A road trip is fun anytime, but it doesn't get much sweeter than this pie shop road trip in Pennsylvania. Just prepare your sweet tooth for an explosion of flavor as you visit some of the very best pie shops in the state. You'll need a big appetite, but the journey won't eat up too much of your gas. It spans just over 100 miles in around three hours. Add some time for each stop, too.
Here are the Google Map directions for this tasty road trip. They're easy to customize to your needs and timeframe, too.
We start our oh-so-sweet journey at Bird-in-Hand Bakery & Cafe, where you might want to grab a bite to eat. However, make sure you save plenty of room for pie. The bakery is perhaps best known for its shoofly pie, but you'll find an assortment of other flavors, too, including strawberry pie. Oh, and don't forget a PA favorite - whoopie pie. Find out why some people say this Pennsylvania bakery makes some of the best shoofly pie in the world.
For a fresh, scrumptious pie, you can't go wrong at our next stop: Wendy Jo's Homemade, where all of the pies are, well, homemade. The menu's brimming with deliciousness - from fruit pies to cream pies. You'll find all of the classics, too, like pumpkin, pecan, and key lime pie. Stop by the official website of Wendy Jo's Homemade for more information.
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3. Louise Heffelfinger's Baked Goods & Sweets – Lebanon
Our next stop brings us to Louise Heffelfinger's Baked Goods & Sweets, where you'll be treated to some of Pennsylvania's very best pies. The menu is absolutely packed with flavor - cherry, apricot, and peach pies. You can't pass up a classic shoofly pie, either. Discover all of the goodness that awaits on the official Facebook page of Louise Heffelfinger's Baked Goods & Sweets.
Tucked inside the Farmers Market of Wyomissing, Lil's Bakery is a family-owned-and-run business that dishes up a whole lot of deliciousness. Their pies are baked fresh and from scratch and include such flavors as fruit, pumpkin (seasonally), and the beloved shoofly pie. Learn more on the official website of Lil's Bakery.
The town of Gap might be tiny but it's certainly mighty, especially as the home of McClure's Bakery. The unassuming bakery has been a favorite for more than five decades, serving such classics as peanut butter, classic and chocolate shoofly, and pumpkin pie. Don't forget to grab a whoopie pie, too. Find out why McClure's Bakery makes some of the best pie in Pennsylvania by reading our previous article.
Bird-in-Hand Bakery & Cafe has a bit of competition for the title of the world's best shoofly pie. You'll really have to decide for yourself when you dig into a slice of the Pennsylvania favorite at Dutch Haven Bakery. Even if you're not a fan of shoofly pie, the popular Pennsylvania destination makes whoopie pies to die for. Plan your visit to this Pennsylvania bakery by reading our previous article.
Have you been to any of the spots on this pie shop road trip in Pennsylvania? Let us know in the comments! On the lookout for some of the best Amish food you've ever tasted? Check out the best Amish restaurants in Pennsylvania.
Spend Three Days In Three State Parks On This Weekend Road Trip In Pennsylvania
A 3-day road trip in Pennsylvania covers Salt Springs, Ricketts Glen, and Lehigh Gorge State Parks, offering hiking, waterfalls, and whitewater rafting.
A weekend road trip in Pennsylvania just sounds heavenly, doesn't it? We have so many amazing destinations that it can be tricky to narrow down what to pack into three days. If you're a fan of the outdoors, hit the highway on this road trip to three of the best state parks in Pennsylvania. One day is dedicated to each of the parks, so you can pack in a whole lot of fun in this 3-day road trip in Pennsylvania.
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Here are the Google Map directions for the road trip. You can easily customize them, adding your starting and ending points, or switching around the days you visit the parks
Our epic three-day road trip doesn’t require a ton of driving – just 211 miles over 4.5 hours. The minimal driving means you get to spend more time in each state park, rather than on the road.
Spanning a cozy 405 acres, Salt Springs State Park is an often overlooked, absolutely gorgeous state park that’s perfect for exploration. Bring your hiking shoes for your adventure. The park boasts 16 miles of hiking trails, and you’ll definitely want to follow the Fall Brook Trail. It passes along a picturesque boardwalk, past towering hemlock trees that are more than 300 years old, and to several cascading waterfalls. This is one trail where you'll want to make sure you have your camera. It’s a great start to one of the best roads trips in Pennsylvania.
Bring a pair of binoculars, too, because the lush park with fern floors is brimming with wildlife – deer, red foxes, porcupine, beaver, flying squirrels, and red squirrels. Fishing is permitted, and you’ll definitely want to enjoy a leisurely picnic. Explore during the day and reserve one of the rustic camping cottages for an overnight. While the cottages have electric lights and outlets, you’ll have to use the rustic bathrooms nearby. Whatever you do, make sure you get a good night’s sleep, because tomorrow is going to be absolutely epic, especially if you love waterfalls. Here's the official website of Salt Springs State Park.
Ricketts Glen State Park is always a natural choice for a road trip destination for one specific reason: waterfalls. The gorgeous state park is huge, tallying more than 13,000 acres. One of the highlights is, undoubtedly, the 21 named waterfalls, including the 94-foot-tall Ganoga Falls. You can see them all, too, on the challenging 7.2-mile Falls Trail. While the trail is quite challenging due to its rough terrain, the rewards are more than worth it. The park also features more than a handful of other trails, some of which give you a glimpse of some of the waterfalls, or you can also explore on horseback. The perfect stop for this weekend road trip in Pennsylvania.
Bring your beach gear along, too, if you’re roadtripping during the summer. Ricketts Glen features a beautiful sandy beach that leads into Lake Jean. The beach has everything you need for a relaxing time – a concession stand and picnic tables, and you can rent a boat if you want to explore the water.
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You can camp out overnight too, in one of the modern cabins (which feature bathrooms), by pitching a tent, or parking your RV. Get all of the details on the official website of Ricketts Glen State Park.
Our final day brings us to Lehigh Gorge State Park. Adventure awaits, especially if you’re a daredevil. If you are, go whitewater rafting through the gorge. The water trail promises a ton of fun and gorgeous scenery. You can also find local outdoor outfitters to lead you on a tour. A great final stop on one of our favorite road trips in Pennsylvania.
The best way to explore, however, is probably on one of the scenic hikes. (Biking is also popular at the park.) Lehigh Gorge State Park boasts 33 miles of hiking trails, including the 1.2-mile Buttermilk Falls and Luke’s Falls Trail. You’ll pass such beautiful scenery as waterfalls, and you’ll stroll through a cave. Learn more on the official website of Lehigh Gorge State Park.
Remember that chill of terror that ran down your spine as you hid under the blankets as a kid, peeking out so you wouldn't miss the scariest part of a horror flick on TV, but afraid of what might happen next? Enjoy chilling moments once again when you embark on this haunted road trip in Pennsylvania that may bring you face-to-face with the paranormal. Are you brave enough to face the most haunted places in Pennsylvania?
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When you're ready to hit the road, view the Google Map directions.
Pennsylvania is arguably one of the most haunted states in America. Fitting every haunted spot into this spooky road trip simply isn't possible. The itinerary, however, will take you to some of the scariest places in Pennsylvania. Add stops to your itinerary. Remove stops. Or, mix up the order of your road trip. However you plan it...have fun!
Start your haunted journey at Hill View Manor in New Castle, at the top of the list of scariest places in Pennsylvania. Originally a home for court-ordered mental patients and the elderly with nowhere to go when it opened in 1926, Hill View Manor eventually became solely focused on caring for the elderly before it shut in 2004. During its long history, Hill View Manor saw countless natural deaths and suicides. One hundred bodies are said to be buried on the site while their spirits still roam the facility. The most famous ghost, Mary Virginia, had a great love of dolls and is often seen wandering the building. This is definitely one of the best haunted attractions in Pennsylvania. Here's the official website of Hill View Manor.
Enjoy a production at the Mishler Theatre in Altoona, but expect to be entertained by far more than the actors and actresses on the stage. Named after its one-time owner, the Mishler Theatre was so loved by Mr. Mishler that his spirit is said to remain there today. Theater-goers often tell of smelling cigar smoke, a favorite of Mr. Mishler, and seeing the smoke spiral upwards but no one's there. Some have even seen Mr. Mishler walk into a wall, where the door to his office once stood, and disappear. Will your ticket to the Mishler Theatre include an impromptu meeting with Mr. Mishler's apparition? If you've been looking for "haunted locations near me," you won't find better! Check out the official website of Mishler Theatre.
Editor's Note: Centralia is on private property, so please avoid trespassing.
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Centralia is a virtual ghost town with less than half a dozen residents still remaining. An underground fire, which started in the mines in 1962, continues to burn in Centralia, drawing curious onlookers from around the state. Except for the homes in which the remaining residents live, the remainder of Centralia has been condemned and experts state that the fire could burn for several hundred more years.
While you can't visit Centralia, you can get a peek of it in 2023. Check out this video by Rapid Retrospect on YouTube.
Sure, a leisurely drive along Hansell Road, which leads into the forest, may seem like a peaceful way to spend an hour or so. But, if you believe in the paranormal, you may find that tranquility shattered when you begin to see mysterious objects, such as orbs glowing from the trees. Some describe the orbs as eerie eyes staring at them while others liken their shape to that of a traditional lantern. A spooky road trip certainly wouldn't be complete without a journey down this haunted road.
Local legend tells two different haunted tales of what happened on Van Sant Bridge - now known as Crybaby Bridge. In one tale, a man viciously murdered a woman and her infant on the bridge. His deed was repaid when he was hanged from the rafters of the bridge. Others tell a slightly different version of the story, asserting that the mother murdered her infant. Whatever the true story, visitors tell of seeing an apparition hanging from the covered bridge by a noose and of catching sight of the distraught mother looking for her child. The cries of an infant are also frequently heard. Learn more about Van Sant Covered Bridge.
Visit this 17th century inn for a delicious meal with a side of the paranormal. During its storied history, the King George Inn II, which is the longest continuously operating inn in the United States, has welcomed a long list of esteemed guests, including George Washington, John Adams, and James Madison. Today, diners tell of ghostly sightings, including that of a man neatly dressed in a top hat and tails walking through the inn. Others tell of paintings suddenly falling off of the walls and doors opening and closing when no one's there. Stop by the official website of The King George Inn II for more information.
More than 70,000 prisoners passed through Eastern State Penitentiary from the time it opened in 1829 until it permanently shut down in 1971. Originally designed to have only solitary cells, prisoners spent 24 hours a day alone, driving most to insanity. By the early 20th century, however, two to three men crowded into a tiny cell, but that was only the beginning of their suffering. The warden encouraged such torture as dunking the men into freezing water in the winter then hanging them against the wall and tying them up for days at a time so they couldn't move their limbs. Today, visitors talk of seeing apparitions and hearing wails as they tour the prison, which also features a nighttime haunted house in the autumn months. Here's the official website of Eastern State Penitentiary.
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8. Pennhurst State Hospital and School – Spring City
Originally designed to be a safe haven for the mentally ill when it opened in 1908, Pennhurst State Hospital and School became a virtual prison for those who entered - and never left. The overcrowded facility often checked in the mentally ill as well as those who were both physically and mentally healthy. Horrific tales of abuse - such as patients' starvation and unexplained bruises - still run rampant, decades after the facility permanently closed in 1987. Many believe that the spirits of those who suffered at Pennhurst remain in the facility. Part of the former mental hospital turns into a spooky haunted house each autumn. Visit the official website of Pennhurst Haunted Asylum.
Gettysburg is known as Pennsylvania's most haunted town and for good reason. Over 55,000 men were injured or killed during the three-day battle of Gettysburg in 1863. (One civilian - a woman named Jennie Wade - also died during the epic battle.) Many of those who died were left unburied. Some were buried then had their bodies moved. Their spirits are said to remain in Gettysburg and at Devil's Den, an area used for snipers, in particular. Past visitors tell of visiting Devil's Den as day turns to evening. A mist appears in the sky while the sound of marching fills the air. You might also spot a bright light and see the shadows of soldiers marching across the field. Still others talk of having mishaps with their otherwise fine cameras or smartphones when on the battlefield while many have met a friendly man in a floppy hat who's agreed to have his picture taken. Only problem? He disappears on the field and in the photo as soon as the photo is snapped. Here's the official website of Gettysburg National Military Park.
Plan your visit to Coulterville Cemetery in McKeesport, outside of Pittsburgh, after dark to increase your chances of experiencing the paranormal. (It just might be one of the scariest places in Pennsylvania after dark, so be wary.) Long ago an orphanage stood in place of the cemetery. A tragic fire ripped through the orphanage in the dark of night, killing many of the young children. Listen carefully as you enter the cemetery, either by vehicle or by foot, for you may just hear the footsteps and giggles of those lost children. When you leave the cemetery, glance out your rearview mirror. Others before you have claimed to see the shadows of the orphanage on fire. Pull over after you've left the cemetery lot to see if a child's handprint appears on your window.
Who's ready for a haunted road trip in Pennsylvania? We're never too far from the paranormal in Pennsylvania. It's also never a bad time to visit the most haunted places in Pennsylvania, and you may just want to add some spooky ghost towns to your itinerary, too.
You might even want to take a camera with you, especially to Gettysburg. Will you run into the man with the floppy hat?
