Pennsylvania, let’s remember, was one of the “stars” of these last American elections. One of these famous oscillating states that we won’t stop talking about for weeks. A moment of glory or not (it depends on everyone) for a state that is ultimately rather unknown from a tourist point of view, despite the presence of its big city, Philadelphia.
So, what to do and what to see if you have decided to take a trip to Pennsylvania?
Where is Pennsylvania?
Simply put, Pennsylvania is a large state (119,283 km² with 13 million inhabitants) west of New York that extends to the Great Lakes and the Canadian border. Its capital, not the best known, is Harrisburg.
Although the state is home to two large cities with Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, it remains essentially rural and forested, especially in its western part with some relief here and there.
People come here either to enjoy the historical and cultural heritage of its cities, starting with Philadelphia and its Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, or for its Civil War battlefields, or for nature with its numerous outdoor activities.
And then Pennsylvania is also the land of the Amish and Mennonites, particularly in Lancaster County, with a small tourist activity that has developed around this presence.
Pittsburgh, the “Steel City”
This is the second Pennsylvania city known for its architecture, parks and museums. Also nicknamed the “Steel City” because it was once home to the American steel industry, it has reinvented itself (more or less) and today offers a particular combination of industrial history, culture and nature.
Yes, to get a good view, you have to go up Mount Washington via the Duquesne Incline which is a funicular that connects the hill to the city center and the Strip District which is the historic district of Pittsburgh. A short walk before dedicating yourself to the museums: the first dedicated to Andy Warhol, a native of the city and renowned pop art artist, the Carnegie Museum of Art which houses an impressive collection of works of art ranging from antiquity to art contemporary , before concluding with the Heinz History Center which traces the history of Pennsylvania and Pittsburgh.
Philadelphia or the beginnings of American history
Between New York and Washington, Philadelphiaas it is nicknamed, it is the second city on the east coast of the United States and above all a city rich in history.
It was there, at Independence Hall, that the 4th July 1776 before the city became the country’s first capital for a decade. Here you can discover, perhaps on foot, renowned museums, numerous monuments, 4,000 murals, parks and gardens, as well as a historic center rich in heritage. All this makes the city, which is also an important cultural and artistic center of the country, an obligatory stop for any trip to this part of the American territory.
And to see in detail what there is to do in Philadelphia, it ended here…
Gettysburg, a turning point in the Civil War
Gettysburg remains undoubtedly one of the best known and, above all, most important battles of the entire Civil War.
Right on the site of what happened there on the 1stAND to July 3, 1863, a collection of memorials to both Northerners and Southerners, cannons, a vast military cemetery, plus an essential “Visitor Center” to start with and which recalls in its excellent museum section the progress of this and more general of the Civil War, seen from both the civilian and military sides, represent the main stages of a visit that can take quite some time if you intend to discover everything in detail.
A little detour to Harrisburg
The capital of Pennsylvania has always played a role in the history of the region and also of the country, both during the conquest of the West, and during the Civil War and the Industrial Revolution of the late 19th century.And. It is logical that one can then visit its Capitol and above all the National Museum of the Civil War which has the particularity of treating the entire period of the conflict from different aspects, but also the previous decade to analyze its causes and the subsequent ones to understand and demonstrate its consequences . .
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Centralia, the burning city
Centralia is a ghost town with a history as intriguing as it is disturbing.
Once a bustling mining town, Centralia was largely abandoned due to an underground mine fire that still burns today. As a result, its streets are now covered in thick smoke coming from the bowels of the earth. Despite the risks associated with the toxicity of the gas, some reckless residents continue to refuse to leave the city.
Regardless, a visit to the site remains a compelling experience, offering a somber look at a community struggling to survive despite tragic circumstances. Mainly because, you may not know it, but Centralia served as the inspiration for the horror video game series silent Hill.
In Amish land
Inland from Philadelphia, Lancaster County has long been known for being home to strong Amish and Mennonite communities, about 36,000 people, or 15 percent of its total population.
These Christian dissidents of the Church whose origins date back to 1525 in Zurich in Swiss aim to live as the Bible says. No electricity, no telephone and horses that allow us to cultivate the land or travel. A very different society from the others, in the middle of the countryside, which we can think of as on the margins of “civilization”.
However, some of these communities have realized that tourism can also bring “big money”. Since work remains a primordial value, men make furniture, women make handicrafts, preserves, jams and traditional sweets and then sell them in tourist shops. A choice and a conscious lifestyle, even if in fact now 10% of young people definitively leave their community to “look elsewhere”…
Four places to enjoy nature in Pennsylvania
The Appalachian Trail
It is one of the best-known hiking trails in the country with 3,500 km of trails in 14 eastern US states. A paradise for hikers in often splendid landscapes that crosses, among others, Pennsylvania.
Delaware water gap
Here we are in a natural area on the banks of the Delaware River suitable for canoeing and trekking, horseback riding or skiing.
Presque Isle State Park.
In the west of the state, on Lake Erie facing Canada and in the city of the same name, this site, not necessarily very large, offers its visitors beaches, numerous nautical activities and bicycle rides appreciated by the public.
The Poconos
The Poconos is this region of hills and forests located in northeastern Pennsylvania. People come here to hike, hunt, fish and ski in season.