13 Quirky And Unusual Things No One Tells You About Living In Pennsylvania
By Beth Price-Williams|Published May 20, 2021
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
A professional writer for more than two decades, Beth has lived in nearly a dozen states – from Missouri and Virginia to Connecticut and Vermont – and Toronto, Canada. In addition to traveling extensively in the U.S. and the U.K., she has a BA in Journalism from Point Park University (PA), a MA in Holocaust & Genocide Studies from Stockton University (NJ), and a Master of Professional Writing from Chatham University (PA). A writer and editor for Only In Your State since 2016, Beth grew up in and currently lives outside of Pittsburgh and when she’s not writing or hanging out with her bunnies, budgies, and chinchilla, she and her daughter are out chasing waterfalls.
Most of us would probably agree that nothing quite compares to living in Pennsylvania. Gorgeous landscape – from rolling hills to lush farmland – awaits us just about everywhere we go. We’ve got some of the best restaurants, museums, small towns, and big cities anywhere. Life here is pretty awesome. However, when people first arrive, whether as visitors or as new residents, there are a few things we really should tell them about living in Pennsylvania.
Every Pennsylvanian takes a side when it comes to Wawa or Sheetz. Both are convenience stores that sell delicious food and a little bit of everything. You might want to try both before you declare your allegiance to either side.
Depending on where in the state you travel, you’ll hear people say soda or pop. Either way, they both mean Coke, Pepsi, and other soft drinks. What do you think – is it soda or pop?
Pittsburgh and Philadelphia have a notorious rivalry – the Pirates versus the Phillies; the Eagles versus the Steelers; and the Flyers against the Penguins. Which side are you on? (During the off-season, if our team doesn’t make it, we’ll usually root for the other PA team still in the game.)
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4. We get our spring weather forecast from a groundhog.
We’ve got our cute little Punxsutawney Phil, and we love him. Sure, some threaten him after he predicts six more weeks of winter, but he’s a cute little fella who most of us love - or at least tolerate.
5. But it really doesn’t matter, because we often have all four seasons in a single day.
Pennsylvanians are all about shorts and sweatshirts. The brave among us will even wear flip-flops in freezing temperatures. Don’t knock it until you try it.
Pennsylvania offers a ton of wholesome entertainment, from guided tours of museums to concerts. Sometimes, however, we just want to enjoy some old-fashioned fun like racing lawnmowers.
Oh, and sometimes we even design and race outhouses, especially if we live in Dushore. (If you’re not participating, you definitely don’t want to forget your camera for this one.)
Everyone loves dachshunds with their hot dog-shaped bodies, stubby little legs, and fierce personalities. There may be nothing cuter, in fact, than watching a bunch of ‘em race with their floppy ears flapping in the wind.
You won’t find better snacks anywhere, even if you try. Pennsylvania’s called the Snack Capital of the U.S. for a reason - well, quite a few reasons. Hershey. Utz. Peeps. Herr’s. The list goes on…
Philadelphia gave the world the cheesesteak sandwich, and most of us love them. You can find some darn fine cheesesteaks in PA, but you definitely want to head to Philly for some of the best.
Why waste all of that energy saying Pennsylvania when we can just say PA? Who knows why Pennsylvanians started that tradition, but it’s what we do. (It’s kind of endearing too, don’t you think?)
Well, this sure isn’t quirky or unusual, but it deserves to be said. PA and those who live here are pretty amazing. Why would we want to live anywhere else?
What are some quirky or unusual things about living in Pennsylvania you want others to know? Join the conversation in the comments! Then see if you agree that these are just 10 reasons living in Pennsylvania spoils you for life.
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