Top Things to do in Pennsylvania
Top Hotels in Pennsylvania
- 1. Drury Plaza Hotel Pittsburgh Downtown
- 2. Motto by Hilton Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square
- 3. Mount Airy Casino Resort Spa
- 4. Independence Park Hotel, BW Premier Collection
- 5. Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square
- 6. Hampton Inn Philadelphia Center City-Convention Center
- 7. Sonesta Philadelphia Rittenhouse Square
- 8. The Logan Philadelphia, Curio Collection by Hilton
- 9. Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, State College (Penn State Area), PA
- 10. Philadelphia Marriott Downtown
What to do and see in Pennsylvania, United States: The Best Nature & Wildlife Areas
Discover the best top things to do in Pennsylvania, United States including Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, Austin T Blakeslee Natural Area, Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Bear Run Nature Reserve, Nixon Park Nature Center, Leaser Lake Park, Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, Wildwood Park, Lake Tobias Wildlife Park, National Aviary.
Restaurants in Pennsylvania
1. Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 136 reviews
Many species of waterfowl call this lake / reserve home.
Reviewed By PaleoGypsy - Philadelphia, United States
If you enjoy being outside and interacting with nature, you may discover how much you love the Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area. Located 25-30 minutes from the Pennsylvania Turnpike (or Route 422), you will travel on the meandering and country roads to your destination of rural Lebanon County. These rural routes consist of paved and unpaved roads, Mennonite buggies, sharp turns, blind hills, impaired people signs, and slow speed limits exist here. If you are accustomed to visiting places with a heavy retail and restaurant area, you may want to avoid this area altogether if you find nature to be underwhelming. This is because you will not find those food and retail reinforcements in this immediate area. Bring your own food and water. Bring along a bag to pack out the trash. Binoculars and scopes are useful here. A camera with a zoom lens is a must. Dogs are allowed. NO DRONES. Be mindful that you are enjoying nature alongside the Mennonite population. Out of respect, AVOID taking photos of them. This is a popular destination for birdwatching, especially February and March. Go to the web site and look at the live web cam centering on the migration of the snow geese, tundra swans, and Canadian geese. The Willow Point Trail is where you may access a close view of these birds. The best time to go is during the sunrise and sunset. Enjoy looking at the multiple lift-offs. Be prepared to walk a couple of miles to get to this destination, as parking is limited. Port-a-potties are available, as are picnic tables and a pavilion. During February and March, THOUSANDS of birdwatchers are going to descend upon the scene. This is an opportunity for you to deepen your knowledge of birds. Many videos centering on the migration are found on You Tube as well. The driving route opens in March. The Visitor’s Center is beautiful and informative.
2. Austin T Blakeslee Natural Area
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 47 reviews
Reviewed By chrisdV5261HT
Scenic views and some nice easy going hiking, definitely recommend stopping by! Went with some family and friends, spend a good portion of the afternoon at the park. Ate some lunch on the river rocks, seems like a pretty clean park overall as well.
3. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 12 reviews
Since its inception in 1976 our Center has offered a wide range of programs and has always strived to improve and expand its offerings. We continually seek to: • Provide areas in our County for outdoor laboratories where plants, animals and entire ecosystems can be studied; • Sponsor and participate in educational programs, ecological research, and classroom teaching; • Cooperate with other agencies and organizations concerned with environmental education and; • Provide leadership training programs in the field of conservation, environmental education and natural history. The Education Center is located at the County-owned Kettle Creek Wildlife Sanctuary near Bartonsville. This 13,000 sq. foot facility contains the Administrative and Technical offices of the Conservation District. It also houses the Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center on its second floor. Over 7,200 sq. ft. of space is devoted to educational programs including two large classroom/meeting areas, offices, kitchen, public restrooms and numerous displays and exhibits on the Pocono's natural environment. The Center also contains a gift shop with many different educational and environmentally oriented items for sale including a large selection of birdfeeders, quality birdseed, field guides and more. On the outside of the building is a large observation deck and additional classroom area. Many different educational programs are offered year-round. The building is open Monday - Friday, 8am - 4:30pm and most Saturdays from 9am - 1pm. The Kettle Creek Wildlife Sanctuary itself is a 166 acre preserve. The initial 120 acres was donated for the preservation of wildlife by Clayton Swink. And an additional 46 acres was purchased in 2004. It is now managed by the Conservation District and provides an interesting arena for outdoor programs. It has old field, mature deciduous forest, evergreen stands, and two ponds. Over 2 1/2 miles of maintained and well-marked trails are open for public use year-round, 7 days a week. The Education Center also utilizes “satellite sites” in Monroe County. The Meesing site is a 100 acre tract located on the Delaware State Forest north of Marshalls Creek. Owned by the PA Bureau of Forestry and maintained by the Conservation District the area encompasses a variety of diverse habitats. There is a large clear-cut where a young forest is emerging, a stand of pines, a small swamp, a stream, a pond, and a maple forest complete with a Sugar Shack that is used to produce sweet maple syrup each March. Two miles of trails are open to the public year-round, dawn to dusk, for passive recreation and nature study. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center educators also provide interpretive tours of The Nature Conservancy’s Tannersville Cranberry Bog. Access to the fragile area is limited. The floating boardwalk provides a unique opportunity to see the interior of the bog. Tours are held throughout the year for the general public as well as private and school groups.
4. Bear Run Nature Reserve
5. Nixon Park Nature Center
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 59 reviews
Reviewed By gailm161 - York, United States
There so much to see and do here, hiking trails, center with all sorts of hands on activities, conference area and more. There is an area with all sorts of butterflies and moths, live bees, bird center live and stuffed, all sorts of animals stuffed, reptile area. Great time for kids and adults. I've spent time here since I was a kid.
6. Leaser Lake Park
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 13 reviews
Reviewed By Connector17118529015
This is an awesome lake to visit. You can walk the trails, do some fishing, or just relax at the many benches and picnic tables.
7. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 301 reviews
A 2,400-acre natural area that was the world's first refuge for raptors.
Reviewed By Baltobabs - North East, United States
We hiked at this park a few days ago. I was looking for a harder hike, and usually when a review says the hike is hard, we go and it is not very hard. This was hard! We did the skyline trail, cut over and and did part of golden eagle trail and river of rocks to finish out(including the little end loop). that was 5.5 miles sand took 5 hours. We weren't going too slow and no one passed us, but we stopped at several overlooks. The little end loop on river of rocks that is 1 mile wasn't as nice, and we would skip it if we did it gain. The whole trail, and I mean the WHOLE trail is rocks, and big rocks. The entrance to skyline trail by the lookout literally looks like it goes straight over the edge of the mountain, and it sort of does! Wear good shoes, the rocks are sharp and you will be hopping from one to another most of the time, and will rarely be on actual soil. Breaking an ankle would be very easy on most of the trail. All this being said we had so much fun, there are several fantastic views along the way, everyone was friendly. We were there on a Tuesday, and the parking lot was about 2/3 full so I can imagine on the weekend it is packed. Buying tickets on line was easy, just hand them to the lady at the entrance, and then there is another person taking cash for the $10 fee a bit farther down. if you are interested in birds every lookout had a ranger spotting birds, though the season is almost done. We never wore a mask, but we never got too close to anyone except on the stairs, and the people who stayed at the overlooks spotting birds wore them more than the people hiking as they were closer to each other I guess. Hop down and see the awesome carvings on the amphitheater!! The restrooms were closed and there are only portapots, with hand sanitizer.
8. Wildwood Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 296 reviews
Wildwood Park is located in the rolling hills of central Pennsylvania on the outskirts of downtown Harrisburg. Its 229 acres are a haven for countless species of flora and fauna centered around the 90 acre freshwater wetland. A popular three-mile loop trail encircles the park with side trails and boardwalks for a total of six miles of trails. Its attractive Olewine Nature Center features engaging exhibits on environmental education. Established in 1901, during the City Beautiful Movement, Wildwood was part of a nationwide effort to improve urban life. In 1976, the Dauphin County Commissioners assumed ownership of the property. Now managed by Dauphin County Parks and Recreation Department, Wildwood Park is one of Pennsylvania’s premier centers for environmental studies, educational opportunities and outdoor recreation. It is a cherished retreat for nature lovers, bird watchers and exercise enthusiasts.
Reviewed By maryjom231
Three mile walking path provides tons of beauty, deer, birds, ducks, and geese galore. Safe whether you are alone or with family/friends. Great way to unwind after a long day of work.
9. Lake Tobias Wildlife Park
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 480 reviews
Reviewed By Rosie0302 - Pennsylvania, United States
We enjoyed the Safari ride through the park. The driver guide, Natalie, was very personable, knowledgeable and humorous. The vehicle appeared to be a modified school bus without a roof or windows. That allowed the animals to come right up to the bus for feeding and photographs. It was an amazing experience to be so close to so many different species and observe their physical characteristics from the safety of the safari bus. The landscape was rolling pastures and wooded areas and the animals had lots of room to roam and appeared to be in very good condition. Other areas of the park included caged habitats for animals that would have posed a danger to visitors or other animals. These habitats were very clean and the animals also appeared to be in very good condition. As someone else reviewed, I have mixed feelings about the caged animals. I was thrilled to be able to see them so closely and yet sorry to see them confined when their natural habitat would have allowed them to range a much larger area. I realize that most people will never be able to experience seeing lions, tigers and bears among others in the wild. Does that justify captivity of a few individuals for the experience of thousands of visitors each year ? That's a question for the individual to consider. The reptile and exotic animal building was very interesting as was the show. The staff, Logan and Jackie, were great animal ambassadors explaining the characteristics of at least five different species, their importance and threats facing them in the wild. Another building housed more exhibits including the history of the Tobias family and how the park was formed. Education is an important facet of this park. We were there for 3 hours and did not see everything in the park. It is expansive and very tidy. If we lived closer I would visit regularly and bring out of town guests.
10. National Aviary
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 1,416 reviews
Amazing collection of more than 600 exotic and endangered birds from nearly every continent.
Reviewed By xxxyyyWashington_DC
The VIP experience was beyond expectations! Our two guides and all of the staff were very friendly, outgoing, and engaging. They asked a few weeks in advance what types of encounters we were interested in, and they made it happen. Although it's hard to pick a favorite experience (penguins, raptors, Amazon), feeding the lorikeets was amazing and a lot of fun! The National Aviary is a great way to see and learn about so many different kinds of birds, and if you want to experience more and are able to support them by buying a VIP tour, I can't recommend it enough.
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