Top 3 things to do in Harrisburg, PA (Pennsylvania)

 

State Capitol, Harrisburg, PA

My wife and I have lived in the state of Pennsylvania since April 2006 until our early retirement in August 2020.  Pennsylvania has been great to us as it allowed us to retire early (thanks to a steady job) and also because we got our traveling companion Toby, a 13 pound Pomeranian dog in Pennsylvania.

There are many places I want to write about Pennsylvania in the upcoming posts, but I think I’ll start with Pennsylvania’s capital, Harrisburg.

Harrisburg sits on the Susquehanna River and is home to around 50,000 residents.  The downtown is not huge like say Philadelphia, but it packs many neat attractions within a square mile radius of downtown area.  It offers sights and attractions found in many large cities, but with the charm of a small town.  

Harrisburg played a vital role in the Westward expansion, Civil War, and the Industrial Revolution.  Many of the sights and attractions pay tribute to the city’s proud history.  

Due to its relative proximity to where we lived (suburb of Philadelphia), we took numerous trips to the state capital.  It takes about an hour and a half to get there from our home as it’s about 90 miles away.  Usually, the drive would be on I-76 and it would pass through idyllic farms, scenic rivers, and animals of all kinds (cows, pigs, sheeps, chickens, goats, etc.).

In this post, we’d like to share our top 3 things to do in Harrisburg:

  • Pennsylvania State Capitol:
Envisioned as a ‘Palace of Art’, the State Capitol acclaims numerous works of art.  It is also a priceless piece of architecture in its own right.  President Theodore Roosevelt on dedication of the Capitol building ceremony on October 4, 1906 said “This is the handsomest building I ever saw”.

The Capitol features paintings, stained glass, furnishings by some of the greatest artisans of the day.  The centerpiece of the Capitol is the spectacular 272 foot dome inspired by Michelangelo’s design for St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome.  

Although at this time, the Capitol is closed to the public due to the pandemic, you can still marvel at the grandeur of the building and appreciate its beauty from the outside.  *Please check with the Pennsylvania Capitol online for up to date information.  Once the building opens, the free tours should commence again...

Tip: There are metered street parking available near the Capitol building.  If not, look for parking garages.

  • Pennsylvania State Museum:

Located right next to the Pennsylvania Capitol, Pennsylvania State Museum is a small but a hidden gem!  We decided to visit there two summers ago for the first time, and it didn’t disappoint!

State Museum features a Planetarium, museum store, and exhibits on multiple levels.  There are rotating exhibits depicting life in Pennsylvania.  Handsome displays of indigenous animals, plants, and peoples are shown, and they are great for young ones.  We easily could’ve spent hours there...

Planetarium is not to be missed and it was my favorite part of the museum!  Show schedules change, so check with the museum prior to visiting.

Tip:  There are no restaurants inside the museum.  There is a vending machine at the ground floor.  Admission is $7 for adults.  Combine the entrance fee with planetarium show when buying tickets.

***At this writing, the museum is temporarily closed due to the pandemic.  Please check with the museum for current information.

Pennsylvania State Museum, Harrisburg, PA

  • Pride of Susquehanna:
Pride of Susquehanna is one of the few remaining paddle-wheel riverboats remaining in operation in America today.  It is an authentic stern-driven paddle wheeler built in 1988.  Since its launch, it has hosted over a million visitors and it has been a popular venue for public and private events.

During summer months, the Pride of Susquehanna departs every 45 minute on a sight seeing tour up and down the Susquehanna River.  Public cruise reservations are not required.  Admission is $9 per adult.

The Susquehanna River at its widest is about one mile and it’s 444 miles long, taking the title as the longest river on the east coast, and is the 16th longest river in the US.  

The views are simply amazing!  We got onboard and took our seats towards the front of the boat.  The boat sets a leisurely pace up the river once it departs.  If you sit near the back where the paddle wheel is located, be prepared to get little wet as the wake from the wheel will send mist/water combo up!  

We saw beautiful bridges spanning a mile, birds enjoying the weather, and houses / apartment buildings far away in the distance.  It was a soul cleansing ride!


Pride of Susquehanna boat on top and view on bottom!

Tip:  If you get hungry after all the sightseeing, be sure to check out our favorite Italian joint, Alvaro Bread and Pastry Shoppe, located in downtown Harrisburg.  We usually order the daily lunch specials.  My favorite is the chicken parmigiana with stuffed shells on Saturdays!  Their breads are also awesome!

Even though we no longer live in Pennsylvania, it will always have a place in our hearts.  We are grateful for all it has done for us in the 14 years we’ve lived there.  We’ll always remember all the wonderful places we’ve visited and will most likely plan to visit in the future again...

Thank you all for reading!


Jake

Wandering Money Pig 


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Please check out our YouTube channel ‘Wandering Money Pig’ showcasing our travels and our Pomeranian dog! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3kl9f4W9sfNG5h1l-x6nHw

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