Pennsylvania

Best time to visit Pennsylvania

Spring (March to May)
Spring is a lovely time to visit Pennsylvania as the weather warms up, with temperatures ranging from 5°C to 20°C. The blooming flowers and fresh greenery make it ideal for outdoor activities and exploring cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Summer (June to August)
Summer offers warm temperatures from 15°C to 30°C, perfect for enjoying Pennsylvania's outdoor attractions, including state parks and scenic drives. This is also a great time for festivals and events across the state. However, it can be quite busy, especially in popular tourist spots.

Autumn (September to November)
Autumn is perhaps the most picturesque time to visit Pennsylvania, with temperatures ranging from 10°C to 22°C. The fall foliage, especially in areas like the Pocono Mountains and the Allegheny National Forest, provides stunning views and excellent hiking opportunities.

Winter (December to February)
Winter temperatures in Pennsylvania range from -5°C to 10°C, with snow being common in northern and mountainous regions. This is the best time for skiing and other winter sports. Cities like Philadelphia and Pittsburgh also have festive holiday events and cosy indoor attractions to enjoy.

Highlights of Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania’s largest city, Philadelphia, is a key link on the Boston-Washington metro corridor, located just 90 minutes from New York City and two hours from Washington DC. Like its east coast siblings, it is a city rich with culture and history, dining, and nightlife Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia where it was debated and eventually adopted. In Independence National Park – reputably America’s most historic square mile – you can learn about the influence of Philadelphia in the shaping of the United States and pay a visit to the Liberty Bell.

Pennsylvania reveals both its profound influence on – and deep scars caused by – the American Civil War at the nation’s most famous battleground: Gettysburg. The Civil War’s most decisive battle was fought in Gettysburg in the south of the state. Today the small town offers a profound and moving experience among the stone memorials and in its illuminating museum.

Highlights of Pennsylvania

In sharp contrast to the sombre events at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was first established as a state of “brotherly love” when it was granted to its namesake William Penn in the 17th century. Victims of religious persecution in Germany and Switzerland flocked there to live free lives, and today their ancestors still adopt a peaceful way of life in the Dutch Country. Subsets of the Mennonite Church, including the Amish, live in quiet, rural communities such as Lancaster and Adamstown. Here the green, hand-tended farmland is interspersed with traditional houses and horses and carts/

In the west of Pennsylvania, the lively urban centre of Pittsburgh was once the world’s leading steel producer in the 19th century. Despite its small population of 300,000 it punches above its weight with top notch museums and universities, bustling neighbourhoods, and lively restaurant scenes. Extensive regeneration of the waterfront and the city’s green spaces means that there are no rusting leftovers of the steel boom but instead a sleek, attractive, and liveable city.

Things to do in Pennsylvania

The Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Trail runs for 229 miles through Pennsylvania’s share of the Appalachian Mountains, from the Delaware Water Gap in the north to Pen Mar, a small-town straddling Maryland in the south. The southern part of Pennsylvania offers some of the easiest walking along the entire Appalachian Trail, making it accessible for visitors and families wanting to dip a toe into hiking and experience a small section of the trail. Appalachia is also a 200,000 square mile region running along the mountains, some of which cuts through Pennsylvania, and is described as an “undiscovered national treasure”. Scenic driving is a great way to experience the region and stumble across authentic artisans, attractions, and Native American culture.

The Gettysburg Museum of History
To begin to understand the history of the Battle of Gettysburg in a real way, visit the Gettysburg Museum of the American Civil War before exploring the military park.The collection of artefacts and relics bring the battle to life, while an illuminating film narrated by Morgan Freeman helps to put the events into order. The impactful galleries and murals give a sense of scale to the fighting and loss. Altogether, the museum provides a poignant and rewarding insight into one of the most influential events in American history.

Independence National Historic Park
Explore this historic square mile in Philadelphia on a guided tour which will take you to where the Declaration of Independence was first drafted. Learn how the Constitution was debated and adopted and visit the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Independence Hall, the nation’s first executive mansion. The national park also houses the Benjamin Franklin Museum. Before you leave, make sure you visit one of the world’s most iconic emblems of freedom: The Liberty Bell.

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Things to do in Pennsylvania

The Golden Triangle
In the heart of downtown Pittsburgh is an appealing ten-block district known as the Golden Triangle. This glittering gem is home to a wealth of historic, cultural and entertainment sites. It stands at the confluence of three rivers: the Monongahela, Allegheny, and Ohio rivers, all connected by picturesque bridges. In fact, Pittsburgh is known as ‘The City of Bridges’ and downtown boasts ten of them. Hire bikes to explore the numerous riverfront trails, dine al fresco in the historic Market Square or embark on a guided tour of the fantastic public art.

Lake Erie
In the northeast of Pennsylvania, the state proudly boasts a shoreline on one of America’s Great Lakes – Lake Erie. Nestled between the shores of Lake Erie and Presque Isle Bay is the main attraction of Presque Isle State Park. Boasting glorious sandy beaches and plenty of water activities explore by kayak or boat, swim or surf in the clear waters or bike and walk in the State Park.

Top tips

• Amish Village
  Concentrated in Lancaster County, the Pennsylvania Dutch influence is evident in the colourful barns, roadside home-grown produce stalls and family-restaurants selling crafts like quilts and blankets. The best way to experience this way of life is to head to the Amish Village in Lancaster County. The village is located on 12 scenic acres and offers an authentic look at today’s Amish lifestyle through its schoolhouse, barn, blacksmith shop and smokehouse.

• Hershey’s Chocolate World
  Located 30 minutes’ drive east of Harrisburg is the home of the world-famous chocolate factory, reminders of Hershey products are everywhere. The small town of Hershey even has streetlamps shaped like Hershey Kisses. At Hershey Chocolate World you can sample all things chocolatey, as well as embarking on a chocolate tour. This immersive, Disney-esque journey travels from the cocoa farms of Africa to the singing barnyard cows of Pennsylvania, all accompanied by a catchy theme song of course.

• Andy Warhol
  The iconic pop artist Andy Warhol is one of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s most celebrated residents. Located in Pittsburgh’s north side, the Andy Warhol Museum hoards an unrivalled collection of his art including 900 paintings, 77 sculptures, almost 2000 paper works, more than 1000 prints and 4000 photographs.

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Top tips

• Train travel
  One of the best and cheapest ways to city hop through Pennsylvania is by train. Amtrak offer an extensive network through the state, linking the Pennsylvania’s cities of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Erie, Harrisburg, and Lancaster. It also connects Pennsylvania to the popular cities of New York, Washington, and Boston.
  
• Groundhog Day
  Each year, the town of Punxsutawney celebrates the legendary and talented weather-predicting abilities of ‘Punxsutawney Phil’ with a festival of music and food. If you didn’t know, Phil is a groundhog. Punxsutawney and its resident Phil were immortalised in the enduring film starring Bill Murray. Although the real town is an hour or two north of Pittsburgh in Jefferson County, the location used in the film was infact Woodstock, Illinois.
  
  
  
  
  
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