The Surprising Pennsylvania Town That Makes an Excellent Weekend Getaway

All eyes turn to the small Pennsylvania town of Punxsutawney every February when we celebrate perhaps its most famous resident: Punxsutawney Phil. The lovable groundhog, undoubtedly the most famous in the world, wakes up from his winter slumber to give his prediction: 6 more weeks of winter or early spring. February, and particularly Groundhog Day, is a prime time to visit. However, Punxsutawney is an idyllic weekend getaway in Pennsylvania any time of the year.

With a population of just over 5,000, Punxsutawney oozes whimsical charm, making it an ideal destination any time of the year.

If you're looking for a small-town getaway in PA, you won't find more charming than Punxsutawney.

Even if you don’t visit during February for the hugely popular Groundhog Day festivities, you can still share in the town’s love for Phil – and enjoy its many Phil-centric destinations.

You'll find so many things to do in Punxsutawney that you'll definitely need more than a day to explore.

You can even get an up-close look at Phil, his beloved Phyllis, and their little ones Sunny and Shadow, if you’re lucky and they’re awake at their burrow. The adorable groundhogs live in a burrow, at the library, at 301 East Mahoning Street.

Just look for the sign that says "Phil’s Burrow" and stand by the huge windows that look into his home.

Whether you sneak a peek at the lovely little groundhog family, you’ll run across quite a few Phantstic Phils in town: statues that all pay homage to Phil himself. See if you can find all 41 of the six-foot-tall statues.

If you’re up for more Phil fun, make your way to the Groundhog Club Headquarters to check out one-of-a-kind memorabilia and to learn more about the history of Groundhog Day (and Phil’s role in it).

Carve out some time, too, for a visit to Punxsutawney Historical & Genealogical Society. There, you can learn about the town’s rich Native American history.

Since Phil is the most famous weather groundhog in the world, you probably won’t be surprised to learn that Punxsutawney is also home to the Weather Discovery Center. The interactive museum teaches you all about the weather and even allows you to try your hand at forecasting the weather.

Don’t forget to pack your hiking shoes or at least a pair of comfortable shoes. Hike the short half-mile trek to Gobbler’s Knob, the site of the annual Groundhog Day festivities; there are educational placards all along the path.

Start planning your weekend getaway on the official website of Visit Punxsutawney. Or, stop by the Facebook page of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club Inner Circle.

We love Phil! How about you? Do you agree that Punxsutawney makes an excellent weekend getaway? Let us know in the comments! If you love chasing waterfalls and have a free weekend, hit the road on this weekend waterfalls getaway in Pennsylvania.