Pennsylvania is a region steeped in colourful history. It started out as the ‘Holy Experiment’ of Quaker activist William Penn, Jr. Granted a charter by King Charles II to develop a colony in the New World, Penn selected a lush wooded portion of the countryside, where he vowed to welcome anyone who believed in God. Less than a century later, the country’s Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution at Independence Hall in Philadelphia – now one of the largest cities in the USA – and the American nation was born. A revolution of a very different nature soon followed – the Industrial Revolution. Rich in iron ore, coal and crude oil, Pennsylvania had all the necessary ingredients for a booming steel and iron industry. ‘Hell with the lid off’ was Charles Dickens’ description of Pittsburgh when he visited a city so polluted that street lamps had to be kept on during the day to improve visibility. Today, Pittsburgh is known as a ‘Renaissance city’; what remains of that area is a wealth of cultural and historical landmarks, and the visitor can breathe freely in bright urban landscapes, bustling city sophistication and a great outdoors. Pennsylvania boasts 20 State and 1 National Forest, 116 State Parks, 1 Great Lake (Lake Erie), 50 other natural lakes, 2500 man-made lakes, along with thousands of miles of rivers and streams. The state is also something of a cultural mecca, with many world-class museums, while its citizens represent a rich mix of cultural and ethnic backgrounds.

Pennsylvania's most prominent natural feature is the Appalachian Mountain Range that rises in the center of the state. Several major rivers flow through the state including the Delaware and Schuylkill Rivers, in the east; the Susquehanna, centrally located; and the Ohio, Allegheny, Monongahela and Youghiogheny Rivers in the west. The major cities of Pennsylvania, including the capitol city of Harrisburg, lie along these waterways. The southeastern corner of Pennsylvania supports much of the population and some of the oldest communities in the state. The largest city within this region is Philadelphia. This city harbors Independence National Park and a plethora of historical and cultural institutions. Southwestern Pennsylvania harbors the other large city within the state, Pittsburgh. This city is known for its significant role in the steel making industry of the early twentieth century.

Recreation in Pennsylvania is centered around state administered parks, forests and game lands. Small natural areas dot the landscape and provide facilities for hiking, camping, biking, fishing and picnicking. Within the last few years, a major initiative to turn abandoned railways into trails have resulted in 84 multi-use trails.