WALKABLE pedestrian-friendly areas in PA outside of Phil/Pitt?

[Tiger Beer]

So perhaps I should cross Lebanon, Lancaster, and Easton off the list? I've been researching them a bit more, and seem to lose some of their appeal. Although Easton might be alright?

So it comes down to Bethlehem, Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, and State College...

I'll have to look into Johnstown as well.

[Tiger Beer]

Actually...GENERALLY...are most Pennsylvania cities spreading out significantly...leaving the downtowns to deterioate? I mean, typical of just about all U.S. cities these days?

I'm kinda looking for exceptions...downtowns where people value and take care of them, live in them and feel comfortable in them.

It's looking like State College (probably because it IS a college town)...and perhaps Bethlehem? Sounds like Bethlehem is one of the few actively engaging and trying to transform its downtown into something liveable and comfortable? Is that a correct assessment??

[ki0eh]

The midtown/downtown areas of Harrisburg have been remarkably redeveloped in the past decade. Frequent Amtrak service to Phila/NYC as well - something that W-B/Scr and Lehigh Valley areas both lack. Nearby Camp Hill is a walkable suburb - they don't even have school buses.

[Awesomo.2000]

State College is very compact with trail systems, and a good bus system too. This is because there are 40,000 students up there, and over 30,000 of them don't have cars.

I use to ride my bike two miles out of town to Rothrock State park and hike in the woods and ride back to go eat dinner and then party. It was a great town it was.

[ki0eh]

Originally Posted by Awesomo.2000

I use to ride my bike two miles out of town to Rothrock State park and hike in the woods and ride back to go eat dinner and then party.

I heard a bike trail extension is in the works from town to Musser Gap which is supposed to become a replacement access for Shingletown Gap. The Shingletown Gap area sure is a nice stress relief point.

[BevoInPA]

Virtually all of Camp Hill has sidewalks with crosswalks across arteries like Market Street and 32nd Street. There are a few businesses along Market Street between 21st and 24th (2 restaurants, a coffee shop, bike shop, florist, clothing store). Camp Hill has a borough pool and tennis courts that are at 24th and the Bypass and accessible via a pedestrian tunnel at 24th Street. The shopping center at 32nd and Trindle is also walkable (if you live west of 24th) and has a Giant, Boscovs, Staples, LA Fitness, and a bunch of other stores. If you live east of 24th you can walk to the West Shore Plaza which is just over the borough line in Lemoyne which has two restaurants, a grocer, CVS, and a bunch of other stores. Someone already mentioned there are no buses (which are not necessary unless you live in Country Club Hills) and high schoolers can leave campus for lunch.

Gettysburg is walkable but geared towards tourists.

I went to school in State College. This is a nice town but the "walkable" stores include Abercrombie and Fitch, Chile's, and a bunch of other retailers/restaurants geared towards college students.

Chambersburg is cool in a retro sort of way. The borough recently got an Elm Street designation for the area south of downtown and will begin demolishing and reconstructing blighted properties in this area next year.

Downtown York has come a long way and is very nice, in my opinion. There are stores, historic sites, and employment centers right at the core. Dentsply recently built a large corporate facility adjacent to the CBD.