2020-01-07 04:28:22
From wandering without an itinerary to following a schedule down to the minute, when you travel on your own, you can vacation the way you want, when you want — and thankfully, traveling solo is now easier than ever. Make yourself right at home with these tours, tips, and authentic experiences throughout Pennsylvania’s cities, large and small. SEEING THE SIGHTS Free, expert-led walking tours make it easy to explore city neighborhoods while learning all about the area’s important historic sites. Take a free self-guided walking tour offered by the Pittsburgh History & Landmarks Foundation, which offers itineraries exploring Market Square Area, historic Fourth Avenue, and more. EXPLORE 36 STUDIOS OF REGIONAL ARTISTS INSIDE THE MILLWORKS. Explore Historic Downtown Bedford on a free guided tour departing from the visitor’s center on Friday afternoons, June through October. You’ll see everything from the site of Fort Bedford to the Espy House, where President Washington made his headquarters during the Whiskey Rebellion. In downtown Scranton on Saturdays from June through October, take a guided Downtown Walking Tour with Lackawanna Historical Society to stroll past the city’s magnificent architecture — from the 1884 Romanesque Revival-style Lackawanna County Courthouse with its five-story clocktower to the Board of Trade building with its iconic “Electric City” sign: one of America’s oldest electric signs. Meanwhile, Historic Bethlehem Tours offers ticketed guided tours focusing on Colonial and industrial history. For leisurely sightseeing on two wheels, rent a bicycle from bike share stations throughout town at Zagster Bike Share in York or Indego in Philadelphia, and explore city life at your own pace. FOODIE FINDS Jump right into the mix of things at The Creamery, a historic condensed milk factory-turned-beer-garden in Kennett Square, where craft beer, rotating food trucks, and live music set the scene for flavorful fun. Revel in the sensory overload at bustling food halls such as The Pennsylvania Market in Pittsburgh and The Bourse food hall in Philadelphia, where curated collections of artisan food vendors and craft cocktail bars are interspersed with communal tables, making it easy to sip, savor, and spark up a conversation. In Lancaster, Red Rose Walking Tour meets at Penn Square and takes you on a 2.5-hour tasting tour of the city’s diverse eateries and the Lancaster Central Market, the oldest continuously running public farmers market in the country. At Easton Public Market, pick up some new cooking skills watching local chefs during the live cooking demonstrations, or try your own hand at concocting something delicious at one of the cooking classes. BEER GARDENS & BREWERY TOURS Decked out with lush foliage, string lights, and lawn games, the open-air Independence Beer Garden is just steps from Philadelphia’s Independence Hall, making it an ideal post-sightseeing stop. At Millworks in Harrisburg, grab a pint of craft beer made onsite and head up to the rooftop biergarten, or explore the onsite artist studios, open during 3rd in the Burg on third Fridays. Peek into the cider-making process with a free tour of Pittsburgh’s Threadbare Cider House & Meadery and then pair a glass of cider with gourmet pizzas. At Victory Brewing Company in Downingtown, take a guided tour before tasting your way through the craft brews. York County’s Susquehanna Ale Trail®highlights 14 craft breweries in the area, with several downtown options — such as Collusion Tap Works, Old Forge Brewing Company, Mudhook Brewing Company, and Gift Horse Brewing Company — all within walking distance of each other. NIGHTLIFE Plan your trip around seeing a show at the Warner Theatre in Erie, home to Erie Philharmonic, Lake Erie Ballet, and the Erie Broadway Series. This fabulous structure bears the name of the worldfamous Warner Bros., who commissioned it in 1929. Friday nights at the Philadelphia Museum of Art mean live jazz, tapas-style snacks, and art galleries open late. The Clay Cup in Altoona is all about creativity fueled by coffee. Step into the studio-café and discover far more than the average coffee stop where you can paint pottery while you sip specialty coffees.
©Miles Partnership. View All Articles.