Pennsylvania Travel Guide

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From the dramatic hills of Pittsburgh across rolling farmland and majestic forest to the narrow streets of colonial Philadelphia, Pennsylvania provides a wide range of experiences. The state reflects a rich history—from halcyon days as the seat of the American Revolution and a fledgling nation's first capital through its role as a leader in the country's transformation into an industrial powerhouse—and its role today as a leader in the health-care and pharmaceutical industries, a center for the arts, and a burgeoning tourist destination.

Pennsylvania has fascinating contrasts. A mostly rural state, it is home to t… Read More

wo large cities: Philadelphia, the nation's fifth largest and the regional center for the eastern portion of the state; and Pittsburgh, the focus for the western portion. Within a few hours' drive of the worldliness and sophistication of these cities, you can return to a simpler way of life. The winding country lanes and now-silent battlefields conjure up images of the Civil War, while in Lancaster, the horse and buggy is still a viable means of transportation, as today's Pennsylvania Dutch hew to the traditions of their ancestors.

Best of Pennsylvania: Pittsburgh Travel Guide

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(c) Vichie81 | Dreamstime.com 1/83Independence Hall in Philadelphia Pennsylvania from the south side, site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.

trekandshoot / Shutterstock 2/83Riverfront park with graceful bridge in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania.;

Judy Kennamer / Shutterstock 3/83Beautiful arches of Penn Station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Shutterstock ID 69846448; Project/Title: Fodors; Downloader: Melanie Marin

Sepavo | Dreamstime.com 4/83Incline operating in front of the downtown skyline of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA

Sepavo | Dreamstime.com 5/83Pirates play the Arizona Diamond Backs at PNC Stadium with the central business district in the the background.

SeanPavonePhoto / Shutterstock 6/83Philadelphia City Hall building.

Gary Whitton / Shutterstock 7/83Philadelphia Art Museum and Fairmount Water Works at Dusk.

Aneta Waberska / Shutterstock 8/83A bench in the Rittenhouse Square park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Doug Lemke / Shutterstock 9/83Swann Memorial Fountain With City Hall In The Background, Logan Square, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Daniel M. Silva / Shutterstock 10/83The Chew House, also known as Cliveden, in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, PA. Americans soldiers fought from inside of the house during the Battle of Germantown in the Revolutionary War

Peter Guttman/Peterguttman.com 11/83Philadelphia Thanksgiving day Parade, pennsylvania

Peter Guttman/Peterguttman.com 12/83New Years Day, Mummers Parade, pennsylvania

f11photo / Shutterstock 13/83Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

slipartito / iStockphoto 14/83Philadelphia, PA, USA – August 28, 2014: Bicyclist on the South Street Bridge with the Philadelphia Skyline behind him.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/m-a-s/5577686035/">Society Hill</a> by Mark Stephenson 15/83Society Hill, Philadelphia

(c) F11photo | Dreamstime.com 16/83Philadelphia's landmark historic City Hall building at twilight.

SeanPavonePhoto / Shutterstock 17/83Philadelphia City Hall building.

(c) Chastainben | Dreamstime.com 18/83Historic City Hall in Philly, PA

Groovysoup | Dreamstime.com 19/83Reading Terminal Market sign in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Doug Lemke / Shutterstock 20/83Swann Memorial Fountain With City Hall In The Background, Logan Square, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

(c) Leesniderphotoimages | Dreamstime.com 21/83Woman shopping for delicious homemade preserves sold by an Amish family at the Reading Terminal Market in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

(c) Chastainben | Dreamstime.com 22/83Historic City Hall in Philly, PA.

(c) Thomasra | Dreamstime.com 23/83Philadelphia in the Reading Terminal Market.

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/kisforkateatkins/2990327304/">Perfect day in Philadelphia</a> by 24/83rittenhouse square, philadelphia

Aneta Waberska / Shutterstock 25/83A bench in the Rittenhouse Square park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Gary Whitton / Shutterstock 27/83Philadelphia Art Museum and Fairmount Water Works at Dusk.

(c) Gaylebradley | Dreamstime.com 28/83A view from the Philadelphia Art Museum taken in the fall of Philadelphia's Boathouse Row.

(c) Fairiegoodmother | Dreamstime.com 29/83Boathouse Row, Fairmount Park, Philadelphia , PA.

Bryan Y.W. Shin at the English language Wikipedia [Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license] 30/83University of Pennsylvania at Philadelphia

drbueller / iStockphoto 31/83Close-up shot of the Liberty Bell with Independence Hall in the background at dusk. Located in downtown Philadelphia

(c) F11photo | Dreamstime.com 32/83Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Robert Walsh / iStockphoto / Thinkstock 33/83Elfreths Alley Philadelphia

(c) Americanspirit | Dreamstime.com 34/83Interior of National Constitution Center for the US Constitution on Independence Mall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

F11photo | Dreamstime.com 35/83Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

(c) F11photo | Dreamstime.com 36/83Independence Hall National Historic Park Philadelphia at twilight.

RTLibrary/Flickr, [CC BY 2.0] 37/83Edgar Allan Poe's house on 7th and spring garden Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Quinn Dombrowski/Flickr, [CC BY-SA 2.0] 38/83Coffee, La Colombe, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

(c) Aneese | Dreamstime.com 39/83Picton Castle, a 179’ long, 284-ton, three-masted barque sails in front of the Independence Seaport Museum (formerly the Philadelphia Maritime Museum) in the Penn's Landing complex along the Delaware River during Parade of Sails as part of Tall Ship

Smallbones [Public Domain], via Wikimedia Commons 40/83Grumblethorpe Tenant House, Germantown, Pennsylvania

Daniel M. Silva / Shutterstock 41/83The Chew House, also known as Cliveden, in the Germantown section of Philadelphia, PA. Americans soldiers fought from inside of the house during the Battle of Germantown in the Revolutionary War

<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/jaredrubinsky/7768456586/">DSC_7800</a> by Jared Rubinsky 42/83Wissahickon Park, Philadelphia, Pa

(c) F11photo | Dreamstime.com 43/83PHILADELPHIA - MAY 8: Philadelphia's Italian market on May 8, 2015. The market is the oldest working outdoor market in the United States.

(c) F11photo | Dreamstime.com 44/83PHILADELPHIA - MAY 8: Philadelphia's Italian market on May 8, 2015. The market is the oldest working outdoor market in the United States.

Susan Harris/Flickr, [CC BY 2.0] 45/83Chanticleer. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

f11photo / Shutterstock 46/83Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

(c) Bonniemarie | Dreamstime.com 47/83Famous Longwood Gardens in Pennsylvania is an elegantly laid out garden in the formal style with many fountains and paths.

(c) Delmaslehman | Dreamstime.com 48/83Revolutionary War cannons on display at Valley Forge National Historical Park, Pennsylvania, USA.

(c) Olivierl | Dreamstime.com 49/83National Memorial Arch monument dedicated to George Washington and the United States Continental Army in historic Valley Forge National Park near Philadelphia in Pennsylvania.

(c) Olivierl | Dreamstime.com 50/83George Washington Headquarters of the American Revolutionary War Continental Army encampment in Isaac Potts field stone house scenic site at Valley Forge National Historical Park near Philadelphia in Pennsylvania.

Andrew F. Kazmierski / Shutterstock 51/83An Autumn view of the historic Knechts Covered Bridge in rural Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

Andrew F. Kazmierski / Shutterstock 52/83A beautiful rural Autumn scene in Bucks County, Pennsylvania.

(c) Reddy | Dreamstime.com 53/83The Thompson-Neely House was used as a military hospital during the American Revolutionary War by General George Washington’s Continental Army. Located in Washington Crossing State Park, Pennsylvania.

(c) Mullan101 | Dreamstime.com 54/83The Parry Mansion Museum, New Hope, Pennsylvania, USA.

John Wollwerth / Shutterstock 55/83Amish horse and buggy, Chester County, Pennsylvania Dutch Country.

Deb G / Shutterstock 56/83Gettysburg: Cannons on Seminary Ridge; Shutterstock ID 93791323; Project/Title: Gettysburg Anniversary; Destination: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; Downloader: Nicole Campoy

Zack Frank / Shutterstock 57/83Gettysburg skyline.

Peter Guttman/Peterguttman.com

Appalachianviews | Dreamstime.com 62/83View of buildings and streets from a parking garage in Lancaster, Pennsylvania.

(c) Lwroosa | Dreamstime.com 63/83An image that captures the mix of tradition and today's commerce in Intercourse Village, PA. Photo taken on: September 23rd, 2015

(c) Leesniderphotoimages | Dreamstime.com 64/83Strasburg, Pennsylvania: Conductor standing on the platform opposite a vintage passenger train about to depart the Strasburg Railroad Station.

(c) Leesniderphotoimages | Dreamstime.com 65/83Strasburg, Pennsylvania: First Class Lounge Car with swivel chairs on a vintage Strasburg Railroad passenger car *.

(c) Leesniderphotoimages | Dreamstime.com 66/83Ephrata, Pennsylvania: 1873 Keller's Mill Covered Bridge spans the Cocalico Creek on Middle Creek Road.

(c) Bratty1206 | Dreamstime.com 67/83Shoppers wandering the pathways, rummaging through vendors interesting sale items at The Green Dragon farmers market,Ephrata,Pennsylvania,May,2013.

(c) Leesniderphotoimages | Dreamstime.com 68/83Ephrata, Pennsylvania: The wooden 1743 Saron (Sisters' House) on left and 1741 fachwerk Saal (Meeting House) at the Ephrata Cloister historic Germanic religious settlement. Photo taken on: June 06th, 2015

(c) Jfeinstein | Dreamstime.com 69/83The Wilbur Chocolate Company in Lititz, Pennsylvania, is famous for making foil-wrapped chocolate Wilbur Buds. The confection debuted in 1894 and is still being made. Photo taken on: August 08th, 2012

(c) Karenfoleyphotography | Dreamstime.com 70/83National Watch and Clock Museum.

(c) Llmckinne | Dreamstime.com 71/83MOUNT JOY, PA-NOVEMBER 19: This Amish family continues the tradition of “washing” on Monday and hanging their clothing on an old fashioned wash line on November 19, 2012 in Mount Joy, PA. Photo taken on: November 19th, 2012

Lissandra Melo / Shutterstock 72/83HERSHEY, PA - JUNE 25: Hershey Chocolate World on June 25, 2011 in Hershey,PA USA. The factory has many attractions with making your own chocolate, 3D movies, trolley bus rides around Hershey City.

Zack Frank / Shutterstock 73/83Gettysburg skyline.

Peter Guttman/Peterguttman.com 75/83Gettysburg Battle Reenactment, Pennsylvania

Peter Guttman/Peterguttman.com 76/83Gettysburg Battle Reenactment, Pennsylvania

Deb G / Shutterstock 77/83Gettysburg: Cannons on Seminary Ridge; Shutterstock ID 93791323; Project/Title: Gettysburg Anniversary; Destination: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania; Downloader: Nicole Campoy

Peter Guttman/Peterguttman.com 78/83Skytop Lodge, Stytop, Poconos, Pennsylvania, USA

FashionStock.com / Shutterstock 79/83Bushkill waterfall with rainbow in Poconos , PA

David Sucsy/iStockphoto 80/83Philadelphia Museum of Art in Pennsylvania

(c) Olivierl | Dreamstime.com 81/83Downtown Philadelphia Center City scenic cityscape building skyline and Eakins Oval on Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Pennsylvania.

(c) Sam74100 | Dreamstime.com 82/83Philadelphia art museum entrance - Pennsylvania USA.

f11photo/Shutterstock 83/83PHILADELPHIA - FEB 27: The Barnes Museum in Philadelphia on February 27, 2014. The Barnes Foundation was established by Albert C. Barnes in 1922; Shutterstock ID 179944361; Project/Title: 15 Art Museums Showcasing the Art of America's Greatest Collectors;