Her Campus Logo Her Campus Logo
placeholder article
placeholder article

Cutest Small Towns in Pennsylvania

This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at F and M chapter.

Pennsylvania is a state filled with adorable small towns and it’s hard to narrow down the list of which ones you have to visit. Luckily, if you’re a student at F&M, you have four years to explore the great towns of PA! There are lots of towns filled with rich history, beautiful architecture, or incredible food. Lancaster might not be on this list, but that’s because it’s pretty much a given that you’ll take some time to explore it while you’re here at college.

1. Lititz

Just a short, twenty minute drive away from F&M, Lititz might be one of the best small towns in the country. It has loads of adorable little shops that you can look for cute knick knacks at – antique and thrift stores, a used book store, a shop that sells speciality soaps, and many more. There are great restaurants like the Tomato Pie Cafe. Also, make sure to stop at Wilbur’s Chocolate Factory for some great treats made right in Lititz.

2. Hershey

Another great small town that’s a short drive away from Lancaster, Hershey is a unique small town. Home to HersheyPark and the great Chocolate World, Hershey is a trip not to miss. There’s also the outlets, so you can do some shopping, when you aren’t walking around the town. Make sure to check out the Hershey Theatre and the Hotel that overlooks the park and town on top of a hill.

3. Bethlehem

This cute town sits next to the Delaware River and is home to the former Bethlehem Steel company. The town is surrounded by mountains, so you might want to go for a hike. Lehigh University and Moravian College are also in or very near to the city, so take some time to talk around these lovely campuses.

4. State College

Springing up around the iconic Penn State, this town has turned into a great place to visit and live. Because it’s a college town, you’ll have no problem finding awesome restaurants to eat at or talking a walk around the town. If you plan carefully, you may even be able to see a Penn State game while you’re there! Get tickets and go tailgate!

5. Gettysburg

This town is the most historic on the list. The Battle of Gettysburg was fought in the fields around the town and on a hill is where Lincoln gave the Gettysburg address. Take some time to go on a tour of the fields (maybe even a ghost tour!). The town itself has many small shops and beautiful pieces of history that you should definitely take some time to see.

I attend Franklin & Marshall College and am the campus correspondent of the Her Campus chapter here. I also play flute with the Pep Band and Symphonic Wind Ensemble. I am an editor for the Patsy Post, am involved with F&M Unleashed, a member of Mu Upsilon Sigma, and a Brother of Phi Sigma Pi, a co-ed honors fraternity.