PA is home. No matter where we travel – even if we move out-of-state temporarily or permanently – a part of our heart always remains among the rolling hills, the majestic mountains, and the spectacular landscape that make up the masterpiece that is PA. If you’ve moved away from PA, you’ve likely been overcome with nostalgia for home a few times. Here are people 17 things people who move from Pennsylvania miss the most.
- There’s just something special about the rolling hills…
Flickr/Nicholas A. Tonelli No matter where you travel in PA, you’re surrounded by lush rolling hills. And, if you happen to be traveling down a flat stretch of road, just wait. The hills will appear again before you know it.
- State parks…
Flickr/Brook Ward PA provides kids and adults with the absolute best playgrounds all year around. Our state parks boast miles of hiking and biking trails, sprawling lakes, gushing waterfalls, picnic areas, and so much more.
- We’re close to nature, no matter where we live.
Flickr/Dara Even if you live in one of the larger towns or cities in PA, you’re always a simple walk or drive from nature. Another good thing about nature? We sure do experience all four seasons here in PA.
- C’mon, no state’s sports fans can rival those in Pennsylvania.
Flickr/Via Tsuji Doesn’t matter if you’re an Eagles fan or a Steelers fan, a Phillies fan or a Pirates fan, or a Flyers fan or a Penguins fan, Pennsylvanians are passionate sports fans. You just won’t find that kind of passion or loyalty anywhere else.
- Just one more summer afternoon at Knoebels, please.
Flickr/Jeremy Thompson Sure, you’ll find pretty awesome amusement parks around the country. But, can anything really rival Knoebels? Generations have made Knoebels a summer tradition since 1926, riding on the antique cars,on the old-fashioned carousel, and getting wet on the Giant Flume. And, that’s just one park that fills our memories. Who can forget Hershey Park, Kennywood Park, Sesame Place, Delgrosso’s…and the list goes on.
- Summer just isn’t the same without the Little League World Series…
Flickr/Sam Nabi Even if you’ve never been to the Little League World Series, you’ve probably watched a few innings every summer. After all, there’s nothing quite as special as watching kids who are simply playing for the love of the game.
- The county fairs and…
Flickr/Brad Clinesmith Eating funnel cakes and hot dogs. Playing just one more game to win that huge stuffed animal. Climbing aboard rides as the sun sets. Summer and county fairs just go hand-in-hand.
- Catching lightning bugs in the dark.
Flickr/Idua_Japan Remember catching lightning (or fireflies, whichever you prefer) as a kid? Going outside barefoot after it dark, just waiting for the glow of a lightning bug. Grabbing one and carefully cradling it in your hand to watch it glow before you watch it fly off to freedom.
- No one does autumn or…
Flickr/Brook Ward Pennsylvania’s landscape bursts into a vibrantly colorful masterpiece every autumn and we’re lucky enough to experience it by boarding fall foliage trains and trolleys or by hitting the road for a fall foliage road trip on our own.
- Winter better than PA.
Flickr/Colin Gallagher Wouldn’t you agree?
- Eating New Year’s dinner just isn’t the same anywhere else.
Flickr/Jim Sure, you can enjoy a tasty pork and sauerkraut dinner no matter where you live. But, every time you do eat that traditional New Year’s dinner, you just might be swept away by memories of the holidays in PA.
- Where else can you find such scrumptious foods like Islay’s chipped ham?
Flickr/RJ Mancuso Islay’s Deli may be gone but you can still buy the chipped ham (or chipped chopped ham, if you prefer).
- Delgrosso’s pasta sauce..
Flickr/Jeremy Thompson Can’t you just taste it?
- Galliker’s Iced Tea and…
Galliker’s Ah, the sound of the ice cubes hitting the side of the glass as you drink the chilled iced tea.
- All of those PA goodies.
Flickr/Mike Mozart Hershey’s. Peep’s. Tastykakes. Lebanon bologna. Philly cheesesteak. Primanti Brothers sandwiches. Utz. Smith’s hot dogs. The list can literally go on and on.
- No one really understands a Pennsylvanian better than another Pennsylvanian.
Flickr/Noe Alfaro Somehow Pennsylvanians always find each other when they’re far from home. Maybe it’s because unless you’re from PA, other people can’t really understand just what makes our state – and the people – so special.
- There’s no place like home.
Flickr/Ken Lund Even if you’ve been away from PA for years and return for a visit, as soon as you see that Welcome to Pennsylvania sign, you instantly feel right at home.
So, this list is certainly not complete and could probably run pages and pages. What would you add to the list of things people who move from Pennsylvania miss if there was to be a part two? And, if you’re in the mood for a little more nostalgia, read the 18 tongue-in-cheek reasons people should never move to PA.
Flickr/Nicholas A. Tonelli
No matter where you travel in PA, you’re surrounded by lush rolling hills. And, if you happen to be traveling down a flat stretch of road, just wait. The hills will appear again before you know it.
Flickr/Brook Ward
PA provides kids and adults with the absolute best playgrounds all year around. Our state parks boast miles of hiking and biking trails, sprawling lakes, gushing waterfalls, picnic areas, and so much more.
Flickr/Dara
Even if you live in one of the larger towns or cities in PA, you’re always a simple walk or drive from nature. Another good thing about nature? We sure do experience all four seasons here in PA.
Flickr/Via Tsuji
Doesn’t matter if you’re an Eagles fan or a Steelers fan, a Phillies fan or a Pirates fan, or a Flyers fan or a Penguins fan, Pennsylvanians are passionate sports fans. You just won’t find that kind of passion or loyalty anywhere else.
Flickr/Jeremy Thompson
Sure, you’ll find pretty awesome amusement parks around the country. But, can anything really rival Knoebels? Generations have made Knoebels a summer tradition since 1926, riding on the antique cars,on the old-fashioned carousel, and getting wet on the Giant Flume. And, that’s just one park that fills our memories. Who can forget Hershey Park, Kennywood Park, Sesame Place, Delgrosso’s…and the list goes on.
Flickr/Sam Nabi
Even if you’ve never been to the Little League World Series, you’ve probably watched a few innings every summer. After all, there’s nothing quite as special as watching kids who are simply playing for the love of the game.
Flickr/Brad Clinesmith
Eating funnel cakes and hot dogs. Playing just one more game to win that huge stuffed animal. Climbing aboard rides as the sun sets. Summer and county fairs just go hand-in-hand.
Flickr/Idua_Japan
Remember catching lightning (or fireflies, whichever you prefer) as a kid? Going outside barefoot after it dark, just waiting for the glow of a lightning bug. Grabbing one and carefully cradling it in your hand to watch it glow before you watch it fly off to freedom.
Pennsylvania’s landscape bursts into a vibrantly colorful masterpiece every autumn and we’re lucky enough to experience it by boarding fall foliage trains and trolleys or by hitting the road for a fall foliage road trip on our own.
Flickr/Colin Gallagher
Wouldn’t you agree?
Flickr/Jim
Sure, you can enjoy a tasty pork and sauerkraut dinner no matter where you live. But, every time you do eat that traditional New Year’s dinner, you just might be swept away by memories of the holidays in PA.
Flickr/RJ Mancuso
Islay’s Deli may be gone but you can still buy the chipped ham (or chipped chopped ham, if you prefer).
Can’t you just taste it?
Galliker’s
Ah, the sound of the ice cubes hitting the side of the glass as you drink the chilled iced tea.
Flickr/Mike Mozart
Hershey’s. Peep’s. Tastykakes. Lebanon bologna. Philly cheesesteak. Primanti Brothers sandwiches. Utz. Smith’s hot dogs. The list can literally go on and on.
Flickr/Noe Alfaro
Somehow Pennsylvanians always find each other when they’re far from home. Maybe it’s because unless you’re from PA, other people can’t really understand just what makes our state – and the people – so special.
Flickr/Ken Lund
Even if you’ve been away from PA for years and return for a visit, as soon as you see that Welcome to Pennsylvania sign, you instantly feel right at home.
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