If you’re planning a trip to the state of Pennsylvania, you will not have a difficult time piecing together a long list of recreational activities and sites to see.
Pennsylvania, home to approximately 13 million people, has long been one of the most visited American states. It offers its own unique history, signature dishes, arts/culture and forms of entertainment.
Here is a list of five things to do during your visit to Pennsylvania.
Mobile/Online & In-Person Casinos
The state of Pennsylvania officially launched legalized sports betting in late 2018, just months after the Supreme Court of the United States overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA).
The Online Casino Apps in Pennsylvania create a virtual space where you can visit and play online games that are not available in other states. This includes your favorite casino games such as poker, blackjack, roulette, slots (thousands and thousands of available games) and more.
Pennsylvania casinos and apps also allow customers to place a variety of sports bets, including point spreads, money lines, parlays, futures and much more.
If you want to enjoy an experience at an in-person casino, there is no shortage of venues available in the state. This includes the Mohegan Pennsylvania in Wilkes-Barre, Harrah’s Philadelphia Casino and Racetrack in Chester and the Parx Casino in Bensalem.
Sporting Events
Pennsylvania is home to some of the nation’s most popular and historic sporting franchises — including seven clubs in the “big four” North American professional sports leagues.
The NFL is home to the Philadelphia Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers, who’ve combined for six Super Bowl appearances and three Lombardi Trophies here in the 21st century. The NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins and Philadelphia Flyers hold one of the most heated rivalries in American sports dating back to the ‘70s.
Major League Baseball has the Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies, and the NBA has the Joel Embiid-led Philadelphia 76ers.
The Penn State Nittany Lions also run one of the country’s elite football programs, one that has produced top NFL stars like New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin and Dallas Cowboys linebacker Micah Parsons.
Major sports are going on year-round in the state of Pennsylvania. You should definitely try to attend at least one Philadelphia sporting event and another in Pittsburgh.
Hersheypark
Whether you’re traveling alone, with one companion, a group of friends or your family, Hersheypark offers a great deal of excitement and entertainment to visitors of all sorts.
Over three million people come to Hersheypark — located in Hershey — every year. Hersheypark opened in 1906 and covers a whopping 121 acres. The park is home to 13 different roller-coasters and 16 water rides.
But here’s the beauty of Hersheypark: You don’t even have to go on the rides to enjoy your time here. The Hershey’s Chocolate World attraction, ZooMerica, many shopping stores and restaurants/eateries can also provide you a full day’s worth of entertainment.
If you do love the adventurous rides, however, you could easily spend multiple days at Hersheypark during your visit to Pennsylvania. One way or another, this venue should be near the top of your to-do-list when visiting Pennsylvania.
Museums
Pennsylvania is one of the nation’s most historically significant states, so this is definitely the place to visit if you’re a history fanatic.
Among the best museums to check out: The National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg that is home to over 24,000 historic items. The museum is relatively new compared to other museums in the state, having just opened in 2001.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art (located in Philadelphia), opened its doors nearly 150 years ago back in 1876. It welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors annually and is home to special artifacts such as Grace Kelly’s wedding dress she wore for her marriage to Rainier III, Prince of Mónaco and Vincent Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” painting.
The Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, dedicated to the legendary Pittsburgh-born painter and photographer, is also worth checking out during your visit to Steel City. Here, you’ll learn all about one of the most influential people in pop art who forever changed the industry.
Gettysburg National Military Park
Gettysburg National Military Park near Gettysburg is also a must-see attraction for those who love history.
The park is on the list of the National Register of Historic Places. This was the site of the Battle of Gettysburg, one of the all-time history-changing wars in America that lasted three days (July 1-3 of 1963).
Gettysburg National Military Park offers virtual tours, social events and even lodges that you can rent out if you want an extended visit.
