This is first in a series of states, where I will highlight my time spent in a state. These are my own recommendations of restaurants and things to do, and I hope to share my perspective. I hope to visit all 50 states in my lifetime to see the sights and learn about each area.
Pennsylvania - My Home State
-Part 2-
Eastern PA
Bucks County - Lower Bucks I am familiar with the most. Shopping centers multiply, and new places pop up all the time. Chain restaurants and retail stores are everywhere. Sesame Place is a unique amusement park for children. In the summer months, the area will become dense with families with small children, so be wary of going to Red Robin on a Saturday. New Hope and Peddler's Village are the ideal shopping spots. I call Doylestown the capital of Bucks. It is home to the courthouse and many museums. Keep a lookout for painted mule statues in the vicinity. There is Parx Casino and the Philadelphia Race track in Bensalem.
Notable areas of shopping about 45 minutes away are the Limerick Outlets and King of Prussia. Center City of Philadelphia is about the same distance away. Longwood Gardens and the Brandywine River Museum are great day trips. It is also easy to trek to the beaches in New Jersey; the closest one is only 40 minutes away.
Allentown/Easton - These towns are built up with plenty to do. Dorney Park is a great attraction. The Crayola Factory is ideal for children, but is a waste of time for adults with no children.
Kutztown has the Crystal Cave and a tiny airport. Their 'downtown' is a CVS. They've got a great fry place called Spuds down Main Street. The surrounding areas are farmlands, but Reading and Allentown are a short drive away.
Jim Thorpe is a bustling little town with many historic buildings. The train station in the heart of the town offers scenic trips. I heard there is a lingering handprint in the old jail up Broadway, the winding main street.
Hazleton is probably the most populated town in the Poconos. It is hidden up in the mountains. There are a slew of churches, a local favorite diner and a once-a-year fun fest. Many people outside of Hazleton know someone who lives there or used to. Lake Wallenpaupack is northward from here and attracts tourists during the warmer months. This area only has a few local country general stores. You would have to drive about 25 minutes to Wal-Mart and about 45 minutes to a mall in Scranton.
In Lancaster, you can learn the Amish way of life by taking a tour of an Amish farm. Buffets are popular here, and shoofly pie is a tradition. Shopping at Kitchen Kettle Village or the outlets is a must. You'll see horse and buggies on the road, and they may delay your travel if you are behind them on the back roads. For a neat concept and a central location, stay at the Steamboat Inn.
Hershey is such a sweet place. Hershey's Chocolate World will not only leave you with a bagful of chocolate and souvenirs; you will be singing the theme song all day! Hershey Park is right next door with great rides. In some places around this town, you can smell the chocolate in the air. The zoo is worth checking out too. I suggest staying at the Chocolatetown Motel for a nice short and inexpensive stay.
York is home to a very nice college campus. It looks like a park in the summer, though there isn't much to walk to from here.
Central PA
Towns and attractions are far between in mid-state PA. State College is where Penn State grows. The university is a city in itself. I only drove by and viewed it from the highway, but it is massive. Penn's Cave was a great adventure. You take a boat through the cave, and a bus through the wildlife. The gift shop is enormous, and you can purchase bison and longhorn burgers at the cafe.
Ligonier is a small town with quaint shops and a gazebo. You'll feel like you've traveled back in time. Idlewild Park offers children (or the child in us) rides that have become classic. They have a fun walkthrough storybook forest highlighting fairy tales.
Indiana, PA is the birthplace of Jimmy Stewart. A museum dedicated to him is above a library on the main street (Philadelphia St), and provides a great collection of his works. Cozumel is a good Mexican place across and down the street. Indiana University is also located here.
Harrisburg is our capital city with 3 exits from the turnpike to get to here. I cannot recommend anything in particular, but it seems pretty easy to drive around.
Gettysburg is the place to learn about the Civil War. The town is small, but very welcoming with a few quaint shops down a main street and a square in the center of town. The multitude of museums and tourist attractions teach you about the three day battle in many different aspects, such as viewing it in a diorama or through a bus trip through the grounds. You can easily spend a week here and see all of the sites.
Pennsylvania - My Home State
-Part 2-
Eastern PA
Bucks County - Lower Bucks I am familiar with the most. Shopping centers multiply, and new places pop up all the time. Chain restaurants and retail stores are everywhere. Sesame Place is a unique amusement park for children. In the summer months, the area will become dense with families with small children, so be wary of going to Red Robin on a Saturday. New Hope and Peddler's Village are the ideal shopping spots. I call Doylestown the capital of Bucks. It is home to the courthouse and many museums. Keep a lookout for painted mule statues in the vicinity. There is Parx Casino and the Philadelphia Race track in Bensalem.
Notable areas of shopping about 45 minutes away are the Limerick Outlets and King of Prussia. Center City of Philadelphia is about the same distance away. Longwood Gardens and the Brandywine River Museum are great day trips. It is also easy to trek to the beaches in New Jersey; the closest one is only 40 minutes away.
Allentown/Easton - These towns are built up with plenty to do. Dorney Park is a great attraction. The Crayola Factory is ideal for children, but is a waste of time for adults with no children.
Kutztown has the Crystal Cave and a tiny airport. Their 'downtown' is a CVS. They've got a great fry place called Spuds down Main Street. The surrounding areas are farmlands, but Reading and Allentown are a short drive away.
Jim Thorpe is a bustling little town with many historic buildings. The train station in the heart of the town offers scenic trips. I heard there is a lingering handprint in the old jail up Broadway, the winding main street.
Hazleton is probably the most populated town in the Poconos. It is hidden up in the mountains. There are a slew of churches, a local favorite diner and a once-a-year fun fest. Many people outside of Hazleton know someone who lives there or used to. Lake Wallenpaupack is northward from here and attracts tourists during the warmer months. This area only has a few local country general stores. You would have to drive about 25 minutes to Wal-Mart and about 45 minutes to a mall in Scranton.
In Lancaster, you can learn the Amish way of life by taking a tour of an Amish farm. Buffets are popular here, and shoofly pie is a tradition. Shopping at Kitchen Kettle Village or the outlets is a must. You'll see horse and buggies on the road, and they may delay your travel if you are behind them on the back roads. For a neat concept and a central location, stay at the Steamboat Inn.
Hershey is such a sweet place. Hershey's Chocolate World will not only leave you with a bagful of chocolate and souvenirs; you will be singing the theme song all day! Hershey Park is right next door with great rides. In some places around this town, you can smell the chocolate in the air. The zoo is worth checking out too. I suggest staying at the Chocolatetown Motel for a nice short and inexpensive stay.
York is home to a very nice college campus. It looks like a park in the summer, though there isn't much to walk to from here.
Central PA
Towns and attractions are far between in mid-state PA. State College is where Penn State grows. The university is a city in itself. I only drove by and viewed it from the highway, but it is massive. Penn's Cave was a great adventure. You take a boat through the cave, and a bus through the wildlife. The gift shop is enormous, and you can purchase bison and longhorn burgers at the cafe.
Ligonier is a small town with quaint shops and a gazebo. You'll feel like you've traveled back in time. Idlewild Park offers children (or the child in us) rides that have become classic. They have a fun walkthrough storybook forest highlighting fairy tales.
Indiana, PA is the birthplace of Jimmy Stewart. A museum dedicated to him is above a library on the main street (Philadelphia St), and provides a great collection of his works. Cozumel is a good Mexican place across and down the street. Indiana University is also located here.
Harrisburg is our capital city with 3 exits from the turnpike to get to here. I cannot recommend anything in particular, but it seems pretty easy to drive around.
Gettysburg is the place to learn about the Civil War. The town is small, but very welcoming with a few quaint shops down a main street and a square in the center of town. The multitude of museums and tourist attractions teach you about the three day battle in many different aspects, such as viewing it in a diorama or through a bus trip through the grounds. You can easily spend a week here and see all of the sites.
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