Traversed by the Schuylkill River, Reading lies in the Delaware Valley, roughly halfway between Philadelphia and Harrisburg. It has been nicknamed “The Pretzel City” due to its abundance of bakeries and is a popular destination for cyclists and mountain bikers thanks to its rugged preserves.
Things to do in Reading
Occupying the former Willson Goggle Factory building is the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts, which houses art galleries, studios and workshop spaces. The factory is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and played an influential role in launching the safety protection industry. Check to see what’s currently taking place in the exhibition galleries and film theatre, then shop for handcrafted works by local artists in the on-site store.
Also not to miss is the Reading Public Museum, which houses exhibits related to art, science and civilisation. Get up close to an Ancient Egyptian mummy dating from the Ptolemaic period and see artefacts from Pennsylvania’s German descendants. The Reading Public Museum also boasts an impressive art collection that includes works by Dale Chihuly and Abraham Hankins, as well as European paintings and American woodcuts.
Overlooking the city is the Reading Pagoda, which was built atop Mount Penn in the early 20th century. It offers magnificent views across Reading and the surrounding countryside and is home to a large bell that was cast in Japan in 1739. Surrounding the multi-tiered pagoda are Japanese-inspired gardens planted with cherry trees that bloom in the spring.
Getting around Reading
Reading is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Philadelphia and Philadelphia International Airport, which has flights to destinations across the globe. Regular buses connect to Reading and travel throughout the city, accessing most of its attractions. The centre of Reading can easily be explored on foot.