Come to Pennsylvania and taste what you've been missing.
Pennsylvania's more than just food, but no visit is complete without stopping by Dutch Country to sample the culinary delights. From knockwurst with sauerkraut to homemade apple pie, Pennsylvania's southeast region is steeped in German heritage. Horse-drawn buggies transport the Amish to farmers' markets where you can buy their handcrafted wooden furniture, handmade quilts, and homemade food. Wooden covered bridges to walk through, amusement parks, train rides, zoos, and museums delight visitors of all ages. A short distance from the Dutch Country attractions, Philadelphia provides a completely different type of experience. From the Liberty Bell to the world's largest outlet mall, Philadelphia offers its own brand of hospitality. Although home to seven of the top fifty restaurants, you can also enjoy such simple fare as Philly cheesesteaks. There's so much to see and do in this region that you need at least a weekend to appreciate it.
Pennsylvania's south central region offers a broader mix of industry and entertainment. Home of the state capitol, visitors come from all over to see the beautiful capitol building, which was designed by Joseph M. Huston in the Renaissance Revival style. Gettysburg will inspire and captivate the kids with its Civil War battlegrounds and educational museums, and don't forget to swing by Hershey to sample the best chocolate being made in the area. World famous Hershey Park, Chocolate World, and Zoo America combine to make Hershey one of the most popular tourist attractions in Pennsylvania.
Three rivers - the Allegheny, the Monongahela, and the Ohio - converge in Pittsburgh, so there are many water-related activities in which to participate in Pennsylvania's southwest region. Pittsburgh itself is a mix of modern cosmopolitan as well as ethnic neighborhoods. Biking, boating on the rivers, golfing, hiking, rafting, and skiing are some of the activities that can be enjoyed in the outlying areas. Less adventurous visitors can take in a county fair or explore the covered bridges.
Buried in the mountains of central Pennsylvania is State College, home to Pennsylvania State University, one of the ten largest universities in the country. Their football fans are among the most ardent in the nation. Two state forests provide year-round camping, fishing, and hiking.
For the golf enthusiast, the Pocono Mountains area in northeastern Pennsylvania offers over thirty golf courses. Lakes, ponds, rivers, and woodlands make up the 2,400 square miles that is the Pocono Mountains region within northeast Pennsylvania. Something for everyone, trails and back roads make it a haven for mountain bikers, and the many water resources attract water sports enthusiasts for boating, canoeing, water-skiing, and white water rafting. Little League World is also in the northeast region of the state.
Touching the shores of Lake Erie, the northwest region is another part of Pennsylvania that can be enjoyed by those who like to be outdoors. Mountains, lakes and streams offer a contrast to Presque Isle, where the sand beach runs for seven miles. This region also boasts exhibits, galleries, and museums.
Space limitations prevent an in-depth review of all that Pennsylvania has to offer. Diverse in both terrain and activity, the state has seen an increase in tourism in recent years. Several movies have been filmed in and around the mid-state, including WITNESS, THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN, GIRL INTERRUPTED, and NUMBERS, to name a few; and it's not unusual to walk into a local restaurant and see on a wall pictures of celebrities who have visited that establishment.
You can find almost any kind of tour you want, from pretzel, chocolate, and crayon factories to historic homes, museums, and railroads. Theater choices are varied, from the IMAX theater in Harrisburg to the American Music and the Sight and Sound theaters in Lancaster county. Zoos and bird sanctuaries are scattered across the state, and the Appalachian Trail runs through Pennsylvania.
In a national survey, Pennsylvania was named the most beautiful state in the Union; and visits during the spring or autumn will confirm that the participants in the survey made the right choice. Come to Pennsylvania and see for yourself.
