18. Tour the industrial heritage of WA Young & Sons Foundry and Machine Shop
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Step back in time with a visit to WA Young & Sons. Located in the Rice Landing Historic District, the Machine Shop is an amazing industrial treasure. Built in 1900 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 2017, the store manufactured parts for steamboats, coal mines, and railroads, and supported local small businesses. Visitors can tour the blacksmith shop, pattern shop, hardware store, foundry and marvel at how machines are switched on during this live his demonstration of early last century technology.
19. Welcome the New Year with Ringing Rocks
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Be sure to take your hammer with you when visiting Ringing Rocks Park. Listen to the sounds of pounding rocks and take in the beauty of this unique 123-acre park. While you’re here, explore and have an adventure at High Falls, Bucks County’s largest waterfall.
20. Celebrate history and art on the Mercer Mile
doylestown
Comprised of three historic destinations, the Mercer Mile lets you celebrate and learn about the remarkable life, works, and collections of archaeologist, potter, and businessman Henry Chapman Mercer. Tour his former home and Fonthill Castle National Historic Landmark, stroll through his six floors of history at the Mercer Museum, which houses 50,000 artifacts representing 60 early American trades, and explore Tileworks. Watch tiles and mosaics being created right before your eyes. If you’re looking for a venue to host a special event, Aldi’s Mansion, where Henry’s younger brother William and his wife Martha once lived, is the perfect choice.
21. Pick your own produce at Linvilla Orchards
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For more than a century, Linvilla Orchards has been a mainstay of Philadelphia. The 300-acre family farm provides a fun outdoor play area for children and an opportunity for all ages to enjoy the bounty of Pennsylvania agriculture, making it a must-see destination in Pennsylvania. Peruse your pick-your-own section, enjoy a day of fishing at Orchard Lake, or sip a handcrafted lager in the seasonal Shipbottom Beer Garden. Our farm market and garden center, which features a bakery stocked with fresh pies, breads, desserts and seasonal specialties, is open year-round, so even when harvest season is over, there’s still plenty to enjoy.
22. Admire artwork at the Brandywine Museum
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Located on the banks of the Brandywine River, the Brandywine Museum is known worldwide for its outstanding collection of Wyeth family illustrations, portraits, and oil paintings. Be sure to check out our calendar of current and upcoming exhibitions featuring the work of well-known and lesser-known artists from a variety of art genres.
23. Relax among the wildflowers of Chanticleer Gardens
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Tucked away in the quaint suburb of Wayne, just 30 minutes from Center City Philadelphia, lies Chanticleer Gardens. For more than 30 years, this public garden has captivated visitors who are invited to explore the orchards, wildflower meadows, and forests that make up this must-see gem that surrounds the historic Rosengarten family grounds. The garden is open from late March until early November and has a variety of features, including terraced gardens, stone ruins, and elevated walkways above flowering meadows. Bring a picnic and enjoy it in the designated picnic area or anywhere in the gardens on Friday evenings.
24. Bike the Pine Creek Rail Trail
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Voted one of the best places for bike tours in the world by USA Today. Spend the day in beautiful Pennsylvania on the Pine Creek Rail Trail. With its southern terminus near Williamsport, this 62-mile converted railroad line crosses the Pine Creek Valley at the bottom of the canyon, offering easy cycling with barely perceptible slopes. This is a spectacular railroad trail, perfect for all skill levels. Bring your own wheels or check out your local outdoor store for equipment rentals and excursion information.
25. Experience Pennsylvania Dutch in Lancaster County
Home to the nation’s oldest and largest Amish settlement, a visit to Lancaster County is one of the best vacations in Pennsylvania. Travel back in time and witness the “Amish way of life” where you enjoy daily life at a slower, more peaceful pace. From personalized tours with Amish families to buggy rides through picturesque farmland, shopping for handmade products at local street vendors, and sampling authentic Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine, Lancaster offers a complete Amish experience. will definitely be obtained.
26. Standing on the “Top of the World” at Bucktail Overlook
Driftwood
Bucktail Overlook in Elk State Forest, better known as the “Top of the World,” offers spectacular 360-degree panoramic views of Sinnemahoning from the driveable observation deck. You can see the dark sky, which is perfect for stargazing. The nearby Fred Woods Trail is a great hike to continue your scenic journey. The 7.5-mile-long trail features incredible rock formations and two spectacular views.
27. Take a nature cruise at Moraine State Park
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Located among the rolling hills and lush forests of northwestern Pennsylvania, Moraine State Park is visited by more than 1 million outdoor enthusiasts each year. This 16,725-acre park is the ultimate destination for adrenaline-pumping activities like hiking, biking, horseback riding, boating, and more. The 3,225-acre Lake Arthur is the park’s central attraction, with 40 miles of scenic shoreline. Spend a relaxing afternoon enjoying a nature cruise on Preston’s Pearl, an enclosed pontoon boat with an outdoor deck on the second floor.
28. Express your condolences at the Flight 93 National Memorial
Shanksville
Flight 93 National Memorial is the final resting place of United Airlines Flight 93, one of the four planes hijacked during the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks. The extraordinary courage of the plane’s 40 passengers and crew is commemorated in a powerful memorial along Memorial Square. The culmination is a wall of names featuring his 40 polished and carved white marble pieces. The visitor center offers an equally powerful re-enactment of the events of that fateful day. Hear the sound of his 40 wind chimes echoing from a 93-foot tower of voices. It represents the voices of those who lost their lives.
29. Catch a glimpse of migrating birds of prey at Hawk Mountain Preserve
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Famous as the world’s first raptor sanctuary, Hawk Mountain is a 2,600-acre wildlife preserve in southeastern Pennsylvania. Every year, tourists from all over the country flock to the mountain to take in the stunning views from the scenic observation deck. But the preserve’s biggest draw is the opportunity to get up close and personal with bald eagles flying overhead, which begin in mid-August and mark the start of the fall raptor migration.
30. Explore history at Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine
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Travel 1,800 feet straight up to Mount Mahanoy and see Pennsylvania’s coal mining history first-hand at the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine. Board an original mining vehicle that has been rebuilt to carry passengers and transport them to the heart of Pennsylvania’s anthracite region. Once you reach the depths of the mine, disembark and tour the mine, with its coal seams and logged passageways, and learn from your experienced guide about the methods of deep mining in the 1900s. Then, aboard the Henry Clay, a 1920s narrow-gauge steam locomotive, he rides three-quarters of a mile up the side of Mount Mahanoy, taking in views of strip mining.
31. Afternoon at Historic Union Canal Tunnel Park
Lebanon
Spend the day at Union Canal Tunnel Park, home to the oldest surviving transportation tunnel in the United States, and enjoy some of Pennsylvania’s best outdoor activities. With more than 100 acres of recreational and historic land, from June until the second Sunday in October (weather permitting) you can stroll the park’s nature trails and explore the canal tunnel, a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. You can also take a narrated boat ride as it passes by. Pack a picnic lunch and enjoy al fresco dining at picnic tables and benches throughout the park.
32. Visit the Cornish Iron Furnace PA Hotspot
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The Cornwall Iron Furnace, a National Historic Landmark District, is one of the most complete charcoal-fired steel facilities in America. The 5 acre site was originally built by Peter Grubb in 1742. Visit now on Fridays, Saturdays, or Sundays to tour the complex and explore the messy Gothic Revival buildings where cannons, stoves, and pig iron were once cast.
33. See where legends were made at Fighters Heaven
Deer Lake
Situated on a lush hillside along Kittatinny Ridge in the Blue Mountains, Fighter’s Haven is a haven dedicated to world-class athlete Muhammad Ali. The rural compound, which covers six acres of land, was the former three-time heavyweight champion’s training camp as he prepared for his biggest fight. Now, preservation and restoration of the facility has transformed the old gymnasium into a museum celebrating the remarkable and inspiring life of Muhammad Ali.
34. Admire the iconic view of Reading Pagoda
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An iconic and interesting landmark of the city of Reading, the Pagoda should be added to your list of places to visit during your wonderful vacation in Pennsylvania. Built more than a century ago in 1908, the pagoda was originally intended to be a luxury hotel built by William Whitman to resemble the towers of Nagoya Castle in Japan. Built on the southern tip of Mt. Penn and secured to the mountainside with 16-ton bolts, this pagoda never happened, but this pagoda had belonged to Redding since 1911. Although closed for renovation works, the pagoda offers breathtaking panoramic views spanning 30 miles of Reading and the cathedral. Don’t miss the surrounding countryside either.
To learn more about where to vacation in Pennsylvania, check out visitPA.com. Follow us on Facebook X (Twitter)Instagram and Pinterest for even more great ideas and updates on places to visit around the state.
