Tell your tales of my native Pennsylvania.

[backstept]

I drove from Syracuse to Philly and back in the same 24HR period and the things that stick in my mind from that trip is the horrible Philly traffic, dropping like 20 bucks on tolls, and the oddly polite (in contrast to NY) signage
for instance where in NY it's ICY PAVEMENT ZONE
in PA it's BRIDGE MAY BE ICY or something like that . . .

and tunnels

 

[Chris3123]

My dad grew up in McKeesport (suburb of Pittsburgh), and I've been there several times for family visits to my grandmother.

 

[Ruaidhri]

PA roundtrip sounds pretty cool. I grew up in the Philly suburbs, that's my interest here (I think there are a couple other PA people who are posting as well). I think it's a shame that Philly gets overshadowed by New York (and even Boston). It's really such an amazing, unique city, but it gets lumped into east coast large city without people ever noticing just how cool it is. Of course, these days, I think people just think of Always Sunny, but I guess that's a start (before that, it was Rocky running up the Art Museum steps).

Yeah, I'm a 'burbs guy, too. I love where I came from. Philly is great, Pennsylvania is great, in many ways. The whole state is beautiful and strange. Not the greatest weather, but oh well.

I know I've posted them before, but just for the hell of it, here's some more Centralia pics.

 

[RyanKCR]

I grew up and still live in the Lehigh Valley and travel to Philly a lot due to my heart. Most of my trips to Philly have not been pleasant. Of of times where it was both pleasant and unpleasant was when I had my last surgery in May of 2002. I had pre-op testing on Monday a cardiac catheterization on Tuesday and due to my anxiousness because of the cath my doctor told my mother to make sure my wife took me out for the say on Wednesday. A friend came down and took my wife and I down to South Street and we were there till about 11:30/12:00 the night before the surgery, which was at 8:00.

Other great places in PA are Hershey, Knoebles, Lancaster, Jim Thorpe, etc. My family had a cabin near White Haven that we used to go to a lot during the summers.

 

[Arpy]

Those are great photos. What's the yellow stuff? How did it smell with all the smoke? It doesn't look like you had trouble breathing, right?

backstep, I haven't known signs to convey emotion but yeah that's a real difference there. Point to Pennsylvania.

Tora, thank you.

Laserbeam, public transit is extensive in Philadelphia, but Pat/Geno's are too far south to take a quick ride on the subway so you'll have to take a SEPTA bus.

I don't know where you're from, but two things to know about going to Philadelphia: the people are rude and the city's filthy. It's gotten better over the years and the city's in ascension, but it is what it is, much to my dismay.

Also, I cannot recommend enough Eyewitness Travel Guides. I've had one with me at nearly a dozen locations across the country and globe and treasured each one.

I want to clarify something regarding my initial post. I don't regret my actions pre-post. Like I said, times have been tough and they'll continue to be...I'm considering leaving my job and going back to school, I'm dealing with elderly parents, realizing my own mortality, being alone, more. Any one of those is stressful in and of themselves. I had a great night that helped immensely, and I wanted to share that gleaned insight - that having a good time really is a good thing. So, yeah, that.

Finally, movies set in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

 

[siskokid888]

Penn is one long ass state. About 25 years ago, my roomates and I wanted to see an away Mets' game. It was late in the season, and they had finished playing Philly and Montreal, the 2 closest teams. The next closest was Pittsburgh. Since we didn't have money for a hotel, we had to drive there, see the game, and drive back. It took 10 FREAKIN HOURS to drive to Pittsburgh from NYC, 4 hours at the game, then 10 hours back home. Pennsylvania just goes on forever. Nice scenery, though.

 

[RAMA]

Drove through the entire state last year, it felt like it took a week. I guess its because i can drive west through Jersey in an hr.

RAMA

 

[Nick086]

I went out into my Philadelphia City tonight, altered my state of consciousness, and had a sexy guy have me vigorously and vociferously. The night sky was low, the chill bracing, and we parted contentedly. Thank the vacant gods there exist still good times in my home state. Others been to the Pretty Keen Stoned State?

So were you the top or the bottom of this one night stand with this stranger?

 

[Ruaidhri]

Those are great photos. What's the yellow stuff? How did it smell with all the smoke? It doesn't look like you had trouble breathing, right?

I'm guessing you're referring to the yellow patches beside the road? That's just foliage that grows and dies very quickly. The gases make the oxygen content in the air a little questionable, though you can still breathe okay. A long time in that stuff would have to be rough. What's left of the town is set a little way from where I took the pictures, which is the aboveground location of the fire. The USGS has implanted piping into the ground to allow the gas buildup from the combusting coal to escape...otherwise, it could explode from the pressure.

backstep, I haven't known signs to convey emotion but yeah that's a real difference there. Point to Pennsylvania.

HAve you forgotten?

"You've got a friend in Pennsylvania" According to the old George Carlin joke, that makes sense....considering that 90% of the people who had to read those license plates LIVED IN PA.

 

[mimic]

my Alma Mater Penn State

Hey, that's MY Alma Mater.

I drove to Pittsburgh on a whim last Friday, to listen to an author speak. I planned on checking out some of the Carnegie Museums, too, but they open fairly late in the day and snow was sticking to the roads.

As far as PA attractions that haven't yet been mentioned, there's a nice park in the Pocono area called Rickett's Glen that has tons of very nice waterfalls. It's worth a look.

 

[KimMH]

never PA, but Ind and Ohio and KY. The landscape pix of Centralia almost look other-worldy or post apocalyptic.

 

[Alidar Jarok]

BTW, people mentioned Hershey, but I haven't seen Dorney mentioned. IMO, that's the better park (although I do enjoy chocolate).

 

[Nick086]

BTW, people mentioned Hershey, but I haven't seen Dorney mentioned. IMO, that's the better park (although I do enjoy chocolate).

Can't go wrong with both parks, I went to both of them when I was little. Didn't Hershey use to give out free little hershey bars at the park?

 

[Alidar Jarok]

You have to take the tour where they show you how they make chocolate, but I think they still give you a tiny piece of chocolate.

 

[Rush Limborg]

^Of course, it's not the tour of the factory anymore--it's a ride called Hershey's Chocolate World. Been that way since the '90s, at least. But they do give you chocolate.

I actually grew up in PA--the Hershey region, to be exact.

And of course...the Steelers are heading to the Super Bowl.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The landscape pix of Centralia almost look other-worldy or post apocalyptic.

Didn't they use Centralia for some scenes in The Road?

 

[6079SmithW]

Last time I was in PA I drank too fast and threw up in a nightclub.

 

[Ruaidhri]

The landscape pix of Centralia almost look other-worldy or post apocalyptic.

Didn't they use Centralia for some scenes in The Road?

Gee, I don't know. I have The Road DVR'd, so I'll check when I watch it again.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

"You've got a friend in Pennsylvania" According to the old George Carlin joke, that makes sense....considering that 90% of the people who had to read those license plates LIVED IN PA.

I remember that bit.

"The worst has to be New Hampshire, which says Live Free Or DIE!!!!!!!!!! ... I don't want to live anywhere where they mention death right on the license plate."

 

[Arpy]

So were you the top or the bottom of this one night stand with this stranger?

Oh no. I have no problem discussing sex, but if you want me to get any more explicit this time around, well, I've already shown you mine.

BTW, reread the question and then look at your avatar.

mimic, I know Ricketts Glen. In fact, the first time I went there was with some guys I was going to school with at Penn State. I used to live above the Shoe Box shoe store on E College Ave almost opposite Old Main. I'd get all these great different pizzas for a dollar after midnight half a block down - I forget the name of the place. My favorite was this portabella mushroom one they had.