Harrisburg

Harrisburg lies on the banks of the Susquehanna River. The city combines outdoor experiences with art, history and festivals: you can walk along trails, explore wetlands and birds, or learn about Pennsylvania’s history. So when choosing a vacation rental, it is worth considering which of these sides of Harrisburg you want to shape your stay.

Riverside Scenery and Trails

If you enjoy spending time outdoors, you’ll find different ways to make your day active. Wildwood Way and Towpath Trail form a 3.1-mile loop used for walking, jogging and cycling. Its length and range of uses make it a practical option if you’d like to include some exercise in your stay.

The Capital Area Greenbelt offers a scenic 21-mile route for walking. That’s a different scale from the 3.1-mile loop: depending on how much you want to cover, you can choose a shorter loop or the longer walking trail. The Delta Boardwalk offers another perspective on nature. It passes through a swamp and wet forest, where you can observe wetland and upland birds. The exhibit hall at the Benjamin Olewine III Nature Center explains how a freshwater wetland works and offers insights into the wildlife that lives there.

Riverfront Park also highlights Harrisburg’s connection to the river. It stretches along the Susquehanna River from Vaughn Street to Hanna Street. If you’re interested in getting your bearings along the river, you can use this stretch as a reference point when planning your trip.

City Island and Unique Experiences

City Island lies in the middle of the Susquehanna River and is accessible via a pedestrian bridge. There, Water Golf offers an 18-hole miniature golf course with views of the river and the capital’s skyline. The City Island Railroad is a miniature train modeled after a steam locomotive from the American Civil War era; it takes a loop ride around the island. The island brings together different experiences: miniature golf with river views and a train ride inspired by railroad history.

Kipona is one of the annual traditions on City Island. The festival features Indigenous foods, crafts, dancing, music and other events. It adds a cultural dimension to the city’s nature and history attractions; specific event dates are not provided here.

Art, History and Events

The Pennsylvania State Capitol Building is a palace of art, with paintings, statues and centuries of Commonwealth history. The current building was constructed between 1902 and 1906 and offers free tours. If you’d like to combine architecture and art with history, you’ll find several aspects in one place, with no specific prior knowledge required.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania houses extensive natural and cultural history collections. They cover Pennsylvania’s role in American history, including the colonial and Revolutionary eras, the Civil War and the industrial age of the United States. These topics provide a broad historical context and differ in content from the Capitol’s art and architectural history.

The Harrisburg Arts District has a walkable area with theaters, museums, galleries, public art and performance venues. The Arts District app lets you search for murals, performance venues, events, museums, galleries, monuments, shopping and dining. When choosing your accommodation, you can consider whether you’re visiting Harrisburg mainly for its cultural offerings or for its river and nature experiences.

Another annual event is Artsfest at Riverfront Park. More than 170 selected artists and craftspeople showcase their work there. The program includes live entertainment, a jazz festival, a community art project, Kidsfest, HBGFest and 25 food trucks. The festival appeals to a variety of interests, from art and music to food and activities whose names indicate they’re intended to include children. If you’d like to plan your trip around a particular festival, be sure to check its date separately as part of your planning.

Explore More Places

You can also consider these places as you continue planning your trip: Hershey, Grantville, Halifax, Hummelstown, Oberlin, Dauphin and Middletown.

Go to the parent travel overview: Dauphin.