Pennsylvania Attractions

The history of the Reading & Columbia Rail Road started with the Philadelphia & Reading Railroad Company chartered April 4, 1833 by an Act of the Pennsylvnia Legislature. This is all part of a complex story that began locally in 1857 with generated interest in a railroad between Reading and Columbia. A group of influential citizens from Lancaster and Berks Counties secured passage of a charter creating the Reading & Columbia Rail Road Company, which was signed by Governor James Pollock on May 19, 1857.

Nestled in Pennsylvania Dutch Country, this seasonal farm adventure park transforms rural life into hands-on entertainment for families and groups. Spend your day getting dirty, laughing together, and discovering where your food comes from through corn mazes, hayrides, petting areas, and harvest activities that appeal to kids and adults alike. It's the perfect escape for a memorable outing that combines outdoor fun with genuine farm experiences.

On September 11, 2001, shortly after terrorists flew airplanes into the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center and into the Pentagon, the forty passengers and crewmembers on United Airlines Flight 93 fought a battle in the sky over Pennsylvania. These forty heroes won their battle against terrorists and thwarted a planned attack on our nation’s capital, saving countless numbers of lives, but sacrificing their own in a field just east of Pittsburgh, in Somerset County, Pennsylvania.<br/> Because of the quick and determined actions of the passengers and crew, Flight 93 was the only one of the four hijacked aircraft that failed to reach the terrorists' intended target on September 11, 2001. The passengers and crew showed unity, courage, and defiance in the face of adversity. The Flight 93 National Memorial will be a place dedicated to the memory of these great heroes; a place for future generations to learn about their actions; a place for healing and understanding.

At The Crayola Factory, you’ll be immersed in color and creativity – a place where there's no limitation to creativity and imagination. You can color, draw, paint and create with the latest Crayola products without the worry of cleanup afterwards. Each creative space invites you to play and explore while learning and having lots and lots of fun. See how Crayola Crayons and Markers are made. Learn about the history of the Crayola brand. Explore dozens of interactive projects and activities. This is not the real manufacturing plant, but instead a visitor center that allows the child inside each person to unleash its creative spirit. Each quarter, themes and projects change, giving visitors a variety of projects to create throughout the year.

See animals with over 120 exotic species. Giraffe lory parrots and more. Visit the Petting Zoo and Turtle Town. Dinosaur Outpost, fossil hunts, Dino Dig, triceratops to sit on and more.

Hop aboard a piece of American railroad heritage where vintage locomotives still churn through Lancaster County's countryside, their steam rising dramatically against winter's crisp air. You'll find yourself wandering through restored train cars and the charming East Strasburg Station, picking up fascinating details about steam-era engineering, regional farming practices, and local Amish and PA Dutch traditions without it ever feeling like a classroom. The coal-powered behemoth is just your launching point. Climb into the Cagney Steam Train's miniature cars, power a hand-cranked Pump Car yourself, or let younger passengers navigate the quirky Cranky Car. The Thomas™ Toy Store captures all that locomotive magic in merchandise form, while the railroad bookstore and gift shop overflow with gear for enthusiasts and curious visitors alike. Just across the street sits the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, showcasing over 100 locomotives and cars in its collection, anchored by the exceptional Pennsylvania Railroad Historical Collection. Complete your journey at the nearby National Toy Train Museum, where another spectacular assembly awaits discovery.

Home to more than 1,300 animals, many of them rare and endangered. The Zoo, fulfilling its mission of conservation, science, education and recreation, supports and engages in conservation efforts to protect endangered species around the world. Cheetahs, hippos, giraffes and much more make the Zoo Philadelphia's leading family attraction with over 1.2 million visitors last year. Like many other Philadelphia landmarks and institutions, the Philadelphia Zoo is an American first. The charter establishing the Zoological Society of Philadelphia was approved and signed on March 21, 1859. Due to the Civil War, however, it was another 15 years before America's first zoo was ready to open. The Zoo opened its gates on July 1, 1874. The Frank Furness Victorian gates and gatehouses, and the Zoo's location, are the same today as they were on the day it opened. One of its assets, then and now, is John Penn's home, The Solitude, which sat on the land chosen for the Zoo. John Penn was the grandson of William Penn, founder of Pennsylvania. The Solitude is considered to be Philadelphia's most precise and elegant expression of neoclassical style.

The Pittsburgh Zoo & PPG Aquarium strives to foster positive, lifelong connections between animals and people. Whether through our exhibitry, educational programs, or our many conservation projects, our goal is to make certain the Earth remains a suitable home for all life by our discovery of the interconnectedness of the natural world.