Drive 136.1 miles • 3 hours, 47 minutes

Few states burst with American history quite like Pennsylvania. From the site of the nation’s most important Civil War battle (Gettysburg National Military Park) to a religious community that remains faithful to centuries-old customs (Lancaster’s Pennsylvania Dutch), this trip reveals the past in all its glory. You’ll walk away seeing history in a new light.

1. Harrisburg

Starting Point • History, Outdoor Recreation

Deep Civil War-era history abides in Harrisburg, the state’s capital. See the National Civil War Museum for a sobering understanding of America’s bloodiest war, and then view over 400 Union and Confederate banners at the Civil War Flag Conservation Facility. Hit the water on the Pride of the Susquehanna, a classic riverboat that paddles along the waterway of the same name. Landlubbers can enjoy refreshments on a tour one of the city’s breweries, distilleries or wineries.

2. Carlisle

22.1 miles, 31 minutes • Entertainment, History

Carlisle boasts a vibrant downtown full of classic architecture and a full schedule of festivals and fun. The town’s Carlisle Events is home to a regular slate of car shows, making it an irresistible magnet for auto, truck and motorcycle enthusiasts. Ballet anyone? See talented stars-in-training perform at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Museums abound, including the Hessian Powder Magazine museum and Carlisle Armory. And don’t miss the U.S. Army Heritage and Education Center for an interactive tour.

3. Gettysburg

29.9 miles, 52 minutes • History

Gettysburg is beautiful and haunting in equal measure. The sleepy village is home to the Gettysburg National Military Park, site of the bloody 1863 Union Victory that thwarted a Confederate invasion and marked the turning point of the Civil War. Drive the roads soldiers marched, then get out of the vehicle and walk the battlefields where they fell. See where Abraham Lincoln gave his Gettysburg Address, and take a self-guided, 36-mile drive over historic country roads.

RECOMMENDED STOPOVERS

Gettysburg Campground – Gettysburg, PA – (717) 334-3304

4. Lancaster

54.8 Miles, 1 hour, 35 minutes • Entertainment, Food, History

Drive through gorgeous Amish countryside with meticulously groomed farms and fieldstone homes run without electricity. Watch for Amish roadside stands selling homemade jams, quilts, baskets and shoofly pie. Live like one of the Pennsylvania Dutch by going on a guided Amish farmhouse tour or going on an Amish buggy ride. Modern diversions like tubing, bowling and laser tag await visitors seeking more technologically sophisticated diversions.

RECOMMENDED STOPOVERS

Lake In Wood Resort – Narvon, PA – (717) 445-5525

Tucquan Park Family Campground – Holtwood, PA – (717) 284-2156

5. Hershey

29.3 miles, 49 minutes • Entertainment, Food, Quirky

You can’t say, “Hershey,” without thinking, “chocolate,” and it’s all at Hershey’s Chocolate World. Take the Chocolate Tour to learn how the company’s tasty creations are made, then try all 65 rides at Hershey Park. The Chocolate Tasting Adventure offers a fix for chocoholics, and adventurous eaters can even create their own candy bar. But Hershey has a non-chocolate side, too. Visitors can go to a spa, play golf, enjoy gourmet dining, or take in a concert or a show. Stop at Hershey Derry Township Historical Society to view exhibits on the state police, early town life and architectural styles.