PA Bucket List

Pavia Overlook at Blue Knob State Park is located atop the second-highest mountain in Pennsylvania! And while many people are familiar with the views from Blue Knob Ski Resort on the northeast side of the mountain, you may have never heard of Pavia Overlook on the western side of Blue Knob. So in the following paragraphs I'm going to show you...

Touring the Carrie Blast Furnaces in Pittsburgh is a fantastic way to learn about the industrial heritage of southwestern Pennsylvania! The Carrie Blast Furnaces were in operation from 1884 until 1982, turning iron ore into purified, molten iron which was then used as an ingredient in the steel-making process. When the furnaces were closed in 1982, large swaths of the site...

Fort Roberdeau in Blair County was built in 1778 by American colonists during the Revolutionary War, and was occupied until 1780. The fort was originally erected by General Daniel Roberdeau to protect local lead mining activities from British loyalists and their Native Americans allies. Fort Roberdeau fell into disrepair after the Revolutionary War, but was reconstructed as a Bicentennial project in...

The Bellefonte Cruise has been a popular Father's Day weekend event in historic Bellefonte since 1988. 2022 marks the 33rd year for the event, which takes place on the streets of downtown Bellefonte, the Centre County seat. On Friday night, an "open cruise" takes place from 6-7 pm, where you'll find plenty of classic cars cruising the streets of Bellefonte. On Saturday,...

Woodward Cave in Centre County contains 5 large rooms, hundreds of yards of tunnels and passageways, and the largest stalagmite in Pennsylvania! Operated as a "show cave" since 1926, Woodward Cave was known to the early European settlers in this region as Red Panther Cave. Red Panther was the son of the local Seneca chief, and legend has it that the...

Penn's Cave in Centre County offers the only cavern tour in the United States that is conducted completely by boat! Discovered centuries ago by Native Americans, Penn's Cave first opened to the public as a "show cave" in 1885. In addition to the cavern tour, Penn's Cave offers a wildlife tour that visits various large animal enclosures on their 1,600 acre...

DelGrosso's Amusement Park (originally Bland's Park, named for a family farm that once stood there) has been a central PA tradition for more than 100 years! And a big part of why this park is so popular is that so much of it is FREE to experience! Parking - it's free! Admission to the park – it’s free! The only things you pay for at DelGrosso's...

Knoebels Amusement Park near Elysburg, Pennsylvania is consistently ranked as one of the best amusement parks in the United States. And a big part of why this park is so popular is that so much of it is FREE to experience! Parking - it's free! Admission to the park - it's free! The various museums and shows in the park - free! In...

The Hooded Grave Cemetery in Columbia County is home to what may be the only two hooded graves that exist in the United States. Sarah Ann (Thomas) Boone and Asenath Campbell Thomas died within six days of each other in June 1852, due to complications from child birthing. The two were sisters-in-law, and both were in their early twenties when they...

If you're looking for the best things to see and do at Ohiopyle State Park, you're in the right place! I've visited Ohiopyle State Park more than any other state park in PA over the past five decades, so I feel fully qualified to share with you some of my favorite things to see and do there, based upon personal...