Ah…memories of growing up in Pennsylvania. Those long summer days playing outside until our names were called when the streetlights came on. Running to the corner to greet the ice cream truck. And…catching lightning bugs then setting them free. Growing up in Pennsylvania is a treat, but there are some rather, well, interesting side effects to the experience, including…

1. You have driven on the PA Turnpike at least once and…
Flickr/Jon Dawson
Everyone who lives in PA has driven on the turnpike once. If you’re like most drivers, you probably saw the gas prices along the toll road and got off at the next exit to avoid paying the exorbitant prices.
2. Complain about the always rising turnpike toll fees.
Flickr/Jeff Pyle
The turnpike tolls are set to get higher every year for the next few decades. As a result, more Pennsylvanians have turned on their GPS or have pulled out their maps and, instead of just complaining, have found free routes to their final destination.
3. You know how to pronounce Punxsutawney…
Flickr/Doug Kerr
You also know that all eyes turn to Gobbler’s Knob every February when that lovable fur ball Phil emerges from his den to make his weather prediction. Six more weeks of winter or an early spring?
4. Zelienople and…
Flickr/Jon Dawson
You may have never been to Zelienople or might not be able to point it out on a map. But, you know how to pronounce it.
5. Schuylkill.
Flickr/Jack
You look at the name Schuylkill and instinctively know how to pronounce it. Spelling it? Well, that’s a whole different story.
6. You roll your eyes when you hear people from other states complain about gas prices and…
Flickr/David Fulmer
Pennsylvania’s lucky (insert extreme sarcasm) enough to pay the highest gasoline taxes in the United States, even beating out California. So, we have little sympathy for the complaints from other states.

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7. Believe Pittsburgh and Philadelphia are just a few short miles apart.
Flickr/Noe Alfaro
You can only shrug when you hear someone who thinks that the state’s two major cities aren’t far apart. Well, if you consider a five or more hour drive close...
8. You’re open to eating different foods and…
Flickr/Kate Hopkins
You either love or hate scrapple, but you’ve tried it. You might put French fries and coleslaw on your salads or sandwiches. You know sometimes weird food combinations make the most delicious dishes.
9. Know there’s no better place to get a snack than in PA.
Flickr/SJU Undergrad Admissions
PA’s the "Snack Capital of the U.S." and you expect all of your snacks to be as good as the ones originally made in PA: Herr’s, Hershey’s, TastyKake, Utz, Snyder’s of Hanover, and the list goes on.
10. You’ve chosen a side on the state’s biggest sports rivalry and…
Flickr/Laura Nawrockik
You either root for the Pittsburgh teams or the Philly teams. And, you know there’s no jumping from side to side because sports fans in PA are loyal to their favorite team.
11. Convenience store rivalry.
Flickr/Lauren Siegert
You’ve made the choice. You’ve either pledged your loyalty to Wawa or to Sheetz.
12. You’re proud to be from PA and…
Flickr/Nicholas A. Tonelli
Sure, PA has its fair share of problems. And, sure, we complain about those problems. But, the fact is, we’re proud to be from such a beautiful state.
13. Always return home, no matter where you roam.
Flickr/Jimmy Emerson, DVM
Whether you leave PA for a vacation, for college, or permanently, a part of your heart always remains in Pennsylvania. And, you always return home, if only for a brief visit.

We were certainly lucky growing up in Pennsylvania but, if you’ve just moved here or are thinking of moving to PA, here are 14 things you’ll quickly learn about our beautiful state.

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growing up in Pennsylvania

Beth Price-Williams | November 19, 2020

What stereotypes are there about Pennsylvania?

Pennsylvania stereotypes, whether they’re positive or negative, are just a fact of life, and we Pennsylvanians all have to deal with our fair share of stereotypes. You might hear people chuckle and mention we have some pretty weird pastimes. Well, if you call lawnmower races, outhouse races, and wiener dog races weird, consider that a stereotype that’s true. Some may also call us bad drivers. Maybe, but have you ever had to learn how to dodge potholes, some as big as a sinkhole? You’d have to say someone who can dodge potholes is a pretty skilled driver, so let’s call that stereotype untrue.

What is Pennsylvania known for?

Pennsylvania’s known for quite a few things – from being the Snack Capital of the United States to opening the very first zoo in the United States. (It’s the Philadelphia Zoo, in case you were wondering, and it opened in 1859.) We have plenty of reasons to have Pennsylvania pride, including being the home of some of the most delicious foods known to man. The Philadelphia Cheesesteak, for example, is a PA original. You’ll know if your cheesesteak is authentic from that first bite. Whoopie pies (also known as gobs), chipped ham, and Lebanon bologna are also popular PA foods. Some of us, especially in Western PA, eat fries on our sandwiches and salads.

What are the best things about living in Pennsylvania?

Life in Pennsylvania is pretty good. Yep, our beloved PA offers a little bit of everything. If you prefer the big city, head to Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, or Harrisburg. Prefer the small charming towns of yesteryear? You can’t go wrong with Lititz, Jim Thorpe, New Hope, or dozens of other enchanting towns. If you like the middle of nowhere, you’ll find that, too. PA boasts some of the most beautiful scenery in the country, too, with such gorgeous natural wonders as Pine Creek Gorge (The Grand Canyon of PA), Rickett’s Glen State Park, Bushkill Falls, and Cherry Springs State Park, the latter of which has some of the clearest skies on the eastern seaboard.

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