Check out our top 10 winter things to do in Harrisburg!
Start 2017 with your sights on the stars, while you stay nice and warm at the Planetarium in The State Museum of Pennsylvania. Since its creation in 1905, the museum has collected, preserved, researched, and interpreted the cultural and natural history of the state. Over the years, the collections have greatly expanded and in addition to the Planetarium, check out the hands-on Curiosity Connection for kids ages 1-5, as well as many interesting permanent and changing exhibits on Pennsylvania’s nature and culture through the years.
Resolve to catch up with friends in the new year over a great cup of coffee from Little Amps. With locations in Old Uptown, Downtown, and Strawberry Square, this local micro roaster serves intense, flavorful, and fresh brews with a natural sweetness. They source their beans from amazing farms worldwide and roast them right here in Harrisburg. Give the Nitro coffee a try!
#3 Tasting Local Moonshine at Midstate Distillery
Check another experience off your Resolutions Bucket List when you take a sip of history at Midstate , the first distillery in the Harrisburg area since Prohibition. Enjoy tours and tastings of their spirits, including Pennsyltucky Moonshine, that all reflect their Capital Region roots. Their cocktails change with the season and local ingredient availability, and they also serve select varieties of Pennsylvania beer and wine.
Expand your culinary horizons in the new year with meals of plantains, pizzelles, ceviche and tandoori, all right here in Harrisburg! Try traditional and innovative cuisine from Harrisburg’s many ethnic restaurants located in every part of the city and serving up Jamaican, Dominican, Italian, Spanish, Mexican, Indian, Japanese, and other international specialties. And for a wide selection of international flavors under one roof, check out the Broad Street Market.
Did you make a resolution to read more this year? Check out the used, rare and new books for all ages at the Midtown Scholar. This bookstore-cafe offers over 200,000 books for sale, "The Little Scholar" children's and young adult wing, changing art gallery exhibits, a main stage for author talks and acoustic music, a community classroom, and a poet's corner.
Resolve to spend more time with friends and get together for drafts at Zeroday Brewing Company in Midtown. Located just a few blocks from the Capitol, their tasting room provides a social gathering space with an emphasis on clean, balanced ales and lagers, as well as Pennsylvania wine and cider. Their unique brews are showcased alongside some incredible local art, and on occasion you can enjoy your brew to the soundtrack of some of the area’s best musicians.
#7 Digging Into a Breakfast Burger at Burger Yum
Find new flavors to crave – a worthy resolution, and Harrisburg is up to the challenge! Have you tried Burger Yum? This relative newcomer serves all-American classic burgers with a twist to their downtown diners. Always fresh, never frozen, natural burgers share the menu with other classic fare including chicken, hot dogs, fries, shakes, craft beers and wine. Almost anything can be topped with their signature Yum sauce, and you’ve got to try the Breakfast Burger with a fried egg and bacon!
You know it’s a resolution every year – get to the Farm Show! Experience everything the largest indoor agriculture exposition in the nation has to offer, including nearly 6,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits, 300 commercial exhibits, and of course those famously delicious milk shakes in the legendary food court! The 101st Pennsylvania Farm Show runs January 7-14, 2017 at the Farm Show Complex & Expo Center.
Resolve to create quality time with the little ones in your life! At Little Learners, you can enjoy hands-on activities with your preschoolers while you foster an early love of science. This program is offered for children ages 5 and under and their accompanying adult(s) on Wednesday mornings through spring 2017 in KidsPlace at Whitaker Center. Guests will enjoy group activities, story book science, a science or art craft to take home, and materials to continue the fun of learning at home.
Make a resolution to dine differently. Get a group of friends or family together for a unique brunch experience at Ad Lib in the Hilton. Whether you're in the mood for an item from the a la carte menu, a bloody Mary or mimosa from the "make your own" bar, or the seasonal surprises and personalized chef’s selections for your table courtesy of the Spontaneous Brunch experience, this downtown hot spot has got you covered!