Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Kempton Charming Farms & Amish Countryside Cruise along the Old Philadelphia Pike (Route 340) through Lancaster County’s Amish country. Stop by Kauffman Orchards in Bird-in-Hand for fresh apples, homemade cider, and you-pick experiences. In Ronks, Olde Heritage Root Beer offers a smooth, nostalgic taste along with handmade gifts and local treats. For deeper insight, The Amish Experience offers a range of immersive tours, from quiet farmland to one-room schoolhouses and home-cooked meals shared in an Amish family’s kitchen. Wildlife Watching Catch breathtaking views and rare sightings on scenic drives like Skyline Drive in Howard’s Bald Eagle State Park , where you can spot bald eagles from observation sites. Follow the Pennsylvania Wilds’ 127-mile Elk Scenic Drive to 23 viewing areas, including Elk Country Visitor Center in Benezette and Hicks Run Elk Viewing Area in Driftwood, for a chance to spot massive bull elk — some with antlers reaching as wide as 4 feet. In Berks County, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary features panoramic trails famed for migrating raptors like hawks and eagles. Three ADA-accessible trails lead to lookouts, and an all-terrain wheelchair is available at the visitor center. Birders also flock to Presque Isle State Park in Erie, a sandy peninsula hosting 300-plus bird species along the Great Lakes Seaway Trail , part of the Atlantic Flyway. Scott Covered Bridge, Holbrook Covered Bridges & Barn Quilts Step into postcard-perfect rural scenes with nearly 200 covered bridges and hundreds of painted barn quilts across the state. Drive Greene County’s Covered Bridge Tour to see seven historic spans, including an 1882 original. In Franklin County, the Barn Quilt Trail showcases colorful quilt-inspired art across dozens of barns. For a more symbolic experience, explore Berks County’s self-guided Barn Star Art Tour . These circular, star-themed “hex signs” are as rich in meaning as they are in charm, celebrating a folk tradition that continues to brighten the side of buildings in Pennsylvania’s countryside. MEMORIES AND MELODIES; VISITPA 70 visitpa.com
Pennsylvania Pennsylvania Travel Guide 2026: Page 70
