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Pennsylvania,
Resorts & Excursions
Excursions: -
Philadelphia: Situated on the Delaware River, Philadelphia is the fifth-largest city in the USA and a vibrant national centre of commerce, industry, medical education, research and the arts, while still preserving quiet pockets of some of the nation’s most historic territory.
In 1776, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed in Independence Hall, which stands in the centre of Independence National Historical Park. The new National Constitution Center is the first museum in the world dedicated to honouring the US Constitution. The glass Liberty Bell Center houses the bell that was sounded at the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence and features indoor and outdoor areas with interpretive exhibits. Franklin Court, where Franklin’s home once stood, houses an underground museum. Other places of interest include the Old City Hall, early home of the US Supreme Court; Christ Church, where Franklin and George Washington once worshipped; the Philadelphia Museum of Art & Rodin Museum; Penn’s Landing, where State founder William Penn first arrived in 1682; and Valley Forge National Historical Park, just west of the city, one of the most revered shrines of the American Revolution. Fairmount Park, by the Schuylkill River, is one of the USA’s largest city parks; visitors can learn all about the river in the neo-classical Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center on Waterworks Drive.
Pittsburgh: The second-largest city in the State, Pittsburgh was once the USA’s centre for steel production; however, the steel mills have been replaced by a dramatic skyline of dazzling skyscrapers. With its traditional ethnic spirit, close-knit neighbourhoods, vibrant culture and burgeoning business community, Pittsburgh consistently ranks highly in the listings of America’s most liveable places. The Point State Park Fountain in the Golden Triangle area of central Pittsburgh symbolises the creation of the Ohio River at the meeting of the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers. Other attractions include the Carnegie Science Center, with its Museum of Natural History; the University of Pittsburgh’s 42-storey ‘Cathedral of Learning’; and the Heinz History Center, which celebrates west Pennsylvanian history. The Andy Warhol Museum houses over 7000 works of this Pittsburgh-born pop artist.
Laurel Highlands: Once a retreat of wealthy Pittsburgh industrialists, the Laurel Highlands feature major ski resorts, trout fishing, hiking and biking trails. With its Class III and IV rapids, the Youghiogheny River provides some of the best whitewater rafting in the East. Old Bedford Village offers a living history of the pioneer era, with costumed guides, crafts demonstrations and 40 authentic buildings. The area is also home to two of Frank Lloyd Wright’s masterpieces: Kentuck Knob and the spectacular Fallingwater.
Pennsylvania Dutch Country: This farmland is home to the world-renowned Amish and Mennonites, the ‘plain people’ who fled religious persecution in Germany (‘Deutschland’
– hence the misnomer ‘Dutch country’) for a simple pastoral life without modern conveniences. The town of Lancaster is closely associated with the Pennsylvania Dutch but the centre of tourism is the town of Intercourse, where, at The People’s Place, films, crafts and interpreters weave the story of these settlers. Detours down side roads are rewarded with glimpses of horse-drawn ploughs and buggies, auctions, antique shops and the occasional private home where the exquisite Amish quilts and crafts are sold. In nearby Hershey is the world’s largest chocolate factory, ‘Chocolatetown USA’, with a visitor’s centre, shopping outlets and an amusement park. Other towns to visit in the region include Bird-in-Hand, Ephrata, Lancaster, Lititz and Strasburg. Harrisburg has a magnificent 650-room State Capitol building. Gettysburg, the famous Civil War battle site, features the Gettysburg National Military Park and the Eisenhower National Historic Site.
Pocono Mountains: Popular with honeymooners since the early-19th century, the Pocono Mountains and their neighbours to the west – the Endless Mountains
– offer breathtaking scenery as well as historical interest. Pennsylvania’s industrial heritage is to be found in this region’s many museums and towns. Honesdale and Wilkes-Barre played pivotal roles in building the coal and railroad industries of America. At Scranton, Steamtown is a National Historic Site featuring dozens of antique railroad cars and interpretive displays. 76m (250ft) below the earth, former miners lead visitors on tours through the Lackawanna Coal Mine for a first-hand account of the lives and times of the miners. About 64km (40 miles) from Scranton, the culture of coal miners can be explored further at Eckley Miners’ Village, an authentic coal-mining town. More of the wealth of the Industrial Revolution is preserved in the Victorian village of Jim Thorpe, nestled along winding roads in the shadow of the Pocono Mountains. The region also includes freshwater lakes, excellent shad fishing, whitewater rafting and Pennsylvania’s section of the Appalachian Trail. The Endless Mountains are home to two of the most beautiful parks in Pennsylvania: World’s End State Park and Ricketts Glen State Park.
Valleys of the Susquehanna: Outdoor activities abound in this region, with 19 State parks offering everything from swimming, hiking, horseriding and cross-country skiing. Boating and fishing can be enjoyed in the many tributaries of the Susquehanna River, which is distinguished by its numerous covered or ‘kissing’ bridges. Quaint river towns, such as Selinsgrove and Lewisburg, dot the area.
Allegheny National Forest Region: Located northwest of the Susquehanna Valley, this is one of the most unspoiled areas of Pennsylvania, protected from settlers by rugged terrain and harsh weather conditions. Elk County is home to one of only two wild elk herds east of the Mississippi. The entire region sports more big game than any other part of Pennsylvania. The Allegheny National Forest offers a vast area of woodlands, virgin timber, rivers and beautiful vistas. Wintersports enthusiasts can explore 480km (300 miles) of snowmobiling trails and seven cross-country ski trails. The Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, a 300m- (1000ft-) deep gorge that twists along 80km (50 miles) of Pine Creek and embraces 300,000 acres of forest, can be explored on foot, horseback, canoe or river raft. For quaint country charm, Wellsboro offers a slower pace and a picturesque Main Street, complete with authentic gas street lamps. Connected by the mighty Kinzua Bridge, the towns of Kane and Smethport boast fine country inns.
Lake Erie Region: Bordering Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes, the northwestern corner of the State features 32,000 acres of lakes, as well as hundreds of miles of rivers for fishing, boating and swimming.
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