Things to Do in Pennsylvania
Ten stops running from the deadliest battlefield in the entire Civil War to a house built directly over a waterfall, deliberately, by one of the most significant architects of the 20th century.
Pennsylvania runs a proper depth beyond what the quiz already covers, this list heads toward properly significant Civil War history, a house built directly over a waterfall, and a cheesesteak rivalry that Philadelphians take considerably more seriously than the jokes usually suggest. Ten stops below, plus a quiz elsewhere on this site if you fancy testing what stuck.
Gettysburg National Military Park
The site of the Civil War's bloodiest battle, roughly 51,000 casualties over three days in July 1863, widely considered the war's turning point, the Union victory here halted the Confederacy's furthest advance into northern territory. A licensed battlefield guide, riding along in your own vehicle, remains the most detailed way to properly understand the battle's full sequence across the sprawling site.
This runs as a properly significant, sobering stop, allow a full day to cover both the battlefield tour and the visitor centre's museum exhibits.
Hours Daily, park roads open dawn to 10pm
Address 1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, PA
Hersheypark & Hershey's Chocolate World
A theme park built directly around the chocolate company's history, roller coasters sit alongside a real working chocolate factory tour at the adjacent Chocolate World, a simulated ride walking visitors through the production process ending with a free sample. The town itself leans fully into the theme, streetlights shaped like Hershey's Kisses and street names referencing the candy directly.
This runs well as a proper full-day family trip, a good combination of the park's rides with the free Chocolate World tour given how close the two sit to each other.
Hours Seasonal, roughly May-October, check current schedule
Address 100 Hersheypark Dr, Hershey, PA
Lancaster's Amish Country
Lancaster County holds one of the largest and oldest Amish communities anywhere in the country, farmland and family-run markets throughout the county still operate largely as they have for generations. The Amish Farm and House runs guided tours covering the community's history, beliefs, and daily practices, a good option if you'd rather have proper context alongside your visit.
Visit respectfully, this is a real, functioning community rather than a themed attraction, keep photography discreet around residents who generally prefer not to be photographed directly.
Address Lancaster County, PA
Fallingwater
Designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and completed in 1939, Fallingwater sits built directly over an active waterfall, the sound of running water audible throughout the house, widely regarded as one of the most significant works of American architecture ever built. Guided tours cover both the interior and the building's properly radical design philosophy, book well ahead given how popular this specific site runs.
This runs as one of the more architecturally significant stops on this whole list, rewarding even for visitors without a deep interest in architecture, the building's setting alone makes the visit worthwhile.
Hours Seasonal, roughly March-December, check current schedule
Address 1491 Mill Run Rd, Mill Run, PA
Flight 93 National Memorial
The crash site of United Airlines Flight 93 on September 11, 2001, where passengers and crew fought back against hijackers, likely preventing a fourth attack on a target in Washington DC, the memorial marks their actions with real, careful weight. The Wall of Names lists all 40 passengers and crew who died, and the visitor centre covers the full timeline of events that day in real, respectful depth.
This runs as a properly significant, sobering stop, allow real time to walk the full memorial grounds and engage with the exhibits rather than rushing through.
Hours Daily, roughly 9am-5pm
Address 6424 Lincoln Hwy, Stoystown, PA
Philadelphia's Cheesesteak Rivalry
Pat's King of Steaks and Geno's Steaks sit directly across South 9th Street from each other in Philadelphia, both claiming to be the definitive cheesesteak experience, a rivalry that's run for decades and remains properly contested among locals to this day. Order 'wiz wit,' Cheez Whiz with onions, the most traditional order at either establishment, knowing the correct terminology before you approach the counter helps.
Both operate on a fast, no-nonsense ordering system, watch how locals order ahead of you if it's your first time, the process moves quickly and doesn't leave much room for hesitation.
Address South 9th St, Philadelphia, PA
Eastern State Penitentiary
A former prison, considered radical when it opened in 1829 for its solitary confinement-based reform philosophy, the idea being that isolation and reflection would actually reform prisoners rather than simply punish them. Al Capone served part of his sentence here, and the building's decayed, atmospheric ruins now run as a museum covering both the prison's history and the wider evolution of the American penal system.
This runs a properly unsettling atmosphere, particularly through the crumbling cell blocks, worth knowing that going in if you're sensitive to that kind of setting.
Hours Daily, roughly 10am-5pm, hours vary seasonally
Address 2027 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA
Sesame Place
A theme park built entirely around the Sesame Street characters, rides and shows designed specifically for younger children, considerably gentler than a standard amusement park given the target age range. Character meet-and-greets run throughout the day, check the current schedule if meeting a specific character matters to your group.
This runs particularly well for kids roughly ages 2 through 8, worth knowing if travelling with older kids who might find the pace and theming a touch young for them.
Hours Seasonal, check current schedule
Address 100 Sesame Rd, Langhorne, PA
Presque Isle State Park
A curved sandy peninsula extending into Lake Erie, Pennsylvania's only Great Lakes shoreline, proper sandy beaches and a lighthouse considerably different from the mountainous terrain found throughout most of the rest of the state. Cycling the perimeter trail covers roughly 13 miles, a good, mostly flat way to see the full peninsula in a single outing.
This runs as one of the more surprising stops on this whole list for anyone who doesn't associate Pennsylvania with proper beach scenery, a good detour if you're passing through the state's northwestern corner.
Best time June-August for swimming weather
Address 301 Peninsula Dr, Erie, PA
Pennsylvania Dutch Soft Pretzels
Soft pretzels trace their American origins directly to Pennsylvania Dutch communities, German immigrants who brought the recipe over centuries ago, twisted by hand, briefly boiled, then baked, a considerably different process from the mall-food version found nationwide today. Philly Pretzel Factory and several smaller, family-run bakeries throughout Lancaster County still make them the traditional way, seek out a proper hand-twisted version specifically.
Several bakeries run demonstrations showing the actual twisting technique, watch if you get the chance, the speed and consistency experienced bakers achieve is properly impressive to see up close.
Address Bakeries throughout Lancaster County and Philadelphia, PA
Best time to visit Pennsylvania
April through June and September through October cover the most comfortable weather for this list, mild enough for the outdoor and historical stops without summer's serious heat and humidity.
Hersheypark and Sesame Place both run seasonally, roughly May through October, check current schedules if either is a priority for your trip.
Getting around Pennsylvania
A car is essential, the distances between Philadelphia, Gettysburg, and the western part of the state run into several hours each, this is a state best covered with your own transport.
Frequently asked questions
- Is Pennsylvania worth visiting beyond Philadelphia's Independence Hall?
- Yes, easily, Gettysburg, Fallingwater, and Lancaster's Amish Country all offer a completely different picture of the state than its founding-era history alone.
- How many days do you need in Pennsylvania?
- Seven days gives a comfortable pace to cover Philadelphia, Gettysburg, and either Lancaster or the western half of the state toward Fallingwater.
- Is Pennsylvania expensive to visit?
- Moderate, food and accommodation both run reasonably across most of the state, Philadelphia and Hershey run slightly pricier during peak season.
- What's the best Pennsylvania trip for kids?
- Hersheypark and Sesame Place both rank as the most reliably kid-friendly stops on this list.
That's ten decent slices of a state that runs considerably deeper than its founding-era reputation.
A note before you plan around this: prices, opening hours, booking requirements and admission details in this guide were correct at the time of writing, but venues change these often and sometimes without notice. Always check directly with the attraction or its official website before you travel or build a schedule around a specific time or price.
Before travelling to any destination featured on this site, please also check your government's latest travel advice, as safety situations, entry requirements and travel warnings can change.
