Pennsylvania is one of the largest and most historically important states in the Northeast. Some of the defining events in American history took place here, from the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia to the Battle of Gettysburg during the Civil War. Pennsylvania is also home to major cities such as Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, smaller historic cities and towns, Amish farming communities, forested mountains, and even a short stretch of shoreline along Lake Erie. Despite living only a few hours away, I still feel like I’ve explored relatively little of the state considering how much there is to see.
Explore Pittsburgh
Nicknamed the Steel City, Pittsburgh grew into one of America’s great industrial centers through steel manufacturing and other heavy industries. Today the city has a very different economy, but much of that industrial history remains part of its identity. Pittsburgh is also one of the most scenic large cities in the country, sitting where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers meet to form the Ohio River. Hills surround downtown, while dozens of bridges cross the waterways and give the city one of the most recognizable urban landscapes in America.
Explore Centralia
Centralia is one of the strangest places I’ve visited in Pennsylvania. Once a small coal-mining town, its future changed after an underground mine fire began in the early 1960s. As the fire continued burning beneath the community, dangerous gases, unstable ground, and other hazards eventually led most residents to leave. Nature has since reclaimed much of the former town, leaving behind a scattered collection of roads, empty lots, and traces of the community that once stood here.
Explore Allegheny National Forest
Allegheny National Forest covers a large section of northwestern Pennsylvania and offers a completely different experience from the state’s cities and historic sites. The rolling mountains are heavily forested, with hiking trails, streams, waterfalls, overlooks, and plenty of opportunities to see wildlife. The forest is especially beautiful during autumn when the mountains turn red, orange, and yellow, although hiking, camping, and exploring the backroads can be enjoyed throughout much of the year.
Explore Philadelphia
Philadelphia is one of America’s most historically important cities and was at the center of the country’s founding. Independence Hall is where both the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted, while the Liberty Bell remains one of the city’s most famous symbols. Philadelphia is much more than its colonial history though. The city has major museums, distinctive neighborhoods, professional sports, restaurants, nightlife, and of course the famous Philly cheesesteak. The Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Rocky statue are also among the city’s best-known modern landmarks.
Explore Lancaster
Lancaster is another historic Pennsylvania city, but the surrounding countryside is especially famous for its large Amish and Mennonite communities. Lancaster briefly served as the capital of the United States for a single day in 1777 while the Continental Congress was moving west ahead of advancing British forces. Today the city combines a historic downtown with the farms and small communities of Lancaster County, where horse-drawn buggies, traditional agriculture, markets, and long-established religious communities remain an important part of the region.
Explore Gettysburg
The United States has no shortage of Civil War battlefields, but none is more famous than Gettysburg. The three-day battle in July 1863 resulted in tens of thousands of casualties and became one of the major turning points of the war. Today the enormous battlefield contains monuments, memorials, preserved landscapes, historic buildings, and a national cemetery. The visitor center and museum provide a good introduction before exploring the battlefield itself, where many of the most important locations from the fighting remain preserved.
Explore Harrisburg
Pennsylvania’s capital of Harrisburg sits along the Susquehanna River in the south-central part of the state. The city has a compact downtown centered around the impressive Pennsylvania State Capitol, along with museums, historic buildings, restaurants, and a long riverfront park. Harrisburg is also close to several major attractions elsewhere in central Pennsylvania, while nearby Three Mile Island became internationally known after the 1979 nuclear accident at its power plant.
Other Nearby States
Explore New York
Explore Ohio
Explore Maryland
