Pennsylvania - Pennsylvania Travel Guide 2026
Feeds Worth Following
2025-12-09 06:16:21
Pennsylvania’s most scroll-worthy influencers are turning social media likes into sought-after know-how, guiding followers to the state’s best trails, bites, and hidden gems. From mountain overlooks to must-try cheesesteaks, these scenesters share their tips and stories that make exploring the Keystone State unforgettable.
Kim Debes
For Kim Debes, Pennsylvania’s trails are more than a quick escape into nature — they’ve become a way of life. She set out to hike all of the state parks in PA, documenting her journey on Instagram and inspiring fellow families to get outside along the way. What makes the state’s parks so special? “There’s just so much variety,” she says. “You’ve got overlooks, waterfalls, old-growth forests — every part of the state has something different to offer. And as an added bonus, they’re all free.”
Her Instagram feed highlights everything from big-name destinations to hidden gems. She recalls exploring camping and stargazing with her kids at Poe Valley State Park and hiking Poe Paddy State Park’s John Snyder Trail through the historic Poe Paddy Tunnel. For jaw-dropping views, she points to the PA Grand Canyon (Pine Creek Gorge) at Leonard Harrison State Park in Wellsboro: “I’ll never forget when my hardest-to-impress kid looked around and said, ‘Wow, this is actually pretty cool!’”
Closer to home in the Laurel Highlands, Debes recommends Laurel Hill State Park’s Pumphouse Trail and the boulder field at Hickory Run State Park in White Haven. Through it all, hiking has become a way to connect with her children: “Some of our best talks happen while we’re walking through the woods.” Her advice for parents? “Keep things easy and fun,” she advises. “Pennsylvania has tons of beautiful, kid-friendly trails that’ll keep them interested. Just don’t forget the snacks!”
Cass Matthews
Part host, part hype woman, all Philly, Cass Matthews brings the city’s energy everywhere she goes. She lights up the arena as the Philadelphia Flyers Host, a role that perfectly blends her passions. “I get to combine my love for Philly, sports, and entertaining all in one job,” she says. “Ever been to a Philly sports game? The energy is electric, and I’m lucky to experience that feeling all the time.”
Her Instagram feed is an insider’s guide to local life, equally devoted to hidden gems, cultural pride, and kid-focused fun. She often showcases adventures with her husband, Kellen Matthews-Thompson (Recovery Run Club founder and fitness influencer @kellenmatthews), and their daughter.
For first-time visitors, she suggests the riverfront Penn’s Landing — roller skating in summer, ice skating in winter — and the often-overlooked City Hall tower tour. “I don’t think many realize you can do a tour all the way up to the top,” she says. Cheesesteaks are a must, with Angelo’s Pizzeria in South Philly or Café Carmela in the Northeast topping her list.
Proudly Black and Pacific Islander, Matthews champions BIPOC-owned businesses. “In a city like Philadelphia, where 40% of our population is Black yet only 5% of our businesses are Black-owned, we need to uplift and amplify the ones we have,” she says. “We are surrounded by hidden gems in every neighborhood.”
She and her husband also run a glamping Airbnb at Red Run Resort & Campground in Lancaster County. “My husband’s great-great-grandfather was a local abolitionist…when we had the opportunity to have something in Lancaster, it was very full circle,” she says. Like her content, it’s all about creating experiences that are welcoming, memorable, and distinctly made in Pennsylvania.
Josh Moore
If there’s one voice capturing the pulse of Philadelphia’s food scene right now, it’s Josh Moore. As the creator of @JoshEatsPhilly, Moore is documenting the city’s culinary rise at a particularly exciting moment. “Right now there is a lot of buzz with the Michelin Guide coming to Philly. There are so many benefits to the guide highlighting the city and so much potential prestige for the restaurants that will be featured.”
Moore champions the chefs and restaurants putting Philly on the global map — from James Beard Award winners to bold new voices redefining the scene. His list of standouts is long, but favorites include Mawn, Kalaya, Royal Sushi & Izakaya, Kampar, Vetri Cucina, Provenance, Her Place Supper Club, and Friday Saturday Sunday — spots where, he says, the chefs “have all demonstrated that Philly’s food culture and scene is among the best in the world.”
But Moore’s work goes far beyond restaurant reviews and Reels. “I’m a firm believer that an element of social media is actively being social within the community, and not just online,” he explains. His platform spotlights LGBTQ+, women- and BIPOC-owned businesses, reflecting his belief that “visibility and inclusion matter more than ever.”
Jim Cheney
Photographer and writer Jim Cheney has built a following by uncovering the side of Pennsylvania that often goes unseen. “I love when I can share somewhere that people aren't as familiar with and discover through me,” he says. “There's nothing more rewarding than someone telling me that they visited somewhere because they saw my photo of it.”
His feed is a mix of panoramic overlooks, forgotten landmarks, and small-town gems like Carlisle Theatre in downtown Carlisle and Rice's Historic Covered Bridge in Landisburg, but it’s the waterfalls that always make a splash. “Waterfalls have always been the subject that people enjoy the most,” he says, a passion that led him to write an entire book about them: “Waterfalls of Pennsylvania.” But his curiosity stretches well beyond the scenic, from abandoned sites to quirky roadside finds.
History is another throughline in his work. “Some of the most important sites in American history can be found right here in Pennsylvania, from Independence Hall to battlefields,” Cheney says. “Anyone who wants to explore the story of America and learn how it connects to today needs to visit PA.” Among his favorites: Fort Necessity National Battlefield in Farmington, the site of George Washington’s first and only surrender.
If you’re looking for a weekend to start collecting your own stories, Cheney says start in the City of Bridges: “Pittsburgh is not only one of the most beautiful cities in America, but it also has an incredibly rich history in the buildings, landscapes, and the people.”
©Miles Partnership. View All Articles.