What are some good places to go in Pennsylvania? I'll have at least a week there.?

Question

What are some good places to go in Pennsylvania? I'll have at least a week there.?

Answer 1

Pennsylvania is a great place to visit.  There is a lot to do and see throughout the state.

In Philadelphia...

City Hall

Eastern State Penitentiary

Congress Hall

Independence Hall

Civil War Library and Museum

Mutter Museum

Please Touch Museum

Fort Mifflin

Masonic Temple

Reading Terminal Market

Fairmount Waterworks Drive

Independence National Historical Park

Fairmount Park

In Pittsburgh...

Carnegie Museum of Art

Monongahela Incline

Carnegie Science Center

Pittsburgh Children's Museum

Andy Warhol Museum

Pittsburgh Zoo and PPG Aquarium

National Aviary

Carnegie Museum of Natural History

In Lancaster...

Dutch Wonderland

Amish Country

Wheatland

Central Market

Lancaster Quilt & Textile Museum

Landis Valley Museum

Holtwood Dam

Mennonite Information Center

Lancaster Malt Brewing Company

Balloon Flights Daily by The United States Hot Air Balloon Team

Answer 2

The above answers are eastern PA biased.

Pittsburgh is a great city!  Check out Carnegie museum, Station Sq., a Pirates game if you like baseball because it's one of the best new stadiums built to date (better than Philly's new stadium), the incline to Mt. Washington, and the Strip District (best affordable eats).

Pennsylvania mountains are awesome:  Laurel Highlands or Endless Mountains if you want to avoid the tourists in the Poconos.

If you love beauty, check out Delaware Water Gap.  If you love, love the outdoors don't miss Allegheny National Park.

Of course, a lot of people come to Pennsylvania to see Amish people.  It's no big deal for those who live here.  Lancaster has the most tourist options like smorgasboards, antique shopping, tour an Amish farm, etc.  I'd recommend Ephrata Cloisters over the Amish farm tour.

Answer 3

Check out Bucks County as well.  Go see a town called New Hope right on the Delaware river.  Lots of good restaurants, eclectic shops - kind of artsy and funky.  Across the river (you can walk over the bridge in about 5 minstes) is Lambertville, NJ.  Another quaint town with nice shops in it.

Definitely hit Center City Philadelphia.  Olde City - 2nd and Market area - has some good restaurants and good lounges.

Answer 4

you want to see where Ben Franklin lived, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell. There is this trolley that takes you around and tells you a lot about the history. were Ben Franklin's grave is, also there's a battle flied.  

Answer 5

It totally depends on where you'll be visiting.  Like the first posters, I'm Eastern PA biased.  I haven't been past Harrisburg, but I have lived in the Philly suburbs my whole life.  

I would say, definitely devote a few days to Philly.  There's so much, as far as dining and shopping.  Check out Tripadvisor for reviews of restaurants and see what you might like.  There's also a ton of Historic stuff, like the liberty bell and betsy ross house.  You can gamble in Chester at the Harrah's (The Harrah's is completely safe but some of the surrounding areas aren't).

The Franklin Institute and Art Museum are tourist staples, but in a good way.  The Eastern State Penitentiary is really interesting.

If you head North of Philly, I'd recommend New Hope, just as the other poster did.  It's a quite old town, with shops and dining, and a playhouse.  If you want to keep going north, head to the poconos.  Bushkill Falls is beautiful with many waterfalls.  And you're surrounded by the beautiful mountains.  

Lancaster is also nice to go to.  (I recommend Millers for dinner).  There's outlets galore, and you can ride a horse and buggy!  Or do a dinner theater show and stay in a bed and breakfast (you can also do something like that in the Poconos)

If you're interested in the beach, a lot of the beaches in New Jersey are 2 hours or less from Philly.  And there's numerous places to gamble down the shore, in Atlantic City ( I swear I'm not pushing this gambling thing).

If you have any questions, feel free to message me and I'll be happy to give you my perspective on anything.

Good luck!