Nestled in the north-eastern United States, the so-called ‘Keystone State’, Pennsylvania, is known for its gorgeous landscape and agriculture, ranging from magnificent mountain ranges to the small, yet attractive stretch of Lake Erie shoreline.
While much of the state has a strong rustic feel, the big, bustling towns of Philadelphia and Pittsburgh offer a plethora of attractive tourist destinations. In particular, there are lots of intriguing historical landmarks to visit, since Pennsylvania played such a big part in the Civil and Revolutionary War.
If you’re planning a trip to Pennsylvania, make sure you don’t leave until you’ve checked out the following activities and attractions.
Embrace the Phipps Conservatory
The Phipps Conservatory – along with its stunning botanical gardens – are located in the northwest quadrant of Pittsburgh’s Schenley Park. Built in 1893 using a combination of metal and glass, this beautiful conservatory boasts no less than 14 great floral exhibitions, each brimming with picturesque plants and blooming flowers.
Take a stroll through the chambers, admiring their wonderful design and verdant arrangement as you go. You’ll find Tropical Forest Conservatory situated amid a Palm Court, and an Orchid Room.
Aside from its huge collection of alluring flora, there’s a magnificent framework on display at the Phipps Conservatory, with several iconic artworks and waterfalls thrown into the mix too.
Visit Dutch Wonderland
Dutch Wonderland is a large-scale, spectacular theme park featuring adrenaline-rushing rollercoasters, exciting attractions, a castle, and several slides.
The ‘Kingdom for Kids,’ located east of Lancaster, is ideal for families with small children. Its gigantic stone replica castle frontage is bound to amaze the little ones.
Once inside, you’ll be greeted by a colourful carnival of visuals, sounds and scents, with thrill-seeking fun fair rides wherever you turn. Aside from riding on the 32 different rollercoasters, you can enjoy making a splash in the water park, and perhaps even catch a live entertainment performance starring Dutch Wonderland’s animated characters, Princess Brooke and Duke the Dragon.
If you have any energy left afterwards, you can always spend some time exploring the restaurants and shops located next to the theme park.
Reading Terminal Market: a great place to Eat
Situated in central Philadelphia, Reading Terminal Market is another Pennsylvania gem. Although its title may be somewhat deceptive, you’ll soon realise where this place gets its name from.
Established in 1893, beneath the Reading Railroad Company’s pavilion, Reading Terminal Market is now a centrepiece of the Pennsylvania Convention Center.
Dining out is one of the top things to do in Pennsylvania and, here, you’ll find a tantalising choice of options spanning Indian, Greek, Japanese, Caribbean, and Spanish cuisines.
The market opens daily with the exception of Sundays, when a few of the vendors remain closed. Not only can you buy authentic local food produce here, but you can also pick up quality accessories, personal care products, clothing, books, and more.
The Quehanna Trail: a must for backpackers
If you’re searching for a wilderness retreat, Pennsylvania provides several fascinating choices for getting away from the city, whether for a few days or a few weeks.
The woods of Pennsylvania are home to hundreds of kilometres of designated hiking paths, making them extremely popular with backpackers. Perhaps one the most beautiful and well-known of all, is the Quehanna Trail. At around 70 miles long, this trail passed through both the Moshannon and Elk State Forests, in the Pennsylvania Wilds. It will take you around seven days to finish, but it’s worth it.
Wondering where to start and end the trail? Locals say that Parker Dam State Park – a picturesque region in the core of Pennsylvania, with a peaceful lake and shoreline available to both campers and gawkers – is the ideal location to begin, or round off, your journey.
5. PA Sports Betting: a fun way to round off your trip
If you like to enjoy a little flutter in the casino from time-to-time, you’ll never tire of playing all the latest slot games and tables in Pennsylvania. This north-eastern US state is home to so many casinos and on-site sporting grounds, many of the casinos are actually used as recreational hotspots in the way that a bar or nightclub might be, with pumping music and show venues, not to mention a plethora of wonderful places to eat.
In fact, many well-known online betting companies are actually headquartered in Pennsylvania. Whether you’re an experienced gambler, or you tend to stick to the 2p arcade machines more common in UK amusement arcades, no doubt you’ll have fun exploring the many different legal gambling sites to be found here. What’s more, as promos are widespread and robust in PA sports betting, you may qualify for welcome discounts and/or free games, too.
With such a varied offering of activities, experiences and attractions, you’ll never be short of things to do and see in Pennsylvania. Whether you’re exploring the historical local landmarks, or simply strolling through the serene parks and enjoying the recreational facilities, you’re bound to have a truly memorable experience.
Have you ever been to Pennsylvania? What did you get up to during your stay? Tell me all about it in the comment box below and, who knows, you may even help a fellow reader out too!