Pennsylvania Hostels
Pennsylvania is home to several historic sites and centuries-old traditions, including the artistic heritage of Quakertown. Located in historic Bucks County, Quakertown is about 50 miles north of Philadelphia and along the southeastern edge of the state along the Delaware River. The Quakertown hostel is located near Nockamixon State Park, which is full of hiking and biking trails, and a great location for fishing, boating, and swimming. The nearby Moravian Pottery and Tile Works is a National Historic Landmark and working history museum, where tile is produced using traditional methods, designs, and glazes. The annual Tile Festival is held in early May – visitors gather to buy and sell historic and contemporary tiles and take part in tile-related demonstrations. The nearby town of New Hope is known for its rich artistic and cultural heritage, and offers more than 200 art galleries, shops, antique shops, and craft galleries.
Located in Newtown, Pennsylvania, the Newtown – Tyler State Park hostel is located within the park, which contains scattered original stone dwellings of early Pennsylvania, and is known for its beautiful Schofield Ford Covered Bridge. Newtown was founded in 1684 by William Penn, intended to support farming communities and country homes for city residents. Newtown’s entire historic district is on the National Register of Historic Places, and the town claims to have the nation’s oldest operating movie theatre, built in 1831, and showing its first move in 1906. Newtown sponsors historic walking tours, which is an ideal way to learn Newtown’s rich history first-hand.
Nestled along the Appalachian Trail, the Gardners – Gettysburg hostel is also located within the Pine Grove Furnace State Park. The park is located on the site of the former Pine Grove Furnace, an iron furnace which built in 1764 and in operation for 131 years, most notably producing cannonballs during the Revolutionary War. Visitors are welcome to fish in the park’s Fuller Lake and Laurel Lake, as well as its trout fishery Mountain Creek, and hike along its 3 miles of trails, which are open for cross-country skiing in the winter. Historic Gettysburg and its 1863 Civil War battlefields are located just miles from Gardners. Today, the battlefield is known as the Gettysburg National Military Park, and holds events such as battlefield walks and evening campfires. Gettysburg sponsors Civil War house tours and the ever-popular nighttime ghost tours.
Philadelphia, often referred to as the “City of Brotherly Love,” is the sixth largest city in Pennsylvania, and, in the 18th century, the first capital of the United States. Known for its prominent arts and culture, Philadelphia is home to several art galleries, including the famous Philadelphia Museum of Art, which stairs were made famous in the film Rocky – tourists and residents often make the run up the museum steps. The Philadelphia - Bank Street hostel is located within the city’s historic district, close to two of the city’s most popular sites - Independence Hall , where the Declaration of Independence was signed, and the Liberty Bell. The Old City and South Street sections of Philadelphia are known for their exciting night life, while the Avenue of the Arts in Center City is lined with many restaurants and theaters, including the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the home of the Philadelphia Orchestra. Philadelphia is also known for its cheesesteaks, with two of its most famous stands – Pat’s and Geno’s, located in the Italian Market in the south section of the city. The Philadelphia – Chamounix Mansion hostel is located in the city’s Fairmount Park, close to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the famous Boathouse Row along the Schuykill River, and the Philadelphia Zoo, the nation’s first zoo. Fairmount Park is known for its 215 miles of beautiful recreation trails, athletic fields, and picnic grounds.
Central to Southern Pennsylvania climate is characterized by hot, muggy summers and generally cold winters. Precipitation is spread out evenly throughout the year, with approximately 40 inches per year – February is the driest month. Average summer temperatures range from the high 80s to the high 60s, with average winter temperatures ranging from the mid 40s to low 20s.
