something a little different why I love the state of Pennsylvania

    Alot of people will rag on the state in which they grew up in, I get it I do you feel the grass is greener on the other side of the fence.  And sometimes it is, But I have really grown to embrace the state that I call home Pennsylvania.  

    I am very well-traveled been all over the country and world I have a deep wanderlust and love to travel.  But I do love it when I return to my home.  I grew up on one side of the state and moved to the other and I started my journey in life in Philly and moved to Pittsburgh.  This state holds so much rich history and like its moto it is a key stone to the nation.  the birthplace of our republic, the constitution lives here, the liberty bell, the revolution, Philadelphia just drips with history and culture that city has an amazing live music scene, if you are a foodie there are countless restaurants to tickle any fancy you have the arts are centered proudly there with top tear museums and historical sights you can do something new every weekend for next to forever.  We cannot forget the sports with the NFL,NBA, NHL, MLB all of which are centered proudly by the city and its inhabitance University of Pennsylvania with its link to Benjimen Franklin an Ivy League University and there are several other top-ranking colleges and universities in the city Philly is a hub of higher education, research and development. 

    moving out of the city we have the Pocono's a mountain range known for its beauty, and outdoors activity.  hiking, camping, skiing, horseback riding, fishing, and hunting just to say a few.  So, if you have a love of the outdoors this is the spot for you, there is the Pennsylvania Grand Canyon what is out of this world and a dark park for star gazing. 

    Hershey, Harrisburg and Gettysburg all more amazing spots for the family Hershey Park is just one of the many parks here in PA the town is beautiful and smells like chocolate the park is clean, fun, well maintained and is perfect for a family, the factory tour is great the bus tour of the town is a must. Harrisburg is not far from the park and is a great way to see the capital of the state and take in some political culture and see the states capital building and do a tour of it, see the local museums and art get a nice meal at one of the local restaurants. before moving on to Gettysburg.  this little city is where the country was saved.  the Battle of Gettysburg was the turning point in the civil war and this little marker in American history needs to be visited, the battlefield tours are fantastic the park is laid out well and the monuments are beautiful get out of the car stretch the legs walk the park take pics breath in all the history.  with the union cemetery, little round top, devils den, and so on then you have the town its self.  filled with antique shops, restaurants, and historical sights.  BUT you must stay till the night and do one of the walking ghost tours they are so much fun and worth the drive itself.  

    Now let's jump to the Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh areas welcome to the steel city home of the Steelers, UPNC, and Hinze and so much more. this city is another hot spot for history in the country, unions were born here, the country's skyscrapers and bridges would not be possible without all the steel that was made in the city from US steel corp.  hundreds of millions of lives were saved due to research at the university of Pittsburgh school of medicine with the cure for polio by Doctor Jonas Salk your French fries would not be as good without ketchup made at Heinze just to say a few.  this city went through some hard times in the 70's-80's and let's face it she's not 100% out of the woods yet.  after most of the Steel mills went under and the coal mines slowed down the population of the city plummeted.  But thankfully this did not kill the city like so many others have NO the burgh pulled its self-up and retooled itself.  placing focus on tech and medical, now Pittsburgh has a future and its only getting better.  

    there is a lot to do in and around the city.  museums like the Carnegie natural history and art, the science center, the Warhol, to name a few again NHL, NFL, MLB. fantastic live music events, great restaurants, and then there is the aviary and Pipps conservatory and garden.  and one of my favorite things to do the summer THE PITTSBURGH VINTAGE GRAND PRIX that s great time if you are a car guy!   now out of the city you have some fantastic hiking, fishing and hunting in the laurel mountains.  some amazing historical sites like fort necessity where General George Washington lost a battle to the French before the country was born. there are several little towns to explore and shop in sometimes it's like taking a steep back in time  

    last but not least Erie PA, this city sits on the shore of the great lake of the same name, this is one of the best places to go if you are in the Pittsburgh region and want to sit at a beach and think about life and the universe it is a short 3 hour drive for the city and you are on a beach and best of all NO SHARKS!  the town has a fantastic theme park, great restaurants, great beaches, and it won't break the bank, the wife and I go there 2 to 3 times a year.  we love it.  we also do the eerie horror and film fest another blast of a weekend.  I would actually consider moving to Erie at some point in my life.  

I hope you enjoyed this little tour of the state I call home.

if you want more stuff like this please let me know

M.