Pennsylvania Travel

Independence Hall

Pennsylvania travel connects the east coast with the Midwest. Philadelphia, the “City of Brotherly Love” and the home of the United States Constitution and the Declaration of Independence is full of history, 18th century architecture, and old puritan bloodlines. In Pittsburgh, on the other side of the state, one can still feel the city’s pioneer spirit just under the surface of this cosmopolitan, industrial town. Between the two cities lie beautiful woodland, pastures, and lakes.

Pennsylvania is home to over 13 million residents. The state has been the home of the first library, the first pretzel factory, the first medical school, and the first zoo. Notable Pennsylvanians have included Benjamin Franklin, environmentalist and author Rachel Carson, opera singer Marian Anderson, actor Richard Gere, actress Grace Kelly, songstress Patti LaBelle, and pioneer tradesman Daniel Boone.

Pittsburgh PA

The Pittsburgh Skyline

Pittsburgh offers much in the way of Pennsylvania travel attractions. The city’s many hills and valleys offer beautiful vistas of the three rivers – the Ohio, the Allegheny, and the Monongahela -- that converge downtown. The unique Duquesne Incline whisks visitors up Washington Hill from downtown and offers breathtaking views of the city below. Atop the hill are numerous restaurants, galleries, and boutiques.

Pittsburgh’s early industrialists, including the Heinz family, Henry Clay Frick, and Andrew Carnegie, donated much towards making Pittsburgh a cultural capital. The Carnegie Museum of Art, Heinz Hall (home of the Pittsburgh Symphony), and the Carnegie Museum of Natural History reflect this generosity. Pittsburgh is also home to the Andy Warhol Museum. Just outside of town is the Frank Lloyd Wright masterpiece, “Falling Water”, built directly over a waterfall.

Philadelphia PA

Philadelphia is one of the oldest and most historic of all US cities. No Pennsylvania travel itinerary should be without it. Independence Hall, in the center of the city, is the centerpiece of the Independence National Historic Site. It was at Independence Hall that the Continental Congress voted for independence and where the Declaration of Independence was ratified. Other Philadelphia attractions include the Philadelphia Museum of Art, one of the country’s most important art collections; the Rodin Museum; the Edgar Allen Poe house; and Betsy Ross house.

Rural Pennsylvania

Outside of Pennsylvania’s major cities is a myriad of small towns, scenic lakes, and rolling woodland. The Appalachian Mountains cut diagonally across the state, from southwest to northeast, as does the Appalachian Trail. Central Pennsylvania is home to many state and national parks, including Susquehannock State Park and Bald Eagle State Forest.

Other Pennsylvania Attractions

Pennsylvania is also home to such diverse attractions as Gettysburg, site of the bloodiest battle of the Civil War, immortalized by Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address;” Hershey, home of the ubiquitous Hershey’s kiss and other chocolate confections and now a resort and theme park; and the Pocono Mountains, whose many sprawling resorts are particularly popular with honeymooners.