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!
It’s great to have a list of places you want to visit because in one sense, that’s motivation to actually go and see them! Being from State College, I’ve been to many of the hidden gems you mentioned but I have to say that Poe Valley is my favorite of all. It doesn’t have waterfalls (at least not to my knowledge) but it is quite literally a little lake that flows in from somewhere else. The best part, it is surrounded by a mountain and has a beach! The first time we went was when my dad bought a new truck last summer and the let’s just say that was a bad idea. For at least 2-3 miles it’s all gravel and every little rock that would hit the bottom of the truck was like dollar bills flying away in the wind (according to him)… Either way, if you have a chance to visit, I highly recommend! It’s a great place to relax and do some paddle boarding and kayaking!
I love this list! I’ve lived in Pennsylvania my whole life but I also feel like I haven’t really seen much of the state. I’m constantly surprised at how beautiful PA is, it’s truly amazing. I’m from like 20 minutes outside of Pittsburgh so I’ve seen a lot of the things that Western PA has to offer, but I really want to explore the Eastern part of the state. Everything you said about the Poconos just makes me want to go even more, so I really hope I get out that way sometime soon. You’ve given me some motivation to actually explore all of the great places in Pennsylvania.
I’ve enjoyed reading your blog posts throughout the semester and I’m sad that I won’t be able to continue to read about places that I wish I could go to but know I probably never will. I’ve lived in Pennsylvania all my life and I didn’t even know we had an area with a beach. That might be one of the only places I could actually visit without a ton of effort on my part. I never would have described Harrisburg as beautiful, but the skyline is certainly pretty. Hopefully I can get myself to visit some of these places, seeing as they are all in my home state of Pennsylvania.
As someone who lives in the Poconos, it’s always interesting when someone associates something different with the Poconos. For example, you talked about the waterfalls (and I kind of forgot about those), but earlier this year someone I met knew where they were from the Great Wolf Lodge in the Poconos. Every time, it reminds me how much there is to do everywhere – the Poconos are just marketed well, and Pennsylvania has a ton of hidden gems scattered throughout the state.
I feel like it’s totally true that most people haven ‘t really explored the places they live because it’s “always available,” hence you don’t feel an urgency to go. I live in NJ and there are plenty of key places I haven’t seen! I’ve gone hiking in the Poconos several times, and you’re right, it’s a great spot for hikers of all levels. It’s also super peaceful in certain parts. I went for prom weekend, and we stayed at an airbnb in Canadensis, which is much more quiet than the waterpark areas. We had a fire pit and pool and it was a lot of fun. I’d definitely want to see Harrisburg at some point too! I haven’t been to too many places in PA, but maybe I’ll try to make a trip out to the beaches at some point as well.
Mahi,
I can’t believe I hadn’t stumbled upon your blog until today! I love to travel too, and I really like your comprehensive analyses of different places you want to visit. You do a really good job of laying out all of the “must-dos” in every place you write about. I think it is amazing how you came full circle for your last blog post and wrote about the amazing places to see right here in PA. I also did not know Pennsylvania had any beaches, so I am very intrigued. I love going to college here, especially since I am from Delaware, so Penn State wasn’t the obvious choice. Now that I have such a love for the state though, I definitely have to see some of these hidden gems you wrote about!
I have lived in Pennsylvania my whole life and never knew about Presque Isle state park. This definitely seems like a place that I will be visiting in the future. As for the waterfalls in the Poconos, I had the privilege of seeing them last summer. They really are beautiful!