Pennsylvania
Central Pennsylvania's Juniata Valley packs a surprising amount into one county: the East Broad Top, the oldest narrow-gauge railroad in the United States and a National Historic Landmark, steaming again out of Rockhill Furnace; the Rockhill Trolley Museum across the street, where vintage cars still rattle along the rails; and Raystown Lake, the largest lake entirely inside Pennsylvania, with beaches, houseboats, mountain-bike trails and quiet coves.
Around them sit limestone caverns, Trough Creek's balanced rock and suspension bridge, an antique auto museum, a county-seat downtown with a college, and farm stops where the alpacas come to the fence. This guide books the headline rides and tours, maps the lake and trails, and matches you with a realistic place to sleep, from a Route 22 hotel near the lake to a Victorian inn or a Penn State-area stay an hour north.
East Broad Top Railroad General Admission
The gate ticket to the East Broad Top's Rockhill Furnace complex, the National Historic Landmark narrow-gauge railroad whose shops, yard and station buildings look much as they did when coal still rolled out of the Broad Top fields.
East Broad Top Train Excursions
Steam-era narrow-gauge excursions out of Rockhill Furnace, north to Colgate Grove or south to Pogue, plus seasonal favorites like the Pumpkin Patch Express and Christmas in Coal Country.
Rockhill Trolley Museum
Pennsylvania's first operating trolley museum, across Meadow Street from the East Broad Top, where early-1900s streetcars still carry passengers along a short line and the carbarn holds the rest of the collection.
Raystown Lake and Seven Points
Pennsylvania's largest lake entirely within the state: roughly thirty miles of clear water, 118 miles of shoreline, sandy beaches at Seven Points and Tatman Run, fishing, and a marina that rents houseboats.
Hand-picked: every experience here has strong traveler reviews and a verified booking link.
The gate ticket to the East Broad Top's Rockhill Furnace complex, the National Historic Landmark narrow-gauge railroad whose shops, yard and station buildings look much as they did when coal still rolled out of the Broad Top fields.
Steam-era narrow-gauge excursions out of Rockhill Furnace, north to Colgate Grove or south to Pogue, plus seasonal favorites like the Pumpkin Patch Express and Christmas in Coal Country.
A behind-the-scenes walk through the Rockhill Furnace shops, where narrow-gauge locomotives and cars are maintained and rebuilt, led by guides who know the machinery and the story.
Pennsylvania's first operating trolley museum, across Meadow Street from the East Broad Top, where early-1900s streetcars still carry passengers along a short line and the carbarn holds the rest of the collection.
Pennsylvania's largest lake entirely within the state: roughly thirty miles of clear water, 118 miles of shoreline, sandy beaches at Seven Points and Tatman Run, fishing, and a marina that rents houseboats.
Thirty-six miles of purpose-built singletrack above Raystown Lake, laid out in stacked loops so riders can match the day to their skill, with an overlook on the Ridge Trail.
Narrated sightseeing and dinner cruises on Raystown Lake, including the Proud Mary Showboat, for a relaxed look at the shoreline without paddling, towing or navigating.
The lake's main marina, with a fleet of houseboats for overnight stays on the water, plus pontoon and fishing boat rentals and a lakeside cafe for the docks.
A compact gorge park near Raystown Lake with Rainbow Falls, Balanced Rock, a suspension bridge over the creek and a natural ice mine, all on short, scenic trails.
Guided tours through limestone caves near Huntingdon, with stalactites, flowstone and the quiet rooms of Whisper Rocks, plus a gift shop and fall events.
Billed as the oldest antique automobile museum in the United States, with rotating displays of early cars, pop-culture favorites like Herbie the Love Bug and a DeLorean, and a deep sense of motoring history.
A sprawling family-built museum of more than 40,000 antiques and memorabilia, opened in 2001, filled with farm tools, toys, vehicles, household goods and the everyday objects of rural Pennsylvania.
Hotels we would book ourselves, from splurges to good-value bases.
Huntingdon / Route 22
A Marriott-brand hotel on the Route 22 corridor at Huntingdon, named for its Raystown Lake access and positioned as the practical base for the lake, downtown and the railroad.
Check rates →Huntingdon
A straightforward Choice Hotels property in Huntingdon, a budget-minded base within reach of downtown, Juniata College, Raystown Lake and the East Broad Top.
Check rates →Huntingdon County
A Queen Anne Victorian bed and breakfast in Huntingdon County, the atmospheric alternative to a chain hotel for couples and anyone who wants antique charm after a day on the rails.
Check rates →State College / Penn State campus
A traditional campus inn on the Penn State University Park grounds in State College, a more upscale, collegiate option about an hour north of Huntingdon.
Check rates →State College / Penn State area
A large full-service hotel and conference center beside the Penn State campus in State College, suited to families, groups and travelers who want a resort-style base.
Check rates →Downtown State College
A college-themed boutique hotel in downtown State College, with Penn State-inspired design and a walkable location for dining and campus.
Check rates →Altoona
A practical IHG hotel in Altoona, west of Huntingdon on the Route 22 side, handy for Horseshoe Curve and railroad history as well as the Raystown region.
Check rates →Altoona
A larger Altoona hotel and conference center, an economical option with event space and more room to spread out for groups visiting the railroad sights and Huntingdon County.
Check rates →What the county is, how the rails, lake and museums fit together, and how to choose among them on a first trip to central Pennsylvania.
How to choose among East Broad Top train rides, guided shop tours, general admission and the Rockhill Trolley Museum, and how to plan a full rail day.
A practical outdoor guide to Pennsylvania's largest lake: where to swim, ride, rent a boat, fish and find quiet water.
A realistic three-day plan that sequences the railroad, the lake and the caves, museums and farms without backtracking.
Hotels, inns, cabins and nearby-city options for a Huntingdon County trip, with honest notes on distances and when to book.
A season-by-season guide to the railroad schedule, lake conditions, foliage and festivals so you can pick the right time for your trip.
