/  North America   /  United States   /  Pennsylvania   /  
Stoneleigh Natural Garden - Hidden Gems That You Cannot Miss On Your Trip To Pennsylvania

8 Hidden Gems That You Cannot Miss On Your Trip To Pennsylvania (2024)

History and Natural Paths in Pennsylvania are world-known and interesting but have you ever thought about what the off-beaten paths of the State hold? Imagine if you could discover a secret place to explore in Pennsylvania, or if some pre-assigned norms of a certain place prove to be wrong, and you find a juicy little surprise out of usual.

When even the thought of the same can be this exciting, imagine how wonderful it is being at those hidden gems of Pennsylvania and exploring places that not most of the people get privileged of.

Pennsylvania has some ultimate lesser-known attractions, which we also name as the hidden gems. From lesser-explored gardens to ghost towns or the unpopular state parks, there’s a lot in Pennsylvania that has not got its fair share of recognition but is as good to explore as those world-famous sites. For knowing more and exploring the off-beat paths of Pennsylvania, quickly go through our article below.

8 Hidden Gems That You Cannot Miss On Your Trip To Pennsylvania

Have a look at our list of Hidden Gems that you cannot miss on your trip to Pennsylvania.

1. Allentown’s Rose Garden

You might have been to Allentown multiple times before for its expansive museums, rich Dutch history, and beautiful park system. Though have you ever been to the Malcolm W. Gross Memorial Rose Gardens in the town. You can reach here within a quick 20 minutes’ drive from the Sayre Mansion and explore the scenic 1.3-mile loop either walking or riding a bike. The garden is full of a variety of roses and other seasonal flowers, most of which bloom brightly during the summer season. It is an ideal place for relaxing, enjoying the sounds of the chirping birds, and soaking into the sweet fragrance of roses. The garden is also known for weddings, engagement, and prom pictures.

Allentown Rose Gardens - Hidden Gem in Pennsylvania

Image Source

2. Stoneleigh Natural Garden

Stoneleigh Natural Garden is today open for public exploration, but until 2016, it was home to the Haas family for straight 80 long years. It has not been very long since the garden is up for the general public; thus, not a lot of people have explored it yet. The former house of Haas and the garden grounds today are beautifully preserved and maintained, which makes it a beautiful place for a leisurely walk, bird watching, picnicking, and learning about the history of the area. They have guides and volunteers on duty who take the visitors through a lovely natural stroll and even provide binoculars (if they forget theirs’s). The garden is operational from Tuesday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is free for everyone to explore.

3. Falling Water House

Falling Water House is, of course, a popular sight and is by no means a hidden gem, but if you haven’t learned particularly about it, then you might fail to explore it in Pennsylvania. It is one of the most iconic homes by Frank Lloyd Wright, located in rural southwestern Pennsylvania, built in the year 1953. The house is built over a waterfall and today is included in the list of UNESCO world heritage sites. It is noted as one of the most beautiful works of Wright and is also counted amongst one of the few places in the world which you much explore before you die. This beautiful house harmoniously blends with the tranquil wooded region with a waterfall underneath and today is open for public exploration. Falling Water House is worth visiting in person, and pictures will never do justice to the real beauty of this place.

4. From Slavery to Freedom Garden

The people who were traded during the Slave trade from Africa to North America (from 1500 to 1800) were blessed with a wealth of skills and knowledge, and there is no better evidence than the “From Slavery to Freedom Garden” for that. Here you can find plants, vegetables, herbs, and woodlands that were used for food and medicinal purposes during the journey of Slavery to freedom. The garden tells a powerful and thought-provoking story, and once you leave after exploring the sight, you will have a completely different and better understanding of life.

5. The Seven Gates of Hell

One of the most spooky and mysterious places to visit in Pennsylvania has to be none other than the “Seven Gates of Hell.” It is believed (or is a myth) that there are seven gates in the wooded area of Hellam Township, and if an individual passes through all of them, he/ she will straight up the land into hell. Some age-old stories suggest that there was an insane asylum surrounded by these gates, and once the asylum caught fire, making those inmates run out and away. If believed upon these rumors, most of those inmates were either burned or lived in murderous wrath further. Though most of the explorers today who dare to explore the woodlands found no such gates at the claimed place, but a few of them claim to see illuminating furniture covered with dust cloths and lanterns glowing in the old broken buildings. Seven Gates of Hell until today is a mysterious sight, and every new story blows up once in a while.

6. Centralia, the Ghost town

Centralia is a town in Pennsylvania’s Columbia County that is known to be burning for almost 60 years now. It was first set on fire for burning out a landfill in the year 1962, but then they didn’t know about the underground coal tunnel, which never let the burnings cold down. With its effect, there are holes in Highway 61, and it is still hot when you touch the ground. The town was once blessed with locals, but today it has not more than 5 residents as all of the others have abundant their homes and moved out. Even though there aren’t many interesting things to see in Centralia, but you can now see cracks on the ground that are there due to the fume of fire. It is also believed that there is enough coal under Centralia to burn continuously for the next 200 years.

7. Ringing Rocks Park

Pennsylvania is home to some really unique geological mysteries, and the Ringing Rocks Park is one prime amongst them. The Park is located in the Upper Black Eddy, Bucks County, region, and here you can play your own remarkable concert without any musical instruments. The fascinating fact about this Park is that if you lightly bash a hammer over the rocks it will produce ringing sounds just like any bell. These rock and boulders are spread over 7 acres though only 1/3rd of them produce musical notes, so finding those particular is kind of a physical task. Another fascinating fact is that many visitors tried taking back some of the rocks, but they tend to lose their ability once taken away from the place and other rocks.

8. Benezette in Elk County

If you wish to see some of the largest roaming elk herd in the United States, there’s isn’t a better place than Benezette. Benezette is a small town known for housing 1,400 majestic animals within a free forested land. Though what magnets visitors the most here are the huge roaming Elks that are best viewed from Visitor Centre on Winslow Hill. The best time to spot these giants is during the late Summer and Fall seasons, especially around dawn and dusk. It is also their mating season, and hence if you are lucky enough, you can spot even heard of them. Not only Elk, but you can also spot various other wildlife. Though be prepared, cell service is really limited here.

Where do you want to go?

Get a Quote

Medical Tourism Enquiry

Selected Value: 0
No, thank you. I do not want.
100% secure your website.
WhatsApp Chat