Stay Pennsylvania Rentals, Vacation Rentals in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is a Middle Atlantic State bordered by New York to the north, New Jersey to the east, Maryland to the south, and Ohio to the west. It is the fifth most populous state after California, Texas, New York, and Florida. The state has an abundance of natural resources and a varied landscape, which includes the Appalachian Mountains, the Allegheny Mountains, and the Pocono Mountains. The Poconos are an extremely popular resort area. The tradition of freedom continued when the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4, 1776. You can visit Independence Hall in Philadelphia, where the Declaration of Independence was signed. While you're in Philadelphia, examine the cracked Liberty Bell. It was rung when the Declaration of Independence was adopted. Do you know what else happened in Philadelphia? It was the country's capital from 1790 to 1800. The leaders of the American Revolution met there for the First and Second Continental Congress. During the Second Continental Congress, they wrote a draft of the Articles of Confederation, the United States' first federal constitution.

The Amish are a religious group who live in settlements in 22 states and Ontario, Canada. The oldest group of Old Order Amish, about 16-18,000 people live in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. The Amish stress humility, family and community, and separation from the world. Although Lancaster Amish are Pennsylvania Dutch, all Pennsylvania Dutch are not Amish. The Pennsylvania Dutch is natives of Central Pennsylvania, particularly Lancaster and its surrounding counties. Unlike the Amish, they are not all one religion. Instead, their common bond is a mainly German background. They also have Welsh, English, Scottish, Swiss, and French ancestry. They speak a dialect of German called Pennsylvania Dutch at home; they use High German at their worship services; and they learn English at school. They speak English when they deal with anyone who is not Amish. They pronounce Amish with a broad "a" (Ah-mish). The Amish are a private people who believe God has kept them together despite pressure to change from the modern world. They are not perfect, but they are a strong example of a community that supports and cares for its members. They are a people apart; they are also a people together.

Although Pennsylvania lies entirely within the humid continental zone, its climate varies according to region and elevation. The regions with the warmest temperatures and the longest growing seasons are the low-lying southwest Ohio valley and the Monongahela valley in the southeast. The region bordering Lake Erie also has a long growing season, as the moderating effect of the lake prevents early spring and late autumn frosts. The first two areas have hot summers, while the Erie area is more moderate. The rest of the state, at higher elevations, has cold winters and cool summers. Among the major population centers, Philadelphia has an annual mean temperature of 12°C, with a normal minimum of 7°C and a normal maximum of 18°C. Pittsburgh has an annual mean of 10°C, with a minimum of 5°C and a maximum of 16°C. In the cooler northern areas, Scranton has a normal annual mean ranging from 5°C to 15°C; Erie, from 6°C to 14°C. The record low temperature for the state is –41°C, set at Smethport on 5 January 1904; the record high, 44°C, was reached at Phoenixville on 10 July 1936.

Philadelphia: In many minds, Philadelphia comes across as little more than a historical day trip for residents of New York City and their children.

Pittsburgh: The bizarre layout of Pittsburgh – divided by the confluence of two rivers to form the Ohio River and split into a selection of neighborhoods that squash in between the water – makes for an interesting and diverse playground, with more distinct districts than you might expect to find in a typical city.

Harrisburg: Harrisburg is the capital of Pennsylvania, and with a population of 650,000+, it is the fourth largest city in Pennsylvania. It is located on the banks of the Susquehanna river.

Gettysburg: Gettysburg, PA was the site of the culmination and decisive point of the American Civil War. This historic town is the location where the Civil War changed momentum from the Confederacy to the Union Army.

Lancaster: Lancaster has a population around 55,000 and is the 8th largest city in Pennsylvania and the 101st largest metropolitan area in the US.

York: Named after its counterpart in England, York is the White Rose City in Pennsylvania. Located just across the Susquehanna River from Lancaster, it’s Red Rose sister from the infamous War of the Roses from the homeland.

State College: State College is a small central Pennsylvania town, located in Happy Valley south of Interstate 80. There are many small shops and restaurants, giving the town a friendly feel.

Bethlehem: Bethlehem is a city in eastern Pennsylvania, located in the heart of the Lehigh Valley. Pronounced "Beth-luhm" by the locals, the city is located on the banks of the Lehigh River.

King of Prussia: King of Prussia is a suburb of Philadelphia located approximately 20 miles northwest of the city center. The town used to be farmland until 1963.

Altoona: Altoona is located in Blair County and has a population around 50,000. Altoona sprung up around the railroad industry but today is suffering from urban decline.

West Chester: The Borough of West Chester, Pennsylvania is the county seat of Chester County, Pennsylvania. West Chester is located in Pennsylvania’s southeast corner.

Philadelphia is not the only part of Pennsylvania that is rich in history. Go to Lancaster County and watch the Amish drive horse-drawn carriages and plow their fields much in the same way as their ancestors. See Valley Forge, where Baron Von Steuben drilled General Washington's soldiers during a bitter winter until they became a well-trained army. Visit Gettysburg, the place where President Lincoln delivered his famous speech, the Gettysburg Address. While in Pennsylvania, visit Hershey. At Hershey Park you can sample delicious candy at the world's largest chocolate factory, or see how chocolate is made at the factory's theme park. Visit the state capital in Harrisburg. It's near Three Mile Island, where the most serious nuclear reactor accident in United States history led to an improvement in safety standards.

Intercity passenger rail transit is provided by Amtrak, with the majority of traffic occurring on the Keystone Service in the high-speed Keystone Corridor between Harrisburg and Philadelphia's 30th Street Station before heading north to New York City; the Pennsylvanian follows the same route from New York City to Harrisburg, but extends out to Pittsburgh. The Capitol Limited also passes through Pittsburgh, as well as Connellsville, on its way from Chicago to Washington, D.C. Traveling between Chicago and New York City, the Lake Shore Limited passes through Erie once in each direction. There are 67 short-lines, freight railroads operating in Pennsylvania, the highest number in any U.S. state.

Pennsylvania has six major airports: Philadelphia International, Pittsburgh International, Lehigh Valley International, Harrisburg International, Erie International, and Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International. A total of 134 public-use airport are located in the state. The port of Pittsburgh is the second largest inland port in the United States and the 18th largest port overall; the Port of Philadelphia is the 24th largest port in the United States. Pennsylvania's only port on the Great Lakes is located in Erie.