Pennsylvania
Have fun with your family at Amish fields, theme parks, and museums.
Pennsylvania is a great place for a family holiday because it has more than a dozen amusement parks and water parks, as well as a town made of chocolate, which is something that everyone would enjoy. It also has the culture of big cities, like the great museums, science centers, theaters, and parks you can find in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and other lively cities. In 121 state parks, you can hike, bike, and boat away from the towns. You can also visit farms and villages to learn about the Amish. Don’t miss the chance to learn about Pennsylvania’s important role in U.S. history at Independence Hall in Philadelphia and on the grounds at Gettysburg.
A very interesting history and culture
The museums in Pennsylvania’s exciting towns are among the best in the world. Visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Barnes Foundation while you’re in Philadelphia. Then, take a drive to Pittsburgh to be amazed by the collections at The Andy Warhol Museum and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History. You can get away from the big towns and visit museums about candy, the Underground Railroad, Rolls-Royce cars, and even the Big Mac from McDonald’s. You can enjoy the genius of builder Frank Lloyd Wright at four homes, including Kentuck Knob in Chalk Hill and Fallingwater, which is his most famous work, in Mill Run, just outside of Pittsburgh. Nearby, there are two more Wright homes where you can spend the night. Visit the state’s 15 castles, one of which was built to look like a medieval castle from a former state prison, and be amazed by the beautiful buildings and historic collections they hold. The Amish Village is a heritage museum near Lancaster that lets you learn about the Amish way of life, culture, and traditions. You can take guided walks of an Amish homestead, barn, and schoolhouse from the 1840s. Visit Gettysburg National Military Park and follow a program led by a guide. This is the site of a major turning point in the Civil War. You can see the Liberty Bell and go to Independence Hall in Philadelphia. This is where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were written, discussed, and finally agreed upon.
Family Fun
People all over the world know the name Hershey. When they think of chocolate, they think of Hershey. Spend the day riding fun rides at the huge Hersheypark amusement park with a chocolate theme, and then go to Hershey’s Chocolate World and make your chocolate bar. In other parts of the state, about an hour east of Pittsburgh, you can get wet at Idlewild & SoakZone. You can also meet wild animals in parks and aquariums all over the state. Sesame Place is northeast of Philadelphia and is a must-see for kids. There, they can ride miniature roller coasters, splash down water slides, and hug their favorite “Sesame Street” characters. Fans of “Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood” can go on a 10-stop tour in Pittsburgh and the Laurel Highlands to see where the famous children’s TV show creator and host used to live.
Four Times of Fun in the Great Outdoors
In the winter, there are 22 ski areas in the eastern and southern parts of the state where you can ski, snow tubing, and dogsledding. In the summer, clear lakes and winding rivers welcome tourists with the chance to go sailing, canoeing, and stand-up paddleboarding. Bring the family to Presque Isle State Park near Erie to swim, boat, and watch birds along the shores of Lake Erie. At night, look at the stars. Pennsylvania has some of the darkest skies in the eastern United States, and there are several great sites where you can get an even better view. Want to get a rush of adrenaline? In the Laurel Highlands or the Pocono Mountains, you can go whitewater kayaking. Take a ride on one of the many scenic railroads that run through the state for a less strenuous trip. The trains look especially beautiful when the leaves are changing color in the fall.