Visiting Central Pennsylvania

Central Pennsylvania, from Dutch Country and the Alleghenies in the south through the Susquehanna Valley north to the Pennsylvania Wilds, is prime for visitors. Known as Pennsylvania’s Happy Valley, State College is home to Pennsylvania State University. Well-known for its Nittany Lions athletic programs, Penn State is a hub of activity in State College. To the east, the Pocono Mountains offer PA visitors outstanding winter recreation. Wilkes-Barre, set along the Susquehanna River, is a gateway to 18 Pennsylvania winter ski areas in the Poconos. South in Pennsylvania’s Dutch Country Roads region, Gettysburg draws history buffs to the site of the largest Civil War battle.

Birding fans join the National Audubon Society’s Wilkes-Barre 112th annual Christmas Bird Count. The Pocono Environmental Education Center hosts volunteers January 1st to search and identify birds in upstate Pennsylvania. No experience needed to participate, PEEC matches visitors with experienced birders. Join the bird conservation effort in 1012. East of Wilkes-Barre in Dingmans Ferry, PEEC also hosts winter recreation activities including Introduction to Ice Fishing on January 29th, Cross Country Skiing the first two weekends in February and Animal Tracking January 21st and February 4th.

It’s all about basketball at State College’s Bryce Jordan Centre at Penn State. Don blue and white, and join fans cheering on the Nittany Lions and Lady Lions as they hit the court. PSU men play through March 4th in the regular season, ending with a game at University Park against Michigan. The Lady Lions end regular season play with the 6th annual WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State in a game against Minnesota.

The Center for the Performing Arts at Pennsylvania State University brings a wealth of cultural events to College Station in 2012. Classical music fans, join the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra at Eisenhower Auditorium on January 19th for performances of Brahms, Ralph Vaughn Williams and Dvorák. The season continues at University Park with Theatreworks-USA performing Seussical on January 22nd. February fills Eisenhower Auditorium's calendar with the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra Chamber Ensemble, Jin Xing Dance Theatre Shanghai and Broadway’s American Idiot featuring music from Green Day.

Gettysburg celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg with events throughout 2012. Join mid-winter talks at Gettysburg National Military Park weekends through March. Lectures are free and explore the events and personalities of the 1862 Gettysburg Campaign. Living history weekends on the Gettysburg Battlefield begin in April, where visitors can see daily life from 1862.

The 2012 Gettysburg North-South Marathon is schedule for April 29th. Runners, keep up training for the historic 2nd running of the North-South Marathon commemorating the Civil War. Participants choose to run for Union or Confederate states, with the winning side announced at the awards ceremony. Honor your own Civil War heritage at the 2012 Gettysburg North-South Marathon.

Central Pennsylvania Hotel Map