York County is both a gateway to the surrounding region and a getaway in its own right. York County is the nucleus of Pennsylvania's most popular tourist region. Our borders are surrounded by Gettysburg's Civil War battlefield, Harrisburg's museums and State Capital, Hershey's Chocolate World and Hersheypark, and Lancaster's Amish community. The Outlet Capital of the World, Reading, is less than an hour's drive, as is Baltimore and its many Inner Harbor attractions. And while you are here, be sure to explore our quaint towns and picturesque countryside.
Outdoor enthusiasts flock to our three state parks and eight county parks.
The Heritage Rail Trail County Park is the nation's longest non-motorized rail trail with active rails, and features the Howard Tunnel, the oldest continuously operating rail tunnel in the world. Vibrant Downtown York is an attraction unto itself, and features many heritage-related sites. In fact, York served as the capital of the fledgling United States of America in 1777-1778 when the Second Continental Congress fled Philadelphia. While here, Congress adopted the document that came to be known as The Articles of Confederation. They also declared the first national Thanksgiving.