Have you ever wanted to explore some of our nation’s history while on a road trip? Pennsylvania has many national and state parks that played significant roles in America’s history. We are going to share with you 5 national parks that we want to visit on our next road trip to Pennsylvania.
Independence National Historical Park
Remember reading about the Liberty Bell in history class? Well, you can see it at Independence National Historical Park. I know it’s not the first thing that comes to mind when you think of a national park but at Independence National Historical Park it’s about more than trees and landmarks. You can also see Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed. How amazing would that be? You can actually see the place where the United States of America was born. There is a 90 minutes guided walking tour you can talk to learn more about the historical importance of the park.
Gettysburg National Military Park
One of the most notable wars in our history is the Battle of Gettysburg, it was one of the most vicious battles during the Civil War. You can walk the battlefield with a park ranger and learn about the Battle of Gettysburg, find out how wounded soldiers received medical attention with the battle going on around them to insight on how General Robert E. Lee’s decisions were conveyed during the battle at Gettysburg National Military Park. There is also a two-hour bus tour for those that do not want to walk the battlefield which will give you an overview of the battle. Or you can walk the battlefield on your own at your own pace. No matter which route you decide to go, you will be standing on the same land in the same place that one of the bloodiest battles of our history took place.
Valley Forge National Historical Park
Near Philadelphia, you’ll find Valley Forge National Historical Park. Filled with interactive living history experiences as well as exhibits to explore at your own pace you’ll want to set aside a full day for this park. With over 3,500-acres of monuments, meadows, and woodlands commemorating the sacrifices and perseverance of the Revolutionary War generation this is a park to take your time going through. There are over 20 miles of hiking trails throughout the park as well as 21 miles of biking trails (bikes are for rent in the park). There is so much to see and experience throughout Valley Forge National Park that you can easily spend a few days here.
These are just a few of the parks in Pennsylvania that you can visit. These parks are full of history and offer everything from hands-on experiences to historical tours. It’s a great way to show your children a little bit of how the United States became the United States.
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