11 Unforgettable Small Towns to Visit in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania’s charm is rooted in its rich Civil War history, the scenic landscapes of the Pocono Mountains region, and unique landmarks and festivals that celebrate local culture and creativity. From riverside villages and historic boroughs to mountain gateways and lakeside hamlets, these small communities offer unforgettable experiences that are uniquely characteristic of the state. Whether planning to explore the state's pre-founding days in Chester or treat the taste buds to delicious confections along the historic streets of Lititz, each stop delivers an experience rooted in Pennsylvania’s past and present.
York
There are only a few places in America where you can literally live in a shoe, and York boasts the most famous of all. The Haines Shoe House is a head turner along the Lincoln Highway, featuring a 1,500-square-foot structure constructed in the shape of a boot. Despite its odd design, it functions perfectly as a 3-bedroom vacation rental complete with a kitchen, living room, and outdoor hot tub.
York's downtown is a treasure trove of historical monuments, including the Central Market House. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the market has been bringing local farmers together since 1888, making it a critical heritage site and community hub. Three days a week, dozens of vendors sell goods ranging from fresh seafood and baked goods to local produce and handmade products. Be sure to spare a few hours for an entertaining show at the Appell Center for the Performing Arts. This performance space comprises the Capitol Theatre and Strand Theatre, which showcase films and stage Broadway-quality productions by local and touring acts, including the York Symphony Orchestra.
Lewisburg
Lewisburg has an entire downtown district listed on the NRHP, thanks to its unique Colonial Pennsylvania layout and stunning 19th-century architecture. The town offers an exciting trip down memory lane across its numerous historical markers, such as the Campus Theatre. This landmark venue is one of the last single-screen Art Deco movie theatres in the country, offering a rustic viewing experience with couch seating and special BYOB screenings.
While exploring the history of Lewisburg, guests can go treasure hunting at Rollermills Marketplace. This restored 1800s flour mill houses 400 antique dealers who display their vintage wares and collectibles across three floors. Newcomers with a taste for wine can visit Fero Vineyards and Winery for a tour and tasting. This family-owned estate winery handcrafts award-winning wines from locally grown grapes, providing guests with an unforgettable sensory experience.
Chester
Tourists come to Chester to explore the rich origins of Pennsylvania as a state. This is because the town is home to the William Penn Landing Site, which preserves the first spot where Penn set foot before going on to establish the territory of Pennsylvania, named after the man himself. The site is believed to date back to 1682 and features a stone monument designed by John Struthers. Apart from its history, Chester interests art lovers with a dynamic collection at Art 504. This delightful studio displays different forms of art by artists from the Chester and greater Philadelphia region.
Finally, sports fans have the opportunity to watch a live soccer match at Subaru Park. This 18,500-seat arena hosts home games for the Philadelphia Union of Major League Soccer, exposing first-timers to an unparalleled stadium atmosphere beneath the Commodore Barry Bridge. It also serves as a venue for major concerts by national and international artists.
Johnstown
Johnstown is best recognized for hosting the steepest vehicular inclined plane in the world. Riding the funicular up or down the Johnstown Inclined Plane is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and not for the faint of heart. The 19th-century landmark features a grade of 71.9% and offers stunning panoramas of the town during the ride.
Johnstown shares a dark moment from its history at the Johnstown Flood Museum. The venue showcases an array of old photographs, artifacts, narrations, and a short film about the 1889 disaster and its aftermath, which claimed the lives of over 2,000 casualties when the South Fork Dam failed during a catastrophic storm. Meanwhile, outdoor enthusiasts have plenty of opportunities for recreation at Greenhouse Park. This lovely spot along the Stonycreek River hosts festivals and community events, and it offers access to the river for tubing and fishing, as well as paddling the constructed rapids at neighboring Whitewater Park.
Jim Thorpe
Jim Thorpe offers tourists one of the most scenic vintage train rides of their lives. The iconic Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway passes through the undisturbed wilderness of the Lehigh Gorge State Park, featuring picturesque views of waterfalls, cliffs, mountains, and forests. The LGSR also offers a Bike Train option, giving guests the chance to take the train as far as White Haven and then return by bike on the 25-mile trail, which is mostly downhill.
Those visiting the town to unwind can visit Mauch Chunk Lake Park, which provides year-round outdoor opportunities in the foothills of the Pocono Mountains. Windings trails cut through a dense network of forest, and the reserve also features a 345-acre lake, where people come to kayak, canoe, and fish for crappie, pickerel, catfish, and bass. Jim Thorpe's downtown district exudes history, and the Mauch Chunk Museum & Cultural Center brings the rich past back to life in a collection of old photographs, artifacts, relics, memorabilia, and narrated accounts of the town from pre-colonial eras to the coal mining period and the present. There is also a special section highlighting the legacy of the famous Native American athlete for whom the town was named.
New Hope
New Hope welcomes guests to experience its vibrant art scene by attending a show at the Bucks County Playhouse. This restored 18th-century grist mill was transformed into a premier performance art venue, attracting theater enthusiasts from across the region as much for its unique setting as for its shows. Situated along the banks of the Delaware River, it boasts the perfect backdrop for a range of plays, musicals, and more.
The heritage venue is also within walking distance of the Parry Mansion Museum, which provides a unique perspective of New Hope's evolution over the years. This rustic mansion is the town's oldest, constructed in 1784 and occupied by five generations of the Parry family. It features a dynamic collection of original decorative art pieces, household items, furniture, and other relics that represent different historical periods. Guests drawn to the great outdoors can explore the Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve, which features 134 acres of serene natural beauty, showcasing native trees, wildflowers, meadows, shrubs, and creeks. It features a welcoming visitor center with exhibits that explain the ecology, as well as a gift shop for tourists seeking souvenirs.
Gettysburg
Gettysburg is one of the most unforgettable small towns to visit in Pennsylvania, thanks to the vivid perspective it offers regarding the most consequential battle of the Civil War. The town is notable for hosting the Battle of Gettysburg and preserving the original battle site at the Gettysburg National Military Park. This 6,000-acre monument allows visitors to walk on the hallowed grounds where the pivotal exchange took place, watch reenactments, and browse numerous Civil War relics and artifacts at the Museum & Visitor Center, which provides additional context.
However, Gettysburg's appeal extends beyond the battlefield to offer a unique perspective on the aftermath of the war at the David Wills House. This former home of a local attorney, built in the early 19th century, features seven galleries showcasing heirlooms that highlight the story of David Wills, the battle, and Abraham Lincoln's visit. Guests can even tour the bedroom where the president resided the night before he gave his famous Gettysburg Address. For a final dose of history, the Dobbin House Tavern is one of America's oldest restaurants. This landmark establishment, completed in 1776, continues to serve patrons with the option of casual pub fare in the Spring House Tavern or fine dining by candlelight in the Alexander Dobbin Dining Room.
Kennett Square
Kennett Square is the self-proclaimed Mushroom Capital of the World, so it comes as no surprise that some of its most unique experiences involve mushrooms. For over four decades, more than 100,000 people have been flooding into the town every September for the town's annual Mushroom Festival. This colorful affair lasts two days, celebrating the community's mushroom heritage through contests, food, a pageant, demonstrations, and goodies centered around the edible fungi.
Guests can also witness the growing of mushrooms in Kennett Square by visiting the Woodlands at Phillips Mushroom Farms. This expansive farm immerses visitors in the amazing world of mushrooms through educational tours and self-guided exhibits, featuring different plant varieties, samples of gourmet mushroom products, and other specialty items. Finally, be sure to visit the amazing Longwood Gardens and explore a 1,000-acre oasis filled with meadows, botanical gardens, and woodlands that showcase the region's dynamic ecosystem all year long.
Lititz
One of Lititz's many claims to fame is being the home of the oldest-running pretzel bakery in the United States. Thousands flock each year to visit the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, which traces its origins back to 1861. The venue maintains its historic charm with an old brick design and delivers unique experiences, including learning to twist and prepare the delicious snack using an age-old recipe.
Lititz is deeply rooted in Moravian heritage and welcomes first-time visitors to explore its storied history at the Lititz Historical Foundation. This amazing museum features interactive displays, hosts lectures, and organizes special events that interpret the community's past. It borders the well-preserved Johannes Mueller House from the 18th century, which portrays life during the early days for a civilian in a Moravian settlement. Visitors to the museum can also tour the Mueller House, as well as take part in ghost walks and the popular Whiskey & History Tour. Meanwhile, Lititz Springs Park is a downtown oasis that offers picnic areas, a fountain, and plenty of space to gather for one of the town's many community events throughout the year.
Bradford
This unassuming border town near the New York state line is famously home to the Zippo/Case Museum & Flagship Store. Guests visit the 15,000-square-foot attraction to learn the legacy of two iconic American brands. It exhibits an extensive assemblage of invaluable Zippo artifacts and interprets their connection to American military history, including the renowned Zippo Repair Clinic.
Bradford further welcomes classical music fans and historians to explore the glowing tribute to a legend at the Marilyn Horne Museum and Exhibit Center. The facility features over a dozen exhibitions with items from her personal collection, including a documentary film and lavish costumes she once wore. Bradford also enjoys prime real estate at the edge of the Allegheny National Forest, which spans more than 500,000 acres of wilderness and boasts 6,000 miles of all-season trails, making this an ideal gateway town for exploring the wilds of Pennsylvania.
Wellsboro
Forget about Arizona; Wellsboro lures tourists to witness the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania. Pine Creek Gorge is no ordinary place. This geological wonder sinks to a depth of 1,500 feet and spans more than 45 miles in length. Standing on the canyon rim, eager guests can look down into densely forested slopes to marvel at the unprecedented scenery and hike along the canyon floor via the Pine Creek Rail Trail.
Meanwhile, Wellsboro's downtown area is home to numerous cultural centers worth visiting, including the historic Arcadia Theatre. This Art Deco movie venue from the 1920s showcases the latest films on its 4 screens and features a live stage for a variety of theatrical presentations. Alternatively, you can find a dedicated live performance stage at the Deane Center for the Performing Arts, which often features premier entertainment by local musicians and actors, with a repertoire of concerts, plays, musicals, and other presentations.
From taking a vintage train ride through the picturesque Pocono Mountains scenery in Jim Thorpe to riding the world’s steepest funicular in Johnstown, these unforgettable small towns to visit in Pennsylvania leave travelers with memories that last longer than the journey itself. Each destination blends rich history, charming downtowns, and warm local hospitality, inviting visitors to slow down, explore, and connect with the community. Pennsylvania’s small towns showcase unique experiences that inspire repeat visits and lifelong stories shared with others.
