Pennsylvania's 4.5 million acres of public lands include the finest woodlands and natural areas in America. The name itself means "Penn's Woods". Pennsylvania also offers an abundance of arts and entertainment experiences. Visitors will find magnificent art museums and galleries in every corner of the state. From Philadelphia's Independence Hall, where a nation was born, to Gettysburg, where the Union was preserved, Pennsylvania is home to major milestones in the development of the nation.

And from football to festivals, falling waters to fantastic bargains, there are an almost endless variety of fun things to see and do in Pennsylvania. The many different cultures of the people who settled Pennsylvania make for a surprising variety of residents, all of who enjoy sharing their heritage with visitors.

Historic Places
Visitors to Pennsylvania can explore Valley Forge, where General George Washington's troops braved bitter cold and miserable conditions in the fight for U.S. independence. Gettysburg, the high-water mark of the Confederacy, also proved to be its downfall. Today, the battlefield has been preserved as a tribute to the uncommon bravery and valor displayed on both sides of the War Between the States. The Flagship Niagara stands tall in Erie, Pennsylvania’s harbor, a living reminder of the epic battle that turned the tide in the War of 1812. Today, visitors are welcomed aboard the Niagara, to view an important piece of U.S. history and a symbol of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Betsy Ross House - Philadelphia
Tour the house that Betsy Ross and her husband lived in and ran their upholstery business from between 1773 and 1786.

Historical Society of Pennsylvania - Philadelphia
Home of one of the best special collections library emphasizing colonial, early national, and continuing regional, Pennsylvania, and family history in the nation.

Independence National Historical Park Visitor Center – Philadelphia
The most popular tourist spot in Philadelphia, Independence National Historical Park is truly where America began. This is where the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were written.

Valley Forge - Plymouth Meeting
Valley Forge is known to every American. It was here that George Washington's Army retreated during the winter of 1777, just beyond reach of British troops in Philadelphia.

Gettysburg National Military Park - Gettysburg
The site of a major battle of the American Civil War and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address.

Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater - Mill Run
Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater is perhaps the most celebrated house built in the twentieth century. Dramatically situated over a waterfall, its sandstone walls built into a hill.

Liberty Bell Shrine - Allentown
Today an impressive memorial stands where the Liberty Bell was safely hidden from encroaching Redcoats.

Johnstown Flood Museum - Johnstown
Come to the Johnstown Flood National Memorial and learn more about the disaster from exhibits, a movie, and the actual remains of the dam.

Annual Pennsylvania Dutch Folk Festival - Summit Station
Bring the whole family to the Pennsylvania Dutch Folk Festival. The Festival is dedicated to keeping alive the simple, friendly values of the Pennsylvania Dutch. Taste delicious local food, hear Polka Music, and listen to a country auctioneer.

Punxsutawney Groundhog Festival - Punxsutawney
Here, visitors can pay tribute to world famous Punxsutawney Phil at the Groundhog Festival, which is held every year during the week of July Fourth. Everyone will have a wonderful time in beautiful, historic Punxsutawney at a host of free events.

Biking
Bikers of all skill levels will find something to enjoy on Pennsylvania trails. With a terrain that ranges from steep and challenging to gentle and pleasant, Pennsylvania is a biker's paradise.

In addition, touring cyclists and cycling fans have a lot to cheer for in Pennsylvania; significant races are held annually in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and fun family rides are held throughout the state. Pennsylvania is also firmly committed to the "Rails-to-Trails" concept. Over 800 miles of former railroad rights-of-way have been converted to rail-trails for biking throughout the state.

Bird Watching
Hundreds of bird species call Pennsylvania home, at least for part of the year. And a day spent watching our fine-feathered friends can be an enjoyable way to take in the enchanting beauty of Pennsylvania's outdoors. You don't need costly equipment (although binoculars help) or a license, and there are plenty of locations throughout the state where you can go to see birds. Maybe you'll even get lucky and spot the state bird, the ruffed grouse, during your travels.

Galleries
An impressive array of museums both large and small will provide enough variety to please lovers of nearly every form of art. The Philadelphia Museum of Art houses one of the world's most impressive collections of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist paintings. Brandywine River Museum is home to one of the largest collections of work from the famed Wyeth family. And visitors to Central Pennsylvania should add a trip to the Palmer Museum of Art on the Penn State campus to their itinerary. In Pittsburgh, visit The Carnegie Museum of Art; envisioned by Carnegie as home to "The Old Masters of Tomorrow", hence the museum holds a significant collection of modern art. The Andy Warhol Museum houses a collection of works from the seminal pop artist and native son.

Golfing
With hundreds of public and private golf courses in every region of the state, Pennsylvania is a golfer's paradise! Whether you're looking to enjoy a quick round or are considering a golf-oriented vacation, Pennsylvania's courses offer challenges to golfers of all skill levels. For a free PA Golf Course guide, send a stamped, self-addressed business-sized envelope to: PA Golf Course Owners,Department 10,121 Narragansett Drive, McKeesport, PA 15135.

Hiking
With almost 60% of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania covered in forest, and a variety of mountainous terrains, there's something for hikers of any skill level in Pennsylvania. No matter where you are in Pennsylvania, you're never more than 25 miles from a State Park. And with over 800 miles of "rail trails" in place and more on the way, Pennsylvania is a leader in developing former railroad right-of-ways into user-friendly trails for hikers.

Horseback Riding
What better way to take in the wonders of Pennsylvania's natural beauty than on horseback? Or visit Gettysburg and take in the battlefield just as Robert E. Lee did, on horseback. Many of Pennsylvania's stables operate year round, so riders can experience the changes that the varied seasons bring to the Commonwealth.

Hunting & Fishing
With over 30 species of game fish and legal hunting in all but the two most populous counties, Pennsylvania is truly a sportsman's paradise. Anglers flock to Lake Erie, as well as the hundreds of freshwater lakes and streams in virtually every corner of the Commonwealth. The state maintains an extensive fish-breeding program, and spectacular game fish can be taken in locations throughout the state. Faced with near-extinction for game such as deer, bear and wild turkey, the precursor to the Pennsylvania Game Commission was founded in 1895. The result: with only a few exceptions, wildlife in the Commonwealth is more abundant now than at the turn of the century. With a variety of landscapes and an abundance of state game lands, hunters flock to Pennsylvania during the numerous hunting seasons.

Music
Symphony or rock, jazz or country, blues or opera, Pennsylvania has the music to soothe your soul. Both the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Symphonies are considered to be among the world's finest, and many of the state's smaller cities and towns also boast esteemed classical music ensembles. Countless pop, rock, jazz and country performers hail from Pennsylvania, and you just might spot the next big thing at one of hundreds of nightclubs and cafes across the state.

Spelunking
When it's time to go underground, there's no better place to do it than Pennsylvania! With eight commercial caves, each with a number of distinctly unusual features, there's plenty going on below the surface in Pennsylvania. You can go to central Pennsylvania's Penn's Cave, where visitors take in the sights by boat, to the unique catacombs of Laurel Caverns in the southwestern part of the state or any of the other fascinating underground attractions.

State and National Parks
Picture yourself on a sandy beach, watching a magnificent sunset while the reflections of sailboats glimmer off the water. Is this a day at the ocean? No, it's a day at Presque Isle State Park on Lake Erie, just one of dozens of Pennsylvania's state parks. Nowhere is the natural beauty of Pennsylvania more evident, or more accessible, than in the Commonwealth's abundant state parks. Pennsylvania has the third-largest state parks system in the nation, with land covering over 277,000 acres in every corner of the state. Pennsylvania state parks draw over 37 million visitors each year.

Theater
From large-scale professional productions to top-notch community theatre, you'll find all the best that the stage has to offer in Pennsylvania. Of course, the large theatres in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia play host to numerous touring productions, as well as nationally acclaimed permanent companies. And many of Pennsylvania's towns, both large and small, host well-established theatre groups that provide an enjoyable evening of theatre.

Water Activities
With 56 lakes located within State Parks and countless rivers, streams, and reservoirs throughout the Commonwealth, you're never far from fun on the water. For the thrill seekers, the Lehigh River in the northeastern corner of the state and the Pine River in the scenic Pennsylvania Grand Canyon offer rafting, kayaking, and canoeing opportunities on rapids for either beginners or advanced enthusiasts.

Winter Sports
There's no reason to sit and grumble about the snow, at least not in Pennsylvania, where 33 ski areas offer slopes from novice to challenging. The highest point in the Commonwealth is 3,000 feet, so while there may not be an abundance of long runs, many of the slopes are quite steep and challenging. Best of all, many of the ski facilities are also resort areas which offer a multitude of activities, including skiing, snowboarding, and tubing.

Area: 46058 sq.mi, Land 44820 sq. mi., Water 1239 sq.mi., Great Lakes 749 sq.mi.

Location: 40.27605 N, 076.88450 W.

Border States: Delaware - Maryland - New Jersey - New York - Ohio - West Virginia.

Agriculture: Dairy products, poultry, cattle, nursery stock, mushrooms, hogs, hay.

Industry: Food processing, chemical products, machinery, electric equipment, tourism.

Flag: Pennsylvania's State Flag is composed of a blue field on which is embroidered the State Coat of Arms. The first State Flag bearing the State Coat of Arms was authorized by the General Assembly in 1799. An act of the General Assembly of June 13, 1907, standardized the flag and required that the blue field match the blue of Old Glory.

State Motto: Virtue, Liberty, and Independence.

Origin of state's name: Named in honor of Admiral William Penn, father of the state's founder, William Penn.

Population: 11,994,016; 6th, 12/99.

Statehood: December 12, 1787.

Topography: Allegheny Mountains run southwest to northeast, with piedmont and coastal plain in southeast triangle; Allegheny Front a diagonal spine across the states center; northwest rugged plateau falls to Lake Erie lowlands.

State Capital: Harrisburg.

Largest Cities: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Erie, Allentown, Scranton.

Geographic Center: Centre, 2.5 miles southwest of Bellefonte.

Highest Point: 3,213 feet, 33rd Mt. Davis.

Lowest Point: Delaware River, Sea level, 3rd.

State Bird: Ruffed Grouse.

State Flower: Mountain Laurel - Kalmia latiflolia.

State Nickname: Keystone State.

State Song: Pennsylvania.

State Tree: Eastern Hemlock - Tsuga canadensis.