I cannot believe that we only have two weeks left, which also sadly means that this will be my last post for this semester. š This week, I really wanted to look at a place closer to usāso close you are practically in it. If you havenāt guessed already, Iām talking about Pennsylvania. I have lived here for more than 17 years, yet coming to State College was the first time I ventured past Southern PA. My friends and I are going to be attempting a road trip upstate this summer, so here are just a few of our stops along the way.
Iām not sure why this is so surprising, but Pennsylvania does have beaches contrary to what I have been told my entire life. Although they arenāt exactly connected to a major ocean, the commonwealth does boast many lakeside beaches, including the ones in Presque Isle State Park.
The park is Pennsylvaniaās only āseashoreā and spans over 3,200 acres on a peninsula in Lake Erie. Some of the more popular beaches include Lyons Beach (includes volleyball courts, changing areas and concessions) and Mill Road Beaches (quiet shoreline for leisure walking). Presque Isle also offers many other fun activities such as surfing, scuba diving, wildlife viewing and even skiing if conditions allow. And if you’re looking for beaches a little closer to Penn State, Bald Eagle State Park offers the Joseph Foster Sayers Reservoir, a man-made lake with a small sandy beach.
Itās only 30 minutes away and is perfect for a weekend getaway even if you donāt like beaches.Ā
Something I have wanted to see my entire life are waterfalls that combine my love for a good hike. In PA, the best falls are located in the Poconos and Raymondskill Falls is no exception. Located in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Raymondskill Falls is the tallest waterfall in the state at 178 feet tall.
The falls consist of a series of three cascading waterfalls that if measured on top of one another, is nearly the length of Niagara Falls themselves. But, the best thing has to be that there are tons of walking trails that are perfect for everyone from beginners to more experienced hikers; one of them is a quarter mile loop that takes you to Raymondskill Creek and two viewing areas.
Next stop: Harrisburg. Iāve met a ton of people from the stateās capital ever since I came here and the idea of visiting Harrisburg has never been so intriguing. Obviously, the first place I would stop by is the State Capitol, which is actually the third capitol built after moving the seat of government from Philadelphia to Harrisburg; the first, Hills Capitol, was destroyed in a fire in 1897 and the second, Cobb Capitol, was never actually finished. Finished in 1906, the building is often referred to as a āpalace of art,ā featuring many Pennsylvanian paintings, sculptures and stained glass windows.
However, since then, Harrisburg has become a glittering city with rich Pennsylvania Dutch culture and nightlife. And who can forget the beautiful skyline right next to the Susquehanna river?Ā
Pennsylvania is such an amazing state that I am so glad to live in. You can find fast-paced cities and the peaceful outdoors just minutes apart. There are so many other places I plan on visiting this summer, but these are just three Iām really looking forward to!