Pennsylvania: This the No. 1 ‘Hidden Gem’ in the State

Pennsylvania has many popular tourist areas, but sometimes, you find something that’s considered a bit outside the norm. You might even call it a “hidden gem.”

TheCrazyTourist.com has put together a list of some of the best “hidden gems” in Pennsylvania. “As rich in history as it is diverse terrain, wide-open farmland, forests and mountains, it is a great vacation destination,” they state. “Well-known landmarks like Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell are only a fraction of the patriotic charm of Pennsylvania. There are scores of lesser-known attractions that manage to complete the rich culture of the state.”

Before we get to the No. 1 pick, one additional spot worth mentioning is the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia, which is dedicated to medical history. The museum was first donated by Dr. Thomas Mutter in 1858 for medical research and education, according to TheCrazyTourist.com, and is open to the public. Another great local spot is the Wagner Free Institute of Science in Philadelphia, a natural history museum. That spot was was founded in 1855 by William Wagner.

So, what’s the No. 1 “hidden gem” in all of Pennsylvania? According to the study, it’s The Rose Gardens in Allentown. That’s truly a beautiful spot. “The old-fashioned gardens are filled with flowers and ponds and known for their All American Rose Selections,” the publication states. “It is a perfect place for outdoor recreational activities like walking and biking all year round.” They add that, “Most flowers are in full bloom in the summer, but there are plenty of photos to be taken all year in this pristine natural environment.” Find TheCrazyTourist.com’s full list of the best hidden gems in Pennsylvania here.

Pennsylvania Areas with the Most Ghost Sightings

• 9. Hotel Bethlehem

  Bethlehem: “The 1741 Hotel Bethlehem is the hangout of many friendly ghosts, including a 1800s stage star who sings and dances for guests in the lobby, a welcoming Bethlehem tour guide who greets guests in the boiler room, and a former landlady who appears without shoes or stockings,” says visitPA.com.

  Historic Hotel Bethlehem | Official Site | Downtown Bethlehem PA

  Experience world-class service, charming guest accommodations, elegantly appointed lobby and common areas, award winning cuisine, beautiful yet efficient banquet and meeting facilities including our new 5,000 square feet Executive Conference Center. We proudly continue the tradition of Bethlehem hospitality which began on the site of our current hotel in 1741.

• 8. Eastern State Penitentiary

  Philadelphia: “Lingering spirits of past prisoners seemingly haunt the cellblocks of Eastern State Penitentiary. The nearly 200-year-old National Historic Landmark offers daytime tours, or brave souls can sign up for night tours through the dark, abandoned cellblocks,” says visitPA.com.

  Eastern State Penitentiary

  Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. Its vaulted, sky-lit cells once held many of Americas most notorious criminals...

• 7. Jean Bonnet Tavern

  Bedford: “Jean Bonnet Tavern, which has welcomed travelers to Bedford since 1762, is an excellent place to satisfy your appetite for delicious eats and paranormal activity,” says visitPA.com.

  Home

  Welcome to a yesteryear experience of old tavern charm. We invite you to share in the long tradition of hospitality, good food and drink, at this 1760s historic landmark. The flavor of the Jean Bonnet Tavern is traditionally inspired, yet eclectic. Delicious foods are carefully selected and expertly prepared for

• 6. Haunted Hill View Manor

  New Castle: “Visitors to Haunted Hill View Manor report hearing voices and footsteps and seeing numerous apparitions, including patients peeking out of rooms, a young boy, and a man who offers to take guests’ photos for $1,” says visitPA.com.

  Home - Haunted Hill View Manor

  Visit Haunted Hill View Manor Haunted Hill View Manor offers paranormal investigations and tours of a former nursing home /poor farm located in New Castle, Pennsylvania. Hill View Manor was built in 1926 and is a haunted location that spans over 80,000 square feet. We hold Public Investigations, Private Investigations, and Day Tours of the [...]

• 5. Mishler’s Theatre

  Altoona: “The uncovered testimony of a teenage girl claims the ghost of Isaac Mishler haunts historic Altoona’s Mishler Theatre. Madeline Letsche befriended the founder of the theater when her mother, Laura, would help with theatre productions. Over the years, many stage crew members, actors, office workers, and visitors have heard, seen, and even felt Isaac Mishler’s presence,” says visitPA.com.

  Mishler Theatre | Altoona, PA

  Through their ownership of the Mishler Theatre, the (BCAF) is preserving one of the remaining links to the area's cultural past. This grand facility has served home to Altoona Community Theatre and Altoona Symphony Orchestra.

• 4. Cathedral of Learning

  Pittsburgh: “The eerie Early American Room in the Cathedral of Learning, the educational tower that looms over the University of Pittsburgh, is known for mysterious activity, including shifting furniture and objects, cold spots, and randomly flaring candles,” says visitPA.com.

  Early American Room

  The Early American Room is unusual since it is not a Committee-started Nationality Room. This was a gift from the longtime President of the Board of Trustees at Pitt, George Hubbard Clapp. The Room emphasizes life in the 17th century (New England) for early English settlers.

• 3. Penn’s Cave & Wildlife Park

  Centre Hall: “Tour Penn’s Cave & Wildlife Park to gain insight into the area’s American Indian and pioneer folklore including the story of Nita-nee, a Seneca Indian maiden who fell in love with a French trapper named Malachi Boyer,” says visitPA.com.

  Home

  Located in Pennsylvania, Penn's Cave is America's only all-water cavern & farm-nature-wildlife park. We offer the most unique experiences the whole family will love, including a fully-guided cavern tour by boat, a beautiful farm to enjoy nature & wildlife, an off-road mountain tour, gemstone panning, & more.

• 2. Old Jail Museum

  Jim Thorpe: “In 1877, seven members of the Molly Maguires, a secret union of Irish coal miners, were imprisoned and executed at Jim Thorpe’s Old Jail Museum,” says visitPA.com.

  Home

  Schedule, Pricing & more Info... click HERE Note: The only "official" Facebook Page we have is the link above. Any other pages are NOT under our control so please disreguard. We have requested FB to take them down, but they have not. Facebook has no customer service to call to assist with this.

• 1. Farnsworth House Inn

  Gettysburg: “Used as shelter for Confederate sharpshooters and a makeshift hospital after the Battle of Gettysburg, the Farnsworth House Inn is touted as one of the most haunted places in America,” says visitPA.com.

  The Farnsworth House Bed and Breakfast - Bed Breakfast, Restaurant, Paranormal

  The Lincoln procession passed the Farnsworth House on November 19, 1863, on the way to the National Cemetery where he delivered the famous Gettysburg Address. Harvey Sweney, the owner of the house during the battle, composed a letter to his brother, penning the most insightful and powerful account ever written on the subject.

• Ghost Tours

  One great ghost tour, noted by visitPA.com, is the Ghost Tour of Lancaster. “Take the Ghost Tour of Lancaster for shiver-worthy stories of “otherworldly vigils, fatal curses, and star-crossed lovers,” says visitPA.com.

  Ghost Tour of Historic Haunted Lancaster, PA | Lancaster's most popular night-time attraction

  Candlelight walking tours of haunted Strasburg and Lancaster County, PA. Discover a ghost story, visit a haunted house, experience a spooky cemetery as we bring history back to life on the Ghost Tour of Lancaster. Historical tours of Pennsylvania Dutch and Amish Country.

• Ghost Tours

  Another prized ghost tour is the Ghost Tours of New Hope. “Follow the lantern light and keep your eyes peeled for a phantom hitchhiker and the ghost of 1700s-era politician Aaron Burr during Ghost Tours of New Hope,” says visitPA.com.

  Ghost Tours of New Hope

  GIVING YOU THE HISTORY AND THE MYSTERY OF NEW HOPE FOR OVER 40 YEARS!

• Ghost Tours

  Finally, one last choice ghost tour is the Haunted Pittsburgh Ghost Tour. “Explore haunted locales such as Allegheny County Jail and William Penn Hotel on the Haunted Pittsburgh Ghost Tour, where the Steel City’s salty past comes to life,” says visitPA.com.

  THE PITTSBURGH GHOST TOUR

  We are the curators of Pittsburgh's nightmares, the archivists of its fears, the trustees of all things that go "bump in the night" in Western Pennsylvania. Join us for a spine-tingling ghost tour of one of America's most haunted cities. Tours: Fridays and Saturdays at 7 p.m.

• Source

  This full list is via visitPA.com.