Pennsylvania
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About Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania, also known as "The Keystone State", is one of the original Thirteen Colonies that founded the United States of America. Philadelphia is known as the cradle of the American Nation where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed. Pennsylvania is bisected by the Appalachian Mountains from southwest to northeast. West of this is the Allegheny Plateau, which is known for its abundant fossils and fossil fuels. Pennsylvania has a 140 km shoreline along the Delaware River and one of the largest seaports in the U.S. (Port of Philadelphia) without having an actual coastline. The state of Pennsylvania has 117 state parks offering lots of family camping, swimming, biking, boating, fishing and hiking.
Good to know
- Capital: Harrisburg
- Climate: Summers are hot and humid; winters are cold with frequent snowstorms
- Timezone: UTC -5
- No. of inhabitants: 12,406,292 (2004)
- Travel alert: EnjoyYourWorld strongly advises you to take necessary precautions for a safe travel. For more info please follow this link
Highlights
- Visit rural Pennsylvania Dutch region in south-central part Pennsylvania with the Old Order Amish, the Old Order Mennonites and at least 15 other sects, of which some only use horse-drawn farming equipment and carriages.
- Philadelphia-one of the oldest and most historically significant cities and the fourth largest metropolitan area in the U.S. See the Independence National Historical Park.
- The Gettysburg National Military Park where the Battle of Gettysburg took place, a critical turning point in the American Civil War
- The Valley Forge National Historical Park
- Visit Warren-a good place to start your trip to the Allengheny National Forest
- The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area-a 3.2 km long scenic gorge cut by the Delaware River
- Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail with two trails in Pennsylvnia
- The 110 km Laurel Highlands Hiking Trail between Ohiopyle and Seward
- The 240 km Great Allegheny Passage between Cumberland (Md.) and Pittsburgh
- Upper Delaware Scenic & Recreational River with plenty of boating, fishing, hiking and camping opportunities
Getting Around
- If you are in a hurry take the Interstate Highways: I79, I76, I80, I81 and the I78
- If not try some of the Pennsylvania scenic byways
- The Historic National Road-America's first federal highway that takes you through America’s historic times
- Grand View Scenic Byway-a perfect way to see the panoramic views of Pittsburgh and enjoy its shopping and dining opportunities.
- The High Plateau Scenic Byway-through the high wilderness of the Sproul State Forest
- Longhouse Scenic Byway-traverses through the Allegheny National Forest with year-round fantastic foliage, refreshing lakesides with opportunities to camp, boat and swim. The byway is closed to public vehicles from late December to 1 April.
- Seaway Trail-takes you along the scenic shoreline of Lake Erie, the Niagara River, Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River. You can travel the Seaway Trail by bicycle, motorcycle, car or camper and discover the many historic sites and museums, or enjoy one of the many hiking and skiing trails.
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