These Small Towns in Pennsylvania Come Alive in Fall
Pennsylvania is home to several small towns that grant an authentic fall atmostphere at this time of the year. From admirable architecture with rich history to scenic landmarks and parks, there's a lot to expect in Pennsylvania small towns. Exploration in historic museums encourages learning about the compelling story of the battle of Gettysburg embedded in Gettysburg National Battlefield.
Adventurous stops such as Bushkill Fall’s Pocono TreeVentures, Jim Thorpe's Pocono Whitewater Adventures, and Wellsboro's Pine Creek Rail Trail are perfect for hiking and biking through the leaf-filled paths.
Fresh air and places to walk are found in popular parks, such as Anson B. Nixon Park in Kennett Square, Central Park in Doylestown, and Talleyrand Park in Bellefonte. Smaller attractions away from natural parks and museums are available downtown with shops and art galleries, including Emmanuel Fine Art Photography Gallery in Beaver and Belle Mercantile and Creekside Rock in Bellefonte.
Doylestown
Doylestown is a borough in the heart of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, recognized as America's "best small-town cultural scene" and one of the best places to visit in the fall. Due to its excellent architecture, museums, historical sites, and farms, the place has become a top destination for tourists and nature lovers in the fall. Museums like Mercer Museum and Moravian Pottery & Tile Works, gives insight to its history while reveling in fall's crisp weather. You'll also find historic sites, famous among which are the Fonthill Castle and the Pearl S. Buck National Historic Landmark, offering a relaxing historical session of beautiful greenery.
The town is also home to farms with rich agricultural views and vibrant red leaves, like the Fordhook Farm and the Doylestown Farmers Market. There's also the picture-perfect Central Park with impressive structures for recreational activities like biking and picnicking with a view of surrounding trees.
Wellsboro
Situated in Tioga County, Wellsboro is a small town with various attractions that makes the fall season better due to its beautiful parks, including Colton Point State Park, Leonard Harrison State Park Visiting Center (also known as the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania), and Hills Creek State Park. These parks offer a breathtaking view of autumn’s effects as trees heavily surround them making them perfect for hiking, biking, and camping opportunities. Pine Creek Rail Trail is also a great place to hike or drive through in the fall, flanked by trees that remind you of the season's essence. Suppose you're seeking an an aerial view of the stunning fall colors. In that case, you can visit the Overlook Tower with an observation deck granting its visitors a fascinating view of the natural scene. Other points of interest and landmarks include Wynken, Blynken & Nod Fountain and Deane Center for the Performing Arts.
Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe is situated in Carbon County and amongst the Pocono Mountains. First founded in 1818 as Mauch Chunk, it is now named after one of America's sports legends, Jim Thorpe. Discoveries such as the Old Jail Museum, Jim Thorpe Memorial, and Asa Packer Mansion, all provide artifacts and exhibits that represent its history. These places allow you to learn while admiring surrounding trees and once-green plants in the fall. Bear Mountain Butterfly Sanctuary supplies a better view of nature and wildlife exploration, viewing turtles, axolotls, frogs, and different varieties of butterflies. Pocono Whitewater Adventures, equipped with kayaks and boats, allows for the enjoyment of the scenic landscape overview by the waters. When out of the water, Mauch Chunk Lake Park accommodates group biking to wind through nature-filled paths.
Gettysburg
Known for its historic site, Gettysburg National Battlefield is from the battle of Gettysburg in 1863 and Abraham Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. Fall just got better for history enthusiasts as the town holds several notable sites and museums with scenic natural environments, including Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg Museum of History, Eisenhower National Historic Site, and Gettysburg Heritage Center. Additionally, you can find picturesque landmarks and points of interest that showcase the vibrancy of fall, including Devil’s Den, Sachs Covered Bridge, Little Round Top, and Virginia Monument. Since this town is rich with the history of the iconic battle of Gettysburg, you'll find many sites, artifacts, and monuments that preserve it, such as the Battlefield Military Museum, Pickett's Charge, Gettysburg Diorama, and High Water Mark of the Rebellion Monument.
Beaver
This beautiful town is located near the Beaver and Ohio Rivers' confluence in Beaver County. Beaver is a charming small town with various opportunities for fall visitors, including historic areas and museums such as Beaver Area Heritage Museum and Fort McIntosh. The leaves change from their conventional green to red colors at parks like Bradys Run Park with the picturesque view and relaxing feeling of the waters at Bridgewater. The streets of Beaver Town inspire the exploration of art galleries and studios, particularly the Emmanuel Fine Art Photography Gallery and the Artsy Doodle Craft Studio. Discoverable are purchases to take home to continually relive the memorable experience in this town for your kids at Castle Toys and Games, and a sweet tooth satisfaction at Grandpa Joe's Candy Shop.
Kennett Square
Kennett Square, in Chester County, Pennsylvania is a suburb of Philadelphia and Delaware. It is called the Mushroom Capital of the World due to its annual Mushroom Festival held every September, just in time for fall. The festival features various mushroom vendors and attracts thousands of visitors worldwide. Besides having an abundance of mushrooms at your fingertips, Kennett Square has scenic walking areas and visitor centers like Longwood Gardens, and the Brandywine Valley Tourism Information Center, both filled with beautiful displays of natural greeneries abiding by the fall season. You may also visit the Anson B. Nixon Park, which offers an outstandingly stunning river view with surrounding trees. This location is also open to fish or bike through the paths or soccer games for kids. A local favorite, the Kennett Square Farmers Market, is open to shop for fresh produce and loads of mushrooms.
New Hope
In Eastern Pennsylvania, New Hope is rich with 200 years of history, originally known as Coryell's Ferry. Visits are frequent at the Delaware Canal, from Bristol to Easton, with jaw-dropping views of the fall. Many visitors take trips to Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve to observe various plant species, including wildflowers that have adapted to the changing weather. There are also farms and orchards to go fruit picking and purchase locally grown products while soaking in the aesthetic colors of vegetation, such as Solebury Orchards, Paxson Hill Farm Gardens and Nursery, Raymond Farm Center for Living Arts & Design, and George Nakashima Woodworkers. Exploration of museums and historic landmarks like Parry Mansion Museum and Delaware Valley Fire Museum are available to all. With much more to offer, New Hope has scenic parks with great views in the fall, including Lenape Park, Aquetong Spring Park, and Bucks County Audubon Society at Honey Hollow.
Bellefonte
The self-acclaimed "Central Pennsylvania's Victorian Secret" Bellefonte was founded in 1795, with its old Victorian architecture and natural landscape showcasing the colorful vegetation. Historical trips to the Bellefonte Art Museum in the Linn House, which celebrates the arts, humanities, and history of Centre County history through a collection of artifacts and exhibits. Fall events and seasons are hosted at the Bellefonte Historical Railroad with various outdoor activities, especially biking. From willow trees adorned with fall foliage to ducks frolicking the creek's banks, the highly populated Talleyrand Park is an excellent choice for fall.
Other places you should visit for a full fall experience include Buffalo Run Farm, Centre County Library & Historical Museum, Bellefonte Art Museum, and Bellefonte Lanes for bowling. Visits to Bellefonte's antique shops like Plaza Centre, Belle Mercantile, and Creekside Rock & Gems leave room for much to be explored.
Bushkill
Bushkill is a small community in Pike County with various stunning attractions in the fall. This includes the Pocono TreeVentures, with exciting sites and adventure opportunities such as ziplining between trees, swinging on wire walkaways, and rope walking. Resica Falls Scout Reservation has an incredible waterfall view and surrounding forest trees. Entertaining history-learning sessions in the town's historic sites and museums like Millbrook Village are welcome to all who are interested. The Bushkill Falls also grant a fascinating view during fall with biking and rock climbing activities. If you're enthusiastic about nature hiking, the Bridal Veil Falls is a place to stop by and it supplies a nice trail by the Unnamed Pond Run Stream. Refreshing air at Milford Beach with family and friends can be shared around its grassy landscape. Lastly, local gifts and specialties in cabin-style buildings and gift shops like Phoenix and Country Kettle are also accessible to purchase
Honesdale
This small, welcoming community is also a gorgeous fall destination town nicknamed "Birthplace of the American Railroad" and formerly known as "Dyberry Forks." Historical sites like the Wayne County Historical Society Museum provide tours of the town's history. There are also iconic waterfalls with stunning views of the waters and the falls, like Tanner Falls (just 6 miles outside of Honesdale) and agricultural picnic areas, including the Apple Grove Picnic Area. Iconic locations and attractions in Honesdale, like the Stourbridge Line, have experiences like an exhilarating train tour to witness the town's architecture and facilities. Browsing the gift and specialty shops in the city is a popular shopping experience at venues such as Milkweed, Wine Room, and Rickard's Cider Mill. Also within reach are the Schrutè Farms and Wayne County Farmers Markets with richly grown and locally made products.
Picking the proper town for the perfect fall getaway in Pennsylvania is not easy, but you can select your destination based on the fall experience you desire.
Beautiful cities have the best opportunities for wildlife exploration, like Bear Mountain, Butterfly Sanctuary, and Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve. The agricultural wealth of these towns allow for the collection of locally made products such as Fordhook Farm in Doylestown, Farmers Market in Doylestown, and Schrute Farm in Honesdale. And don't foget about the mushroom capital of the wolrd, Kennett Square, due to the yearly mushroom fall festival.You may discover various fall activities to engage in other Pennsylvanian small towns like biking in Leonard Harrison State Park, Wellsboro, rope walking in Pocono TreeVentures, and fruit picking at Solebury Orchards in New Hope.
