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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