It may not be a highly traveled-to area, but central PA has a lot to offer for things to do! The beautiful changing seasons and vast landscape lends itself to a variety of interesting activities year-round. Here's our list of the best things to do, whether you are just passing through or you are a resident looking to try something new!
We are going to share our favorite places in central PA of course, but also check out this map of things to do across the whole state created by Uncovering PA! We have a long list, so let's dive right in!
Year-Round Activities
Whitaker Center, Harrisburg- Featuring a hands-on science activity center, a digital cinema, a performing arts theater, and more, there's a lot to do here!
West Shore Theater- This is a small theater that our family would go to growing up because they'd show movies after they left theaters, offering inexpensive tickets. In recent years management has been unstable making it somewhat out of commission, but they still do special feature movies, announced on their Facebook page. Catching a movie at this old-fashioned theater is an experience! #travellikealocal
Hunt for Cows/Dinosaurs in Harrisburg- My husband and I did this when they first revealed the dinosaurs and it was so fun walking all over downtown to find them! We love this because it is a free and unique opportunity to explore the city. The linked map is for the dinosaur locations, and you'll just have to hunt for cows along the way! #travellikeallocal
Concerts, Harrisburg- Harrisburg University, Whitaker Center, XL Live in Harrisburg- Of Monsters and Men and Young the Giant are two recent headliners
Plays & Musicals, Harrisburg- Theatre Harrisburg, Open Stage, Gamut Theatre Group, HBG Improv Theatre, Whitaker Center
Ashcombe Farm and Greenhouses- Purchase beautiful plants and participate in fun garden classes like succulent art
Strites Orchard Farm Market & Bakery, Paulus Orchards- Pick your own produce including berries, peaches, apples, pumpkins and other produce throughout the year, sunflowers in May, buy fresh produce and other local goods
Winter
Ski Roundtop, Lewisberry- Skiing, snowboarding, tubing
Farm Show, Harrisburg- People across the state travel see the farm animals, tractor pulls, and of course the famous milkshakes!
Carlisle Ice Fest- Every February enjoy ice sculptures, yoga, scavenger hunts, games, and more!
Spring
Our favorite greenhouse, Camp Hill- This is a great place to get plants from flowers to succulents, but it really off the beaten path. It is a business run from a home, but there is usually someone there during the day to help you (there will always at least be cats roaming around). Check out the GPS screenshot below to see where it's located! If you go during spring or summer, it's a beautiful place for photos! #travellikealocal
East Coast Exotic Animal Rescue- I would highly recommend a visit here! It is a nonprofit that rescues animals like tigers, parrots, and monkeys that were neglected or mistreated. Tickets are inexpensive and the staff is very hospitable. We even saw a staff member playing with a bobcat!
Children’s Lake, Boiling Springs- Feed ducklings and swans, walk the trail, go boating, and more.
Summer
Tubing/Kayaking/Fishing, Yellow Breeches Creek- See the website for a map of access points
City Island, Harrisburg- With Senators baseball games, fireworks, water golf, the Pride of the Susquehanna riverboat, and rental bikes, there's a lot to do here! It's also a great place to park and walk across the river into the city.
Haar’s Drive-In Movie Theater, Dillsburg
Lake Tobias, Halifax- We always took field trips here in school, and the safari ride is so cool! The animals come right up to the bus and you can feed them (they recently got giraffes!). This is also an inexpensive place for a family to visit, for $15 you get admission to walk around the park exhibits, see a reptile show, visit the petting zoo, and ride the safari!
Hiking- There are beautiful hikes all across central PA thanks to the Appalachian Trail. This website will give all the details you need, but our favorites are Hawk Rock, Flat Rock, A Thousand Steps, Ricketts Glen State Park- all hikes with views that make the steep walk uphill worth it! Be sure to check the difficulty level and go prepared with water, snacks, and a first aid kit.
Local Fairs- Lisburn Fair in August, Mechanicsburg's Jubilee Day in June, the Harrisburg Kipona in September
Fall
National Apple Harvest Festival, Biglerville- We loved going to the Biglerville Apple Harvest Festival with our family before we moved out of state. I would always get a mini jug of apple cider, and my uncle always had to buy a pumpkin funnel cake for the family to share. It is held for two weekends every October.
New Cumberland Apple Fest- Held the last Saturday in September
Field of Screams- Claimed "America's #1 Haunted Attraction"
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