Having lived in Pennsylvania my entire life, I like to think I know a thing or two about it. The longer I live here, the more I am thankful for not living anywhere else. Here are six reasons Pennsylvania is the best state to live in.
1. The weather.
In PA, we have the perfect balance in the weather. Throughout the year, we have bits of both extremes: the record high being 103 degrees (F), and record low being -22 degrees (F) for the Pittsburgh area. This temperature range makes it great for anybody, and a great compromise for families with people who like either extreme or something in the middle.
Another plus of the weather is the lack of extreme natural disasters. Pennsylvania had 9 tornadoes in 2014, the highest of which was one level F2 tornado, on a scale of F0 to F5. Though that may sound like a lot of tornadoes in one year, other states tend to have more. In 2014, Kentucky had 27 tornadoes, Missouri had 47, and Texas had 46, each reaching a level of F2. Though PA may have some residual rain from hurricanes along the coast, we rarely have to worry about flooding or high winds that will damage property.
2. The chocolate.
In the year 1900, Milton Hershey sold the Lancaster Caramel Company for a million dollars to start the company we all know now as Hershey's Chocolate Company. The fact that the Hershey's franchise is located in Hershey, PA, approximately 15 miles away from Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, means that we have some of the freshest chocolate you can find in the states. Trust me, you don't know good chocolate until you've tasted a bar straight off the line.
3. The scenery.
The scenery of Pennsylvania is wonderful in all seasons, due to the aforementioned weather balance that occurs. The ratio of sun, rain, snow and cold makes for a beautifully vibrant autumn season, and a wonderful variety of flowers in the spring, even where nobody plants any.
4. The location.
Being in the lower northern portion of the eastern seaboard, Pennsylvania is within a half day's drive to many great locations. New York City, Boston, Washington D.C., and Chicago are all within a 12-hour drive. This enables access to many great weekend vacation spots, as well as easy access to business destinations.
5. The activities.
Also, due to the balance of weather, as well as location, there is a bounty of activities available at varying spots in PA. Depending on your location in the state, skiing, surfing, mountain climbing, and skydiving are all available!
6. The people.
You have to admit, the people in Pennsylvania are pretty darn friendly. We like to make people feel at home, even when visiting. In addition, our rate of homelessness is lower than the national average --.12% compared to .18%.
We also have our fair share of celebrities that have come out of PA. Taylor Swift, Warren Buffet, Andy Warhol, Bret Michaels, Elon Musk, and Joe Biden were all born in Pennsylvania, just to name a few.
