Pennsylvania showcases many different eras of American history, from the Revolutionary War and the Civil War, to Colonial America, the Underground Railroad and Amish homesteads. Philadelphia is home to many historic sites, including the Betsy Ross House and the Chestnut Hill Historic District in Philadelphia, where visitors can learn about the city's early years; The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, a memorial in Washington Square dedicated to unidentified Revolutionary war casualties; and the Liberty Bell, a symbol of the Abolitionist movement. Other places of interest are the Gettysburg Battlefield, site of the bloodiest battle in the Civil War; Valley Forge National Historic Park, which has reconstructed George Washington's original war headquarters building, Penn's Landing, where William Penn originally landed in America and Brandywine Battlefied, which stages historic reenactments of the famous Brandywine Battle throughout the summer season.
Pennsylvania has plenty of arts and learning centers, from small community galleries and art houses, to large fine art collections and interactive science centers. Some of the largest museums in the state include the Carnegie Science Center, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Franklin Institute Science Center and the Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts. For smaller, off-the-beaten-path options, visitors may enjoy a trip to the Houdini Museum in Scranton, which features a magic show as well as Houdini memorabilia, the Rodin Museum in Philadelphia, home of the famous statue "The Thinker" or the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh, dedicated to the pop art icon who created works of art from images of Marilyn Monroe and a Campbell's soup can. Small children will enjoy a trip to the Crayola factory in Easton, which offers tours of the facility and hands-on activities.
With rivers, mountains, spectacular caverns and waterfalls, Pennsylvania has plenty of activities for those who enjoy the outdoors. Hickory Run State Park in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains has over 40 miles of trails available for hiking, streams for fishing, as well as camping sites. Erie National Wildlife Refuge offers visitors over 8,000 miles on which to hike, bike, fish or hunt. During the summer season, visitors to Bushkill Falls can see eight different waterfalls from a network of trails and bridges winding deep through the forest. Penn's Cave is only accessible by motorboat. Visitors take a guided tour on an underground river and then through the thousand acres of preserved wildlife habitat.
Pennsylvania has over 13 amusement and theme parks, so thrill rides and water slides are never more than a short car ride away. Hershey Park, just outside of Harrisburg, blends modern rides with vintage roller coasters. Other theme parks include: Dorney Park in Allentown; Terry Hill Waterpark in Breingsville; Waterworld in Phoenixville; and for the younger children, Sesame Place in Langhorn, which has tot-friendly rides and events. For those that prefer to steer clear of rides and slides, the Lehigh Valley Zoo offers a traditional zoo as well as an open game preserve. Unlike many zoos, visitors are allowed to watch during feeding time.
