11 Pennsylvania Towns With Unforgettable Main Streets

Main Streets are the heart of small towns across America, and Pennsylvania is no different. Plan a visit off the beaten path for festivals and historic tours, dine with creative chefs preparing locally grown delights, and shop with small businesses that welcome visitors and residents with care and commitment. Downtowns are reimagining their futures with hope and joy, creating spaces for everyone to thrive. Take a look at these before you plan your next road trip.

Easton

Downtown Easton’s Centre Square forms the hub of this historic downtown. Intersecting Centre Square, Northampton Street and 3rd Street offer downtown charm and plenty to see and do in this historic town. Book & Puppet Co. is more than a bookshop; find art classes, puppet shows, and even the Museum of Money. During the summer months, stop at the Easton Farmers' Market, billed as the oldest continuous open-air market in the country; it got its start in 1752. The historic State Theatre was restored in the 1990s to its vaudeville-era splendor. It now hosts concerts, Broadway shows, and more.

Milford

Milford is a paradise for outdoor adventurers in the Pocono Mountains region of Pennsylvania. Get outfitted for fun, shop, and eat in the town’s historic district. The Golden Fish Art Gallery offers unique, locally made souvenirs, including art prints and jewelry. Stroll down Broad Street and relax over dinner and drinks at the Historic Dimmick Inn, on the same site since 1828. Hike or bike the McDade Recreational Trail along the Delaware River, and then head back to Milford’s walkable downtown for a stop at Broad Street’s ARTery Gallery, an artist cooperative with exhibits rotating monthly.

Honesdale

Find more than a bit of beauty in charming and historic Honesdale; you never need to leave Main Street for a delightful day out. Mount Pleasant Herbary offers workshops for creating everything from soap to herbal-infused oils, and you can shop for soaps and other sustainable items made in-house. Down Main Street, Finders Keepers Consignment Boutique offers affordable treasures. Throughout the year, look for unique events like the Mac & Cheese Crawl — where you can sample multiple versions of this classic dish — and Flower Crawl, which allows guests to build a bouquet as they shop local businesses.

Bedford

Start on Juliana Street in historic downtown Bedford, where visitors can stop at the Bedford County Visitors Bureau and learn all about the town's architecture, history, and more. The annual Bedford Fall Foliage Festival returns for its 61st year in October 2025, marking the beauty of leaf-peeping season and giving guests a head start on holiday shopping with local artisans. The event is so popular that Oprah Daily named it among the top Fall Harvest Festivals and Events Across America in 2021. Stay on Juliana Street to visit the National Museum of the American Coverlet, featuring intricate woven coverlets from 1771 to 1889. It is housed in a historic school building, and nearby, benches and green spaces offer spots to breathe in the town’s beauty.

Lititz

This lovely town leans into its rich history while inviting visitors to look to its future. The oldest commercial pretzel baker in the country, the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, started in Lititz in 1861. The bakery is still operating, and you can schedule a tour of its East Main Street facility. Stay at the Lititz Springs Inn, also home to the Bulls Head Public House, for those who want to sample an authentic British pub menu. Continue your Main Street visit by stopping at independent bookseller Aaron’s Books. The town hosts festivals and events throughout the year, including a summer farmers market and a winter Fire and Ice Festival, complete with live music, ice sculptures, and a chili cook-off.

Ligonier

Located in the Laurel Highlands region of Pennsylvania, Ligonier has a beautifully walkable Main Street that leads to a town square surrounding a central park, the Diamond, the perfect gathering spot and festival home. It’s the spot for local farm fare during the summer farmers market, and it transforms into a postcard-perfect, glistening park during the holiday season. Be sure to visit On the Diamond Antiques for unique vintage finds and then Second Chapter Books for more than just books — you can find gifts, teas, and more. Fancy some tea and crumpets? There’s a shop for that in Ligonier. Crumpets Tea Shop is the place for a cup of tea or coffee and some loose-leaf tea to take home.

Clearfield

Clearfield’s downtown could be a movie set, but it is a thriving, revitalized area that retains its small-town charm. The Art Deco marquee of the Ritz Theater anchors Market Street at a spot that has been showing movies since 1928. Take a class at Market Street Yoga, then walk to the Liddle Gallery for fine art and gifts to take home. You can even create your own at walk-in painting times throughout the week. The Market Street Bridge has pedestrian lanes for access to a bird’s eye view of the Susquehanna River, with access to a one-mile River Walk. On the other side of the river, Lower Witmer Park is home to the annual Riverfront Festival in June.

New Hope

Riverside beauty New Hope has more than enough to keep visitors busy and plenty of natural beauty for a slower pace. The Bucks County Playhouse is a thriving, popular theater with deep roots in the community and the arts world since its founding in 1939. Come for a show or a concert and support the theater’s nonprofit mission with a meal at the on-site restaurant and bar, Playhouse Deck. The New Hope Historical Society at the Parry Mansion offers tours of the historic mansion and walking tours of the town that give visitors accounts of its importance in the Revolutionary War and throughout history.

Bradford

Adjacent to the Allegheny National Forest and Allegany State Park, Bradford’s Main Street features breathtaking historic facades and wide, walkable sidewalks. Outdoor adventurers can ease into a relaxing weekend in town with stops at the Bradford Chocolate Factory for homemade treats, the Tin Ceiling Gift Shoppe for unique souvenirs, and, with a slight detour off Main Street, peruse the stacks of new and used books at On the Side Books. Nearby, Bradford is also home to the Zippo/Case Museum & Flagship Store, home of Zippo lighters, founded in 1932, and W.R. Case & Sons Knives, founded in 1889.

Zelienople

Immerse yourself in picturesque, old-fashioned charm in Zelienople, or “Zelie,” and a visit might turn into something more. Start at the Zelienople Historical Society to learn about the town and get oriented with appointment-only tours of the 1808 Passavant House and the 1805 Buhl House. Main Street’s Woods Lane & Co. offers a DIY creative studio, gifts, and more. Continue the historic experience with dining and drinks at Kaufman Tavern, which started in 1902 as a hotel. The Little Green Bookstore offers book shopping and in-store community events, and Urban Vine Wine Tasting Room is the place to taste the creations of Pennsylvania’s Stony Run Winery.

Kane

Come for the art, but come back for the atmosphere. Kane hosts Art in the Wilds, a juried fine art and craft show, each June, but this small town is reemerging as a destination. Downtown, Table 105 is a farm-to-table restaurant that features fresh, locally sourced foods and a taproom. Next door, Twisted Vine Winery offers tastings of its locally produced wines as well as lofts for those wanting a downtown lodging spot. Experience a true throwback at the nearby Kane Family Drive-In Theatre, opened in 1952, which operates during warm weather months.

Combining vacation with learning local history, saying hello to shop owners and artisans, and making the most of unique festivals, beloved parks, and the events that create the identities of small towns is the perfect way to leave a bit of your heart behind, taking memories that might cause you to come back in a different season. There’s always something new, even in historic spots, and especially on thriving Main Streets.