Kennywood Park in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania is a great amusement park with a long history. In the 1800s before “motor cars” became widely available one of the more common modes of transportation between cities were trolleys. As passenger loads increased, entrepreneurial spirits came up with the idea of “trolley parks” which were amusement and recreation areas located at the end of the streetcar lines. This not only increased ticket sales but also brought economic viability to what were once small, out of the way towns. Some of the more famous of these trolley parks include Coney Island and Rye Beach Playland (located in Brooklyn and Rye New York respectively). [Read more…] about Kennywood Park :: West Mifflin, Pennsylvania
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Redbull Flugtag
Most festivals take place at a certain place or a certain time of year. The Redbull Flugtag, however adheres to very few rules. Sponsored by Red Bull (yes, the famous energy drink that gives you wings) the Flugtag is a wet and wild event that occurs at various spots all over the world each year. The official goal is to create a homemade human powered flying machine that glides as far as possible off a long pier with a 30 foot drop off. Unofficially very few of these quirky crafts do anything even close to flying and become more of a comical fall into the waters below. This is where all the fun for the thousands of spectators comes in. [Read more…] about Redbull Flugtag
Philadelphia Museum of Art :: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Founded in the 1870s, the Philadelphia Museum of Art that most visitors are familiar with today was actually constructed in the early 20th century. The original gallery at Memorial Hall was part of the Centennial Exposition of 1876 (the first official World’s Fair) and lies about two miles west from its current location across the Schuylkill River. When it was first built, the intent was to highlight the technical and industrial arts of Pennsylvania with a specific emphasis on educating future generations via their school (thus the original name Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art). It quickly came to garner additional attention as a center of the fine arts as collections and donations to the museum improved. [Read more…] about Philadelphia Museum of Art :: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Independence National Historical Park :: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
On Chestnut Street between 5th and 6th streets sits an amazing United States national landmark that is pictured on the back of the US $100 bill, Independence Hall. Independence Hall is famous for being the place that both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were debated and adopted. It was also the main meeting place for the Second Continental Congress and the site of the Constitution Convention of 1787. The hall is part of Independence National Historical Park and was added to the UNESCO World Heritage Site list in 1979, as it is a bastion of the history and culture of the United States. Independence Hall was also the original home of the Liberty Bell and currently holds in its bell tower a Centennial Bell created for the United States Centennial Exposition in 1876. [Read more…] about Independence National Historical Park :: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Knoebels Amusement Resort :: Elysburg, Pennsylvania
Opened in 1926, Knoebels Amusement Resort is a family owned amusement park, picnic grove and campground with more than fifty rides including two wooden roller coasters, the 1913 Grand Carousel featuring sixty three hand-carved horses, and a haunted house dark ride that has been featured on the Discovery Channel. The park has won awards from all kinds of organizations like American Coaster Enthusiasts and The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions. Knoebels has also won the Amusement Today Golden Ticket award for best amusement park food each year since 1999. With a wide variety of both sit-down and counter service dining options there is something here for everyone. The park’s Cesari’s Pizza as well as the International Food Court have even been featured on [Read more…] about Knoebels Amusement Resort :: Elysburg, Pennsylvania