Pennsylvania 2013 - The Keystone State

Gettysburg Convention and Visitors BureauWhat’s New
• 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg: This year will see a 10-day commemoration that will include battle re-enactments, special battlefield tours, programs and performances. Gettysburg.
• Battle Of Lake Erie Anniversary: 2013 marks the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Lake Erie, making it the perfect time to visit the Flagship Niagara. Erie.
• Chocolate Heaven: Hershey's Chocolate World is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year and it has unveiled a new 4D experience, ‘Hershey's Great Chocolate Factory Mystery’. Hershey.
• Kinzua Bridge State Park: Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Kinzua Bridge State Park by ‘walking across the sky’ on the Kinzua Sky Walk, which extends almost 200 metres into the Kinzua Gorge. Mount Jewett.
• Great Allegheny Passage: The 240-kilometre passage now connects with the C&O Canal Towpath in Cumberland, MD, to create a 540-kilometre motorized vehicle-free route between Pittsburgh and Washington, DC. It’s ideal for hiking and biking.

Attractions
• Pittsburgh Film Tour: Explore why Pittsburgh has been called the ‘New Hollywood’ on a tour of famous locations where movies have been filmed, such as Batman: The Dark Knight Rises and Flashdance. Pittsburgh.
• Philadelphia Neighborhoods Tour: ‘Philadelphia Neighborhoods’ is a new campaign that explores 14 of the visitor-ready areas surrounding the city centre.
• Shopping In Mercer County: No sales tax on clothing and shoes – that’s just one of the reasons why Mercer County has become Pennsylvania’s best shopping destination. The Grove City area is home to one of America’s top outlet centre,  Grove City Premium Outlets, which offer a full day’s shopping at places like Chico’s, Nike Outlet, Banana Republic and Tommy Hilfiger.

Events
• Mummers Parade (New Year’s Day), Philadelphia.
• Pennsylvania Farm Show (January), Harrisburg.
• International Chainsaw Carvers Rendezvous (February), Ridgway.
• Philadelphia Flower Show (March), Philadelphia.
• Pittsburgh Wine Festival (May), Pittsburgh.
• Three Rivers Arts Festival (June), Pittsburgh.
• Gettysburg Re-enactment (July), Gettysburg.
• Musikfest (August), Bethlehem.        
• Kinzua Bridge Fall Festival (September), Mount Jewett.
• National Apple Harvest Festival (October) Biglerville.
• Christmas In Hershey, (November and December), Hershey.
• A Dickens Of A Christmas Victorian Celebration (December), Wellsboro.

Allegheny National Forest Visitors BureauPlaces
• Pittsburgh: Home to champion pro-sports teams and a host of cultural amenities.  
• Philadelphia: The ‘City of Brotherly Love’ and the ‘Birthplace of America’, Philadelphia is crammed with attractions, restaurants and events, from the Liberty Bell to the Constitution Center.  
• Gettysburg: Site of one of the biggest and most influential battles of the American Civil War.
• Hershey: Home to the ‘town built on chocolate’, Hershey today celebrates its famous chocolate confections with Hersheypark, Hershey’s Chocolate World, the Hershey Story Museum and the Chocolate Spa.
• Pocono Mountains: The region abounds with recreational activities and natural wonders year-round. Known as the ‘Niagara of Pennsylvania’, Bushkill Falls is one of Pennsylvania’s most famous scenic attractions. The Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area offers a variety of outdoor activities, ranging from canoeing and rafting to fishing, picnicking and camping.
• Pennsylvania Wilds: The Wilds are home to millions of acres of unspoiled forests and mountains and the largest free-roaming elk herd in the Eastern United States. This area is also home to the Elk Visitor Center, which provides some incredible wildlife viewing opportunities and Cherry Springs State Park, which provide the darkest skies in the North East for stargazing.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic Development
Hidden Gems
• Pennsylvania Wineries: Pennsylvania is home to 12 wine trails. More than 170 wineries produce a delightful array of wine varieties. Various locations.
• Tara: In Mercer County you’ll find ‘Tara – A Country Inn’. Inspired by the Hollywood classic, Gone With the Wind, Tara is an embodiment of the Old South, offering plenty of Southern hospitality and a chance to enjoy the luxuries of days gone by. Built in 1854, the 27 luxurious guestrooms feature gas fireplaces and either a whirlpool or sunken tub.
• York: From motorcycles to pretzels, you're invited behind the scenes of America's favourite products at 22 free tours in the ‘Factory Tour Capital of the World’.
• Harrisburg, the capitol of Pennsylvania for 200 years, this is a historic downtown filled with family-friendly museums, outdoor recreation opportunities and a renowned block of restaurants, pubs and night clubs that lie just a short walk from the sprawling Capitol complex and State Museum.
• Allegrippis Trails At Raystown Lake: Designed by mountain bikers and built by the International Mountain Bicycling Association, the Allegrippis Trails at Raystown Lake make up one of the US’ premier single-track mountain biking trail system.
• The World’s Largest Candy Store: Mercer County’s Daffin’s Candies store is said to be the world’s largest candy store, with over 600 different creations on offer. Daffin’s is also known for its ‘Chocolate Kingdom’, a fantasy land filled with chocolate characters.
• Laurel Highlands:  Home to Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. Designed in 1935, this magnificent structure was partially built over a waterfall and is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a National Landmark. Two of his other designs, Kentuck Knob and the Duncan House, are also close by.
• Unique Crafts: At Mercer County’s Slovak Folk Crafts you will find handcrafted gifts from Slovakia, including hand-cut lead crystal, pottery, woodcarvings, decorated eggs, embroidery and wooden toys. The store also boasts the largest animated woodcarving in North America. Created by three woodcarvers, it depicts life as it was in Slovakia hundreds of years ago. Powered by six windshield wiper motors used for Volvo trucks, it features 82 moving figures.

Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community & Economic DevelopmentDid You Know?
• State Motto: Virtue, Liberty And Independence
• State Flower: Mountain Laurel
• State Bird: Ruffed Grouse

Fast Facts
• Region: MID ATLANTIC
• America’s Byways: Historic National Road, Great Lakes Seaway Trail, Journey through Hallowed Ground Byway, Route 6.
• Direct Flights: Air Canada, US Airways.
• Sales Tools: Travel Guide, e-newsletter, online discount centre.
• Info: Pennsylvania Tourism Office
(800) VISIT-PA; 800 847-4872
www.visitpa.com