Pennsylvania, United States: Towns to Explore on Foot

Pennsylvania is a state of historic cities, Appalachian landscapes, forests, rivers, and lake shorelines. It played a central role in the creation of the United States, and its varied regions still connect colonial history, industrial heritage, urban culture, and local food traditions. Neywo offers free audio guides for 4 cities in Pennsylvania, with 459 narrated places in total across 15 walking tours.

What to see and do in Pennsylvania

A useful Pennsylvania travel guide begins with the state’s two major cities, then moves through its smaller historic communities and varied landscapes. These are the main places to explore with Neywo.

Philadelphia

Philadelphia is Pennsylvania’s largest city and the center of the Delaware Valley. Its importance to American history is especially clear: the city hosted both Continental Congresses, and the Second Continental Congress formed the Continental Army under George Washington before adopting the Declaration of Independence the following year.

That history makes Philadelphia one of the most important destinations in the state for understanding the country’s foundation. Neywo’s city guide includes 298 narrated places, among them the Constitutional Convention, the Commandant’s House, the Thaddeus Kosciuszko National Memorial, and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Explore the city through the Philadelphia audio guide as you walk between its historic and cultural sites.

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania’s second-largest city, offers a different perspective on the state. Its identity is closely connected to the industrial history that once made steel, coal mining, logging, textiles, and manufacturing central to Pennsylvania’s economy. The city is also one of the state’s major biopharmaceutical hubs.

There is more to see than industrial heritage. Neywo’s guide covers 145 narrated places, including the Frick Art & Historical Center, Liberty Bridge, St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church, and Carnegie Museum of Natural History. Pittsburgh is a strong choice for visitors interested in architecture, bridges, museums, and the story of a city shaped by industry. Follow the Pittsburgh audio guide to discover its places on foot.

Lancaster

Lancaster brings together Pennsylvania’s rural and historic character. The city has 14 narrated places in the Neywo guide, including the Fulton Opera House, Rock Ford Plantation, the W. W. Griest Building, and the Demuth Museum.

These sites show different sides of Lancaster’s past and cultural life. The city is one of the best towns to visit in Pennsylvania if you want to add a smaller destination to a trip focused on Philadelphia or the state’s larger urban centers. The Lancaster audio guide helps connect the city’s landmarks as you explore.

Doylestown

Doylestown has a more compact selection of sights, with two narrated places in the Neywo guide. Its highlights include the Mercer Museum and the James A. Michener Art Museum.

The town is a practical option for travellers looking beyond Pennsylvania’s largest cities and looking for a place where museums and local history can shape a shorter visit. Discover its two narrated sites with the Doylestown audio guide.

Mountains, forests, rivers, and lake water

Pennsylvania’s landscape changes considerably across the state. The Appalachian Mountains run through its centre, while the Allegheny and Pocono mountains extend across much of the northeast. Forest covers about 59 percent of Pennsylvania, giving many areas a distinctly wooded character.

Water also plays an important role, even though Pennsylvania has no ocean shoreline. The state has waterfront along Lake Erie in the northwest and along the tidal Delaware River in the east. The Delaware continues towards Delaware Bay and, beyond it, the Atlantic Ocean. Together, these mountains, forests, rivers, and lake landscapes make the state more varied than a single image of Pennsylvania might suggest.

Pennsylvania’s colonial and political history

Pennsylvania was founded as a royal land grant to William Penn in 1681. The province became known for religious and political tolerance, religious pluralism, an innovative system of government, and relatively peaceful relations with native tribes.

Its history reaches further back than the colonial period. Dutch and English claims extended along the Delaware River, while part of what is now southeastern Pennsylvania belonged to the Swedish colony of New Sweden. The state’s nickname, the Keystone State, reflects its central role among the original Thirteen Colonies and in the creation of the United States.

Industrial heritage and local food

Pennsylvania’s modern identity still carries the marks of its industrial past. Coal production reached its peak in 1918, and the state has been called the Coal State, the Oil State, and the Steel State. Philadelphia and Pittsburgh now combine these older foundations with major roles in education, commerce, transportation, entrepreneurship, industry, and biopharmaceutical work.

Food offers another distinctive part of the state’s identity. Pennsylvania has been described as the snack food capital of the world. In 2008, author Sharon Hernes Silverman wrote that it led all other states in the manufacture of pretzels and potato chips. A pretzel or a bag of potato chips may be a simple snack, but both are part of Pennsylvania’s broader local story.

Explore Pennsylvania with Neywo

Download Neywo to explore Pennsylvania through 15 walking tours across 4 cities, with 459 narrated places in total. Narration is available in 11 languages. The app tells the story of each place as you reach it, at your own pace, with no group and no schedule.