10 Small Towns in Pennsylvania With Big Charm
One of the original 13 colonies, Pennsylvania is a state of liberty and equality. The Declaration of Independence was signed in that land full of trees, and the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia commemorates that momentous occasion. Most of all, the many small towns in Pennsylvania are full of big charms to make you feel Rocky Balboa running up those Philadelphian steps. In a town like Hershey, where a fortune company was born, or where pivotal battlefields near towns like Gettysburg carry the scars of a civil war, Pennsylvania is a state promising enough liberty and equality to enjoy wonderful tours outdoors or in historic locations. So get yourself pumped up and ready to run for adventure.
Ohiopyle
With Majestic mountain sceneries in the Laurel Highlands and rolling rapid adventures through the Youghiogheny River, the little borough of Ohiopyle (home to the Ohiopyle State Park) is a cornucopia of natural wonders ready to be braved. The Great Allegheny Passage, a series of sinuous biking and hiking trails, spans 150 miles from Pittsburgh and weaves all the way through the Laurel Highlands.
The Ferncliff Peninsula, a 100-acre botanical reserve, is a dreamland for wildlife enthusiasts and explorers of the great outdoors. Here, visitors can expect excellent views of the Ohiopyle Falls and Cucumber Falls while having a sublime vantage over the Youghiogheny River atop Baughman Rock Overlook. Because Ohiopyle is a vacationers’ paradise, fine lodgings like Heart of Ohiopyle Vacation House and Stay In Ohiopyle are perfect residences to spend the weekend.
Jim Thorpe
Originally known as Mauch Chunk, the European-style village in Lehigh Gorge is now referred to after American gold medalist Jim Thorpe. The Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor, or the D&L Trail, meanders through Jim Thorpe alongside the nearby Lehigh River. The magnificent Pocono Mountains, or Poconos, that shelter the town are teeming with hiking trails and campsite adventures across the Lehigh Gorge State Park.
Perhaps you are brave enough to take a guided tour of the Old Jail Museum, where Jim Thorpe’s haunted history rises from the prison’s ominous air. Or head to the Mauch Chunk Opera House built in 1881 and one of America’s oldest vaudeville theaters. Finally, feel safe and relaxed in Angel of Jim Thorpe Bed & Breakfast, Times House, or The Dolon House.
Wellsboro
About 52 miles northwest of Williamsport is the small town of Wellsboro. It is home to Pine Creek Gorge, more adoringly known as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. About 60 miles of hiking and biking trails opening up to majestic vistas dominate the canyon floor, sandwiched between Leonard Harrison State Park on the east rim and Colton Point State Park on the west rim. Next to the gorge is the Tioga State Forest, which derives its name from the Seneca phrase "meeting of two rivers."
Wellsboro’s gaslit streets and avenues are like images from Norman Rockwell’s illustrations, depicting an era reminiscent of bygone American life. The Robinson House Museum certainly will provide visitors with a compelling and thorough narrative of Wellsboro’s history. Meanwhile, the Penn Wells Lodge and La Belle Auberge Bed & Breakfast are among the many fine establishments to stay a while.
New Hope
We all need hope in our lives, so take a much-needed detour to the town of New Hope. Located on the Delaware River and just bordering New Jersey, New Hope has more than 200 years of history to its foundations. The 19th-century Locktender's House stands as the headquarters for the Friends of the Delaware Canal, where visitors can learn about New Hope’s canal heritage.
Elsewhere, the dynamic Parry Mansion, built in 1784 by one of New Hope's founders, Benjamin Parry, is an architectural wonder that combines generations of different architectural formats. Lastly, on the banks of the Delaware River is the Bucks County Playhouse, America's most famous summer theater, which has hosted celebrities such as Grace Kelly, Dick Van Dyke, and many more. Consider staying the night at the New Hope Lodge, Aaron Burr House, and Logan Inn in New Hope.
Doylestown
The borough of Doylestown, located about an hour from Philadelphia, has been a major crossroads in a largely agricultural area ever since more buildings were built around William Doyle's 18th Century Inn. Doylestown is also home to world-famous museums. For example, the Mercer Museum, a six-story reinforced concrete castle designed by Henry Chapman Mercer in the early 1900s, contains premier exhibits of pre-Industrial American material culture.
In addition, the Michener Art Museum preserves the art and cultural heritage of the Delaware Valley region. Another architectural belonging of Henry Mercer is Fonthill Castle, built between 1908 and 1912 and now serving as an exemplary masterclass in design and architecture. Remember to book rooms at the Doylestown Inn or the Mainstreet Inn.
Gettysburg
Fivescore and sixty years ago, the town of Gettysburg was the site of the most famous and largest battle of the American Civil War, the Battle of Gettysburg. On the first three days of July in 1863, Union and Confederate soldiers fought for the heart and soul of a nation, and only about 50 miles away from the town of Hershey. President Abraham Lincoln stayed in the David Wills House prior to delivering his immortal Gettysburg Address. Many living history attractions and numerous diorama museums like the Gettysburg Museum of History provide deep insights into the battlefield.
Furthermore, the Jennie Wade House, a museum dedicated to Gettysburg civilian casualty Jennie Wade, has exhibits showing domestic life during the war. One can also take self-guided or bus tours through the Gettysburg National Military Park, where Civil War articles and artifacts are preserved. Gettysburg is a prime location to stay, and the Federal Pointe Inn, Gettysburg Hotel, and The Gaslight Inn are some of the best places to spend the evenings.
Lititz
Lititz creates a charming blend of history, culture, and modernity into a fine series of adventures. The land was once inhabited by the Nanticokes, whose relics have been unearthed near the headwaters of the Lititz Springs. Then came Count Nicholas Ludwig von Zinzendorf, a nobleman from Dresden, Germany, who named the establishment after a Bohemian Castle near the village of Kunvald, the Czech Republic.
Today, Lititz celebrates its Moravian heritage through its pretzel-making enterprise. The oldest commercial pretzel bakery in America since 1861, the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery has remained active in delivering excellent pretzels nationwide. In addition, the Wilbur Chocolate Company introduced their famous Wilbur Buds in 1894. Prior to all these foundational establishments, Linden Hall was erected in 1746 to become the oldest all-girls boarding school in the United States. Visitors can find excellent lodgings at the Lititz Springs Inn, The Wilbur Lititz, or The Alden House.
Stroudsburg
In the heart of the Poconos lies the little borough of Stroudsburg. The town is a natural gateway to many mountainous features of the Poconos. The Levee Loop Trail offers relaxing hiking and biking paths meandering along Brodhead Creek. More outdoor adventures can be experienced in the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center and the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area.
Visitors can tour the ancient remains of Fort Hamilton, which protected Stroudsburg from warring Native American tribes in the region. Lastly, learn more about Stroudsburg’s heritage in interactive museums and galleries like Stroud Mansion, Quiet Valley Living Historical Farm, and Pocono Arts Council. You will want to unwind after all the trekking, so find a good place to rest at the Pocono Plaza Inn or The Penn Stroud.
Hershey
Have you ever dreamed of visiting a fantastic chocolate factory like the one in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? Fortunately for you, the town of Hershey is a close reality to your sweet dreams. About two hours away from Philadelphia, Hershey is the headquarters of the world-famous Hershey Company, where Milton S. Hershey founded the chocolate-making enterprise in 1905 in the same place.
Today, visitors can gallivant through Hersheypark, created a year after the company was established for Hershey employees and town residents to relax. You can also explore the Hersheypark Arena or the Hershey Story Museum to learn more about the town’s delicious heritage and the events that further improved both the town and the company. If you want to take a break from all the chocolate, consider touring Hershey Gardens, where more than 500 hundred butterflies flutter about. Go on and treat yourself to a world of pure imagination while lounging in Hershey Lodge or The Hotel Hershey.
Johnstown
Lying at the confluence of the Conemaugh River and Stony Creek and about 60 miles from Pittsburgh, Johnstown was once called Conemaugh, a Shawnee and Delaware village. But the town was renamed after Joseph Johns, the Swiss Mennonite founder, after establishing important trade routes in the area. For many years, Johnstown served as the western terminus of the Allegheny Portage Railroad, a vital route for the Pennsylvania Mainline Canal. It was also in Johnstown that massive steel production from several mills helped drive the Industrial Revolution in the US.
But Johnstown was also a victim of a disastrous flood in 1889 caused by a break in the town's dam. The Johnstown Flood National Memorial preserves the site of the old dam and memorializes the tragic flood that took away many Johnstown residents. You can always pay your respects to these victims in Grandview Cemetery before or after staying in Sleep Inn Johnstown, Econo Lodge, or Comfort Inn & Suites.
Independence is a good state for a prospering nation, and Pennsylvania proves itself to be a state worthy of independence. Where would America be without steel from Johnstown, chocolate from Hershey, pretzels from Lititz? How would trade prosper between states and through treacherous landscapes without hubs like Jim Thorpe and Doylestown? Pennsylvania is not shy of being the economic heart of America, and the many small towns in the Amish-cultured region have plenty of big charm to amaze and astonish the occasional visitor.
