*Guest Post* Get A Mental Health Boost by Visiting & Exploring Pennsylvania
By, Jennifer Scott
Traveling is good for the mind, body, and soul. Exploring new endeavors and immersing yourself in new surroundings gives you a chance to fully recharge and boost your brainpower. Pennsylvania offers a little bit of everything so that you can relax and rewind no matter what your idea of a vacation is. You can step back into time through historical sites, explore nature through outdoor activities, or indulge yourself at a spa and resort. There is something to suit everyone’s taste as they unload your stress and get a mental health boost.
If you would like to learn about the history of Pennsylvania and the United States, pay a visit to one of America's most historic areas: the Independence National Historic Park in Philadelphia. See where the Declaration of Independence was signed, view the Liberty Bell, and stop by numerous other historic buildings and museums as you walk along the cobbled streets. The Pennsylvania State Capitol building in Harrisburg one of the finest pieces of architecture, featuring interior designs based on the Paris Grand Opera House. You can also visit the Gettysburg National Military Park or the Valley Forge National Historic Park.
For those with a love of art, the Philadelphia Museum of Art features a world-renowned collection that is one of America's largest art collections. The building in which the museum is located is iconic, and the museum features sculptures, paintings, prints, drawings, photographs, armor, and decorative arts from around the world across many centuries. You can also visit the Andy Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh to experience some of the great American pop artist’s most famous pieces, as well as exhibits that tell his life story.
Train enthusiasts will enjoy a trip to Strasburg, which is known for its Amish culture and railroad history. You can take a ride on the Strasburg Rail Road on one of America’s oldest turn-of-the century steam trains. Pass through Amish country and farms and visit the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, which houses historic railroad artifacts and over 100 locomotives and cars from the mid-nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Eckley’s Miners Village is another great place to visit. This museum represents the lives of the immigrant anthracite coal miners and their families.
Pennsylvania offers an outdoor adventure any time of the year. The state features county, state, and national parks that offer a variety of activities. The Alleghenies offers a beautiful backdrop for cycling on roads, mountain biking, ATVing, hiking, camping, kayaking, fishing, bird watching, swimming, snorkeling, scuba diving, boating, and water skiing. In the winter, you can ski, snowshoe, ice fish, ice skate, sled, or take a tour on a snowmobile. You can also find similar activities at Hawk Mountain, the Pocono Mountains, and Susquehanna River.
Located in the northwest tip of Pennsylvania, you will find Lake Erie, which is sure to offer a “entertaining, educational, affordable, and fun” time for you and your family. Presque Isle State Park is the area’s most popular attraction, offering everything other parks have to offer and more, including surfing. You can even take a cruise or tour a lighthouse. Enjoy everything Lake Erie has to offer by renting a retreat cabin for the weekend. Rent a boat to enjoy the numerous water activities or explore the land by foot.
With its historic cities and sights and many outdoor activities, Pennsylvania summons you to explore and unwind. You can see where the Declaration of Independence was signed, marvel at awe-inspiring artwork, ride aboard historic trains, hike a mountain trail, or surf the waves of lake. The great state truly has something for everyone to enjoy, so you are sure to get your mental health boost.
Learn more about Jennifer: