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Things To Do: Western PA
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items Visiting Western PA and need things to do? Here are some of the attractions that you can visit or stay at. Western PA has some beautiful scenery, especially in the fall. And it also has some of the best festivals!
Map
Sections
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Racetracks
Animal Parks/Zoos
Parks/outdoors/recreation
Amusement Parks
Fairs/carnivals
Historic/cultural
Racetracks
If you like dirt track racing this is a great place to go.
Lernerville Speedway
A smaller rural track but a fun way to spend an evening, especially for the kids.
Knox Raceway - Facebook
Another small but awesome racetrack to visit. Usually run from April to October.
Michaels Mercer Raceway
A racetrack that sponsors everything from sprint cars to late model.
Lake Erie Speedway | Pennsylvania's Premier Outdoor ...
A NASCAR sanctioned raceway, it is one of the oldest short tracks in the U.S.
Laurel Highlands Motor Speedways | Jennerstown Speedway
A little bit of every type of racing at this track. They hold other non-racing events as well.
Keystone Raceway Park
Animal Parks/Zoos
An alternative to a traditional zoo, get up close and personal with some of the animals. You can feed the giraffe!
Keystone Safari
I love this place! Get up close and personal with some of the animals, feed and pet them. They have a wonderful gift shop as well. 2 locations in PA.
Living Treasures Animal Park: Home
A great little animal park for the family.
Pymatuning Deer Park | Featuring animals and birds from around ...
Awesome zoo with a ton of animals. One of the best in the nation.
Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium
This is a great zoo. We've actually been there. It has a good number of animals to admire. And the penguins are right there for you to view!
Erie Zoo
Parks/outdoors/recreation
A beautiful place to visit. Learn about the bridge and the history. Gorgeous in the fall.
Kinzua Bridge State Park
Lots of things to do with the family! Beautiful location with plenty of parks, shops, and camping sites.
Cook Forest State Park Office
Maybe not as well known but a beautiful place to visit or camp in.
Allegheny National Forest - Home
The spillway and the camps around the lake are awesome. Lots to do there. Expands into Ohio as well.
Pymatuning State Park - Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
They have boating, fishing, camping, bike and hiking trails, and just about anything else outdoors. It even has a beach for swimming or laying in the sun.
Moraine State Park
A smaller park, but it has a pool, hiking/biking trails, and pavillions.
Alameda Park | Experience Butler County
Voted one of the best ballparks in the nation. If you're in town go for a game or take a tour of the stadium. Offers a great view of city of Pittsbugh.
PNC Park
An absolutely gorgeous park with an old stone mill you can tour. Hiking trails and picnic areas.
McConnells Mill State Park
One of the few existing drive-in movies theaters left in PA. They have 3 screens and digital projectors, along with a concession stand. They show holiday movies during those times of the year.
Welcome to The Moonlite Drive-In Theatre in Brookville, PA!
Another drive-in theater if you're closer to that area. They show all the latest movies during the summer months.
Starlight Drive-in – Family entertainment in Butler, PA since 1958
Known for the elk! Come visit the beautiful scenery and the listen to the elk calling.
Elk State Forest | Department of Conservation and Natural Resources
Smaller park but very pretty. Includes camping, fishing and boating on the Clarion River.
Clear Creek State Park
Locate near historic Oil City, it has a little bit of everything.
Oil Creek State Park
One of PA's largest and most visited parks. A great place to go with the family.
Raccoon Creek State Park
One of the few parks dedicated to environmental education as well as recreation. It is the only public and protected prairie in the state of PA, hosting a number of rare and endangered species.
Jennings Environmental Education Center
Not too far from Pittsburgh and the Laurel Highlands. A great place to enjoy the outdoors any time of the year.
Keystone State Park
Only accessible by boat. So if you love an adventure this one is for you! It only has a footpath for hiking, as the islands are undeveloped and still in their natural state.
Allegheny Islands State Park
Along Lake Erie, it is a nice retreat and a great place to stay while in town.
Presque Isle State Park
If you love to shop this is the place to go! Every kind of store you can think of, plus a food court and even a playground for the kids.
Grove City Premium Outlets
One of the premiere places to shop in Pittsburgh. It is miles of stores and restaurants up and down the road. Strip malls, The Ross Park Mall, everything.
McKnight Road - Historic Pittsburgh
If you want to attend a concert while in the area this is the place to go. The outdoor venue is amazing.
The Pavilion at Star Lake
A nice community with a lake and a small amusement park that's home to the historic Blue Streak roller coaster. It's also near Pymatuning in what's considered PA's Great Lakes region
Conneaut Lake | Visit Crawford County, PA
If you like hiking this trail is a good one to visit. It crosses 8 states, and it goes through a good portion of Western Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania - North Country Trail Association
Has a little bit of everything. 38 miles of trails if you like hiking.
Two Mile Run County Park
A smaller park. A great place to spot local wildlife and do some fishing. 12 mile paved hiking/biking trail.
Maurice K Goddard State Park
Lots of boating and fishing available, as well as camping, hiking and plenty of places to have a picnic.
Shenango River Lake, Pennsylvania - Recreation.gov
If you love kayaking or canoeing, this one's for you! 23 miles of paddling along the scenic trail between Pymatuning and Shenango River Lake.
Upper Shenango River Water Trail
For the adrenaline junkies out there! Take a sky dive with the qualified flyers/instructors.
Skydive Pennsylvania
Over 52 miles of trails along the Allegheny River. It was once an old railroad trail that was converted for recreation. Stop by the East Brady Tunnels while you're there.
Armstrong Trails || Armstrong County: Bike, Hike, Walk Run
Smaller lake but they have camping, and pavilions and playgrounds galore.
Crooked Creek Lake, Pennsylvania - Recreation.gov
Runs all through Western PA through some unique landscapes. It goes up into New York state as well. Also still in the process of being built so it's all connected.
Erie to Pittsburgh Trail | Outdoor Recreation | United States
Ends in Pittsburgh and runs north from where it starts in Cumberland, MD. It goes through a dozen trail towns where you can stay in a hotel, bed and breakfast, or camp out for the night. Plenty of stores and restaurants in the towns.
Great Allegheny Passage
Has hosted numerous golf events for the PGA including the U.S. Open. It is hosting again this year (2025).
Oakmont Country Club: Home
Amusement Parks
One of the best amusement parks in the nation, with some of the best roller coasters in the world. Ride the Thunderbolt!
Kennywood
Fun family water park
Waldameer Park & Water World | Amusement and Water Park in Erie ...
An amazing and fun park for the whole family. Has some amusement park rides and the Story Book Forest, along with the water park.
Idlewild and SoakZone | Pittsburgh's Best Amusement Park
Just down the river from Kennywood.
Sandcastle Water Park: Best Water Park in Pittsburgh, PA
Another water park in PA, this one has a little bit of everything. And it's all indoors.
Splash Lagoon
Fairs/carnivals
Held the first week of October. It's almost 2 weeks of fun, with a craft fair, carnival (with rides), and parade included.
Autumn Leaf Festival - Clarion Area Chamber
Usually the 1st weekend in October, it is a weekend of crafts, food and fun. They even have a petting zoo for the kids, and bands for entertainment.
Franklin Applefest – The Three Best Days
The birthplace of the Jeep! They hold a festival every year to celebrate this amazing vehicle and its history.
Bantam Jeep Festival - Butler
Held ever year around the end of August in what was once the horse thief capital in the US. Car shows, craft fair, parades, tractor races, community yard sales, and more!
Horsethief 2024 - Knox Borough, PA
A small but awesome fair that includes a demolition derby, rides, food, and get up close with the farm animals.
Wolf’s Corners Fair
Carnival held the week of July 4th. One of the biggest fairs in Western PA. Has so many rides, vendors, food, shows, and fireworks on the 4th.
Big Butler Fairgrounds
Held the beginning of August. So much to do and so many animals to see. Celebrates the farmers and producers of PA.
Butler Farm Show Inc.
A celebration of the arts in downtown Pittsburgh.
Three Rivers Arts Festival - The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust
If you love history and tradition this is the one to visit. They have arts and crafts, food, and live history events.
Penn's Colony - Colonial Festival & Folk Art Market
Lots of music, food and fun!
Pittsburgh Irish Festival – SEPTEMBER 6-8, 2024
Jousting, arts, crafts, plays, music, and nothing but entertainment. They have a new cultural event every weekend of the festival.
Pittsburgh Renaissance Festival – Return to the Magic and Mystique ...
Historic/cultural
If you visit Pittsburgh with the kids, this is a must! It is an awesome center. It even has a submarine just outside on the river that you can tour.
Carnegie Science Center
If you love to take in a show, this is the place to be.
Benedum Center for the Performing Arts
The other performing center opposite the Benedum Center. Take in a good Broadway show while you're in town.
Heinz Hall for the Performing Arts
Take a tour of one of the most well-known houses in America.
Fallingwater
An awesome museum to visit, they always have some exclusive exhibit event going on.
Carnegie Museum of Natural History
An absolutely gorgeous venue in the city of Pittsburgh. Take a tour or plan an event. They even let you have parties there for special occasions (weddings, birthdays, etc.)
Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens
A unique zoo located in Pittsburgh, it hosts all species of birds, including penguins! The only independent indoor nonprofit zoo dedicated solely to birds.
National Aviary
If you're in the area during the holidays, this is the place to go! The Christmas display walk-thru is a must….gorgeous!
Kraynaks – Your Store for all Seasons
A place to celebrate and view his art right in his birthplace of Pittsburgh, PA.
The Andy Warhol Museum