With millions of acres of trees, the sprawling Allegheny National Forest is nature at its best. Scenic Pennsylvania Route 6 runs through it, considered one of the state's most spectacular routes. Six campgrounds accommodate folks who want to stay for a while. The Kinzua Dam created the Allegheny Reservoir - 12,000 acres of trophy fish water. Susquehannock Trail, Rimrock Overlook and Pine Creek Gorge are a shutterbug's paradise. Tionesta and Pine creeks beckon the canoeist.

The lovely valleys of the Susquehanna River suggest an array of outdoor diversions, and they are the home of Penn State University. A fusion of nature and history is evident here with 10 state parks, six hiking trails, dozens of covered bridges, all-water Penn's Cave in Centre Hall and antiques dealers bearing treasures, some dating to the mid-1700s. There are wineries here as well: Brookmere Farm in Belleville, Mount Nittany in Linden Hall and Kolln in Bellefonte.

Harrisburg, the state capital, and the towns of Lancaster, Reading and York are part of the Hershey/Gettysburg/Dutch Country area. More than 100 miles of the Appalachian Trail meander through this country, and the Strasburg Railroad takes passengers on one of the country's oldest steam trains through Amish country. Gettysburg National Military Park is the largest of its kind in the nation. The Eisenhower National Historic Site, comprising the president's home and farm, is also in Gettysburg.