Popular Vacation Spots in Pennsylvania

Before we share with you some of the most interesting places to visit in Pennsylvania, let us give you a quick history background of the state.


Pennsylvania was known throughout its early days as ‘Keystone State’ as it was the state where the first Declaration of Independence was signed, and the place where the first official United States flag was sewn and flown.

Today, Pennsylvania is one of the largest states in the Mid-Atlantic Region, home to some of the popular destinations in the USA.

In terms of attractions and things to do in the state, Pennsylvania offers a wealth of outdoor opportunities, amusement parks, beaches, shopping opportunities, great nightlife and entertainment, many festivals and places of interest to suit every taste.

Interesting Places to Visit in Pennsylvania: Top 5 Destinations

1. Philadelphia

If you are a history buff and are looking for an urban-type holiday, Philadelphia will foot the bill. The city of Philadelphia PA is known as the cheesesteak capital of PA and boasts a myriad of museums and historical landmarks such as Liberty Bell and Betsy Ross House where the first United States flag was sewn.

Things to do on a trip to Pennsylvania 

2. Erie

If you are looking for a relaxing beach-type holiday and plenty of water activities on offer, the city of Erie PA is known as popular getaway for families and romantic couples due to its laid back feel.

Erie PA is the only city in Pennsylvania located by the sea, along the shores of Lake Erie, and it is a popular stop-over destination for visitors taking the popular ‘Great American Waterways Cruise’.

3. Hershey

The town of Hershey PA is one of the most family-orientated destinations in Pennsylvania with plenty of attractions geared towards families with kids such as the popular Hershey Chocolate factory trolley ride.

4. Lancaster

The city of Lancaster is the ninth largest city in Pennsylvania and features plenty of recreational areas such as Central Park where you can enjoy hiking, swimming and camping.

Lancaster PA is also within a short drive of the Susquehanna and Conestoga rivers, which offer canoeing and kayaking opportunities.

5. Reading

The city of Reading PA is perhaps one most interesting places to visit in Pennsylvania, as the city offers a mixture of great shopping opportunities and outdoor pursuits.

In fact, Reading PA is home to over thirteen inner parks, and it is within a short drive from a couple of state parks where you can enjoy camping, hiking and other various outdoor activities.


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Popular Vacation Spots in Pennsylvania

If you are traveling to Reading for the first time, the city is known as the 'Shopping Capital of the World' due to its incredible variety of shopping outlets scattered along the city.

Apart from shopping opportunities, Reading PA features many inner city parks, lakes and a couple of state parks within a short distance where you can enjoy outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, fishing and boating.

If you are using car rental and are planning on exploring nearby cities, Reading PA is only an hour’s drive from Hershey Pennsylvania, Lancaster PA and Philadelphia PA.

Additionally, Reading PA is also within driving range of New York City, New Jersey, Maryland and Wilmington Delaware in Delaware State.

Things to do in Reading PA: Outdoor Activities

Hiking & Fishing

Berks County Parks

The city of Reading PA is home to around ten city parks, lakes and state parks, where you can enjoy a myriad of recreational activities.

Fishing opportunities can be found at both Antietam Lake and Kaercher Creek Park.

Antietam Lake is the closest to the city center, located 4 miles north east of the city center; while Kaercher Creek Park is located 20 miles north of Reading PA in the town of Hamburg.

If you’re traveling with the family and are planning on doing other activities apart from fishing, Kaercher Creek Park is your best bet.

The park also features a launching ramp for boats, fishing docks, electricity hook-ups, picnic and grill areas, playgrounds for kids and walking trails.

Nolde Forest State Park

Another excellent place where you can explore the outdoors and enjoy hiking trails is at Nolde Forest State Park.

This state park is only a 10 minute drive by car, and offers miles of easy trails through beautiful woodland.

Camping & Biking

If you are an avid mountain biker or are looking to camp out during your trip to Reading PA, French Creek State Park offers plenty of challenging biking and hiking opportunities.

The state park is also home to a campground that has amenities such as toilets, showers and electricity hook-ups.

French Creek State Park is only 17 miles south of Reading PA and it takes about 20 minutes drive to get there.

Cycling & Walking

If you and your family enjoy cycling and walking outings, two popular walking and cycling trails include:

- The Union Canal Trail, which runs along the Schuylkill River from Montgomery Street to Camp Joy through beautiful natural scenery.

- The Schuylkill River Trail - Thun Trail, which spans over 100 miles from Tamaqua to Philadelphia PA, passing through Reading PA.

Things to do in Reading PA: Places of Interest

Pagoda

One of the most historic and recognizable landmarks in Reading PA, it’s the Pagoda, which was built on the slope of Mount Penn in 1910 to resemble a Japanese Pagoda.

The fourth floor of this five-story pagoda is open to the public and features a gift shop and museum.

GoggleWorks Center

If you love anything to do with art and want to spend a fun day out, the GoggleWorks Center is one of the most popular things to do in Reading PA.

The GoggleWorks Center, located along Washington Street, features art galleries such as glass art works, as well as Sunday workshops you can join where you can learn the art of glass blowing and jewelry-making.

Reading Public Museum

If you are looking for more things to do in Reading PA with kids, the Reading Public Museum is another must-visit attraction worth adding to the Reading PA itinerary.

The museum is located along Museum Park, and features fun educational programs, a planetarium and an arboretum.

Things to do in Reading PA: Shopping

If you are a shopping enthusiast, Reading PA is home to many outlets and malls where you can find many bargains.

For instance, in West Reading, you can find VF Outlet and Berkshire Mall, which are located a short drive of Reading's city center.

And, in the neighborhood of Laureldale (north of Reading PA), you can find Fairgrounds Square Shopping Mall

Things to do in Reading PA: Nightlife & Entertainment

The downtown area of Reading PA is the hotspot for nightlife in the city and it is here where you'll find many bars, restaurants, pubs and nightclubs such as 1402 Bar & Nightclub located along 9th Street, Al’s Diamond Cabaret along 5th Street and El Tapatio along Walnut Street.

If you enjoy movies, the A-1 Cinema Center‎ at the Fairgrounds Square Shopping Mall it’s one of the biggest cinema complex in town, with over ten screens and stadium-style seating.

Things to do in Reading PA: Events & Festivals

“Go Fly A Kite!" Day

If you are visiting Reading PA in April, the 'Go Fly A Kite!' Day event is one of the most popular spring events in Berks County, and one event not to be missed if you are traveling with the family.

At the 'Go Fly A Kite!' Day event, you can participate in kite events, watch kite demonstrations and even learn how to fly a kite.

Children’s Fishing Rodeo

The Children’s Fishing Rodeo event is another popular family event that happens in May at Hunsicker's Grove in Mertztown, which is just half-hour drive from the city center.

If you’ve always wanted to enjoy a family fishing trip, the Children’s Fishing Rodeo is a great event where kids can learn fishing techniques.

Fiddle Festival

If you are a Bluegrass music fan, the Fiddle Festival showcases popular Bluegrass artists on an open stage at the Heritage Center in May.


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Popular Vacation Spots in Pennsylvania

Erie PA is roughly located on the half way point between Buffalo NY and Youngstown OH, and it is separated from the Canadian border by Lake Erie, which bounds the south coast of the Ontario Canada province and the states of Ohio and Pennsylvania.

As Philadelphia PA is known as the place where the Declaration of Independence was signed, the city of Erie PA is known as a laid-back summer retreat for families with kids and romantic couples.

Things to do in Erie PA: Outdoor Activities

State Parks

If you are planning a vacation to Erie PA and have in mind outdoor activities, a vacation in Erie PA will not disappoint you.

Erie's city center is just 8 miles from the picturesque Presque Isle State Park whose beautiful coastline arches into Lake Erie.

Presque Isle State Park offers a myriad of recreational activities and some of these include:

- Over 10 miles of hiking trails
- A purposely built paved biking trail circuit spanning over 13 miles
- Scuba diving & Snorkeling opportunities
- Hunting (only during hunting seasons
- Swimming at one of many beaches
- Educational Workshops throughout the year

City Parks

Apart from the beautiful Presque Isle State Park, Erie PA is home to over fifty city parks and playgrounds offering plenty of recreational opportunities.

For instance, one of the most popular city parks in Erie PA is Liberty Park, which is located at the shore of Lake Erie and features walking paths and sandy playgrounds.

Glenwood Park is another popular city park where you can enjoy plenty of recreational activities. Glenwood Park is actually the largest of all the city parks in Erie PA and features a golf course, an ice rink and the Erie Zoo.

Great American Waterways Cruise

If you are traveling from Chicago IL and are planning on visiting Erie PA, I would suggest considering the Great American Waterways Cruise.

This cruise consists of a 15 day cruise that takes you through the entire historic Erie Canal, departing from Chicago and finishing at Warren Rhode Island with stops along the way on Erie PA and other locations such as Mackinac Island Michigan and Cleveland Ohio.

Things to do in Erie PA: Places of Interest

Tom Ridge Environmental Center

If you are traveling with the family and are looking for things to do in Erie PA with kids, the Tom Ridge Environmental Center makes for a fun and inexpensive great day out.

The center is actually a visitor center for Presque Isle State Park and offers interactive shows about Presque Isle State Park’s wildlife and Lake Erie’s marine life.

Erie Zoo

Another popular thing to do in Erie PA with kids it’s to visit the Erie Zoo located at Glenwood Park where the whole family can enjoy many animal exhibits, interactive shows and a play area for the little ones.

Erie Art Museum

The Erie Art Museum is another interesting place worth adding to your Erie PA itinerary, especially if you are traveling with kids. The museum features the popular 'kids as Curators' exhibit which showcases art from middle school students.

Erie Memorial Parks

Some of Erie’s city parks contained memorials for the city’s notables and if you have time they're worth checking out.

For instance, the Jim Brutcher Field and Joseph Wronek Memorial Field is located at Pulaski Park, while the aluminum marker honoring the magician Harry Kellar is located at Griswold Park.

Lighthouses

If you’ve never seen a lighthouse before and would like to visit one, Erie PA is home to three lighthouses. Two of them are located on Presque Isle, while the other one is located at Lighthouse Park.

Things to do in Erie PA: Shopping

Shopping is indeed a popular thing to do in Erie PA since there is no sales tax on clothing items.

The downtown area features plenty of department stores and popular names include Big Lots, Dollar General Store and Ollie's Bargain Outlet.

Alternatively, you can visit Millcreek Mall, which is the largest shopping mall in Erie PA with more than 100 stores that include department, boutique and specialty stores.

If you travel to Erie PA between June and October, you can catch the popular Erie Farmers Market every Saturday on Perry Square, and shop for local produce as well as handmade crafts and art.

Things to do in Erie PA: Nightlife & Entertainment

Erie PA city center has a lively nightlife featuring a variety of bars and clubs to suit all tastes. For instance, the Boardwalk Complex Downtown and Craze Nightclub are located in the downtown area.

If you prefer a night more suitable for families and want to keep within a budget, there a couple of options that might interest you.

For instance, you could visit the popular Cinemark Millcreek Cinema 6 which shows movies that have been out for a while but at affordable prices.

Another affordable option could be a night of performing arts at the popular Erie Playhouse, which features inexpensive Broadway-type plays for families.

Things to do in Erie PA: Events & Festivals

Wild Resource Festival

If you are visiting Erie PA in early May, you can catch the popular Wild Resource Festival organized by the Tom Ridge Environmental Center.

If you love nature, this is one event that your family and you shouldn’t miss, as it features animal shows and nature walks through Presque Isle State Park.

Erie Blues & Jazz Festival

If you are a jazz enthusiast, the Erie Blues & Jazz Festival is held in August annually at Frontier Park for two days and showcases local and regional musicians.

Erie's Heritage Festival

Another popular summer event it's the Erie’s Heritage Festival held in September at Liberty Park. The event is family-friendly and features a historic trolley ride of downtown Erie, Civil War representations and educational exhibits.



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Philadelphia is without a shadow of the doubt one of the states with the richest history in the USA.

A trip to Philadelphia offers you a myriad of opportunities such as fine dining and historic places such as Independence Hall which is where the Declaration of Independence was signed and Betsy Ross House where the first ever American flag was sewn.

A few must places to visit in Philadelphia are as follows:

* Independence Hall is one of the must-see places to visit in Philadelphia. Independence Hall is where the Declaration of Independence was signed.

During the tour of the Hall, you can see a draft of the Declaration as well as the room where each representative sat.

* Liberty Bell located at Independence Mall is probably one of the most renowned symbols associated with the American Revolution and it is recognized as an icon of liberty around the world.

* The Philadelphia Museum of Art located at Benjamin Franklin Parkway is home to more than 200,000 works of art including artists such as Dali.

The Philadelphia Museum has Greek design feel to it and it is perhaps one of the most beautiful buildings in the area and a must-see on places to visit in Philadelphia.

* City Hall located in the heart of Center City was at the time the tallest building in Philadelphia and now it's a great observation deck where you can enjoy panoramic views of the area.

* The Reading Terminal Market is a one of the top draws in places to visit in Philadelphia because of the lovely market atmosphere reminiscent of 1900’s Philadelphia.

* The Betsy Ross House located on Arch Street is another historic attraction in Philadelphia and the place where the first American flag was sewn by Betsy Ross herself.

* Christ Church Burial Ground also located on Arch Street is where the remains of America’s important figures are buried such as those of Benjamin Franklin.

* Elfreth's Alley located between Arch and Race Streets is considered a landmark and it is the oldest residential street in the country.

A visit to Elfreth’s Alley is a step back in time in Colonial America and it is certainly one of the top places to visit in Philadelphia.

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Popular Vacation Spots in Pennsylvania

Hershey Pennsylvania is a great destination for fun affordable family vacations, and it is only a couple of hours drive from places to visit in Philadelphia.

Hershey Pennsylvania: Things to do

* Hershey Pennsylvania is home to the popular Hersey Park where you can enjoy fun family outdoor activities.

* Apart from visiting Hershey Park, another popular thing to do in Hershey Pennsylvania is to take a ride on a Hershey Trolley car.

A Hershey trolley car is a fun and educational tour on an old fashioned trolley car, where you get to visit the Hershey Chocolate factory and learn how Mr. Hershey started the chocolate business.


In terms of accommodation, two great suggestions are Hotel Hershey and the Hershey Lodge which features its own golf course, tennis courts and a miniature golf for the kids. 

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