Things to Do on Vacation in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is a fun place to visit and a great place to live with many interesting places to see and things to do in all four seasons of the year. Pennsylvania is located in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic region and is commonly referred to as Pa or the Quaker State.

Pa is 170 miles north to south and 283 miles east to west. Of the total 46,055 square miles, 44,817 square miles are land, 490 square miles are inland waters and 749 square miles are waters in Lake Erie. There are 51 miles of coastline along Lake Erie and 57 miles of shoreline along the Delaware Estuary. The highest point of 3,213 feet above sea level is at Mount Davis and the lowest point is at sea level on the Delaware River.

The State offers places to visit, sights to see, sports of all kinds for all ages. One of the favorite places for the sightseers is the Pennsylvania Dutch region in South-Central part of the state. The Pennsylvania Dutch includes the Old Order Amish and Old Order Mennonites and at least 35 other sects and is common in the rural areas around the cities of Lancaster, York, Harrisburg and Hershey.

While visiting this region, for the children a visit to Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery located at 219 East Main Street, Lititz PA is a good tour for the young. The tour explores the large space where Sturgis started the first pretzel bakery in the US back in the late 1700s. The children will be thrilled when handed a big, squishy wad of dough and being taught how to twist it into a pretzel. The tour lasts about 20 minutes, hours are Mon-Sat 9:30am - 4:30 pm and the fees are under $10.00. (717-626-4354)

Abe's Buggy Rides located at 2596 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bird in Hand PA will be an enjoyable event for children and adults alike. Abe's is a combination buggy ride provider, petting zoo and miniature snack bar. Families can choose to ride in authentic Amish buggies of varying sizes for 20 to 75 minutes. Any ride longer than 20 minutes will take you under a covered bridge and past Amish farms and houses. Have your driver sign your feedback card upon your return and you'll get a homemade cookie or whoopee pie. No reservations required, if you have less than 10 people you can just show up, buggies can seat anywhere from four people to six or so. Hours are Mon-Sat 9am-6pm; fees are $10-$20. (717-392-1794)

Children will be happy to visit the Hands-On House Children's Museum located at 721 Landis Valley Rd, Lancaster PA. They offer fun exhibits about machinery and farming and the interactive focus will keep the kids happy. Hours vary by season and fees are under $10. (717)569-5437

For a day full of fun a visit to the Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park is a must. The excitement starts when you walk through the big castle facade into the Dutch Wonderland. The park offers about 30 rides that offer plenty of fun for children up to the age of 12. Mini-theaters throughout the park provide short, entertaining shows and skits that will excite the kids. There are five eateries that offer fudge, kettle corn, poultry dogs, fresh fruit and fresh sushi. Bring your bathing suits and towels so you can enjoy the small water park with slides and a giant soaking bucket. Park is closed January through April. Hours vary by month, for updated information visit www.dutchwonderland.com/hours/index.html. Fees are $20-$30.

For those children and adults that enjoy visiting zoos, Pennsylvania has some very good ones. The nation's first zoo is the Philadelphia Zoo; it is located in Fairmount Park on the west bank of the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia. The zoo comprises 42 acres and has more than 1,300 animals, many which are rare and endangered. For the children there is a children's zoo, a balloon ride, a paddleboat lake and many interactive and educational exhibits. Places in the zoo that you will want to visit are, The Dodge RareAnimal Conservation Center which includes interactive graphics and up-close views of some of the world's most endangered animals: the giant Rodriques Fruit Bats, Naked Mole Rats, Blue-Eyed Lemurs, Tree-Kangaroos and much more.

The Reptile and Amphibian House features over 125 species of amphibians and reptiles, including the giant tortoises and the very venomous King Cobra. Next is the "Bank ofAmerica: Big Cat Falls", that features numerous species of wild cats including the African Lions, Black Jaguars, Amur Tigers and the Puma. To see a family of six rare playful giant otters, Snow Leopards, Red Pandas and Clouded Leopards in their unique naturalistic environments visit the Carnivore Kingdom. At the African Plains you will see Warthogs, Sable Antelope, Mhorr Gazelle, Reticulated Giraffes, hippos and zebras. The Zoo also has exotic South American animals such as the Giant Anteaters and Capybaras. For a view of a life time, visit the Channel 6 Zooballoon. It is a tethered helium balloon that rises 400 feet to offer a view of the Zoo, the Schuylkill River and the Philadelphia Center City skyline.

To get close to animals, over 120 exotic species schedule a visit to the Claws'N Paws Wild Animal Park, it is located on Rt 590, four miles East of Hamlin, in the beautiful Pocono Mountains. They offer two different animals shows, you can feed the giraffe and Lory Parrots also there is a Petting Zoo and a Turtle Town. The Zoo is open from May 1st to October 21, 2008, the 2008 general admission rates are Adults (age 12 & up) $13.95, Junior (Age 2-11) $9.95, Senior (Age 65 & up) $12.95, Age 1 and under) Free.

Pittsburgh Zoo and Aquarium is located about 5 miles east of downtown Pittsburgh in Highland Park, address is One Wild Place, Pittsburgh PA 15205 (412-665-3640). The Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium is one of only six major zoo and aquarium combinations in the country. It consists of 77-acres and also has a ranked top three children's zoo in the country. For the kids a visit to Kid's Kingdom will be an exciting event. They will love the Kids Kingdom and Discovery Pavilion that features a walk-through Kangaroo Yard, Deer Yard and Goat Yard where they can touch them. The favorite is the fabulous sea lion pool with underwater viewing window and crawl-through tunnels with pop-up bubbles where the kids can play hide-and-seek with meerkats. A visit to the exhibit called "Water's Edge" is a must; you will be nose to nose with polar bears, sea otters, sea lions and walruses via two underwater tunnels and a large convex underwater window. The zoo and aquarium is open every day except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas and New Year's Day. Hours vary depending on the time of year, so call before you go. The fees are from April 1 - November 30, Adults $12.00; Seniors (60 years and older) $11.00 Children (2-13) $10.00. Members and children under 24 months are free. From December 1 - March 31, Adults $9.00, Children and Seniors $8.00 and members and children under 24 months are free.

While traveling in the eastern part of the state, be sure to visit the city of Philadelphia which is the largest city in the state and the sixth most populous city in the United States. The city is rich in history and a visit to Independence Hall should be your first stop. Tours are given by rangers and are free. Next be sure to visit the Adventure Aquarium that features nearly 200,000 square feet of sea life and wildlife. You can visit the West African River Experience with the hippopotamuses, porcupines and over 20 species of African birds in a free-flight aviary, surrounded with sharks in a suspended 40-foot walk through tunnel and explore the wonders of the deep sea in the Jules Verne Gallery. Fees are adults $18.95, Children 2-12 $14.95, children under 2 are fee. The Adventure Aquarium is located at 1 Riverside Dr, and their web site is www.adventureaquarium.com.

For the whole family the Franklin Institute Science Museum will offer something for all ages. It will provide an imaginative trip through the worlds of science that demonstrates the influence of science in our lives. There are four parts to the complex. The first is the Franklin National Memorial with a 30-ton statue of its namesake and a collection of authentic Franklin artifacts and possessions. The second is a collection of science and technology oriented exhibition areas. There are a hands-on displays such as the "Titanic" show, a gigantic walk-through heart, a Train Factory, where you can play engineer for a 350-ton locomotive. For a hair rising experience plug into a Van de Graaff generator at the lighting gallery. The third offers an energy hall bursts with Rube Goldberg contraptions, noisemakers and light shows. The fourth specializes in astronomy and mathematical puzzles. There is much more to see and experience and will provide an afternoon of unforgettable experiences. For prices and fees check their web site at www.fl.edu.

Traveling in the western part of the state be sure to visit the steel city, Pittsburgh. Home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Pirates and Pittsburgh Penguins. Some of the attractions are Carnegie Museum of Art, features French Impressionist and post-Impressionist paintings, American art and new paintings by working artists. It also has the one of the world's largest collections of plaster casts of architectural masterpieces.

Take a ride on the Duquesne Incline. Scale Mount Washington in one of two original 1877 cable cars for a fun and unique ride and a breathtaking view of the Pittsburgh skyline when you each the top of the 400-foot incline. For the natural history lovers, visit the Carnegie Museum of Natural History for a fascinating exploration of the Earth Sciences, Life Sciences and Anthropology through dazzling exhibits and hands-on displays the whole family will enjoy.

For a stunning view of the city and a variety of outdoor recreation visit Point State Park. The Point served as a key strategic spot during the French and Indian War and is a National Historic Landmark.

Pennsylvania has many beautiful and wonderful state forests and parks. The Allegheny National Forest located in the northwestern part of the state has half a million acres of rugged, crenellated Allegheny Plateau landscape. There are many miles of footpaths, bike trails, trout streams and navigable rivers as well as the flat-water expanses of the Allegheny Reservoir.

The Pocono Mountains in Northeastern Pa offers 2,400 square miles of wooded peaks and valleys with numerous lakes, rivers and some of the loveliest waterfalls in the east. With such natural beauty and hundreds of attractions and places to stay, the Pocono Mountains are the perfect place to vacation year-round. Springtime the Pocono's are filled with blossoming wild flowers and blooming activity. You can enjoy canoeing, tennis, hiking, horseback rides or mountain bike riding through the woodlands. For a fabulous display of colors, visit the Pocono's in the fall. The leaves and landscape are dazzling with different fall colors.

For the bike riding enthusiast, Pennsylvania offers a wide variety of bike trails. There are hundreds of paved and unpaved roads, dirt roads, trails and single tracks that are suitable for biking. Some of the Mountain Bike area is, Lehigh Gorge. rated as one of the top 3 mountain biking destinations in the United States by Cycling Magazine. A 25-mile self guided bike tour of the magnificent mountain scenery through Lehigh Gorge State Park, overlooking the Lehigh River. Bike Rentals are $5.00 per hour or $25 a day. Group Rate, $20 each, 3 hour minimum.

The Switchback Railway is an extremely pleasant 9-mile downhill ride that follows Mauch Chunk Creek and ends at the 19th Century Opera House in Jim Thorpe. You are shuttled to the starting point and are picked up at the end of the ride. Rentals and Shuttle are $26.00, Shuttle only $11.00.

Pennsylvania offers many options for camping, golfing and fishing. There are developed camp sites and for those who like rugged sittings, there are many back country camping sites. For those interested in golfing, check out the State of Pennsylvania Play and Stay website http://www.playandstayinpa.com/playandstay/index.jsp.

For those visitors interested in fishing, Pa offers a wide variety of fishing. There are paid stocked lakes, rivers, streams that will provide you with the opportunity for catching many different species of fish. Fly fishing the cool mountain streams is one of the most popular fishing activities.

One thing you can be certain of that a vacation to Pennsylvania will be a fun filled trip that the entire family, the young, adult and senior citizen will enjoy and will take home wonderful memories. From history, art, golfing, fishing, hiking, biking, winter sports, good food, theater, big city or rural country settings, Pennsylvania has it all. For your next vacation or just a week-end outing come and enjoy what the Keystone state has to offer. Come to my neck of the woods and experience life in the wilds of Pa!

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