Day trips are simply the best, but after a while, the typical destinations might start to get old. How many times can you go to the zoo before it starts to get stale? The last time I went, the giraffes greeted me by name and I knew I had been there one too many times. Lucky for us, there are tons of strange and unique places to visit! Here are some of the weird places in Pennsylvania to visit.

1. Ringing Rocks Park, Bucks County
Christopher Thompson/ Flickr
The unique composition of the rocks in this county park has resulted in an odd phenomenon that only exists in a few rare locations throughout the world. When you strike the boulders with a hammer or other hard object, they emit a ringing sound, much like a bell. People travel from far and wide to experience this odd attraction. For more on Ringing Rocks Park, read our previous coverage.
2. Coudersport Ice Mine, Coudersport
Coudersport Ice Mine/ Facebook
You thought that icicles were a winter thing, but you were wrong. The Coudersport Ice mine is one of the most unique places to go in Pennsylvania and where massive amounts of ice are produced in the spring and summer, but never in the winter. Why, you ask? Something having to do with slow air circulation within the rock formations that causes cold winter air to be released into the cave in summer, and vice versa. You can visit the cave and see for yourself. For more on the fascinating Coudersport Ice Mine, read our previous coverage.
3. Gravity Hill, Bedford County
sabreguy29/ Flickr
Much like ringing rocks, gravity hills are an odd phenomena that manifest in few places throughout the world. If you put your car in neutral on this seemingly nondescript road, it will roll uphill. How strange. For directions to Gravity Hill, visit this webpage.
4. Centralia
Kelly Michals/ Flickr
Undoubtedly you've caught wind of the strangest location in our state: Centralia, where an underground mine fire has been burning since the early 1960s. It's now the least populated municipality in the state, with only a few clingers-on remaining there. To learn more about Centralia, visit this webpage.
5. Mütter Museum, Philadelphia
John Donges/ Flickr
If you enjoy gawking at the weird, bizarre, and downright disgusting, than the Mütter Museum is the place for you. An extensive collection of medical artifacts will fascinate you, from skulls to preserved tumors and more. For more on the Mütter Museum, read our previous coverage.

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6. Mister Ed's Elephant Museum, Orrtanna
ElaineandGreg/TripAdvisor
Elephant's are pretty nifty animals. They never forget and they really love peanuts. At Mister Ed's Elephant Museum, one of the best roadside attractions in Pennsylvania, you can browse a huge collection of more then 12,000 elephants as well as whimsical gardens. For more on Mr. Ed's Elephant Museum, read our previous coverage.
7. Haines Shoe House, York
Beck Gusler/ Flickr
The incredible shoe house was built by a shoe salesman in 1948 and has been a popular attraction in the area since. Today, it's owned by a couple who bought the house in 2015; it contains both a house and an ice cream shop. For more on Haines Shoe House, read our previous coverage.
8. Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia
Retrofresh!/ Flickr
Eastern State Penitentiary has it all as far as attractions go: rich history, intense weirdness, and ghosts! The father of modern-day prisons, it spawned more than 300 copy cats across the world after it was first built. Today, it is open for tours seven days a week so that anyone may see its austere interior. Visitors say they've never experienced anything quite like it before. For more on Eastern State Penitentiary, read our previous coverage.
9. The Mattress Factory, Pittsburgh
Sarah Best/ Flickr
Do you like unusual art? The Mattress Factory, which specializes in installations, is the perfect art museum for you. Each of its unique exhibits will challenge your perception and treat you to an experience quite unlike any you've had before. For more on The Mattress Factory, read our previous coverage.
10. Columcille Megalith Park, North Bangor
brewbooks/ Flickr
Rounding out our list of weird places in Pennsylvania is this park filled with rocks. To the casual observer, Columcille Megalith Park might appear to be a random collection of boulders that were dropped from the heavens. Their placement, however, is deliberate and mimics ancient Celtic spirituality. It is a place designated for peace and meditation. For more on Columcille Megalith Park, read our previous coverage.

What would you add to this list of weird places in Pennsylvania? Share in the comments below.

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More to Explore

Weird Places In Pennsylvania

Melissa M | April 27, 2021

What are some of the best roadside attractions in Pennsylvania?

Roadside attractions are always fascinating and unusual spots to visit or to stop and take pictures. The Homestead in Gettysburg is a large house filled with detailed dioramas featuring Civil War scenes. Whether or not you are a history buff, this is a fascinating attraction to stop and spend some time at. Another interesting attraction is the PennDOT Road Sign Sculpture Garden in Meadville which features sculptures made from, as you probably already guessed, road signs! It’s incredible to see what local art students created with old signs.

What hidden gems can I visit in Pennsylvania?

We don’t want to visit the same places over and over now, do we? In search of hidden gems, we have found several around the commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Trundle Manor in Swissvale is just about as bizarre as a museum can get. Containing a bewildering array of strange and macabre items, the owners enthusiastically give tours to guests in what’s sure to be one of the most unique experiences you’ll have. If you love zoos but don’t like the crowds of the larger ones, head to the lesser-known Lehigh Valley Zoo which spans an area of 29 acres and is home to almost 300 animals from around the world. Bring the kids and spend a memorable day here!

What are some of the most unique towns to visit in Pennsylvania?

 Lilitz is a picture-perfect, charming town that you have to see and experience for yourself. Stroll around the quaint historic downtown area shops including the very first pretzel bakery in the country! For a more remote location, head to Benezette which has approximately 200 residents and is filled with natural beauty. But what makes this town so unique is the population of elk that live here. Visit the Elk Country Visitor Center to learn more about these majestic animals and hike the trails to view them in their natural habitat.

 

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Featured Addresses
Ringing Rocks Rd, Bridgeton Township, PA 18972, USA
176 Ice Mine Rd, Coudersport, PA 16915, USA
New Paris, PA 15554, USA
Centralia, PA, USA
19 S 22nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA
6019 Chambersburg Rd, Orrtanna, PA 17353, USA
197 Shoe House Rd, York, PA 17406, USA
2027 Fairmount Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19130, USA
500 Sampsonia Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, USA
2155 Fox Gap Rd, Bangor, PA 18013, USA