Pennsylvania, the Keystone State, can be broken into six regions each with its own characteristics. There is the Great Lakes Region, the Wilds, the Northeast Mountains, Pittsburgh, the Alleghenies, the Dutch Country Roads, and Philadelphia.
The Great Lakes Region of the state is pristine beaches on Lake Erie, thick, primitive forests, oil wells, Victorian homes, and quaint villages. The northern central part of the state is called
The Wilds. This is where Pine Creek Gorge is located, Pennsylvania's answer to the Grand Canyon. Enchanting rustic villages, rich in history, dot the landscape. Cherry Springs State Park is a
dark sky preserve used extensively by astronomers. The Northeast Mountains are where the Poconos are, but there's more. Yes, the Pocono Raceway is here with its NASCAR events, but skiers,
snowboarders, hikers, bikers, and all sorts of folks who enjoy the outdoors find this area a wonderland. People just wanting to get away from it all visit the resorts and B&B's here as well.
For the curious there are tours, museums, and more. Pittsburgh. It used to mean steel; today high technology and education are important components of the economy. Central Pennsylvania is where
you'll find covered bridges, small towns, and rural communities surrounded by the tranquility of the forest. The Pennsylvania Dutch Country, where the Amish carriages trot down country roads and
Hershey is both a town and a company. Fish for trout, watch live theater performances, feel the heat of battlefields from several wars.
Philadelphia is Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, revolution, Valley Forge, Brandywine, haute cuisine and couture, mosaics, Rittenhouse Row, Rodin, and Benjamin Franklin. Outside the city there is Lehigh Valley, B&B's, country inns, and wineries, lots of wineries, the tri-state area, and the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. Philadelphia, like many cities, is transitioning from the Old America of steel mills, manufacturing, and oil wells to the New America of higher education, finance, law, pharmaceuticals, and high tech. The city is stuffed with history. Eighteenth and 19th century architectures rub shoulders with 21st century steel and glass. Art, sculpture, and architecture complement antique shops, haute couture, and the world renowned orchestra. Philly Cheese Steak and hoagies vie with haute cuisine for patrons. Upscale, downscale, and everything in between: this city is a fascinating mix of gritty reality and soaring hopes.
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