Pennsylvania
Gardners
Philadelphia
Quakertown
About Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is known as the 'Keystone' state, in part due to its central location in the original 13 US states , as well as being the location for so many important events in the founding of the country.
HI-USA Local Council for Pennsylvania
Origin of State Name: Named for William Penn
Area: 46055 sq mi
Population: 12,448,279
More Information
Pennsylvania is known as the 'Keystone' state, in part due to its central location in the original 13 US states , as well as being the location for so many important events in the founding of the country.
Hostels in Pennsylvania offer several great locations to see the historic sites of the state, whether you prefer urban excitement, or a chance to slow down and get away from it all.
Philadelphia, often referred to as the “City of Brotherly Love,” is the sixth largest city in Pennsylvania, and, in the 18th century, the first capital of the United States. Known for its prominent arts and culture, Philadelphia is home to several art galleries, including the famous Philadelphia Museum of Art, whose stairs were made famous in the film Rocky – tourists and residents often make the run up the museum steps. The Philadelphia - Bank Street hostel is located within the city’s historic district, close to two of the city’s most popular sites - Independence Hall , where the Declaration of Independence was signed, and the Liberty Bell. The Old City and South Street sections of Philadelphia are known for their exciting night life, while the Avenue of the Arts in Center City is lined with many restaurants and theaters, including the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the home of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Philadelphia is also known for its cheesesteaks, with two of its most famous stands – Pat’s and Geno’s, located in the Italian Market in the south section of the city. The Philadelphia – Chamounix Mansion hostel is located in the city’s Fairmount Park, close to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the famous Boathouse Row along the Schuykill River, and the Philadelphia Zoo, the nation’s first zoo. Fairmount Park is known for its 215 miles of beautiful recreation trails, athletic fields, and picnic grounds.
Nestled along the Appalachian Trail, the Gardners – Gettysburg hostel is also located within the Pine Grove Furnace State Park. The park is located on the site of the former Pine Grove Furnace, an iron furnace which was built in 1764 and in operation for 131 years, most notably producing cannonballs during the Revolutionary War. Visitors are welcome to fish in the park’s Fuller Lake and Laurel Lake, as well as its trout fishery Mountain Creek, and hike along its 3 miles of trails, which are open for cross-country skiing in the winter. Historic Gettysburg and its 1863 Civil War battlefields are located just miles from Gardners. Today, the battlefield is known as the Gettysburg National Military Park, and holds events such as battlefield walks and evening campfires. Gettysburg sponsors Civil War house tours and the ever-popular nighttime ghost tours.
Located in Newtown, Pennsylvania, the Newtown – Tyler State Park hostel is located within the park, which contains scattered original stone dwellings of early Pennsylvania, and is known for its beautiful Schofield Ford Covered Bridge. Newtown was founded in 1684 by William Penn, intended to support farming communities and country homes for city residents. Newtown’s entire historic district is on the National Register of Historic Places, and the town claims to have the nation’s oldest operating movie theatre, built in 1831, and showing its first move in 1906. Newtown sponsors historic walking tours, which is an ideal way to learn Newtown’s rich history first-hand.
