Gettysburg Soldier
Philadelphia City Hall

Philadelphia sports fans have renewed hope as the Philadelphia Eagles season ends and the 76ers now take the court. Join the crowds at the Wells Fargo Center in downtown Philly to cheer on the Sixers for the shortened yet 2012 season. The Philadelphia Flyers are mid-season, also at the Wells Fargo Center; catch the action on the ice into April. This is also the season for film buffs to take in the various genres of film presented by the Philadelphia Jewish Film Festival. Presented by the Gershman Y, the PJFF embarks on its 30th year in 2012. Sports, arts, culture and of course history – Philly delivers it all.

For a special treat when visiting Philadelphia, make reservations for the Chinese New Year Banquet prepared by local celebrity chef Joseph Poon. Located in Philly’s Chinatown, enjoy a traditional 10-course Chinese New Year Banquet celebrating the year of the dragon. For a spectacular evening, join chef Poon January 22nd on Chinese New Year’s Eve for a Tasting Tour through Chinatown. Visit Philadelphia’s Chinese Bakery, Asian Grocer and the fortune cookie factory, followed by the New Year Banquet and midnight celebration.

Allentown, 60 miles north of Philadelphia, is home to the Da Vinci Science Center. Through March, the Da Vinci offers winter visitors an adventure in form and Function with Keva Build It Up! Fun for all ages, visitors enjoy an interactive design and building challenge using KEVA planks. If you have a Cub Scout in the family check the Da Vinci Camp-in schedule where kids overnight at the science center while working on scouting badges.

When the snow flies in Eastern Pennsylvania, Allentown and the Lehigh Valley are where you want to be. Ski, snowboard or tube in Pennsylvania’s Appalachian Mountains. Blue Mountain north of Lehigh Valley and South Mountain to the south make great winter getaways. Bear Creek Mountain Resort and Blue Mountain Ski Area offer a great variety of terrain for snow sports and family fun.

West of Philadelphia two hours, is the city of York. Laying claim to the coolest place in town is the York City Ice Arena. An ideal place for winter skating, York City Ice Arena is home to White Rose Figure Skating Club and York Ice Hockey Club. With two ice rinks, a pro shop snack bar and game room; this is the place for fun. There is even a Fitness Center and community room upstairs. The arena schedule features plenty of time for open skating – lace up the blades and enjoy some winter fun in York.

Covered Bridge
Central Pennsylvania

Central Pennsylvania, from Dutch Country and the Alleghenies in the south through the Susquehanna Valley north to the Pennsylvania Wilds, is prime for visitors. Known as Pennsylvania’s Happy Valley, State College is home to Pennsylvania State University. Well-known for its Nittany Lions athletic programs, Penn State is a hub of activity in State College. To the east, the Pocono Mountains offer PA visitors outstanding winter recreation. Wilkes-Barre, set along the Susquehanna River, is a gateway to 18 Pennsylvania winter ski areas in the Poconos. South in Pennsylvania’s Dutch Country Roads region, Gettysburg draws history buffs to the site of the largest Civil War battle.

Birding fans join the National Audubon Society’s Wilkes-Barre 112th annual Christmas Bird Count. The Pocono Environmental Education Center hosts volunteers January 1st to search and identify birds in upstate Pennsylvania. No experience needed to participate, PEEC matches visitors with experienced birders. Join the bird conservation effort in 1012. East of Wilkes-Barre in Dingmans Ferry, PEEC also hosts winter recreation activities including Introduction to Ice Fishing on January 29th, Cross Country Skiing the first two weekends in February and Animal Tracking January 21st and February 4th.

It’s all about basketball at State College’s Bryce Jordan Centre at Penn State. Don blue and white, and join fans cheering on the Nittany Lions and Lady Lions as they hit the court. PSU men play through March 4th in the regular season, ending with a game at University Park against Michigan. The Lady Lions end regular season play with the 6th annual WBCA Pink Zone at Penn State in a game against Minnesota.

The Center for the Performing Arts at Pennsylvania State University brings a wealth of cultural events to College Station in 2012. Classical music fans, join the Hamburg Symphony Orchestra at Eisenhower Auditorium on January 19th for performances of Brahms, Ralph Vaughn Williams and Dvorák. The season continues at University Park with Theatreworks-USA performing Seussical on January 22nd. February fills Eisenhower Auditorium's calendar with the Shanghai Chinese Orchestra Chamber Ensemble, Jin Xing Dance Theatre Shanghai and Broadway’s American Idiot featuring music from Green Day.

Gettysburg celebrates the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg with events throughout 2012. Join mid-winter talks at Gettysburg National Military Park weekends through March. Lectures are free and explore the events and personalities of the 1862 Gettysburg Campaign. Living history weekends on the Gettysburg Battlefield begin in April, where visitors can see daily life from 1862.

The 2012 Gettysburg North-South Marathon is schedule for April 29th. Runners, keep up training for the historic 2nd running of the North-South Marathon commemorating the Civil War. Participants choose to run for Union or Confederate states, with the winning side announced at the awards ceremony. Honor your own Civil War heritage at the 2012 Gettysburg North-South Marathon.

Downtown Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh and sports are nearly synonymous. Well-known home of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the city is also home ice for the NHL Pittsburgh Penguins. Don’t forget the Pride and passion of Pittsburgh - the Pittsburgh Pirates, not to mention local college and high school sports teams. Sports fans enjoy indoor fun at the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum on Smallman Street in downtown. Located west of the Crosstown Boulevard and Veteran’s Bridge, the Sports Museum is part of the Senator John Heinz History Center. Visitors enjoy exhibits of hundreds of artifacts, interactive exhibits and 20 audio-visual programs. Sports are an integral part of Pittsburgh’s heritage and culture – discover the best at the Western Pennsylvania Sports Museum in downtown Pittsburg.

The Pittsburgh Steelers end the 2011 regular season December 24th, hosting St Louis at Heinz Field. Look out for the Steelers in the playoffs and see how far they go. Meanwhile, the Consol Energy Center hosts the excitement of Pittsburgh Penguins hockey. Cheer on the Penguins through the last two home games April 5th and 7th.

The Consol Energy Center hosts alternative sports action for Motocross and Monster Truck fans. Nuclear Cowboys hits the Energy Center February 5th with amazing freestyle motocross at its best. Join the top motocross riders in the world performing unbelievable tricks and filling the arena with extreme motocross action. Monster Jam comes to Pittsburgh February 17th through the 19th to thrill monster truck fans with four spectacular shows.

Winter is ideal for a visit to the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh for some family playtime and learning. Load up the kids and check out How People Make Things featuring hands-on activities, demonstrations and factory video tours. This exhibit runs through February 5th. While you’re at Pittsburgh’s Children’s Museum don’t miss the MakeShop, The Attic and The Studio, among the permanent exhibits.

The Carnegie Science Center, one of four Carnegie Museums in Pittsburgh, is a must-see with roboworld, the world’s largest permanent exhibit of robotics. The Body Tech exhibits allow visitors to learn and experience use of the Gamma Knife, Ultrasound and Endoscopes just like actual surgeons. The popular SeaScape features a living coral reef ecosystem, where you watch the underwater life being fed, or climb into a real submarine. Pittsburgh has been branded as Roboburgh – come discover some of the reasons why at the Carnegie Science Center.

The Andy Warhol Museum is another of Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Museums. The art collection of the Andy Warhol Museum includes over 8,000 pieces created by Warhol. The museum also features performing arts including the “off the wall” performances series. The 2012 season launches January 21st with Mike Daisey’s “The Agony and Ecstasy of Steve Jobs”. Off the Wall continues with seven additional performances running through April including February’s “The Pixelated Revolution and in March, Carmelita Tropicana:”Homage to Jack 7 & Ole/Ghost. Enjoy the spirit of Andy Warhol at Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Andy Warhol Museum.