Pennsylvania
This is Pennsylvania’s ‘most overpriced family day out,’ study states
It’s no secret that things that used to be within reach for most families are now significantly more expensive.
As such, many may observe a heightened focus on which family pastimes simply burn holes in your wallets and which give you the most bang for your buck. This one in Pennsylvania has been found to be among the former, at least, according to a new study.
CouponBirds — which is described by its “About Us” page as a company that “focus[es] on collecting, validating, and ranking optimal coupons, to help online shoppers save both time and money” — published a report last week which asked the question “Are These U.S. Family Attractions Too Expensive For What They Offer?”
Researchers answered this question by forming a list of 35,000 family-friendly attractions across the United States of America by searching for ones that were “Good for Kids” by each state’s TripAdvisor page.
Each attraction that was found was then analyzed based on whether or not the word (or words relating to) “expensive” popped up in their reviews. Each was then ranked and the study, finalized.
Hershey’s Chocolate World in Hershey was thus determined to be Pennsylvania’s worst-value attraction for families. On the bright side, at least it didn’t crack the top 20.
No, reader, that honor goes to the likes of Walt Disney Resort, Universal Studios, and Disney’s Magic Kingdom — all of which are in Floria — which took the third, second and first spots, respectively.
“Disney fan website Inside the Magic notes that, in addition to being highly expensive, the magic Kingdom Park has lost much of its ‘magic,’” reads the report. “Overcrowding, long queues and broken rides contribute to a significantly lower overall TripAdvisor rating thank parks Hollywood Studios or EPCOT.”
Other attractions that made it among the top 20 worst for families in the nation were Cedar Point in Ohio — which was ranked 18th overall — and Dollywood in Tennessee (12th).
The Pennsylvania Beef Council recently launched the inaugural Pennsylvania Beef Trail with menu tastings at two highlighted trail stops in Berks County.
Held in May to celebrate Beef Month, the event brought together Pennsylvania Beef Council leadership, Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding, local restaurant partners, beef producers and community members to celebrate Pennsylvania beef, local food businesses and the culinary creativity found across the Commonwealth.
The Pennsylvania Beef Trail highlights restaurants across the state serving standout beef dishes nominated by consumers. Hosted on the Pennsylvania Beef Council website, the trail features an interactive map designed to help Pennsylvanians discover delicious beef dishes by region and plan their own beef-inspired dining experiences.
“The PA Beef Trail is a celebration of everything that makes Pennsylvania beef special: the farmers who raise it, the restaurants that prepare it and the consumers who love it,” Nichole Hockenberry, executive director of the Pennsylvania Beef Council, said in the release.
“Launching the trail during May, which is Beef Month, gave us the perfect opportunity to showcase the connection between agriculture, local businesses, and the meals that bring people together.”
The celebration featured two stops on the trail: Saucony Creek Brewing Company in Kutztown and Deitsch Eck Restaurant in Lenhartsville.
Attendees sampled a variety of featured beef dishes, including pit beef sliders, sausage sandwiches, smoked chuck roast tacos, and Golden Arches flatbread from Saucony Creek Brewing Company, as well as beef pot pie, shepherd’s pie, and The Luther from Deitsch Eck Restaurant.
The launch event also underscored the role of beef in Pennsylvania’s agricultural identity and local economy. By highlighting restaurants that serve creative, consumer-loved beef dishes, the trail encourages residents and visitors to support local businesses while recognizing the farmers and producers behind every plate.
“Pennsylvania beef has a story that stretches from pasture to plate,” Kylie Lusk, director of consumer affairs for the Pennsylvania Beef Council, said in the release. “The PA Beef Trail gives consumers a fun, interactive way to explore that story while discovering restaurants and dishes they may not have tried before. We’re excited to see people use the trail throughout the year to support local restaurants and celebrate beef across the Commonwealth.”
The inaugural PA Beef Trail features 73 stops across Pennsylvania, showcasing a wide variety of dishes, from burgers and brisket to short rib, oxtail ragu and other creative beef-forward menu items. Organized by region, the trail makes it easy for consumers to find nearby stops or plan a road trip around Pennsylvania’s beef destinations.
The Pennsylvania Beef Council encourages consumers to explore the trail, visit participating restaurants, and share their experiences on social media.
To view the interactive map and explore the full PA Beef Trail, visit www.pabeef.org/pa-beef-trail.
President Trump is visiting the Lehigh Valley next week.
Mr. Trump will speak at Mack Trucks in Macungie, Pennsylvania, Tuesday at 2 p.m. Macungie is roughly 10 miles from Allentown.
Mack Trucks is a 1.7 million square-foot facility in Macungie that assembles heavy-duty trucks for North American and export markets, according to its website.
“Mack Trucks are a symbol of America’s manufacturing strength,” Rep. Dan Meuser said in a Facebook post about Mr. Trump’s upcoming visit to Pennsylvania. “Their Lehigh Valley operations are a pillar of the local economy, employing Pennsylvania workers and driving the nation’s trucking industry.”
In the lead-up to the 2024 election, Mr. Trump visited Pennsylvania, a crucial swing state, multiple times. He’s also visitied during his second term.
In December 2025, Mr. Trump said in a speech in Mount Pocono, Pennsylvania, that he was “crushing” inflation and called affordability concerns a “Democratic hoax.”
One week later, Vice President JD Vance aimed to calm the affordability concerns at a Uline facility in Alburtis, about 13 miles southwest of Allentown.
Tickets are available for Mr. Trump’s visit to Macungie next week on a first-come, first-serve basis.
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