Lancaster County is full of the rich culture of farming and learning about the Amish and Mennonites, but you will find the same flavor in Berks and Lebanon Counties. Harrisburg, the state capital can be found in Dauphin County and you will find HersheyPark there as well, Gettysburg is in Adams County and lots of history and outdoors action can be found in Cumberland and Franklin Counties. For those of you who love motorcycles, Harley-Davidson makes its home in York.

Harrisburg, in Dauphin County, is the state capital. Both Lancaster and York were, at one time, capitols of the United States. Reading, (Berks County), is known as the outlet capitol of the world. Babe Ruth started his baseball career on a ball field near Cornwall in Lebanon. Chambersburg, in Franklin County, was the fartherst north Robert E. Lee got with his Confederate army which was beaten at Gettysburg in Adams County, July 1-3, 1863.

Philadelphia is the home of the writing of the Declaration of Independence, the US Constitution, the Eagles, the Phillies and Flyers. It boasts a zoo, loads of history and lots of shopping. Bethlehem at Christmastime is worth the trip and New Hope (in Bucks County) is a great little shopping town. You can spend 52 weekends a year in the area and still not see everything they have to offer.

Ranging out from the city you can visit Longwood Gardens in Chester County, stroll through the quaint shopping village of New Hope in Bucks County or take in the sites of the Lehigh Valley which include Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton (where they make Crayola Crayons).

Explore the Allegheny Mountains and her Valleys and the thirteen counties that comprise the region. From the rolling hills of Juniata County through the farmlands of Union and Snyder Counties to the mountains of Lycoming County you'll find a surprise around every bend. Bloomsburg Fair in Columbia County, Little League Baseball in Williamsport (Lycoming County), trains on the Horseshoe Curve or the history of the Johnstown Flood.

Williamsport, in Lycoming County, is home to Little League Baseball. The Bloomsburg Fair, in Columbia County, is the state's largest fair. Lewisburg, in Union County, is a quaint historical town and home to Bucknell University. Penn State is in State College. You'll find the Johnstown Flood Museum in Johnstown and the Horseshoe Curve near Altoona. And Yuengling Brewery, the oldest in America is in Pottsville.

Historical sites from the French and Indian War abound in this region, which less than 250 years ago was America's frontier. We enjoyed the sailing and birding at Moraine State Park in Butler County and you will find some scenic streams throughout the area. The inclines in the City of Pittsburgh are a "must see" (and do) and the ride through Armstrong County in the autumn is stupendous.

Pittsburgh, the state's second largest city, ( and, by law, the only "burg" in PA allowed to end its spelling with the letter 'H'), can be found in Allegheny County. Butler County claims Moraine State Park, a birder's paradise. The fishing and hunting areas in Beaver County are some of the best Pennsylvania has to offer while Lawrence County boasts McConnel's Mill Park... one of the smallest yet most scenic parks in the state. Armstrong County, delightful in any season, is especially colorful in the autumn.

Jimmy Stewart, the movie actor, hailed from Indiana County. Large caverns, along with Frank Lloyd Wright's "Falling Water" can be found in Fayette County. The Flight 93 Memorial for September 11, 2001 is in Somerset County. The Youghiogheny River is one of the most impressive attractions at Ohiopyle State Park. As the river winds through our Pennsylvania mountains, the Class III & IV rapids will challenge the veteran river-runner but not over intimidate the novice rafter. It's in Fayette County.

Here you will find the smallest populated county (Forest), a county where the headwaters of the Genesee, the Allegheny and the Susquehanna Rivers all begin (Potter), the Allegheny National Forest, (Warren, Forest, McKean and Jefferson), the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon, (Tioga) and so much more. Crosscountry skiing, ATVing, hunting, hiking, fishing... think of something outdoors and it happens here!

The Allegheny National Forest itself spans four counties; Elk Forest, McKean and Warren. There is not a single traffic light in Forest County. Punxatawney Phil, (the Groundhog), lives in Jefferson County. The PA Grand Canyon is on the border between Tioga and Potter Counties. The PA Elk herd is in Cameron County. Clarion / Little Toby Rails to Trails is a great hiking, biking and more trail in the area.

Pennsylvania was the only one of the original thirteen colonies without a coastline on the Atlantic but we still have great beaches on Lake Erie in Erie County (home of our former governor, Tom Ridge), and great history in Venango and Crawford Counties where, without the discovery of oil we wouldn't be where we are today.

Presque Isle, the only beach in Pennsylvania, is on Lake Erie in Erie County, (of course). Oil was first discovered in Venango County, which shaped the modern era. (As a note, the editor named his black dog "Venango"... pretty neat, huh?). Crawford County holds Pymatuning, one of the largest state parks in PA. The large lake provides excellent fishing throughout the year and is especially lovely in late spring evenings. People back east call Interstate 80 in Mercer County the "Gateway to Ohio"...but we know it as the "Gateway to Pennsylvania, the Keystone State"!