Pennsylvania

Decisive Battleground Issue: Fall/Winter 2011 Author(s): Claudia Taller One of the most important historical events in American history took place in Adams County, Pennsylvania , just north of the Maryland border. The Battle of Gettysburg was a turning point in the Civil War, when Union forces defeated the Confederate General Robert E. Lee on July 1–3, 1863. And today, the story can be heard on an air-conditioned bus, during a self-guided auto audio tour, on a guided car tour, on foot, or by bicycle. As for the most authentic way to explore the 40 miles of battlefield roads...

Chocolate Spa...Aaah Issue: Fall/Winter 2011 Author(s): Traci L. Suppa When you think Hershey, you typically think “kid stuff” — a slab of chocolate nestled between two marshmallow-y grahams, a surprise Kiss hidden inside a Valentine’s Day card, a chocolate reward for a job well done. But at the luxurious Chocolate Spa in Hershey, Pennsylvania , you’ll find treats that are a little more grown up. Located within the Hotel Hershey, the Chocolate Spa offers a full range of traditional body treatments, including hydrotherapy, massage, body wraps, facials, manicures, pedicures ...

Savor the Flavor Issue: Fall/Winter 2011 Author(s): Jackie Perrin At Reading Terminal Market , families can sample a taste of Philadelphia , from cheese steak and whoopie pies to hand-twisted pretzels, and then embark on a worldwide culinary tour. Established in 1892, the Center City landmark is a year-round destination for tourists as well as locals, providing a good dose of culture along with a feast for the senses. More than 80 vendors, from Amish and Italian bakeries to Middle Eastern, Thai, Cajun and southern U.S. specialty shops, present a global smorgasbord of t...

Be a Sport Issue: Fall/Winter 2011 Author(s): Gerald Bartell Joe Paterno’s Nittany Lions have held the spotlight for decades at Penn State with thrilling, championship seasons. But sports at PSU go way beyond the gridiron — all the way back to 1882, in fact, when a Penn State team took to a baseball diamond. To experience what’s happened in the intervening years, visit Penn State’s All-Sports Museum , tucked into a corner of Beaver Stadium in University Park, Pennsylvania . You’ll see that Penn State has been home to 29 sports, ranging from boxing and basketball t...

Objects of Affection Issue: Spring/Summer 2011 Author(s): Gerald Bartell With its slim walls and aluminum-trimmed windows, the exterior of the Maridon Museum in Butler, Pennsylvania , takes you back to the 1950s when the building housed a car dealership. Behind the modern, glass facade, you’ll discover artifacts that take you back more than 4,000 years. The Maridon Museum houses a vast and diverse collection of art works that once belonged to Butler native Mary Hulton Phillips. She began collecting in the late 1960s with a philosophy that bespoke her easygoing attitude — buy ...

Swing State Issue: Spring/Summer 2011 Author(s): Amber Matheson As you round the final bend in the road en route to Pennsylvania’s Omni Bedford Springs Resort , the first wing of the sprawling country estate slips into view. Then, like so many carefully placed dominos, the resort reveals itself, section by section, in the distance. And where the Omni ends, the golf course begins — a rolling, quiet sweep of green grass and golden scrub aglow in the summer sun. The hotel underwent a top-to-toe $120 million renovation in the mid- 2000s. Rooms were restored to the origin...

Home Run Issue: Spring/Summer 2011 Author(s): Christine A. Smyczynski A visit to the Peter J. McGovern Little League Museum in Williamsport, Pennsylvania , is sure to be a home run hit with your kids. The 23,000-square-foot museum, which opened in 1982, is named after the first president of Little League Baseball. It features two levels of exhibits, artifacts and interactive activities that educate visitors about Little League Baseball, which was founded in Williamsport in 1939 by Carl Stolz. The first thing you’ll notice when entering the museum are the colorful flags han...

Screen Hero Issue: Spring/Summer 2011 Author(s): Gerald Bartell Mention the man who starred in “Harvey” and “It’s a Wonderful Life,” and most kids will ask, “Who was Jimmy Stewart?” The Jimmy Stewart Museum in the actor’s hometown of Indiana, Pennsylvania , provides delightful answers, giving the younger generation a chance to learn about this beloved icon. Located across the street from the site of the hardware store that Stewart’s father and grandfather owned, the museum is divided into several sections. Start at the film theater, where daily screenings will acquai...