaster - one of the finest kid-friendly amusement parks in the country; great for young children (under 8 I would say)
✮ Ephrata Cloister, Ephrata - a history museum with nine buildings to explore; has guided and self-guided tours
✮ Fulton Theatre, Lancaster - supposedly the nation's oldest continuously operating theatre; popular for its musicals and Broadway-like shows
✮ Horse & buggy rides - there are several companies in Amish/Dutch country that offer informative and scenic horse and buggy rides
✮ Kitchen Kettle Village, Intercourse - one of the best places to shop in Amish/Dutch country
✮ Lancaster Central Market, Lancaster - visit the oldest continuously operated public farmer's market in the U.S. (since 1730)
✮ Northwest Lancaster County River Trail - an excellent 14-mile long, partially paved rail trail that connects Columbia to Bainbridge
✮ Old Windmill Farm, Ronks - take tours of a highly-rated authentic working Amish farm that has many farm animals
✮ Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Strasburg - one of the best railroad museums in the U.S.; has more than 100 locomotives and railroad cars
✮ Refreshing Mountain, Stevens - a fun aerial adventure park with zip-lining
✮ Shady Maple Smorgasbord, East Earl - one of the most famous buffet-style restaurants in the U.S.; "200ft of all-you-can-eat PA Dutch cooking"
✮ Sight and Sound Theatres, Strasburg - a Christian-based theater with musicals and biblical-based shows
✮ Strasburg Rail Road, Strasburg - take a tour on one of the best scenic railroads in the U.S.
Southeastern Pennsylvania (including Allentown; see below for Philadelphia)
✮ America on Wheels, Allentown - an excellent transportation museum with many types of vehicles on display
✮ American Treasure Tour Museum, Oaks - an eclectic museum offering guided tram tours of an amazing collection of Americana
✮ Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope - catch a Broadway shown at "America's most famous summer theater"
✮ Chanticleer, Wayne - walk the grounds of a 48-acre estate and its botanical gardens
✮ Coca-Cola Park, Allentown - an excellent minor-league baseball park; home of the Lehigh Valley IronPigs
✮ Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, Allentown - a large amusement park and water park with more than 60 rides and attractions
✮ Fronthill Castle, Doylestown - 60-minute guided tours of a huge 44-room castle; located one mile from the Mercer Museum
✮ Herr's Snack Factory, Nottingham - take a tour of a famous potato chip factory
✮ King of Prussia Mall, King of Prussia - currently the 3rd largest mall in the U.S. (behind Mall of America, MN and American Dream, NJ)
✮ Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square - one of the largest and best gardens in the U.S.
✮ Mercer Museum, Doylestown - self-guided tours of a castle and industrial tool museum; located one mile from the Fronthill Castle
✮ Ringing Rocks Park, Upper Black Eddy - bring a hammer to strike rocks and hear their famous ringing sounds
✮ Sesame Place, Langhorne - a fun and very popular Sesame Street-focused children's theme park and water park
✮ SteelStacks, Bethlehem - a public park with many attractions and events, plus views of the former Bethlehem Steel structures
✮ Valley Forge National Historic Park, King of Prussia - visit the famous winter camp of George Washington's troops
Philadelphia (see above for the rest of southeastern Pennsylvania)
✮ Barnes Foundation - self-claims to be "one of the world's greatest collections of impressionist, post-impressionist and modern art"
✮ Cheesesteaks in Philadelphia - Philadelphia is overloaded with amazing cheesesteak restaurants (my favorites are Dalessandro's and Sonny's)
✮ Citizens Bank Park - an excellent MLB baseball stadium; home of the Philadelphia Phillies
✮ Eastern State Penitentiary - offers exceptional guided tours of a decommissioned prison; one of the best prison tours in the U.S.
✮ Elfreth's Alley - one of Philadelphia's most historic and pretty streets; the 32 houses on this street was built between 1703 and 1836
✮ Franklin Institute - a large and excellent science museum
✮ Guided food tours in Philadelphia - Philadelphia is a culinary destination, and several companies offer guided food tours
✮ Guided ghost tours in Philadelphia - Philadelphia is very popular for ghost/paranormal tours, and several companies provide tours
✮ Independence Hall - visit the birthplace of the United States; this is where the Declaration of Independence was signed
✮ Independence National Historic Park - visit "American's most historic square mile"
✮ Liberty Bell, The / Liberty Bell Center - visit the iconic bell that "changed the world" in 1776
✮ Museum of the American Revolution - an excellent history museum with many exhibits on the Revolutionary War
✮ Mutter Museum - one of the finest medical museums in the U.S.
✮ National Constitution Center - a U.S. history museum that serves as "America's leading platform for constitutional education and debate"
✮ National Museum of American Jewish History - features exhibits on the history of Judaism in the U.S.
✮ Philadelphia Magic Gardens - an eclectic indoor and outdoor folk art museum/art gallery
✮ Philadelphia Museum of Art - one of the U.S.'s largest art museums; a statue of Rocky is also here
✮ Reading Terminal Market - a nationally famous indoor farmer's market with a delicious variety of foods, including Philly cheesesteaks
✮ Rocky Statue - a larger than life statue of the famous Hollywood boxer; located on the grounds of the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Are you aware of any other 5-star attractions in Pennsylvania? If so, please email me at gparsons66@hotmail.com.
Discover 5-star attractions in neighboring states using these state guides:
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WV
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BEST TOWNS & CITIES TO VISIT IN PENNSYLVANIA
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These towns and cities in Pennsylvania are generally regarded as the most interesting to travelers:
✮ Adamstown - a small town often called the "antiques capital of the U.S.": there are more antique shops to be found neawrby along PA-272
✮ Bird-In-Hand - a small town in the heart of Amish/Dutch country; awesome food (e.g. shoofly pies) and close to many attractions
✮ Gettysburg - a small town with significant Civil War history; visit the historic battlefield and other Gettysburg-related attractions
✮ Erie - a small city on the coastline of Lake Erie; has beaches, an amusement park (Waldameer), and is close to Presque Isle State Park
✮ Hershey - a town famous for its chocolate-themed attractions, including the Hersheypark amusement park
✮ Intercourse - a small town in the heart of Amish/Dutch country; many boutique shops and several companies offer horse-carriage rides
✮ Jim Thorpe - a small town known for its Victorian architecture; close to the Pocono Mountains and Hickory Run State Park
✮ Lancaster - a small city in Amish/Dutch country that has several live performance theatres; close to the Dutch Wonderland theme park
✮ New Hope - a small town with historic buildings & mansions; nearby attractions include Bucks County Playhouse and Delaware Canal SP
✮ Philadelphia - a major city packed with historic attractions; famous for its amazing cheesesteaks, museums, and professional sports teams
✮ Pittsburgh - a major city famous for its steel industry, professional sports teams, bridges, and many excellent museums
West Chester may also be worth a look, but I haven't visited there yet.
My favorite city in Pennsylvania is Philadelphia - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2-3 nights there. Try a few cheesesteaks and visit some of the city's famous historic sites and museums. If you can, catch a professional sports game too.
My favorite small town in Pennsylvania is either Bird-In-Hand or Intercourse - I recommend that first-time visitors spend at least 2-3 nights in this area. These two towns are next to each other and they are in the heart of Amish/Dutch country. There's an unbelievable amount of attractions and amazing food in this area. It's also beautiful with rolling hills that are full of pretty farms.
If you want to visit Amish/Dutch country, stay in or near Intercourse or Bird-in-Hand. Lancaster is another option.
If you want to visit Hersheypark, stay in Hershey.
Read my Favorite Places in the U.S. Guide to find new and interesting towns and cities across the country.
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WHAT IS PENNSYLVANIA FAMOUS FOR?
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Here are some things that Pennsylvania is famous or well-known for:
✮ Amish/Dutch culture
✮ cheesesteaks
✮ chocolate
✮ Civil War history/sites
✮ coal mining
✮ covered bridges
✮ funicular railways / inclines
✮ gambling/casinos
✮ mushrooms
✮ pretzels
✮ professional sports
✮ rail trails
✮ Revolutionary War history/sites
✮ rolling hills
✮ shoo-fly pies
✮ steel production
Visit my What is Each U.S. State Famous For? guide to explore the unique characteristics of other states.
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NATIONAL PARKS IN PENNSYLVANIA
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While there are currently no national parks or national monuments in Pennsylvania, there are many other federally-managed parks and properties in the state, including:
National Recreation Areas
✮ Allegheny National Recreation Area
✮ Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
National Forests
✮ Allegheny National Forest
National Historical Parks / Other National Parks & Properties
✮ Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site
✮ Appalachian National Scenic Trail
✮ Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail
✮ Chesapeake Bay Watershed
✮ Edgar Allen Poe National Historic Site
✮ Eisenhower National Historic Site
✮ First State National Historical Park
✮ Flight 93 National Memorial
✮ Fort Necessity National Battlefield
✮ Friendship Hill National Historic Site
✮ Gettysburg National Military Park
✮ Gloria Dei Church National Historic Site
✮ Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
✮ Independence National Historical Park
✮ Johnstown Flood National Memorial
✮ Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
✮ Lower Delaware National Wild and Scenic River
✮ North Country National Scenic Trail
✮ Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
✮ Steamtown National Historic Site
✮ Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial
✮ Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River
✮ Valley Forge National Historical Park
✮ Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail
For more information on Pennsylvania's national parks, visit the Pennsylvania page of the National Park Service. For an overview of all of America's national parks, explore my U.S. National Parks Guide.
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STATE PARKS IN PENNSYLVANIA
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Pennsylvania has more than 120 state parks. Here is a list of the finest state parks in the state:
Northwestern Pennsylvania (including Erie)
✮ Presque Isle State Park, Erie - offers excellent beaches plus bike paths and hiking trails
Southwestern Pennsylvania (including Altoona and Pittsburgh)
✮ Ohiopyle State Park, Ohiopyle - known for its whitewater kayaking, waterfalls ("the Niagara Falls of western PA"), and hiking/cycling trails
✮ Point State Park, Pittsburgh - a beautiful urban park with walking trails and historical sites along the Ohio and Monongahela rivers
Central Pennsylvania
✮ Kinzua Bridge State Park, Mt. Jewett - walk 600 feet out onto a railroad structure for great views of the Kinzua Gorge
✮ Leonard Harrison State Park, Wellsboro - offers scenic views of the east rim of the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon ("Vista View")
✮ Ricketts Glen State Park, Benton - one of the most dense collections of waterfalls in the U.S. (there are more than 20 waterfalls here)
Northeastern Pennsylvania (including Scranton, the Delaware Water Gap area, and the Poconos area)
✮ Hickory Run State Park, White Haven - known for its giant boulder field, 40 miles of hiking trails, Hawk Falls, and excellent trout fishing
My favorite state park in Pennsylvania is Ricketts Glen State Park. This state park has 22 natural waterfalls, most of which can be seen on a single moderately difficult day hike.
Find the best state parks across the country using my Top 100 State Parks in the U.S. guide.
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BEST WATERFALLS IN PENNSYLVANIA
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Pennsylvania has several hundred natural waterfalls. Here is a list of the finest waterfalls in Pennsylvania:
Southwestern Pennsylvania (including Altoona and Pittsburgh)
✮ Cucumber Falls in Ohiopyle State Park
Central Pennsylvania
✮ Dry Run Falls in Loyalsock State Forest
✮ Lewis Falls in State Game Lands #13 in Davidson Township
✮ Ricketts Glen State Park waterfalls
Northeastern Pennsylvania (including Scranton, the Delaware Water Gap, and the Poconos region)
✮ Bushkill Falls in Bushkill - this is a privately owned tourist attraction
✮ Dingmans Falls in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
✮ Hawk Falls in Hickory Run Sate Park
✮ Raymondskill Falls in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
✮ Shohola Falls in State Game Lands #180 near Shohola
✮ Silverthread Falls in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
Ricketts Glen State Park is one of the premier areas in the United States for waterfalls. There are 22 named waterfalls in the state park, the tallest of which is 94 feet tall. You can see most of these waterfalls on an 8-mile loop hike.
For a listing of all known waterfalls in Pennsylvania, visit the World Waterfall Database.
Chase more waterfalls across the country with my Best Waterfalls in the U.S. guide.
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BEST SCENIC DRIVES IN PENNSYLVANIA
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Here is a list of the best scenic drives in Pennsylvania:
✮ Lancaster County - the backroads in Amish Country are a joy to drive (e.g. Intercourse, Bird-in-Hand, Ephrata, Marietta, New Holland, etc.)
✮ Longhouse National Scenic Byway - a seasonal 29-mile paved loop through Allegheny National Forest in northwestern PA
I haven't drive the Bucktail Trail Scenic Byway or Brandywine Valley Byway yet, but it's possible these are good scenic drives.
There may also be one or more scenic drives in the Laurel Highlands, but I'm haven't found one yet.
Discover great scenic drives across the country with my Best Scenic Drives in the U.S. guide.
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BEST RAIL TRAILS IN PENNSYLVANIA
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Pennsylvania is one of the very best states for rail trails in the country (along with states like FL, OH, MI, MN, and WI). Here is a list of some of the best rail trails (or similar cycling paths) in Pennsylvania:
Northwestern Pennsylvania (including Erie)
✮ Allegheny River Trail
✮ Oil Creek State Park Trail
✮ Rail 66 County Trail
✮ Redbank Valley Rail Trail
✮ Sandy Creek Trail
Southwestern Pennsylvania (including Altoona and Pittsburgh)
✮ Armstrong Trail
✮ Butler-Freeport Community Trail
✮ Great Allegheny Passage (GAP) - this trail is widely considered one of the very best rail trails in the U.S.
✮ Montour Trail
✮ Panhandle Trail
✮ Three Rivers Heritage Trail
✮ West Penn Trail
✮ Westmoreland Heritage Trail
Central Pennsylvania
✮ Ghost Town Trail
✮ Pine Creek Rail Trail - this trail is widely considered one of the very best rail trails in the U.S.
Southeastern Pennsylvania (including Allentown, Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Hershey, Philadelphia, and Amish/Dutch country)
✮ Heritage Rail Trail County Park
✮ Ironton Rail Trail
✮ Lebanon Valley Rail Trail
✮ Northwest Lancaster County River Trail
✮ Perkiomen Trail
✮ Schuylkill River Trail
✮ Warwick-to-Ephrata Rail Trail
For detailed information on all known rail trails in Pennsylvania, visit the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy website.
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BEST AMUSEMENT PARKS IN PENNSYLVANIA
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Pennsylvania is one of the very best states for amusement parks. In fact, several of the finest amusement parks in the country can be found in the state. Here are the best amusement parks in Pennsylvania:
Northwestern Pennsylvania (including Erie)
✮ Splash Lagoon, Erie
✮ Waldameer Park, Erie
Southwestern Pennsylvania (including Altoona and Pittsburgh)
✮ Idlewild & SoakZone, Ligonier
✮ Kennywood, West Mifflin
✮ Lakemont Park, Altoona
Central Pennsylvania
✮ Delgrosso’s Park & Laguna Splash Water Park, Tipton
✮ Knoebels Amusement Resort, Elysburg
Northeastern Pennsylvania (including Scranton, the Delaware Water Gap, and the Poconos region)
✮ Camelbeach Mountain Outdoor Waterpark, Tannersville
✮ Kalahari Resort, Pocono Manor
Southeastern Pennsylvania (including Allentown, Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Hershey, Philadelphia, and Amish/Dutch country)
✮ Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, Allentown
✮ Dutch Wonderland, Lancaster
✮ Hersheypark, Hershey
✮ Sesame Place, Langhorne
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BEST MUSEUMS IN PENNSYLVANIA
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Pennsylvania has many outstanding museums. The best museums in Pennsylvania include:
Pittsburgh
✮ Andy Warhol Museum
✮ Bicycle Heaven
✮ Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh
✮ Carnegie Museum of Natural History
✮ Carnegie Science Center
✮ Children's Museum of Pittsburgh
✮ Heinz History Center
✮ Randyland
Central Pennsylvania
✮ Bill's Old Bike Barn, Bloomsburg
Southcentral Pennsylvania
✮ Gettysburg Museum & Visitor Center, Gettysburg
✮ Gettysburg Museum of History, Gettysburg
Northeastern Pennsylvania (including Scranton, the Delaware Water Gap, and the Poconos region)
✮ Steamtown National Historic Site, Scranton
✮ Zippo / Case Museum & Flagship Store, Bradford
Southeastern Pennsylvania (including Allentown, Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Hershey, and Dutch country; see below for Philadelphia)
✮ AACA Museum / America's Transportation Experience, Hershey
✮ America on Wheels, Allentown
✮ American Helicopter Museum and Educational Center, West Chester
✮ American Treasure Tour Museum, Oaks
✮ Asa Packer Mansion, Jim Thorpe
✮ Hershey Story Museum, Hershey
✮ Mack Trucks Historical Museum, Allentown
✮ Mercer Museum, Doylestown
✮ National Civil War Museum, Harrisburg
✮ National Museum of Industrial History, Bethlehem
✮ President James Buchanan's Wheatland, Lancaster
✮ Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, Strasburg
✮ State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg
✮ United States Army Heritage and Education Center
Philadelphia
✮ Barnes, The
✮ Eastern State Penitentiary
✮ Franklin Institute, The
✮ Independence Hall
✮ Independence National Historic Park
✮ Liberty Bell, The / Liberty Bell Center
✮ Museum of the American Revolution
✮ Mutter Museum
✮ National Constitution Center
✮ National Museum of American Jewish History
✮ Philadelphia Museum of Art
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BEST DAY HIKES IN PENNSYLVANIA
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Pennsylvania has many great hiking trails, and there is good hiking to be found all over the state. Here are some of the best day hikes in Pennsylvania:
Northwestern Pennsylvania (including Erie)
✮ Presque Isle State Park trails
Southwestern Pennsylvania (including Altoona and Pittsburgh)
✮ Ohiopyle State Park trails
(e.g. Baughman Trail, Jonathan Run Trail, Meadow Run Trail, Cucumber Falls, etc.)
Central Pennsylvania
✮ Barbour Rock Trail Overlook, Pine Creek Gorge Natural Area
✮ Bear Meadows Natural Area trails
✮ Chimney Rocks, Michaux State Forest
✮ Kinzua Bridge State Park trails
✮ Pine Trail and Hemlock Mountain, Tiadaghton State Forest
✮ Thousand Steps Trail, State Game Lands #112
Northeastern Pennsylvania (including Scranton, the Delaware Water Gap, and the Poconos region)
✮ Boulder Field National Natural Landmark, Hickory Run State Park
✮ Bushkill Falls trails
✮ Dingmans Falls, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
✮ Falls Trail, Ricketts Glen State Park
✮ Glen Onoko Falls and Lehigh Gorge Overlook, Lehigh Gorge State Park
✮ Hackers Falls and Cliff Trail Loop, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
✮ Mount Minsi, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area
✮ Tank Hollow Trail, State Game Lands #141
Southeastern Pennsylvania (including Allentown, Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Hershey, Philadelphia, and Amish/Dutch country)
✮ Flat Rock Loop, Colonel Denning State Park
✮ Furnace Creek Trail to Pinnacle Trail Loop
✮ Gettysburg National Military Park trails
✮ Hawk Mountain / Pinnacle Trail, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
✮ Hawk Rock, State Game Lands #290
✮ Lehigh Gap
via the Appalachian Trail
✮ Pole Steeple,
Pine Grove Furnace State Park
✮ Pulpit Rock & The Pinnacle Loop, Appalachian National Scenic Trail - one of the best views along the A.T. in the state
✮ Valley Forge National Historical Park trails
The highpoint of Pennsylvania is Mount Davis (3,213'). You can drive very close to the top and then walk to and then up a firetower (which offers good views).
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BEST BACKPACKING TRIPS IN PENNSYLVANIA
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Pennsylvania offers many great backpacking opportunities. Some of premier backpacking routes in Pennsylvania include:
✮ Appalachian Trail (AT)
✮ Baker Trail
✮ Black Forest Trail
✮ Chuck Kepier Trail
✮ Laurel Highlands Trail - this is part of the part of the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail
✮ Loyalsock Trail
✮ Mid State Trail (MST)
✮ North Country Trail (NCT)
✮ Old Loggers Path, Loyalsock State Forest
✮ Quehanna Trail
✮ Susquehannock State Forest trails
✮ West Rim Trail
An excellent overview of some of the best backpacking in Pennsylvania can be found on the (trustworthy) Trek website.
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CLASSIC OUTDOOR ADVENTURES IN PENNSYLVANIA
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Pennsylvania offers many great outdoor adventures, including these classics:
✮ Backpacking the Appalachian Trail
✮ Backpacking the Loyalsock Trail
✮ Backpacking the Mid State Trail (MST)
✮ Bouldering at Coopers Rock
✮ Bouldering at Governor's Stable
✮ Bouldering at Haycock Mountain
✮ Bouldering at Mt. Gretna
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Clarion River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking Conewango Creek
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Conemaugh River
✮ Canoeing/kayaking the Youghiogheny River
✮ Cycling the Allegheny River Trail
✮ Cycling the Ghost Town Trail
✮ Cycling the Great Allegheny Passage ("GAP") Trail
✮ Cycling the Heritage Rail Trail County Park
✮ Cycling the Lebanon Valley Rail Trail
✮ Cycling the Northwest Lancaster County River Trail
✮ Cycling the Panhandle Trail
✮ Cycling the Pine Creek Rail Trail
✮ Cycling the Sandy Creek Trail
✮ Cycling the Schuylkill River Trail
✮ Horseback riding in Gettysburg
✮ Hot air ballooning in Bird in Hand, Coopersburg, or Glenmoore
✮ Kayaking the Delaware River
✮ Mountain biking the Allegrippis Trails at Raystown Lake in Hesston
✮ Mountain biking the Blue Mountain Bike Park
✮ Mountain biking in French Creek State Park
✮ Mountain biking in Michaux State Forest
✮ Mountain biking in Moraine State Park
✮ Mountain biking in Nockamixon State Park
✮ Mountain biking in Rothrock State Forest
✮ Mountain biking in Trexler Nature Preserve
✮ Mountain biking in Wissahickon Valley Park
✮ Rock climbing at Birdsboro Quarry
✮ Rock climbing at McConnells Mill State Park
✮ Rock climbing at Ohiopyle State Park
✮ Skydiving in Chambersburg, Hazle Township, Mercer, Perkasie, or Smoketown
✮ Tubing the Stonycreek River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Cheat River
✮ Whitewater rafting the Youghiogheny River
Pennsylvania is one of the very best U.S. states for bouldering. There are dozens of great bouldering areas, especially in the western part of the state.
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SKI RESORTS IN PENNSYLVANIA
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There are roughly 20 ski resorts in Pennsylvania. While the majority of the best ski resorts are found in the northeastern section of the state, there are some good ski areas in other regions of the state. These ski areas/resorts are generally considered the best in Pennsylvania:
✮ Blue Mountain Knob
✮ Blue Mountain Resort
✮ Camelback Mountain
✮ Elk Mountain
✮ Seven Springs
✮ Sno Mountain
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UNIQUE / SPECIALTY FOODS TO TRY IN PENNSYLVANIA
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Here are some unique / specialty foods to try while you are in Pennsylvania:
✮ apple fritter donuts
✮ cheese steaks
✮ chipped ham (chopped ham) BBQ sandwich
✮ chow chow
✮ dippy eggs
✮ god cakes
✮ goulash
✮ haluski (fried cabbage and noodles)
✮ halupki (stuffed cabbage)
✮ hoagies
✮ Jewish apple cake
✮ Lebanon bologna
✮ lemon sponge pie
✮ montgomery pie
✮ pierogies
✮ Pittsburgh salad
✮ polish sausage
✮ potato pancakes
✮ pretzels / soft pretzels
✮ primanti sandwich
✮ ring bologna
✮ scrapple
✮ shoofly pie
✮ soft pretzels
✮ tearberry ice cream
If you are visiting Amish/Dutch country, try at least some of these foods: apple dumpling, apple butter, buttered noodles, country sausage, dried corn, funnel cakes, scrapple, Shoo-fly pies, sweet bologna, and soft pretzels.
For a list of unique foods and mom-and-pop type eateries and restaurants in Pennsylvania (or any other U.S. state), visit the Roadfood.com website.
For a list of unique foods to try in each U.S. state, explore my Road Trip Food guide.
For a list of the top-rated beers to try in Pennsylvania (or any other U.S. state), visit the Beer Advocate website.
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OTHER KEY PENNSYLVANIA INFORMATION
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Here is some helpful key information about Pennsylvania:
State Capital:
Harrisburg
Major Airports:
Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) and Pittsburgh International Airport (PIT)
Largest Cities:
Philadelphia (1,619,355), Pittsburgh (302,425), Allentown (127,407), Reading (96,518), Erie (93,439), Scranton (76,376), Bethlehem (75,941)
Primary U.S. Interstates:
I-70, I-76, I-78, I-79, I-80, I-81, I-83, I-84, I-86, I-90, I-95, I-99
State Highpoint:
Mount Davis (3,213') in Forbes State Forest in southwestern Pennsylvania; you can drive very close to the top and then walk to and up a firetower (which offers good views)
Professional Sports Teams:
MLB: Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Pirates
NBA: Philadelphia 76ers
NFL: Philadelphia Eagles, Pittsburgh Steelers
NHL: Philadelphia Flyers, Pittsburgh Penguins
Funny or Unique Town/City Names:
Bird-in-Hand, Blue Ball, Burnt Cabins, Husband, Intercourse, King of Prussia, Mars, and Paradise
Take note that in general this travel guide intentionally excluded restaurants, lodging/hotels, breweries, wineries/vineyards, and certain other types of attractions (like arcades, ax-throwing, bowling alleys, and escape rooms). These types of places tend to come and go, and keeping up with that would be too challenging. I encourage you to use Google Maps, Tripadvisor, Yelp, and other travel sites that have reader reviews to find the latest and greatest places that I haven't covered here.
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Bushkill Falls in Bushkill, Pennsylvania
a map showing all the waterfalls of Ricketts Glen State Park in Benton, Pennsylvania
Sonny's restaurant in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
(our 2nd favorite place for Cheesesteaks)
Sesame Place theme park in Langhorne, Pennsylvania
the legendary shoofly pie of Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania
Big Amos in Ronks, Pennsylvania
Giant Barbell in Sellersville, Pennsylvania
Red Caboose Motel in Ronks, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania takes pretzels very seriously
view from Hawk Rock near Duncannon, Pennsylvania
Hershey's Chocolate World in Hershey, Pennsylvania
Hershey's Chocolate World in Hershey, Pennsylvania
Hersheypark in Hershey, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is home of the famous Peeps brand
one of many cheesesteak restaurants in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
(this shop is actually our #1 cheesesteak place)
sign near the highpoint of Pennsylvania
Mt. Davis firetower in Pennsylvania
PennDOT Road Sign Sculpture Garden in Meadville, Pennsylvania
one of many roadside attractions in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
cheesesteak restaurant in Folcroft, Pennsylvania
Schaefer's Auto Art: VW Bug Spider in Erie, Pennsylvania
The Coffee Pot in Bedford, Pennsylvania
Dutch Wonderland theme park in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Dutch Wonderland theme park in Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Giant Quarter in Everett, Pennsylvania
Haines Shoe House in York, Pennsylvania
MORE U.S. STATE TRAVEL GUIDES
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Did you enjoy this state travel guide? If so, here are links to more of my comprehensive U.S. state travel guides:
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As an Amazon Associates affiliate, this website contains affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any products after clicking any Amazon.com link, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you. I only endorse products that I have personally used or those that come highly recommended by trusted peers.
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