10 Extremely Weird Things Only People From Pennsylvania Do
By Beth Price-Williams|Updated on April 23, 2024(Originally published June 13, 2016)
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
Soooo…out-of-staters might just call some of the things we do in Pennsylvania weird. But, if you’re not from Pennsylvania, you may not understand the nuances of the way we talk, the hobbies we have, and the food we eat. For those of us who call Pennsylvania home, these 10 extremely weird things only people from Pennsylvania do are actually quite endearing because, well, they are unique to our beautiful state. Here’s a peek at some funny things about Pennsylvania (and we wouldn’t have it any other way).
1. Stop in front of the Squirrel Hill Tunnels in Pittsburgh.
What lurks in the Squirrel Hill Tunnels that makes Pittsburgh drivers slow down to a crawl as they approach it? A tunnel monster? Fear of the dark? No one really knows why slowing down in front of the Squirrel Hill Tunnels – and only the Squirrel Hill Tunnels – has become a part of the city's culture but, really, for those of us stuck in the traffic that results it's not so endearing and it's extremely weird. It's just one of those strange things about Pennsylvania that no one can really explain.
2. Put fries on our sandwiches…
Primanti Bros. Restaurant and Bar, 2 Market Square, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, USA
The rest of the country can thank Pennsylvania's Primanti Brothers for starting that delicious tradition of topping your sandwich with a generous helping of fries and coleslaw in between fresh Italian bread. Those who haven't tried it just don't know what they are missing, do they?
If we can eat fries on our sandwiches, why not on our salads too? Some may say fries on salads is just one of those funny things about Pennsylvania, but we'd say it's downright delicious.
On your mark...get set...race those lawnmowers! Lawnmower racing is a popular pastime for some Pennsylvanians – from Butler to Lewistown. Some may say it's just one of those strange things about Pennsylvania, but it's part of what makes our beloved state so charming.
C'mon. What could possibly be cuter than cheering on a bunch of wiener dogs as they race at Kennywood Park in Pittsburgh or at Oktoberfest in Wilkes-Barre?
Pennsylvania is such a spectacular place that even the rocks sing out – or ring out – in happy melodies if you lightly hit them with a hammer. The melodic park in Upper Black Eddy draws plenty of visitors each year but what makes the rocks ring remains a mystery. Scientists don't have an answer, although some locals attribute the ringing to the supernatural.
7. Visit Archbald Pothole State Park in Northeastern PA.
Archbald Pothole State Park, 960 Scranton Carbondale Hwy, Archbald, PA 18403, USA
How many times have you inadvertently hit a pothole and just cringed (or maybe said a few choice words)? As much as we curse them, those pesky potholes are just a part of our state. Pennsylvania celebrates one of the state's largest and oldest potholes – at 38 feet deep and 15,000 years old – at Archbald Pothole State Park.
Get upstairs and red up your room! Admit it. If you're from Pennsylvania, you've either had that very phrase yelled at you by a parent or you have yelled it to your kids. Pennsylvanians have their own dialect, which most people from out-of-state probably won't understand.
Well, which is it? Soda or pop? Pennsylvanians just can't seem to agree. Most of the state calls that delightful caffeinated drink soda while some, like those in the western portion of the state, staunchly refer to it as pop.
Pennsylvania's weather is finicky. So, that affects the way we dress which is why shorts and a sweatshirt are a pretty common sight throughout the city on chilly fall and spring days, on cool summer evenings, and even in the dead of winter when we've pretty much had enough of the cold and the snow.
Do you agree that these are some funny things about Pennsylvania? Are there any strange things in Pennsylvania we’ve missed? Let us know in the comments! Speaking of weird Pennsylvania, check out these strange laws that are sure to have you scratching your head.
Those of us who live in Pennsylvania know how absolutely delightful it is, so why not get out and explore some more? Book a Vrbo in your favorite Pennsylvania town.
