Things to Do in Reading Pa This Weekend
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Located in eastern Pennsylvania, Berks County frequently gets a bit overlooked past popular nearby destinations similar Lancaster, Hershey, and the Lehigh Valley. All the same, at that place are many things to practice in Berks County, PA, that are worth taking the fourth dimension to see.
Berks County is home to one of Pennsylvania'due south largest cities, Reading (pronounced "Redding") every bit well as many small communities that offer a lot of history and natural beauty. The canton is in the Pennsylvania Dutch Country region, but likewise offers a sense of taste of the Philly suburbs and the Lehigh Valley, really calculation a lot of nice variety to the area.
So, whether you are looking for something fun to exercise in the countryside or the best things to practice in Reading, PA, here are a few of my personal favorite things based on my many trips to the expanse.
Reading Pagoda
There might be no attraction in Reading that is more visible even so unexpected as the Reading Pagoda.
Perched high atop Mount Penn, the Pagoda tin can be seen from but near everywhere in the urban center, and I'm certain has elicited many surprised exclamations over the years.
The Pagoda was built in the early 20th century to resemble an authentic Japanese pagoda. It was originally supposed to be a focal point of a mountaintop resort, simply the rest of the plans fell through and only this impressive pagoda was congenital.
Visitors tin can drive correct up to this amazing spot and enjoy closer views of the Pagoda and amazing views of downtown Reading. The interior contains a museum, souvenir shop, and viewing expanse, and is open seasonally on the weekend.
Nolde Woods
If you're looking for things to do nearly Reading, PA, Nolde Woods Ecology Education Middle is a not bad option.
This 600-acre state park offers 10 miles of hiking trails through some of the most beautiful woodlands in the region. The trails here are fairly easy, which makes this a great spot for families to visit.
In addition to the great hiking opportunities, the park also features some historical spots and many educational opportunities.
Militarist Mountain Sanctuary
Located in northern Berks Canton, Militarist Mountain Sanctuary is a great spot to view birds and to go for a hike.
This privately-owned sanctuary features nearly 10 miles of hiking trails that lead to several incredible vistas. This is also a popular spot for viewing birds of prey, especially during the fall migration, when hundreds can be spotted in a unmarried 24-hour interval.
Nevertheless, fifty-fifty if you lot tin can't visit in the fall to run across the migration, this is still a great hiking destination for those that beloved scenic overlooks.
Daniel Boone Homestead
Did you know that frontiersman Daniel Boone was built-in in Berks County? While most of his childhood domicile no longer exists, you can meet still the remnants of its foundation and learn more than almost his life in Pennsylvania at the Daniel Boone Homestead.
The current dwelling on the property was expanded several times over the years and offers a not bad look at what life was like in this part of Pennsylvania in the 18th and 19th centuries. In that location is also a small museum and several other buildings that do a groovy task offering insight into Boone and early American history.
Goggle Works
If you lot are looking for things to do in Reading, Goggle Works is a great option in the heart of the urban center'southward downtown.
This former factory had a 130-year history making everything from optical lenses to bras and goggles. It closed in 2002 and was reimagined in recent years every bit an art gallery, studio space, and teaching space.
Visitors tin tour the galleries filled with work past local artists and fifty-fifty pop into artist studios and encounter what creations are being made.
Covered Bridges
Spread throughout the county, you'll notice five historic covered bridges. And if y'all love history, a covered bridge driving tour is 1 of my favorite things to do in Berks County.
Four of these five bridges are located due north and due east of Reading while the fifth is located only west of downtown. Whether you lot visit all of them in a road trip or just check off ane or 2 while on your way to other destinations, these bridges are peachy additions to your itinerary.
Fifty-fifty better, many of these bridges feature unique faces that are different from the other 200 historic covered bridges in Pennsylvania.
Koziar's Christmas Village
While many of the attractions on this list tin exist experienced throughout most of the yr, Koziar'due south Christmas Village is only open for two months during the holiday flavour. Nonetheless, since this is one of the best Christmas attractions in Pennsylvania, I thought it was well worth including on this listing.
Started in 1948, Koziar'due south grew from a small household ready to one of the largest light displays in Pennsylvania. In fact, there are more than a million lights illuminate on this working subcontract.
A walking path is set up to take visitors past the many displays and attractions here.
Reading Railroad Heritage Museum
If yous've e'er played Monopoly, you are no incertitude familiar with the famous Reading Railroad, which took its proper name from the city (as well as Reading Terminal Market in Philly).
The Reading Railroad Heritage Museum is located just off of I-78 in northern Berks County and helps to maintain the history of this famous railroad. They are continuing to work on expanding their drove and displays merely offering a great look back at this celebrated railroad with many railcars and engines, also equally memorabilia from the railroad.
Neversink Mountain
Neversink Mountain is located on the border of the city and is perfect for those looking for outdoor things to exercise in Reading, Pennsylvania.
This area features several miles of hiking trails crisscrossing the 900-acre preserve. The hikes here range from easy to difficult, meaning there's a scrap of something for everyone.
The most popular destinations here are the City Overlook and the Witches Chapeau, both of which offer dandy views.
Mid-Atlantic Air Museum
If y'all dearest aviation, you won't want to miss the incredible Mid-Atlantic Air Museum.
Located at the local airdrome, this museum features an impressive drove of vintage military airplanes. The majority of these planes are from World War ii, though the pieces on brandish span 100 years of aviation history.
In add-on to taking a tour of their impressive collection, you tin can also sign up to have a flight over Berks County in a historic shipping.
Communicative Monks Brewing
Arts and crafts beer fans won't want to miss Chatty Monks Brewing in West Reading. This is one of several craft breweries in the county and offers some of the best beer fabricated in PA.
Chatty Monks is located a short altitude from downtown Reading and features a full eating house in improver to the brewery. There are a variety of spaces within the brewery for patrons to sit and enjoy their beers and food.
If you are craving a repast, I recommend their fish and chips.
Blue Marsh Lake
Bluish Marsh Lake is a beautiful public infinite in Berks County. It is maintained by the Army Corps of Engineers and is not a state park, but is still a great spot for those looking for outdoor activities.
The lake offers both residents and visitors to the county a great place to become swimming, fishing, or boating. In that location's fifty-fifty a beach to relax on.
On country, y'all can enjoy over 30 miles of hiking trails around the lake.
Berks County Heritage Centre
The Berks Canton Heritage Center is located in the middle of Tulpehocken Creek Valley Park and offers a chance to learn more than about the history of the Reading expanse.
The center is actually a complex of several different museums covering a diversity of aspects related to the canton's history. If yous beloved history, y'all are sure to enjoy this spot.
While in the park, take time to walk its trails or visit Wertz's Covered Bridge.
Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles
Antique motorcar fans will want to head to eastern Berks County to explore the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles.
For over 100 years, the museum'southward building manufactured carriage and motorcar bodies for a diverseness of cars. Today, their drove consists primarily of cars with a connexion to southeastern Pennsylvania. In fact, some of the cars on display were built in the space decades prior.
This museum definitely offers an incredible expect at the region'southward transportation history.
Reading Fightin Phils and the Reading Royals
Whether you lot are looking for things to do in Reading, Pennsylvania in the summer or the winter, the city has professional sports to proceed you decorated.
In the summertime, the Reading Fightin Phils play at FirstEnergy Stadium. They are the AA affiliate of the Philadelphia Phillies, then it's a great run a risk to catch a game for a bang-up price and encounter some of tomorrow's stars.
In the winter, the Reading Royals, an affiliate of the Philadelphia Flyers, play at Santander Arena in downtown Reading. The Royals are 1 of the top teams in their league for attendance, so games are always a fun fourth dimension.
Crystal Cave
Located most Kutztown, Crystal Cavern was the first bear witness cave in Pennsylvania.
Tours are offered seasonally and accept visitors into this beautiful hush-hush world. The cave is known as Crystal Cave because of the crystalline formations that line the walls of the cave.
Throughout the tour, guides point out interesting formations and offer a wealth of history about the cave.
Reading Public Museum
In that location are many pocket-sized museums throughout Pennsylvania, but few have impressed me as much as the Reading Public Museum.
Founded in 1907, this museum features an impressive drove of celebrated, anthropological, and scientific displays. Here, yous can see everything from Egyptian mummies and a shrunken caput to amazing paintings and geology exhibits. There's even a planetarium.
No matter your interest, this is definitely a slap-up museum to cheque out if you are looking for the best things to practice in Reading, PA.
Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center
Like about of eastern Pennsylvania, Berks County is known for its German heritage, and there is nowhere better to acquire near this history than at the Pennsylvania High german Cultural Heritage Center.
Located on the campus of Kutztown University, this open-air folk museum offers the chance to larn more about this unique culture, including information on Pennsylvania Dutch, a language still spoken past many Amish and Mennonites. There is a variety of buildings you can tour, as well every bit museum-like exhibits.
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site is a preserved iron furnace that offers a fascinating await into the history and importance of iron making in eastern Pennsylvania.
Hopewell Furnace operated for more than 100 years and, amongst other things, fabricated weapons for the United states during both the Revolutionary War and the Civil War. It was also a stop on the Underground Railroad and offered equal pay for equal work to both women and minorities (something unheard of at the fourth dimension).
This makes this spot not simply an interesting historic destination but likewise a great place to learn about the region'southward civilisation and the fight for equal rights.
While there, make sure to hike the area's many trails, some of which contact into the larger French Creek State Park.
Gold Historic period Air Museum
While there are several antique airplane museums in Pennsylvania that focus on aviation from World War 2, the Gold Age Air Museum is unique in that its main focus is on planes from Globe War one and the interwar menstruum.
This gives them an interesting collection of original and replica planes, including several bi-fly and tri-fly airplanes, though they do have a few more modern shipping also.
And, if y'all've ever wanted to fly in a bi-wing, aeroplane, they offer flights throughout the year.
Practise you accept any favorite things to practice in Reading, PA that we didn't include on this list? Allow the states know in the comments below.
Looking for more nearby places to visit? Cheque out the best things to do in Allentown, our favorite things to do in Gettysburg, and the best things to practice in Bucks Canton.
Source: https://uncoveringpa.com/things-to-do-in-reading-pa
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