Places to See in Pennsylvania

A great list of things to do and places to see when you visit Pennsylvania.

  1. See the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall
  2. Check out Hershey’s Chocolate World Visitor’s Center
  3. Explore Amish back country in Lancaster, PA
  4. The Longwood Gardens have existed since the 1700s, and cover a thousand acres
  5. Tour the official Betsy Ross House where the original Stars and Stripes was sewn
  6. See the Flight 93 National Memorial
  7. Visit the Philadelphia Zoo and see endangered animals (Save money with a Philadelphia Pass)
  8. Visit historic Franklin Square in Philadelphia, PA
  9. Go for an underground adventure at Penn’s Cave Wildlife Park
  10. Valley Forge was the site of the 1777-78 winter encampment of the Continental Army and has lots of great outdoor space
  11. See America’s largest helicopter museum with 35 civilian and military helicopters, autogyros and convertiplanes
  12. See some really cool exhibitions at The Franklin Institute
  13. The Fels Planetarium is the nation’s second oldest planetarium
  14. Don’t miss Gettysburg! Before you go, read about the battle
  15. Pat’s and Geno’s Steaks are located on opposite sides of the street and are a must visit if you want an original Philadelphia cheesesteak
  16. See museums dedicated to Benjamin Franklin at Franklin Court (note: closed till mid-2013)
  17. The B. Free Franklin Post Office & Museum is the only Colonial-themed post office operated by the USPS
  18. Check out the Rocky Statue donated by Sylvester Stallone
  19. The Philadelphia Museum of Art has over 200 galleries
  20. The National Constitution Center brings the U.S. Constitution to life
  21. The Barnes Foundation collects and displays plants, art, and other historic artifacts (new Philadelphia location)
  22. Ride The Ducks for a crazy historic tour of Philadelphia on an amphibious bus that crashes into the Delaware River
  23. Just across the border: Experience the Battleship New Jersey
  24. Join the Ghost Tour of Philadelphia for a candlelight stroll or see 20+ sights with Spirits of ’76
  25. Tour ships at the Independence Seaport Museum
  26. See an old Quaker garden at Bartram’s Gardens 
  27. See 60 of the rarest racing sportscars ever made at the Simeone Museum
  28. Check out Bethlehem Steel and the museum
  29. See American illustration, still life and landscape paintings at Brandywine River Museum
  30. Steamtown offers a Technology Museum and History Museum
  31. See natural history and the visual arts at the Everhart Museum in Scranton
  32. When you’re in Scranton, go mining at the Lackawanna County Coal Mine
  33. See a magic show at the Houdini Museum
  34. Ski at Seven Springs, Camelback, Sno Mountain or at another ski resort in PA
  35. Check out the Philadelphia History Museum at The Atwater Kent (don’t miss the Norman Rockwell collection)
  36. Are you a fan of The Office? Then get a fan tour (buy tickets, here)
  37. Experience historic Philadelphia at Elfreth’s Alley
  38. Go on a QVC Studio Tour
  39. See Al Capone’s cell at Eastern State Penitentiary
  40. Big Bus Tours show you Philadelphia from the top of an authentic London double-decker bus
  41. See more than 30 dinosaurs and much more at The Academy of Natural Sciences
  42. The African American Museum in Philadelphia (primarily twentieth century)
  43. The Mummers Museum is dedicated to the Philadelphia celebration of New Year’s
  44. Learn about health and medicine at the Mütter Museum (and see Albert Einstein’s brain!)
  45. Tour the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in Philadelphia
  46. Visit the Penn Museum to see archaeology and anthropology from all over the world
  47. Catch a game or show at the Wells Fargo Center
  48. Have dinner at the City Tavern (since 1773)
  49. South Street in Philadelphia may be the best shopping in PA
  50. See a show at The Mann Center (outdoors)
  51. Visit Christ Church & Christ Church Burial Ground (Benjamin Franklin is buried here)
  52. Find the rare and the curious at the American Philosophical Society (APS) Museum
  53. In 1774, the First Continental Congress met in Carpenter’s Hall
  54. Declaration House is where Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence
  55. McGillin’s Olde Ale House is the oldest continuously operated tavern in Philadelphia
  56. Philadelphia’s historic farmers market, Reading Terminal Market
  57. Ride the coasters and water rides at Hersheypark
  58. See Washington’s Crossing Historic Park where Washington crossed the Delaware in 1776
  59. Visit the many restaurants, antique shops and art galleries, and take a walk in New Hope
  60. Wanamaker’s department store was the first department store in Philadelphia
  61. Hike to the Wissahickon River Gorge (bird guide) in beautiful Fairmount Park (Seven miles of serene wilderness)
  62. Go fishing, hunting, or skiing in the Pocono Mountains located in northeastern Pennsylvania
  63. See the Carnegie Museum of Natural History, in Pittsburgh
  64. See 19 indoor and outdoor gardens of Phipps Conservatory (since 1893)
  65. Tour the Andy Warhol Museum
  66. Tour the Pennsylvania State Capitol
  67. Wheatland is President James Buchanan’s estate in Lancaster
  68. Take the kids to The Oregon Dairy in Lititz
  69. Try the excellent coffee at Square One Coffee in Lancaster
  70. Tour the beautiful Conestoga House and Gardens in Lancaster
  71. Head over to Lake Tobias Wildlife Park in Halifax
  72. Take the kids to the Please Touch Museum (ages 1-7) for the ultimate children’s museum

Things to do in Pennsylvania