According to abbreviationfinder, Pennsylvania is located in the eastern United States, between New York (north and east), Delaware, Maryland and West Virginia (south and west), New Jersey (east), and Ohio (west). The state is divided into seven regions, namely Wilds, Great Lakes, Pittsburgh & Countryside, The Alleghenies & Her Valleys, Dutch Country Roads, Northeast Pennsylvania Mountains, and Philadelphia & Countryside.
The Keystone State has a humid continental climate, with cold winters and warm summers. An exception to this is the southern, lower Ohio and Monongahela Valleys, which enjoy warmer summers. In winter the mercury fluctuates around -5 degrees Celsius, in summer the average state-wide is 27°C. It rains in all seasons, with an average of 100 cm of rain per year. When it comes to snow, Erie is the whitest, dropping a whopping 54 inches (137 cm) from the sky in winter, often well into April. The months May through September are the best to travel to Pennsylvania. Keep in mind that June and July are American holidays, and prices and wait times can increase, especially at major Philadelphia attractions.
Flora and fauna
Pennsylvania’s rich forests are filled with maples, walnuts, poplars, ash, oaks, beech and lime trees. Some red pine and paper birch can be found in the northwest, while sweetgum dominates the southwest. Shrubs such as the spoon tree, New Jersey tea, hawthorn and dogwood cover the forest floor. Common mammals include the white-tailed deer, black bear, oppossum, raccoon, muskrat, snowshoe hare, rabbit, flying squirrel, and red and gray fox. The state bird is the ruffed grouse, alongside birds such as wood pigeons, pheasants, quail, ducks, sparrows, starlings, bluejay and killdeer plovers, which also live there. The state’s waters are home to more than 170 species of fish, including brook trout, brown trout, roach and viviparous pike.
Main cities
According to countryaah, Harrisburg is the state capital of Pennsylvania. In addition, the larger cities such as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Erie, Allentown and Scranton are also worth a visit.
Philadelphia
The largest city in the state of Philadelphia is located in the US state of Pennsylvania. It is sometimes shortened to “Philly”. A fun activity is to rent a car to admire all the beautiful buildings during the ride. The Independence Hall is highly recommended. This is where the Independence Act was passed. Just opposite you will see the Liberty Bell. These bells are the most famous in America. Besides the buildings, there are also a number of museums that contain a lot of the history of the city. A good example is Independence Seaport Museum.
For a fun family activity, head to the Philadelphia Zoo. This is the largest zoo in the city. It has been around for a very long time, but still has a modern touch. For art lovers, there is the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Philadelphia is also a great place for shopping. There are many great shopping areas to choose from, but one of the best places is the King of Prussia Mall. Here you can shop tax-free. You can find everything here for a lower price.
Philadelphia International Airport
Many visitors to America will choose to take a road trip. Philadelphia is a perfect starting point; it’s right between New York and Washington, allowing you to go either way. You can get there in no time by renting a car, but before you go to another city you should of course have explored Philly. The Historic Mile is located in the old center. There are about 25 historical sites. For monuments you can go to Independence National Historical Park. For even older objects there is a free Independence Living History Center Archeology Laboratory. The excavations here are being studied by archaeologists. The objects are generally from the 18th and 19th centuries.
The Betsy Ross House is open Tuesday through Sunday. This house has become known for the flags that were made there. The current American flag is said to have been designed here in 1777. The Rodin Museum is located on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Here you will find a large collection of Auguste Rodin. In the rooms you can see Rodin’s statues, such as ‘The Thinker’, ‘The Kiss’ and ‘The Citizens of Calais’. It is clear that this is a museum that you should definitely visit during your visit.
Gettysburg
One of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War took place in southern Pennsylvania in 1863 at the sleepy town of Gettysburg. Today, it is home to America’s largest battlefield pilgrimage site, with more than 1,000 cannons and memorials. During the summer there are stagings that give a good idea of how this battle was fought.
Pennsylvania Dutch
The Americans love it: the living communities and the old ways of living of the Amish. In Lancaster County, the so-called Pennsylvania Dutch Country, the deeply religious inhabitants live according to tradition without electricity or modern technology in a beautiful landscape of rolling hills, vast wheat fields and simple wooden houses. The name is less Dutch than expected; it was derived from the word ‘Deutsch’.
