Food Scene
I'm from Texas, yet this restaurant offers the best mix of southwest, S. American, and Mexican food I have ever had.
18 locals recommend
El Sol Mexican Restaurant
18 S 3rd StI'm from Texas, yet this restaurant offers the best mix of southwest, S. American, and Mexican food I have ever had.
Keeps it basic with coffee and teas and only a few eats (made locally). The coffee is roasted in-house, usually lightly with full aromatic sensations. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly.
My favorite drink is the Cold Jar.
While you enjoy your time, you also are free to peruse their record collection (which is also for sale).
43 locals recommend
Little Amps Coffee Roasters
1836 Green StKeeps it basic with coffee and teas and only a few eats (made locally). The coffee is roasted in-house, usually lightly with full aromatic sensations. The staff is knowledgeable and friendly.
My favorite drink is the Cold Jar.
While you enjoy your time, you also are free to peruse their record collection (which is also for sale).
All local, up-scale food. But this is not just a heck of a restaurant. This is also a building stocked full of art galleries for your enjoyment.
79 locals recommend
Millworks
340 Verbeke StAll local, up-scale food. But this is not just a heck of a restaurant. This is also a building stocked full of art galleries for your enjoyment.
My favorite place for breakfast or lunch (other than my home). This is on the finer side of diners and close to the capital buildings.
Roxy's Cafe
274 North StMy favorite place for breakfast or lunch (other than my home). This is on the finer side of diners and close to the capital buildings.
Nirvana Kitchen
3500 Walnut StI kinda lose my mind over how good this place is. I love some authentic Indian food.
Crawdaddys
1500 N 6th StCajun food? Yes please. With a heck of a corn bread.
Drinks & Nightlife
With regular music shows and a full bar, this place is a fun space to hang out for the off-kilter, hipster in you.
30 locals recommend
Harrisburg Midtown Arts Center
1110 N 3rd StWith regular music shows and a full bar, this place is a fun space to hang out for the off-kilter, hipster in you.
Absolutely delicious food and the home of my favorite beer, Strawberry Wheat, as well as a number of their other craft beer.
60 locals recommend
Lancaster Brewing Company
302 N Plum StAbsolutely delicious food and the home of my favorite beer, Strawberry Wheat, as well as a number of their other craft beer.
Great local, craft brews. Delicious food on the 1st floor restaurant (and view of the brewery itself). Events and shows on the second. A fun place to be!
16 locals recommend
Appalachian Brewing Company
50 N Cameron StGreat local, craft brews. Delicious food on the 1st floor restaurant (and view of the brewery itself). Events and shows on the second. A fun place to be!
Another renowned and local brewery with tours and great food.
74 locals recommend
Tröegs Independent Brewing
200 Hersheypark DrAnother renowned and local brewery with tours and great food.
This is a fun bar in downtown for hangouts and eats. Bar on both floors with full restaurant on first floor.
7 locals recommend
McGrath's Pub
202 Locust StThis is a fun bar in downtown for hangouts and eats. Bar on both floors with full restaurant on first floor.
Parks & Nature
This place is a huge park within the city. Known for bird-watching and wanderers, it's an enjoyable scene. There are also frequent festivals and workshops and educated volunteers - fun to be had during turtle breeding season and when the water lilies are in bloom. It is set around preserved wetlands.
25 locals recommend
Wildwood Park
100 Wildwood WayThis place is a huge park within the city. Known for bird-watching and wanderers, it's an enjoyable scene. There are also frequent festivals and workshops and educated volunteers - fun to be had during turtle breeding season and when the water lilies are in bloom. It is set around preserved wetlands.
This runs the length of the Sesquehanna River in the main part of Harrisburg. Runners, bikers, and play can be found. City events often happen here as well.
25 locals recommend
Riverfront Park
200 S Front StThis runs the length of the Sesquehanna River in the main part of Harrisburg. Runners, bikers, and play can be found. City events often happen here as well.
This is the largest municipal public park in Harrisburg (and close to the house, connected by the Capital Area Greenbelt). Full of history, it houses the Civil War Museum, and festivals and events are had throughout the year. On 84 acres, there are plenty of spots to have a picnic or a private moment with friends and enjoy the sunset.
11 locals recommend
Reservoir Park
100 Concert DrThis is the largest municipal public park in Harrisburg (and close to the house, connected by the Capital Area Greenbelt). Full of history, it houses the Civil War Museum, and festivals and events are had throughout the year. On 84 acres, there are plenty of spots to have a picnic or a private moment with friends and enjoy the sunset.
This 20 mile hiking and biking trail takes you around Harrisburg, connecting you to parks, night life, and eateries. Or, just a lovely place to wander.
14 locals recommend
Capital Area Greenbelt
1550 S 19th StThis 20 mile hiking and biking trail takes you around Harrisburg, connecting you to parks, night life, and eateries. Or, just a lovely place to wander.
Running from Georgia to Maine, this is one of the nations most acclaimed trails. And it happens to go right near Harrisburg.
Explore some of the wild spaces on the trail for a day hike or a couple nights.
Are you on the trail and want to stop in a bigger city than Duncannon for a few days? Try Harrisburg!
Appalachian Trail East
Appalachian Trail EastRunning from Georgia to Maine, this is one of the nations most acclaimed trails. And it happens to go right near Harrisburg.
Explore some of the wild spaces on the trail for a day hike or a couple nights.
Are you on the trail and want to stop in a bigger city than Duncannon for a few days? Try Harrisburg!
Sightseeing
This is the country's fanciest capitol building by far. Think gold, bronze, marble, delicate and ornate artwork and carvings. This place is fancy and surrounded by other beautiful and luxurious buildings and impressive churches.
If you're a fan of architecture, politics, or just want to rub shoulders with "important people" then this is a fun place for you.
Also set on beautiful grounds for enjoying.
52 locals recommend
Pennsylvania State Capitol
501 N 3rd StThis is the country's fanciest capitol building by far. Think gold, bronze, marble, delicate and ornate artwork and carvings. This place is fancy and surrounded by other beautiful and luxurious buildings and impressive churches.
If you're a fan of architecture, politics, or just want to rub shoulders with "important people" then this is a fun place for you.
Also set on beautiful grounds for enjoying.
It was hard to pick a category for this as it is a historical location good for sight-seeing but, except for the occasional event between the two buildings, it mostly revolves around food.
The front building has a ton of local vendors with ready-to-eat offerings.
The back building is like a huge Farmer's Market. With fresh baked goods, loads of vegetables, fruits, local meats, raw milk, goat milk, sheep milk (and yogurts, ice cream, and cheeses), flowers, chocolates and deserts, and craftwork.
And if you can't go to Lancaster, but want to see some Amish/Mennonite culture, this is a good place to do it as a significant proportion of the sellers are they.
92 locals recommend
Broad Street Market
1233 N 3rd StIt was hard to pick a category for this as it is a historical location good for sight-seeing but, except for the occasional event between the two buildings, it mostly revolves around food.
The front building has a ton of local vendors with ready-to-eat offerings.
The back building is like a huge Farmer's Market. With fresh baked goods, loads of vegetables, fruits, local meats, raw milk, goat milk, sheep milk (and yogurts, ice cream, and cheeses), flowers, chocolates and deserts, and craftwork.
And if you can't go to Lancaster, but want to see some Amish/Mennonite culture, this is a good place to do it as a significant proportion of the sellers are they.
This is a historic Mansion with tours, set on a lovely park and garden.
28 locals recommend
Fort Hunter Mansion and Park
5300 N Front StThis is a historic Mansion with tours, set on a lovely park and garden.
Entertainment & Activities
Hersheypark
100 Hersheypark DrFUN!
Impressive gardens leading into the zoo. Butterflies, flowers, and all the other good stuff.
54 locals recommend
Hershey Gardens
170 Hotel RdImpressive gardens leading into the zoo. Butterflies, flowers, and all the other good stuff.
This has a nice, big IMAX theatre. It also has lots to teach kids (and adults) about science and engineering. This venue also is a great spot where concerts, plays, and other performances are.
46 locals recommend
Whitaker Center for Science and the Arts
222 Market StThis has a nice, big IMAX theatre. It also has lots to teach kids (and adults) about science and engineering. This venue also is a great spot where concerts, plays, and other performances are.
This is a great place to get in touch with food. They offer a u-pick farm and fresh, organic produce.
Strites Orchard
1000 Strites RdThis is a great place to get in touch with food. They offer a u-pick farm and fresh, organic produce.
Arts & Culture
Artists from around the world and history. Great for the art-lover and they have fun workshops for kids too. If you enjoy art, this is a must see.
39 locals recommend
Susquehanna Art Museum
1401 N 3rd StArtists from around the world and history. Great for the art-lover and they have fun workshops for kids too. If you enjoy art, this is a must see.
This is an amazing art cooperative called The MakeSpace. They have a few resident artists who share the cost of the building (an old row home in uptown that they've repaired), then special local artists displayed monthly, and a number of special performances at the location throughout. They also have classes for kids. Check them out at hbgmakespace.com
1916 N 3rd St
1916 North 3rd StreetThis is an amazing art cooperative called The MakeSpace. They have a few resident artists who share the cost of the building (an old row home in uptown that they've repaired), then special local artists displayed monthly, and a number of special performances at the location throughout. They also have classes for kids. Check them out at hbgmakespace.com
Really, I recommend this because the planetarium is cool.
54 locals recommend
The State Museum of Pennsylvania
300 North StReally, I recommend this because the planetarium is cool.
Shopping
Another one that's tough to categorize. Right across from the Broad Street Market, this is a 3 (or maybe 4, depending on how you look at it) story, used-book store - the 2nd largest in the country after Powell's in Portland, OR. With the gamut of selection as well as rare books and prints, two cafes, an art gallery, event rooms, and a stage for special events. There are book-signings, artists, music performances, political debates, comedy shows, and many more things to find. Owned by our mayor!
45 locals recommend
The Midtown Scholar Bookstore
1302 N 3rd StAnother one that's tough to categorize. Right across from the Broad Street Market, this is a 3 (or maybe 4, depending on how you look at it) story, used-book store - the 2nd largest in the country after Powell's in Portland, OR. With the gamut of selection as well as rare books and prints, two cafes, an art gallery, event rooms, and a stage for special events. There are book-signings, artists, music performances, political debates, comedy shows, and many more things to find. Owned by our mayor!
If you have a thing for vintage clothes and accessories, this place is really fun. It started out a tiny shop near midtown, but has grown into a hot spot for fun finds.
Stash Vintage
25 S 3rd StIf you have a thing for vintage clothes and accessories, this place is really fun. It started out a tiny shop near midtown, but has grown into a hot spot for fun finds.