Growing up in Pennsylvania, and living here, means we all share some unique experiences that few others would understand, for better or for worse. (Though our neighbors in Ohio and New Jersey might be able to chime in on a few of these.) Here are 19 relatable experiences about Pennsylvania that will probably have you nodding your head in agreement.

1. Let's get one thing straight, right off the bat: it's not Pennsylvania, it's PA.
"Flag of Pennsylvania" by Simtropolitan, Jean-Pierre Demailly (old version) - from the xrmap flag collection 2.7. Licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons
If you refer to it as Pennsylvania, you'll immediately out yourself as a non-native.
2. There's nothing better than a Philly cheesesteak, though whether Pat's or Geno's is superior is an ongoing debate. (There's also the eternal underdog, Jim's.)
Flickr/Jay Reed
3. Even if you live in Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, or another metropolitan area, you know you don't have to drive more than half an hour to find horses and buggies, cows, and moon pies.
Flickr/Anita Ritenour
What's your favorite thing about life in Pennsylvania?
4. You're proud to live in what is essentially hundreds of miles of rural paradise bookended by two of the best cities in the country.
Flickr/Jakob Montrasio
5. You expect to find forests, waterfalls, mountains, caves, and lakes without driving more than hour.
Flickr/Nicholas A. Tonelli
6. You also expect to experience all four seasons in almost equal amounts.
Wikimedia Commons/Predavatel
Growing up in Pennsylvania, you also know that you can experience all four seasons in a single day, too.
7. As soon as the weather changes, people around you immediately switch from complaining about it being too cold to it being too hot, or vice versa.
Flickr/fishhawk
We'll wear shorts all year around, though.
8. The summer humidity is like a wet blanket that will cease its smothering for no man.
Flickr/Pietro Turrini
9. You are newly stunned each autumn by how breathtaking the foliage is when it changes colors.
Flickr/dbphotos

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10. Every year, we repave many of our roads, only to find that winter has left them cracked and full of potholes once spring rolls around.
Flickr/Michael Gil
Living in Pennsylvania means looking forward to construction season, not summer.
11. When snow is in the forecast, you better get your milk and bread before everyone else does.
Flickr/romana klee
12. Scrapple: you either love it or hate it, and if you don't know what it is, you don't want to find out.
Flickr/Kate Hopkins
13. You've been living here so long that you no longer giggle at silly town names like "Intercourse" or "Blue Balls."
Wikimedia Commons/Doug Kerr
14. You also don't think of the Bible when someone talks about Bethlehem, Nazareth, Emmaus, or Egypt.
Flickr/Discover Lehigh Valley, PA
15. We're divided amongst ourselves. In Philly, you eat a lollipop, drink soda, and have to watch out for slippery floors. If you're in the western part of the state, however, you eat a sucker, drink pop, and watch out for slippy floors.
Flickr/MoneyBlogNewz
16. Stink bugs: THEY'RE TAKING OVER THE WORLD.
Flickr/born1945
17. Your elementary school education included at least three field trips to Philadelphia, two field trips to farms, and at least a million field trips to go apple picking.
Flickr/fishhawk
18. Even if you don't go hunting, you know plenty of people who do. Bambi would NOT do well here.
Flickr/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
19. We don't have to go all the way out west-- we have our own Grand Canyon tucked away in Pennsylvania.
Flickr/Jack Miller
Pine Creek Gorge is a must visit for anyone living in Pennsylvania.

What are your favorite things about living in Pennsylvania? How many of these 20 things about life in Pennsylvania can you relate to? Join the conversation in the comments! Then see if you agree that these are 16 ways living in Pennsylvania spoils you for life.

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Living In Pennsylvania

Beth Price-Williams | August 12, 2021

What are some things we all share when growing up in Pennsylvania?

Growing up in Pennsylvania means some shared experiences – from chasing down the ice cream truck to playing outdoors until the street lights come on. While everyone else went back to school on the Monday after Thanksgiving, we didn’t. After all, the first day of deer hunting season is something of a holiday in PA. We woke up early on those cold winter mornings to see if we had a school delay or, better, a day off. Food played a big role in growing up, too. We snacked on Hershey, Tastykake, and either loved or hated scrapple.

What are some of the most relatable things about Pennsylvania?

While PA is certainly a unique place, there are quite a few relatable things about Pennsylvania that out-of-staters can understand. Like having to dress for all four seasons in a single day. Some of us just wear shorts all year around to be safe. Saying PA’s weather is finicky is an understatement. The potholes – oh, the potholes. Sure, those visiting from out of state can understand potholes, but you’ve never really lived until you hit a famous PA pothole. Construction season replaces summer, and we’ve got a few of the world’s largest things, like the Big Mac and the Haines Shoe (House).

What is life in Pennsylvania like?

No matter where you live in the state, life in Pennsylvania is pretty sweet. Pennsylvanians, after all, are some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet. Meet as strangers and part as friends. We’re incredibly fortunate and spoiled to live in Pennsylvania. We can spend time in the big city, escape to a small town, or find tranquility in a tiny village. Night owls can catch gorgeous sunsets while morning birds can wake up early for sensational sunrises. We never want for good food or snacks. After all, we live in the Snack Food Capital of the U.S.

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