by Thom W. Conroy

Created on: March 25, 2010   Last Updated: April 18, 2011

Pennsylvania is an amazingly beautiful and diverse state with a great many interesting attractions to offer visitors, and the best vacation destinations in Pennsylvania cater to the comfort and enjoyment of the entire family. Pennsylvania is one of the more unique vacation destinations in the United States in that the state features lifestyles ranging from big city attractions to remote outdoor excursions and just about every possible activity ranging between them. One of the great features of the best vacation destinations in Pennsylvania is that they are far more affordable in tough economic times than more trendy vacation spots, and a traveler looking for relaxation will find their hard-earned dollars stretch a little further in the Keystone State.

An individual on vacation in Pennsylvania would be well-served to utilize one of the larger cities such as Philadelphia or Pittsburgh as a home base during their trip. By doing this, a traveler can reap the benefits of the culture, history, attractions and amenities of a large metropolitan area while making day trips to more remote locations of interest. A substantial number of the best vacation destinations in Pennsylvania are within an hour drive of both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, and a well planned itinerary can allow a traveler to partake of many with a minimum of time spent driving unnecessarily. By using a stay in a large city in Pennsylvania as a staging area a vacationer can also save money by obtaining a good hotel deal at a single hotel, and avoid the hassle of making reservations and changing hotels every night.

Another wonderful way to experience the best vacation destinations in Pennsylvania to make an entire vacation of driving the state from east to west (or west to east) along one of the state's two main interstate highways. Interstate 80 runs nearly the entire width of the state of Pennsylvania in the northern part, and can be an incredible trip while taking in mountain views and interesting small towns. Interstate 76 is the Pennsylvania turnpike, and runs east to west in the southern part of the state. There are many of the best vacation destinations in Pennsylvania on or nearby the Pennsylvania turnpike, including Amish country, the state capital of Harrisburg and many camping areas with great fishing and hiking destinations.

Many of the best vacation destinations in Pennsylvania can be experienced year-round, making the state a prime location for a winter get-away. Among these are some of the best ski resorts in the eastern United States, including Blue Knob, Alpine Mountain and Seven Springs.

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