Pennsylvania is a region steeped in colourful history. It started out as the ‘Holy Experiment' of Quaker activist William Penn, Jr. Granted a charter by King Charles II to develop a colony in the New World, Penn selected a lush wooded portion of the countryside, where he vowed to welcome anyone who believed in God. Less than a century later, the country's Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution at Independence Hall in Philadelphia - now one of the largest cities in the USA - and the American nation was born.

Pennsylvania boasts 20 state forests and one national forest, 116 state parks, one Great Lake (Lake Erie), 50 other natural lakes, 2,500 man-made lakes, along with thousands of miles of rivers and streams. In the fall the forests covering the state blaze with autumn colours, and winding roads pass through quaint historic towns and numerous covered bridges. The state is also something of a cultural Mecca, with many world-class museums, and a rich mix of cultural and ethnic communities.