| Check out our free interactive Pennsylvania vacation guide and discover Pennsylvania's biggest attractions, best restaurants and much more. If you've visited Pennsylvania before tell us your vacation tips and help other travellers enjoy great vacations in Pennsylvania. |
| Pennsylvania Holidays - Destinations |
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| Temperature: |
Live Forecast |
Population: |
12365455 |
| Time Zone: |
GMT – 4 |
Driving side: |
Drive on the right hand side of the road |
| Languages: |
English
Spanish |
| Religion: |
Protestant – 56%
Roman Catholic – 28%
Jewish – 2%
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| Emergency #: |
Medical Emergency – 911
Fire Emergency – 911
Police Emergency – 911
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Philadelphia – Philadelphia is located on the eastern part of the state. Philadelphia is full of history; this is the place where Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams shaped a new nation. Millions of visitors come to Philadelphia to retrace the founding fathers footsteps. The areas surrounding Philadelphia offer the visitor such diversity such as the Brandywine Valley where the site of the world famous Longwood Gardens; Valley Forge is located. This is where Washington’s brave army endured the bitter winter of 1777/1778. There is Bucks County, which has country inns, artist’s colonies and then there is Lehigh Valley, this is where Moravian culture flourishes.
Pittsburgh – Pittsburgh is America’s renaissance city, and is located where the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers form the Ohio River. The best place to view the Golden Triangle is on top of Mount Washington. The views are spectacular. Laurel Highlands is an amalgam of tiny towns, country restaurants, antique shops and resorts. This is a great stop, and has a great country feel.
Gettysburg – Gettysburg is the scene of the bloody Civil War battle, which is now dotted with hundreds of monuments and cannons in silent tribute to the fallen soldiers. There are a variety of attractions to see. In Hershey there is the Hershey Park, Zoo America and Chocolate World, just to name a few. The Pennsylvania Dutch country is where the Amish have shunned the modern conveniences, which many of us would be lost without, like automobiles and electricity. This area has intriguing Amish markets and farms. It nice to see how people from other ways of life live, and it make you realize you don’t actually need all the modern conveniences of today, but they are definitely nice to have.
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| You can visit Pennsylvania any time of the year, although the weather is seasonal with four distinct seasons, it is really popular in the summer time. The best deals are in the fall and winter months, and the 4th of July is obviously a busy time of year to visit because of the history of this state. |
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National Watch and Clock Museum – Located at 514 Poplar Street, Columbia, PA. The National Watch and Clock Museum is one of the most interesting places here. There are over 12 000 specimens which trace the history of timekeeping and timepieces from all over the world. Exhibits include a turn of the century jewelers shop, a 20th century watch factory and a cabinetmakers workshop.
Before entering the museum visitors see a brief video on the history of time and timekeeping, and after touring the museum, visitors end up in the Museum Shop. The National Watch and Clock Museum also includes a lending library and research centre, which is one of the largest in the world no the subject of timepieces and timekeeping. The Museum is open from January through March from 10am to 4pm Tuesday to Saturday and April through December from 10am to 5pm Tuesday to Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4pm.
Valley Forge National Historical Park – Located at Valley Forge, PA. The Valley Forge National Historical Park is where Washington spent the winter in 1777/1778. The winter was severe and the army faced considerable hardship, but emerged a well- drilled and orderly fighting unit. The Isaac Potts House was the headquarters of Washington while the army stayed at the Valley Forge. There is a nominal entrance fee to enter the Headquarters of Washington.
Other sites, which can be viewed at the Valley Forge National Historical Park, include General Varnum’s Quarters, the remains of the original earthworks and the Grand Parade grounds; there is also a reconstruction of the soldier’s huts. Bring a lunch and choose from three picnic areas, where you can enjoy the natural surroundings of the Park. Each year on December 19th, the Park commemorates the army’s arrival and then in June they reenact their departure. At the visitors centre there are many artifacts that are on display including Washington’s field tents. The Valley Forge National Historical Park is open daily from 9am to 5pm.
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site – Located at 2 Mark Bird Lane, Elverson, PA. In the 18th century, iron making was one of the colonies primary industries, and this historic site pays tribute to this. Pennsylvania has rich stores of the principal materials, such as iron ore, limestone and the forests for the charcoal. This made Pennsylvania the ideal spot for the furnaces. The Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site includes the blast furnace, ironmaster’s house, outlying buildings and trails, which lead you through the plantation.
There is a video program, which introduces you to the history of the plantation scale of iron making. When you are walking through the forest you will come across charcoal hearths, this is where trees from the surrounding woods were reduced to char, also keep you eyes peeled for local species of birds and animals. The visitor center is open from 9am to 5pm and there is a nominal entrance fee to the historic site.
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Lake Erie – Located on the northern tier of Pennsylvania. At Lake Erie, you can enjoy swimming, camping, and fishing. There are miles of beaches where you can enjoy being in nature.
Pacini Mountains – Located on the northern tier of Pennsylvania. At the Pacini Mountains, there is so much to do. You can go hiking, fishing in the streams, hunting, swimming, camping and in winter there are all the winter sports to enjoy, such as skiing and snow boarding.
Pocanos area – Located on the northern tier of Pennsylvania. This area boasts many honeymoon retreats, several attraction, family styled resorts and of course excellent skiing.
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| The public transport in Philadelphia is excellent; there are busses, a high-speed rail service and taxis. Several car rental agencies are available for those who would like their own transport and not to rely on public transport, but I feel that it is not essential because of the efficiency of the public transport.The public transport in Philadelphia is excellent; there are busses, a high-speed rail service and taxis. Several car rental agencies are available for those who would like their own transport and not to rely on public transport, but I feel that it is not essential because of the efficiency of the public transport. |
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Autumn Leaf Festival – The Autumn Leaf Festival takes place in Clarion, Pennsylvania. The festival usually takes place the last week of September through the first week of October. This is a great time of year, and there are usually a variety of stores selling food, and tons of entertainment.
Fall Harvest Market – The Fall Harvest Market takes place at Brandywine River Museum from the Middle of September to the end of October. There are various things on sale, such as honey, apples, pottery, handcrafted jewelry and various crafts by regional artisans. http://www.bradywinemuseum.org
Heritage Harvest Festival – This festival takes place at the beginning of October with various crafts, food on sale. There is a car show, a petting zoo for the kids and antique tractor jousting for those of you who think they can handle it. The entertainment consists of various live acts. Admission to the festival is free of charge.
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