2020-01-07 05:10:10
From the charm of a horse-drawn carriage to the excitement of a high-tech roller coaster, the Dutch Country Roads region seamlessly pairs Old World charms with their contemporary counterparts. Shop rustic markets in Amish Country and antiques in Lancaster County. Check out Civil War sites and Corvette car shows in Gettysburg and Carlisle. Eat your way through Hershey and Harrisburg’s sweet treats and farmto- fork dining scene after a day of adrenaline-packed thrill rides. Work it all off with a hike on the Appalachian Trail, or row yourself out onto the deep blue waters of the Susquehanna River. HIGHLIGHTS DUTCH WONDERLAND, LANCASTER This theme park — aka: Kingdom for Kids — features 35 rides, a lagoon, and a dinosaur mascot named Duke. All set within a castle, of course. GETTYSBURG NATIONAL MILITARY PARK, GETTYSBURG Gaze upon grassy rolling hills at the site of the Civil War’s bloodiest battle — and the site of President Abraham Lincoln’s landmark speech. Living history demonstrations on weekends from April to October bring this historic period to life. GOGGLEWORKS CENTER FOR THE ARTS, READING The country’s largest interactive visual art center includes seven teaching studios, plus galleries, a 131-seat theater, café, and a store with hundreds of pieces of artwork for sale. HERSHEY’S CHOCOLATE WORLD, HERSHEY Follow the bean-to-bar journey of Hershey’s most famous export via tours, presentations, and a 4D movie. Plus, make your own cocoa creation, complete with custom ingredients and wrapper. HARLEY-DAVIDSON FACTORY, YORK Get a behind-the-scenes look at how the legendary motorcycle hits the road at the Vaughn L. Beals Tour Center, and then peruse the onsite gift shop for branded merchandise. THE STATE MUSEUM OF PENNSYLVANIA, HARRISBURG Have a blast in the past exploring the people, places, and things that created the Keystone State of today, from Native Americans to Civil War heroes. WHITAKER CENTER FOR SCIENCE AND THE ARTS, HARRISBURG Mix creativity and logic in a space that’s part performance venue, part educational movie theater, part science museum (with cutting-edge STEM workshops) — all fun. WANDER THE BACK ROADS In Pennsylvania Dutch Country the road less traveled leads to experiences worth going out of your way for. Walk back in time at the Renfrew Museum and Park in Waynesboro. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this 107-acre property includes a main home built in 1812, as well as restored outbuildings including a Victorian-era barn. George Washington’s weaponry during the American Revolution came from the Cornwall Iron Furnace in Cornwall, one of the state’s leading iron producers from 1742 to 1883, which is now a National Historic Landmark and America’s most complete charcoalfueled ironmaking complex. Learn more at the U.S. Army Heritage Museum in Carlisle, which houses important artifacts from the United States Army’s history: 16 million military items, including the largest collection of Civil War photography in the world. Marvel at birds in flight at Hawk Mountain wildlife sanctuary in Kempton. The world’s first refuge for birds of prey, it holds the world’s longest record of migrating raptor populations. Educational events are held weekly, and each autumn, visitors witness an amazing hawk migration. THIS MUSEUM MAINTAINS A COLLECTION OF NEARLY 5 MILLION ARTIFACTS. African lions and Bengal tigers and American black bears, oh my! At Lake Tobias Wildlife Park, in Halifax, a petting zoo with African pygmy goats and long-necked alpacas meets a safari tour with lions, bison, elk, and reptiles. In Ronks, animals at Cherry Crest Adventure Farm’s petting zoo are downsized (baby chicks and bunnies), but the agricultural entertainment is big. More than 50 farm-forward activities include a 5-acre corn maze, wagon ride tour, and seasonal events. Rent a mountain bike or bring your own to pedal along the Greater Reading Trails System, the only Bronze Level International Mountain Biking Association Ride Center in northeastern United States. The system offers 125 miles of scenic trails, which link to urban spots for post-ride beers and lunch. Hike, picnic, camp, swim, watch wildlife, boat, fish, hunt, cross-country ski, and ice skate at Little Buffalo State Park in Newport. Special events include the Old Fashioned Apple Festival and Christmas Walk. Sip at more than a dozen wineries along the Mason-Dixon Wine Trail. Explore 14 stops that stretch from York County to Hershey, Gettysburg, and south to the Mason-Dixon line. On the Adams County Pour Tour, get stamps in your passport as you explore the many varieties of ciders, spirits, meads, craft beers, and wines in tasting rooms throughout downtown Gettysburg and the picturesque Adams County countryside.
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