Pennsylvania's
capital city and its surrounding areas promise a visit that is
entertaining, educational, and
recreational.
Harrisburg sits upon the shores of the Susquehanna River about 90
miles west of Philadelphia. The
State Capitol
building features an impressive 272-foot dome, patterned after that
of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. The building’s elegant interior is
a museum in itself with stained glass windows, 43 outstanding murals
painted by Philadelphia artist Violet Oakley, and a grand spiral
staircase made of marble.
Across from the
capitol is the 68-acre City Park with several museums of natural
science and history, including
the William Penn
Memorial Museum. The State Museum of Pennsylvania, which covers the
state's history from
prehistoric times to
the present, displays many artifacts and work of art. A Planetarium
is also featured.
Whenever you visit,
you will have four distinct seasons to enjoy it. While the east
coast of the state tends to
experience very hot
temperatures, the summer in Harrisburg is actually quite pleasant.
It’s the perfect time to enjoy
Music Fest, the
state’s largest holiday festival. The pleasant warm temperatures
linger far into autumn, with
October daytime
temperatures in the 60’s F, making the change of seasons ideal for a
stroll through one of the many
parks in the city.
You can expect a nice snowfall or two during the winter, so bundle
up and get ready to enjoy some
of the many
enjoyable outdoor winter activities. Spring brings a new day with
temperatures averaging highs in the
60’s F and lows in
the 40’s F. Any season is a wonderful time to visit the city’s many
museums and art galleries.
The Capital Area
Greenbelt, a 20-mile parkway used for bicycling, jogging, walking,
and nature studies, loops
around the city and
passes through many scenic parks. Reservoir Park, 21st and Walnut
streets, has art galleries,
gardens, plazas,
fountains, playgrounds, basketball courts and other facilities.
Riverfront Park, along a 5-mile
stretch of scenic
waterfront, features sunken gardens, public art, and various
memorials. Other recreational
facilities are in
Italian Lake Park, 3rd and Division streets.
City Island, located
in the middle of the Susquehanna River and only a few blocks from
the State Capitol Building, has
been called
Harrisburg’s Playground. It’s a great place to spend time, whether
day or night. It is accessible to
pedestrians via the
Walnut Street Bridge, as well as to limited vehicular traffic via
the Market Street Bridge. In
addition to being
the “home port” for the Pride of the Susquehanna Riverboat, it
boasts two marinas and many other
attractions,
including a beach for swimming, "Water Golf," a championship 18-hole
miniature golf course, a mini steam train, a free nautical themed
playground, Riverside Stadium home of the Harrisburg Senators (a
baseball farm team for the Montreal Expos), Riverside Village
Eatery, not to mention an arcade, batting cages and carriage rides.
The whole family will love it!
Originally
constructed to highlight the state’s extensive agricultural base,
The Pennsylvania Farm Show Building
covers 14 acres at
Cameron and Maclay Street. Among the many events held are the
Pennsylvania Farm Show and the Auto Show in January, the Eastern
Sportsman Show in February and the Pennsylvania National Horse Show
in October.
Of special interest
to Civil War buffs is the new Civil War Museum. Harrisburg also is a
convenient distance to the
Gettysburg National
Park, which is rich in historical documentation of the many aspects
of the Civil War in
general and the
Gettysburg battles in particular.
A visit to
Harrisburg in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania will reveal its
natural beauty, its friendly and welcoming residents, and its many
sites of historical significance. The experience is sure to be
memorable. |
