I have lived in Pennsylvania my entire life (ahm almost four decades) minus the four years I was living in Delaware for college. But I can honestly say it took a global pandemic for me to actually see Pennsylvania. Pandemic year, 2020, has been my year to explore my backyard, my state, and I have to say PA is A-Okay! There are so many places to explore and visit in Pennsylvania. The history to be found in this state is in abundance. The food is filled with calories and deliciousness, and there are cool unique things to do around every corner of the Keystone State.
Here are my favorite places to visit in Pennsylvania.
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Philadelphia City Hall; Courtesy of Courtney Elko
1. Philadelphia
I call Philadelphia home despite never having actually lived within the city limits. Philly will forever have my heart. As the birthplace of our Nation, Philadelphia is an excellent city for history buffs and my top pick for the best places to visit in Pennsylvania. It’s a perfect starting point for a journey through all that PA has to offer. There are the obvious historic spots to explore like Independence Mall, the National Constitution Center, Congress Hall, Betsy Ross’ House, and the Liberty Bell.
You could spend days walking through the halls of the countless museums, like the Museum of the American Revolution, National Museum of American Jewish History, the African American Museum and Penn Museum. For the arts, there is the classic Philadelphia Museum of Art (home of the Rocky steps), and The Barnes Foundation, for the sciences there is The Franklin Institute and the Academy of Natural Sciences. For the quirky there is the Mutter Museum, a museum filled with medical oddities, and for the terrifying there is the Eastern State Penitentiary.
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While Philadelphia is a concrete jungle, there are pockets of beauty to be found throughout. Elfreth’s Alley is American’s oldest continuously inhabited residential street. When you walk down this narrow street lined with historic row homes, you are almost waiting for Benjamin Franklin to stroll by with a casual wave. Philadelphia’s Magic Garden is a little hidden oasis of colorful, mosaic street art. Tiny tiles, glass bottles, and what some would maybe even call trash have been crafted into a giant, outdoor work of art. A stroll through Fairmont Park never disappoints, and Boathouse Row along the Schuylkill River shines bright at night.
Now let’s talk about the best part of Philly…the food! There is of course the Philly classic, the Philadelphia Cheesesteak. For first timers to the city, a visit to 9th and Passyunk is a must to see the cheesesteak kings Pat’s and Geno’s on opposite corners vying to be your favorite. But as a Philadelphian, I wouldn’t call either my personal favorite. I’ve had some fantastic cheesesteaks throughout the city but one that satisfies both the tastebuds and the tourist experience (in my humble opinion) is Jim’s Steaks on South Street. But there is much more to Philly foods than meat and cheese whiz. Reading Terminal Market is an indoor marketplace that gives you a taste of many things. Amish baked goods, pork sandwiches from DiNic’s, cold ice cream, warm chocolate chip cookies and much, much more. But don’t miss out on the finer tastes of Philly either. El Vez (in my humble guacamole-filled opinion) is the best Mexican restaurant with the best margaritas and guacamole in the city. The crab fried rice at Buddakan, the champagne cocktail on the rooftop of Continental Midtown, the glass pitchers of cheap beer at McGillin’s Olde Ale House and the cheeseburgers at Parc on Rittenhouse Square are just a few of my personal favorites.
Philly sometimes gets a mean reputation, but there really is a reason it’s called the City of Brotherly Love. Anyone you meet during your visit will be happy to tell you what their favorite x, y, z is and you won’t be disappointed no matter the recommendation.
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Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Skyline; Courtesy of Courtney Elko
2. Pittsburgh
Unlike Philadelphia, Pittsburgh sits among the Allegheny Mountains on the west side of Pennsylvania, making this city multi-layered with many peaks and valleys. The ‘Burgh is the City of Bridges (446 bridges!) that criss cross over its three rivers; the Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio. Some might consider Pittsburgh to be the prettier city compared to its East Coast counterpart and the best way to see skyline/river/mountain views is on the Duquesne Incline. The Incline is a cable car from the late 1800s that climbs up Mount Washington for the best views of one of the best places to visit in Pennsylvania. The cable car slowly makes the trip up the 30-degree incline by a pulley system that has been carrying passengers for more than 100 years. Once at the top, the viewpoint looks down on the Point, which is where all three rivers meet. It’s a gorgeous Pittsburgh skyline view that showcases the rivers, the city, its sports stadiums and Pittsburgh’s history in the steel and coal industries.
The Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Museum of Natural History and the Carnegie Museum of Art are not to be missed. You can also find the Mr. Rogers Memorial Statue (yes, THAT Mr. Rogers from the Neighborhood) in the ‘Burgh and the Strip District, home of former warehouses, is now filled with restaurants, bars and shopping. The Mattress Factory (which does not actually sell mattresses FYI) is a contemporary art museum filled with optical illusions and quirky art installations, like a mirrored room filled with polka dots. It’s something to see for sure! For bird lovers and watchers, the National Aviary is a must visit in Pitt. From the tropics to the wetlands, and penguins to toucans, there are countless birds to see. For a few extra dollars you can have a special encounter with the penguins, hawks, flamingos and more.
Devils Den in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; Courtesy of Courtney Elko
3. Gettysburg
I’m embarrassed to say it took a pandemic for me to visit Gettysburg. I enjoy learning about history while traveling but I viewed Gettysburg as wide open battlefields, with little to show me but grass. Boy, was I wrong! Gettysburg is not boring. Yes, it’s the sight of a major turning point in the American Civil War, and it’s where President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed his legendary Gettysburg Address, but when those stories are told well to entertained visitors, those major historic events won’t fall on uninterested ears.
My knowledge of the Civil War was very much tested upon arrival in Gettysburg (maybe I was absent from school when we learned about Gettysburg?). I needed quite a big refresher (dare I say, first look) at what actually happened at Gettysburg in the 1800s. I wanted to explore and learn while also being entertained. I always find the best way to learn is while being entertained. The Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Visitor Center is a great introduction and easily lays the groundwork for the who’s who and the scope of what happened where. At the museum, visitors can watch a short film that depicts all of the three-day events and makes the vastness easier to understand. After watching the film, groups can view the Cyclorama. I had never seen (or heard of) a Cyclorama before and I can now say it was one of my favorite things at Gettysburg. The Gettysburg Cyclorama is a circular, oil painting that is 377 feet long, 42 feet high and weighs 12.5 tons. It fills its own room and the museum has created animation, effects and storytelling that plays around you as you watch. The experience is just a few minutes long but this painting created in 1883 makes the battle come alive in the 21st century.
As a great place to visit in Pennsylvania in the summer, getting out on the actual battlefield is of course a must. But there are many ways to do this. Narrated bus tours take visitors through the highlights, but if you want to get out and take photos or explore on foot a bit, driving through in your own car with a downloadable app telling you the stories of the three-day battle as you drive along, is a more personal experience. You can also hike trails throughout the battlefield or you can take a narrated horseback riding tour and experience the battlefield from the vantage point of some of the Civil War soldiers themselves. Hickory Hollow Horse Farm provides a variety of horseback riding tour options with different price points. On the licensed battlefield guided tour, every rider is given an audio device to listen to the licensed guide speak to the group while riding along with us through the fields. No experience riding is needed at all and there are several horse guides within a group to calm any nerves. Experiencing the battlefield from this vantage point put the ebbs and flows of the three-day July battle into perspective. You understand the importance of “the high ground” while riding through the fields, and understand how both sides nearly won over the three days.
Don’t forget about the small town of Gettysburg too. All the action didn’t just happen on the battlefield. The train station where Lincoln arrived to give his famous address still exists and can be toured. The Jennie Wade House, where the only civilian died during the battle, can be toured but beware of ghosts! Speaking of ghosts, there are several ghost tours from which to choose when visiting Gettysburg as well. The Civil War Ghosts Walking Tour is an excellent nighttime experience for both believers and skeptics. The tour guides give a little bit of actual history of the events that were happening within the city limits during the battle as well as the ghostly sightings that continue to occur today. One of the most haunted buildings in Gettysburg is the Farnsworth House Inn. A sniper (likely more than one sniper) took many shots from a small attic window in the house, that would also be used as a makeshift hospital. Today, it’s a bed and breakfast and it’s said that ghostly sightings have interrupted the sleep of most guests. For the ultimate Gettysburg experience, perhaps you dare to sleep there!
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Hammock in the trees in Poconos, Pennsylvania; Courtesy of Courtney Elko
4. Poconos
For tranquility, natural beauty, wildlife and a little year round adventure, a visit to the Pocono Mountains is the Pennsylvania answer. The Poconos is both a winter and summer destination. Skiing and snow tubing fill winter days at ski mountains like Jack Frost and Big Boulder, Blue Mountain and Camelback Mountain, making it one of the best places to visit in Pennsylvania in the winter. I learned to ski in the Poconos (if you can ski on these icy “mountains” you might be able to ski anywhere!), and spent many winter weekends on ski mountains growing up. Let me be clear for a minute, I’m using the word “mountain” loosely when describing the Poconos. They are mountains, and growing up they where the biggest mountains I had ever seen. But now having seen actual mountains, like the Canadian Rockies, Colorado peaks and the alps of Switzerland, I would classify the Pocono Mountains as more like foothills to those larger mountains. They are perfect for beginner skiers and boarders to learn but maybe not so much for majestically enormous mountain views.
Several lakes also fill the Poconos and make its peak season in the summer months. Rafting, boating, fishing, hiking, ropes courses, and mountain biking are fun Pocono adventures when the sun is shining bright. ATV tours through the thick forrest and muddy terrain is fantastic fun for those seeking some thrills. The guided tours with Pocono ATV Tours make first timers feel safe while allowing experienced riders plenty of excitement, too. Or try zip lining down a mountain for the ultimate in speed. S’mores and stories around the fire pit, game nights around the kitchen table or reading a book in a hammock by the lake is what awaits in the Poconos. Whether you rent a lake house, ski house or resort hotel, families will enjoy time spent among nature and wildlife away from the city and suburbs.
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Lancaster, Pennsylvania; Courtesy of Michael Sturgeon/Unsplash
5. Lancaster
If you are seeking even more peace and quiet, visit Lancaster, the Amish Country of Pennsylvania. Any trip to the Lancaster County area guarantees seeing an Amish horse and buggy. Located about 90 minutes from Philadelphia and four hours from Pittsburgh, Lancaster is most well-known for its Amish. However, trains, amusement rides, wineries and breweries and adorably cute towns make Lancaster County even more lovely. The Strasburg Railroad offers a train ride on America’s oldest operating railroad in an authentic steam engine, as well as a train museum. Dutch Wonderland, a small amusement park designed for younger children, is in the heart of Lancaster and Hersheypark amusement and water park are located less than 40 minutes away. Lancaster Central Market, located in downtown Lancaster, is a historic public market filled with more than 50 food vendors selling produce, meats, cheeses, baked goods, flowers and more. Lititz is an adorable, historic Lancaster town lined with local shops and restaurants. An ideal Pennsylvania place to visit for girls’ getaways, romantic weekends and family day trips, Lancaster can best be described as lovely.
6. Centralia
Centralia, located about 90 minutes north of Lancaster, is the definition of a ghost town in PA. This Central Pennsylvania town had a small population of 1,000 residents in 1980. That population dwindled to 63 people in 1990 and a remaining five in 2017, as the result of a coal mine fire that has been burning underground in Centralia since 1962. It’s the least-populated municipality in all of Pennsylvania. The state condemned the town and took eminent domain of all property in 1992, but the few residents who refused to leave were granted government permission (after much legal battle) to live out their lives in Centralia if they so choose. There is controversy over how the subterranean fire started (likely from burning trash too closely to the mine), but once it did there was no stopping the coal from burning, which caused several health and environmental hazards to the town.
Centralia is in no way a tourist destination. Toxic gases still fill the air and sinkholes and buckled roadways cover the ground. But this ghost town has become a bit of a novelty to see. Graffiti Highway, the main road formerly part of Route 61 that once ran through town and is now abandoned and buckled, is covered in colorfully layered graffiti. Roadtrippers often make a quick stop here to witness an abandoned town and leave their own mark on the highway to nowhere.
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