Pennsylvania is a state in the easternUnited States. It is known for its Revolutionary War-era historical sites likeValley Forge, its large cities likePhiladelphia andPittsburgh, its farming regions (some occupied by theAmish), and a (once)-strong industrial history. With equally large swaths of cities and towns as fields and mountains, Pennsylvania is a rich and varied state, as well as a worthy travel destination.
| Alleghenies and Susquehanna Valley |
| Erie Region |
| Pennsylvania Dutch Country |
| Pennsylvania Wilds |
| Philadelphia Region The starting point for most travel in the state. |
| Pittsburgh Region |
| Northeastern Pennsylvania |
Pennsylvania is a geographically diverse state with a Great Lake on one shore and a major seaport on the other. The climate of Pennsylvania is pleasant, with cold, often snowy winters, mild to hot, humid summers, gorgeous green springtimes, and spectacular displays of colorful autumn foliage.
Pennsylvania hosts a number of vital cities, from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia. The city of Philadelphia, the state's largest city, houses the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, two major national historical landmarks. The interior of the state has a number of subcultures worth exploring, including the famous Amish countryside, a religious community.
Pennsylvania is also home to a diverse group of people, with ethnic enclaves of black and Hispanic populations in its major cities. The culture also differs from region to region, with the eastern half of the state around the city of Philadelphia being largely ofMid-Atlantic character, and the western half, including around the city of Pittsburgh, having a moreMidwestern character. The Appalachian regions have a culture akin to that ofWest Virginia in theSouth.
Pennsylvania is also diverse in that the south central and southeastern parts of the state are urban and densely populated, while much of the rest of the state is rural and/or mountainous. Pennsylvania is a swing state in presidential elections.
The state is bordered byNew Jersey,New York,Delaware,Maryland,West Virginia, andOhio. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are the state's two largest cities followed byAllentown,Reading, andErie. Other cities includeBethlehem,Scranton,Lancaster andHarrisburg (the state capital).
Pennsylvania was the second state established in the nation afterDelaware.
Most Pennsylvanians speak American English, although pound-for-pound its variety of regional dialects and accents is richer and more rugged and blunt than any other state in the nation. The Western Pennsylvania ("Pittsburghese"), Central Pennsylvania, Northeastern Pennsylvania, Southeastern Pennsylvania (centered in Pennsylvania Dutch Country and heavily influenced by that language; see below), and Philadelphia dialects are all audibly distinct from each other. People from the Appalachian Mountains speak with a distinctive accent that is similar to aSouthern accent. Travellers may well notice these different speech patterns, but it's highly doubtful they'll present any communication problem for anyone with a workable level of English proficiency. Many of these accents are dying out, and younger people tend to speak with a general American accent.
Reading, Allentown, and Philadelphia all have sizable Spanish-speaking populations. Again, this should not pose a problem for English-speaking travellers, as most of these people speak English in addition to their native language.
Finally, though there are now smaller clusters in other states too, Pennsylvania remains the home of the large majority of speakers of the famous Pennsylvania Dutch (Pennsilfaanisch Deitsch) dialect ofGerman. Although widescale non-Amish use of the language faded circa 1950, there are pockets of young people who are learning the language as a way to preserve their heritage.
Pennsylvania is a densely populous state in a densely populous part of the country, with many roads in and out. Interstate highways lead most traffic into the state. Major national interstate highways leading to Pennsylvania include I-95 S from New England, I-95 N from the American South, and I-70 E, I-80 E & I-90 E from the American West and Midwest. Specifically, clockwise from north of Harrisburg:
Also, U.S. Routes 219, 15, and 220 (soon to be I-99) all enter the state at alternative points from both the north and south.
State-operated Welcome Centers and Comfort Facilities are found just inside the borders at all major crossings into Pennsylvania.
Amtrak offers a total of nine different passenger train lines in or across the state of Pennsylvania. Most services run through 30th Street Station inPhiladelphia including theAcela Express andNortheast Regional trains betweenBoston,New York andWashington, as well as long-distance trains such as theVermonter to and fromVermont andSilver Service trains to and fromFlorida.Keystone trains run from New York and Philadelphia west to cities including Lancaster andHarrisburg, while the dailyPennsylvanian crosses the rest of the state all the way toPittsburgh. Service toChicago runs via theCardinal three times per week from Philadelphia, and theCapitol Limited daily from Pittsburgh.
Most areas in Pennsylvania are serviced by Greyhound Bus service. Bus service from New York to areas in Eastern Pennsylvania, like Philadelphia, the Lehigh Valley, and the Poconos, is very easy, quick, and inexpensive. A convenient way to find bus service to Eastern Pennsylvania in New York is at Port Authority Bus Terminal in lower Manhattan. To Philadelphia, some options include Chinatown buses, Megabus, and Greyhound. To the Lehigh Valley, some options include Trans-Bridge and Bieber Bus. To the Poconos, some options include USA Coach and Mertz.
The two major airports in Pennsylvania arePhiladelphia International Airport (PHL IATA) andPittsburgh International (PIT IATA). Both are served by all major carriers and have low-fare service by Southwest. Philadelphia is a major hub for American Airlines, and has service from Frontier. Philadelphia is one of the Northeast's major international termini, with flights to an array of European destinations.
Regional airports in Pennsylvania includeLehigh Valley International Airport (ABE IATA) inAllentown and airports inHarrisburg (MDT IATA) andWilkes-Barre/Scranton (AVP IATA). All of these airports are served by American Airlines, Delta and United.
Information on Pennsylvania transit can be foundhere.
In addition to the Interstate highways that enter Pennsylvania and travel throughout:
There also exists a wide network of state highways and municipal roads that reach into the mostly forested and farmed rural areas. The more mountainous of these areas should be traversed with caution by visitors as they can be drastically winding, narrow, or steep (or all three!) in parts.
Speed limit signs are almost exclusively posted in miles per hour, "mph". Seatbelt use is mandatory, and a second ticket and fine will be issued to those who are pulled over for speeding, etc. if not worn. Pennsylvania has not yet enacted a ban on hand-held cell phone usage while driving, except for commercial truck drivers. The cities of Philadelphia, Allentown, Bethlehem, Erie, Harrisburg, and Wilkes-Barre have enacted bans. Texting while driving is illegal statewide.
As conditions go, Pennsylvania has two seasons according to an old joke: winter and construction. In the rural majority of the state, large snowfalls render the most minor of roads impassable, but the major thoroughfares like Interstates are comparatively well plowed and salted. Still, car travel anywhere should be done with extreme care in the winter, especially by those unfamiliar with the visited area.
Likewise, the jest rings true in the remainder of the year. Look out for occasional paving, line painting, or road widening projects on freeways that restrict travel to a single lane. Bridge repair or any major redesign may force detours that are typically marked clearly. Speed limits in work zones are always reduced and State Police will imposedouble fines for breaking them. Proceed carefully around PennDOT (state transportation department) crews, who are easily visible in fluorescent yellow attire.
Wild animals, most notably deer, can be a problem when driving on rural Interstates and highways. Pennsylvania has an overpopulation of deer, so try to avoid them while they are crossing the road. They are unpredictable animals and panic when scared, so stopping is usually the best option until it has cleared the road.
Although uncommon, hitchhiking is fairly well-received, especially in more rural areas. It is always illegal to hitchhike on highways closed to pedestrians, so it's better to find a rest stop or a gas station right off the highway.
There is quite a lot to see in Pennsylvania.Philadelphia is a historic city with a neighborhood full of mostly 18th- and early 19th-century buildings downtown, and was the nation's capital before Washington, D.C. was constructed, with historical buildings to match. It also has a world-class art museum and Fairmount Park, a huge park designed in great part by Vaux and Olmsted, who also designed Central Park in New York, and is in general a great city.
On the other side of the state,Pittsburgh has a great skyline, world-class art and science museums including the Carnegie Museum which houses the best dinosaur collection in the world with holotypes for many dinosaurs including Tyrannosaurus Rex, and some of the most beautiful university buildings in the country, and its geographic position at the confluence of three rivers, with hills rising steeply from their banks, is quite striking.Drake Wells and surrounding sites inTitusville house the remnants of where oil was first struck in the nation and where the world's first oil drill was invented.
Closer to the center of the state,Harrisburg is a much smaller city with some pleasant buildings and a great Capitol with a park next to it. Not far from there is the battlefield site in Gettysburg. In the southeastern part of the state, between Philadelphia and Harrisburg, is thePennsylvania Dutch Country, which includes Amish farming towns where the vehicle of choice is still the horse and buggy.
Pennsylvania is also a state of much rural land, with small towns, forests and some gorgeous waterfalls. People counting the distance from New York City and Philadelphia strictly by miles may be shocked at how wild the northeast of the state is.
Pennsylvania has many attractions throughout the state, from amusement parks, historic sites, beaches along Lake Erie, world-class casinos, campgrounds and more!
Pennsylvania is home to some of the country's well-known amusement parks, such as:
Pennsylvania has legalized casino gambling. Some of the following casinos are also horse-racing facilities, while others stand alone.
Pennsylvania has Zoos of all sizes.
Pennsylvania imposes a 6% sales tax on non-essential goods, including some foods, but not clothing and other essentials.
However, Pennsylvania is home to many other beers. It is the birthplace of Rolling Rock — "#33". Serious beer drinkers, however, probably know Pennsylvania for its wide selection of craft breweries. Hundreds of fine ales are produced each year. Some great labels that every visitor should try include Yards, Sly Fox, Victory, Lancaster, Troegs, Philadelphia Brewing Company, and Stoudts.
Pennsylvania's alcoholic-beverage laws are not only restrictive but confusing. There is a good reason that the last thing you usually pass before driving across the state line from most neighboring states is a liquor store.
Pennsylvania has many country inns in the Northeast and some grand old hotels in big cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. And naturally, you'll also find branches of national chain hotels and motels at various price points throughout the state. As there are many universities in the state, you may also want to inquire about whether you can stay in a dorm during intersessions or in the summer, as you might be able to save money that way.
Pittsburgh and some parts ofPhiladelphia are very liberal in terms of politics and culture. Outside of these areas, political and cultural attitudes vary significantly between individuals, especially in theLehigh Valley which is not LGBT friendly. Many rural areas are more conservative and vote Republican.
Outside of Greater Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and the Lehigh Valley, crime is not a major problem in Pennsylvania. Gang activity is high in the larger cities,Philadelphia,Pittsburgh,Allentown andReading. You know you are in a rough area when you see graffiti, abandoned houses and vehicles, and shoes tossed over telephone wires, known as shoefiti, to mark that drugs are for sale. Street drag racing and prostitution are also problems in the state's urban areas.
As with most locations in the United States, a major cause of injury and death in Pennsylvania comes from automobile accidents. Drivers can be down-right hostile on some of the more notorious urban freeways, such as the Schuykill Expressway in Philadelphia (usually it's a parking lot anyway), route 22 in Allentown, the 376 in Pittsburgh and on the Interstate 95 corridor in the southeast section of the state. The roads in Pennsylvania are notoriously bad, so be careful.
Road rage can be a problem during rush hour, so if you aren't familiar with the highway system, stay out of the left hand lane. The key to safe driving is to stay defensive, you are in unfamiliar areas and while you may feel wronged, it may be the norm.
Motorcyclists are not required to wear helmets in Pennsylvania, but it is still advised.
Ruralmountain roads can sometimes be steep, and impassable in times ofheavy snowfall. In many parts of the state, especially around Pittsburgh, steep cliffs reside next to major roads, and rock slides can occur, though rare. When traveling in the central to western part of the state, it is best to stay on main roads and highways. If you're canoeing, skiing, or doing any other outdoor activity, take necessary precautions.
Be sure to stay out ofabandoned mines and quarries. As this industry falls out of the state's economy, mines and quarries are left abandoned. If you explore one, you risk the dangers of unstable supports, unstable ground, rats, snakes and other animals, forgotten explosives, blasting caps, explosive methane gas, and pockets of "blackdamp" or air without enough oxygen to support life.
Exploring the woods alone can be dangerous, due to the large deer and other wild animal population. Use insect repellent to avoid disease, wear long clothing, and do not wander onto someone's property.
Flooding andsnow are the most commonnatural disasters. Flash flooding can be a problem. Tornadoes are rare but experienced, and earthquakes are almost unheard of. Hurricanes coming up the Atlantic can strike, so be prepared. Temperatures in the summer can reach 100 degrees in places, so bring water and sunscreen. Thunderstorms are common in the summer.
If you are not from Pennsylvania you can buy any 1.4g (Class C /Consumer Grade)fireworks from an outlet for transport out of state, however, Pennsylvania residents can only purchase "Safe and Sane" fireworks (those that do not leave the ground or explode) without a permit. All brick and mortar stores will have additional information, but tents and other temporary sales locations may or may not have correct information. Local laws vary greatly and many campsites prohibit their use outright, so you will need to check before you use them in-state. Fireworks stores and tents tend to be in border areas but can be found throughout the state.
You do not need apermit to carry a firearm openly throughout the state, except in the city ofPhiladelphia.Gun laws are fairly loose compared to other states. Carrying concealed, however, requires a state license to carry, issued by county sheriffs (or city police) with various policies and levels of strictness. Licenses for non-residents are available, the county with the most favorable non-resident license policy is Centre County. Carrying a handgun in a vehicle is considered concealed carry, and therefore requires a license. If in possession of a handgun, remember that New York State and New Jersey share very lengthy borders with Pennsylvania, and both have some of thestrictest gun laws in the nation.
Drugs, includingmarijuana are illegal in Pennsylvania. However, medical marijuana is legal. InPhiladelphia andPittsburgh, the punishment for under 30 grams of marijuana is only a $25 fine, or $100 if caught smoking in public. Elsewhere, you can expect a heightened punishment.
During periods ofhunting season, persons entering the woods are advised by the Pennsylvania Game Commission to wear "blaze orange".
| Thisregion travel guide toPennsylvaniais ausable article. It gives a good overview of the region, its sights, and how to get in, as well as links to the main destinations, whose articles are similarly well developed. An adventurous person could use this article, but pleasefeel free to improve itby editing the page. |
