Pennsylvania

"The Keystone State"

Pennsylvania, the Keystone State, was named for its role in the struggle for independence and creation of a new nation. It was the geographic and economic centre of the 13 original colonies and the bridge across the Appalachian Mountains, linking the East coast to Lake Erie and western US. Philadelphia, the birthplace of American Independence and home of the Liberty Bell, draws millions annually to follow the footsteps of the Founding Fathers at Independence National Historical Park. This port city has world-class museums including the Art Museum with more than 225,000 works and a vibrant cultural scene anchored by the Kimmel Center.

Pittsburgh, with its industrial heritage, enjoys a beautiful location where two rivers meet to create Ohio with more bridges than any city in the world. Attractions include the Carnegie Science Center, Warhol Museum, the National Aviary, floating nightclubs, and inclined tramways affording panoramic views. The countryside offers family resorts and honeymoon retreats in the Pocono Mountains and charming inns of Bucks County. Outside you find waterfalls, fishing, the biking trails of the Great Allegheny Passage, Longwood Gardens, and the Civil War battlefields and Eisenhower farm in Gettysburg. Experience the Wyeth Art Museum in the Brandywine Valley and the Amish and Mennonites of Lancaster County.

Pennsylvania is home to out-door recreation, historic sites, cultural attractions, big cities and small towns. From the Liberty Bell to the views at Pine Creek Gorge, great experiences abound.

Designed in 1935, Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater was partially built over a waterfall and is on the National Register of Historic Places. Kentuck Knob and Duncan House, are close by.

Land Area: 45,000 sq miles

Population: 12,200,000

State Capital: Harrisburg

Largest City: Philadelphia

Local Time: 5 hrs behind the UK

Warm summers, cold winters with heavy snow in mountains. Moderate rainfall though-out the year.

Independence National Historical Park and Gettysburg National Military Park plus a number of others under National Parks Service administration.

Pennsylvania has all the ingredients for a great family vacation, starting with a town built on chocolate (who wouldn’t love that?), the World of Little League Museum and more than a dozen amusement parks and water parks. It also offers big-city culture – think first-rate museums, science centres, performing arts venues and gardens in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and other lively urban centres. Venture outside the cities to go hiking, biking and boating in 121 state parks, and learn about the Amish in farms and villages. Don’t forget to explore the state’s pivotal role in U.S. history at Philadelphia’s Independence Hall and on Gettysburg’s battlefields.

Go to Pennsylvania’s exciting cities to be amazed by their world-class museums. In Philadelphia, explore the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Barnes Foundation, then drive to Pittsburgh to be wowed by the collections at The Andy Warhol Museum and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Escape the big cities to discover museums dedicated to Rolls-Royce automobiles, candy, the Underground Railroad and, yes, even the Big Mac hamburger from McDonald’s. Appreciate the genius of architect Frank Lloyd Wright at four houses – Kentuck Knob in Chalk Hill and Fallingwater, his famous masterpiece, in Mill Run outside Pittsburgh. Nearby are two other Wright designs where you can stay overnight. Check out the state’s 15 castles (including a former state penitentiary designed to resemble a medieval castle) and marvel at the ornate structures and their historic collections. Learn about Amish lifestyle, culture and traditions at the Amish Village, a heritage museum near Lancaster that offers guided tours of an 1840s Amish homestead, barn and schoolhouse. Follow a ranger-led program at Gettysburg National Military Park, the site of a major turning point in the Civil War. In Philadelphia, see the Liberty Bell and visit Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were written, debated and adopted. 

Hershey is one of the most recognized names around the world – when people think chocolate, people think Hershey. Spend a day braving exciting rides at the vast chocolate-themed Hersheypark amusement park and make your own custom chocolate bar at Hershey’s Chocolate World. Elsewhere in the state, get drenched at Idlewild & SoakZone, about an hour east of Pittsburgh, and come face-to-face with wild animals in zoos and aquariums across the state. The youngest travellers will want to make a beeline to Sesame Place, northeast of Philadelphia, where they can ride on pint-sized roller coasters, splash on water slides and hug their favourite characters from “Sesame Street.” Fans of “Mister Rogers’ Neighbourhood” can take a 10-stop tour in Pittsburgh and the Laurel Highlands to walk in the footsteps of the beloved children’s television show creator and host. 

In winter, go skiing, snow tubing and dogsledding at 22 ski resorts scattered across the eastern and southern parts of the state. All summer long, sparkling lakes and winding rivers beckon to visitors, luring them with opportunities to go kayaking, canoeing and stand-up paddleboarding. Take the family to Presque Isle State Park near Erie for swimming, boating and birdwatching on the shores of Lake Erie. At night, go stargazing – Pennsylvania is home to some of the darkest skies in the eastern USA, and several great observatories offer an even closer look. In search of an adrenaline rush? Check out white-water rafting in the Laurel Highlands or Pocono Mountains. For a less-strenuous adventure, take a ride on one of the many scenic railroads that crisscross the state, especially beautiful when covered with autumn’s brilliant leaves.