Why You Should Visit Lebanon, Pennsylvania: A Dynamic Place to Be

What comes to mind when you think of Tourism in Pennsylvania?

Lancaster? Philadelphia? Pittsburgh?

All of these have their advantages. Philadelphia has Independence Hall, the LIberty bell, and an enduring place in the hearts of all interested in Revolutionary-war era history. Pittsburgh is known for it's Steel-works. Lancaster city (and the surrouding county of the same name) has made the Amish into a vital part of its tourist appeal. Yes, all of these places have their own charms, but there is one location which is usually not considered as a tourist destination, but probably should be: Lebanon.

Lebanon, Pennsylvania is a moderate-sized city (population 24,161 as of the 2000 census), located 26 miles east of Harrisburg, the State capital. It is the county seat of Lebanon county.

When people think of "Pennsylvania Dutch country", they usually think of Lancaster county (due primarily to the aggressive marketing of the Amish undertaken by Lancaster County tourist organizations), but those who really want an authentic "Pennsylvania Dutch" experience will probably come away dissapointed. (The portrayal of the Amish put forward by Lancaster County tourist organizations is actually rather superficial, for one thing.) For a real dose of "Pennsylvania Dutch Country" as it really is, you can't beat Lebanon County.

Lebanon (City and county) is a study in contrasts. Palmyra (the easternmost town in the county) is for all intents and purposes a suburb of Hershey; many of it's inhabitants work in Hershey, and their overall outlook is more like Hershey than it resembles other areas of the county.

This county, like many other counties, has a "main road" upon which many of it's towns and cities are located. In this case, the primary road is PA route 422, which (from the point of view of Lebanon County) runs from Harrisburg on the West, to Reading on the East -- at least, that's a convenient way to visualize the relationships of vairous towns and cities in the area.