255 Best Sights in Pennsylvania, USA

Commodore George Dewey's flagship at the Battle of Manila in the Spanish-American War is the oldest still-afloat steel warship in the world. Dewey entered Manila Harbor after midnight on May 1, 1898. At 5:40 am he told his captain, "You may fire when you are ready, Gridley," and by 12:30 they had destroyed the entire Spanish fleet. You can tour the entire restored ship, including the officers' staterooms, galley, gun batteries, and pilothouse. Admission is included with your ticket to the Independence Seaport Museum.

To say that Pennsylvania wineries don't enjoy the greatest reputation would be an understatement. Jan and Kimberly Waltz coined the slogan "the wines that will change your mind," and there's actually a good chance they will. Varietals grown and vinified on the estate include Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Chardonnay, and Sauvignon Blanc. To go with your sipping, the tasting room offers local cheese and chocolate.

This leafy area resembling a London park has been through numerous incarnations since it was set aside by William Penn. From 1705 until after the Revolution, the square was lined on three sides by houses and on the fourth by the Walnut Street Prison. The square served as a burial ground for victims of the 1793 yellow fever epidemic and for 2,600 British and American soldiers who perished during the Revolutionary War. The square holds a Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, erected to commemorate those lost in that conflict. By the 1840s the square had gained prestige as the center of the city's most fashionable neighborhood. It later became the city's publishing center. Today, it features a fountain and is a lovely place to stroll in the warmer months, with benches to rest and remember the incredible history that took place in and around this small city square.

Established in 1976, this museum moved in 2010 to a new, James Polshek–designed, contemporary building near Independence Hall. The 100,000-square-foot facility, via multimedia displays, historic objects, and ephemera, traces the history of American Jews from 1654 to the present. Highlights include "Only in America," a showcase of the accomplishments of famed Jewish Americans, including Jonas Salk, Barbra Streisand, and Irving Berlin; a three-level timeline covering immigration, the formation of Israel, and the civil rights movement; Seinfeld; a Contemporary Issues Forum, where you can share your views on Post-it-style notes that are electronically scanned and displayed; and "It's Your Story," where you can record clips about your family history. The museum's exterior offers two contrasting sculptures symbolizing how American Jewish history is intertwined with the nation's story: a 19th-century marble monument dubbed Religious Liberty and a sculpture by contemporary artist Deborah Kass.

The Wells Fargo Center is the home to the Flyers (NHL), 76ers (NBA), and Wings (NLL, pro lacrosse), and regularly hosts Villanova basketball (and other collegiate sports), big-name concerts, and high-profile arena entertainment of all kinds. Behind-the-scenes tours last 60 to 90 minutes and include a commemorative photo and frame for each guest.

The museum preserves the fascinating, unique former hillside home and studio created by the "Dean of American Craftsmen," who was best known for sculptural wooden furniture that influenced artists and designers. Wharton Esherick (1887–1970) shaped a new, organic aesthetic in decorative arts by bridging art with furniture. The site, a National Historic Landmark for Architecture, houses 200 examples of his work—paintings, woodcuts, wooden furniture, and sculptures. The compact studio-home, in which everything from the light switches to the spiral staircase is hand-carved from wood, is one of his monumental achievements. You can see it only by booking a small-group tour in advance. A campus architecture tour, including a separate workshop, is offered occasionally. Although you can see the tiny visitor center and part of the 12-acre grounds when the site is open, there's not much to experience without a tour. The building is not fully accessible to people with mobility issues.

Wheatland was the home of James Buchanan, the only U.S. president from Pennsylvania, who served from 1857 to 1861. A National Historic Landmark, the restored 1828 Federal-style mansion and outbuildings display the 15th president's furniture just as it was during his lifetime. A one-hour tour, departing from the LancasterHistory museum, includes a profile of the only bachelor to occupy the White House; a movie; and access to the arboretum on the grounds. There are holiday candlelight tours with costumed guides.

A good choice for those who enjoy history and the decorative arts, the Naomi Wood collection of antique household goods, including Colonial furniture, unusual clocks, and English delftware, and "Colonial household gear" designated in Wood's will, can be seen on guided tours (required) in this Georgian mansion. This National Historic Landmark was built about 1756 as an elegant summer retreat from the city. The tour includes stories about the families who lived here and also presents a room representative of where some servants, including enslaved people, lived.  

On the far side of Chestnut Hill, on the slope leading toward the suburbs, this Philly artist–centric museum focuses on 19th- and 20th-century eastern Pennsylvania art. The permanent collection features mid-1900s woodcuts and a number of 19th-century Pennsylvania landscapes. The largely contemporary special exhibitions are often very engaging, along with live jazz and classical music, movie nights, and workshops. There's a popular, if overpriced, haystack maze each October outside.

Just a few blocks from the waterfront, Wright's Ferry Mansion was the residence of English Quaker Susanna Wright, a silkworm breeder and intellectual who counted Benjamin Franklin among her friends. Docents guide visitors around the 1738 stone house, which showcases period furniture in the William & Mary and Queen Anne styles as well as an extensive collection of English needlework, clothing, ceramics, and glass, all predating 1750.

Between the 1690s and 1973, Wyck sheltered nine generations of the Wistar-Haines family. Their accumulated furnishings are on display, along with ceramics, children's needlework, dolls, and artifacts generally contemporary with the mid-1800s. On one side is the oldest rose garden in the United States, dating to the 1820s, which blooms in May, as well as a magnolia tree from that time. Out back are a large lawn, where you can picnic, and a vegetable garden—the land has been continuously farmed since 1690, and during the summer it hosts many kid-friendly garden-related events as well as workshops. Known as the oldest house in Germantown, Wyck was used as a British field hospital after the Battle of Germantown. Walk-in tours are offered April–November, Thursday–Saturday, noon–4 pm, and the grounds are open for wandering Tuesday–Friday 10 am–4 pm. Off-season and specialty tours are available by appointment.

Situated in South Philly's Sports Complex, Xfinity Live! serves as overflow for games and a gathering place for fans who want to drink and hang out rather than sit in seats. The huge complex has more than a dozen dining areas, plus a beer hall, artificial turf field, and outdoor seating. Tailgating is common here, as are special events themed around major concerts. Check their website for upcoming experiences, and note that some events require tickets in advance.

Yards is the oldest continuously operating craft brewer in the city, and runs a sprawling brewery and taproom. Guided tours ($10, 40 minutes) are offered daily for those 21 and over and include a beer sample, a full “walk-about” beer, and a souvenir. The bar features 20 taps of their signature beers—Loyal Lager, Philadelphia Pale Ale, Love Stout, to name a few—as well as limited releases only available in the taproom. The kitchen includes classic pub fare as well as Philly favorites like the Yards IPA Pretzel and cheesesteak egg rolls.

At an adjacent dock, the offers riverboat cruises and shuttles to PNC Park and Heinz Field (home of major league baseball's Pirates and the NFL's Steelers, respectively).