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| Travel & Destination Guide: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania | ||||||||
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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.
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