The Top 15 places to visit remotely in Pennsylvania during the coronavirus pandemic

The Lehigh Valley is poised to remain under Gov. Tom Wolf’s shelter-in-place order for at least one more weekend.

Wolf’s statewide stay-at-home orders are expected to be lifted on June 5. Some folks, however, might wish to stay at home a little longer to try a virtual journey across Pennsylvania.

Guests can still enjoy the thrill of a roller coaster, sift through historical artifacts, greet a new animal or take part in a concert or comedy show. Yes, we know you’ll be looking at a screen but that doesn’t mean you can’t still embrace new cultures, explore history, listen to music, or learn something new. We wouldn’t blame you if you called it a dress rehearsal for when the restrictions are lifted and you can pack the car for your next day trip.

We rounded up the Top 15 of our favorites from a list of 38 virtual choices being offered by visitpa.com, the official tourism website of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Of course, we listed some great ones right here in the Lehigh Valley.

All the information below was gathered from the Department of Community and Economic Development:

American Treasure Tour Museum

The American Treasure Tour Museum has collections housed in a former tire factory.

15. American Treasure Tour Museum

Where is it: Upper Providence Township, Montgomery County

What you can experience virtually: The American Treasure Tour Museum offers a short video tour into the collections housed in a former tire factory. There’s a restored self-playing orchestra, life-size clown statues, stuffed animals from carnivals and promotional campaigns, and decades worth of movie posters.

The Frick

The Frick in Pittsburgh offers seven virtual tours with art.

14. The Frick

Where is it: 7227 Reynolds St., Pittsburgh

What you can experience virtually: The Frick offers seven virtual tours with art ranging from pastel works by Jean-Francois Millet to fashion from the Gilded Age.

The Fonthill Castle is one of about 30 of Bucks County’s most significant historical and cultural sites.

The Fonthill Castle

13. Bucks County Historical Cultural Sites

Where is it: Various places and historic landmarks across Bucks County.

What you can experience virtually: About 30 of Bucks County’s most significant historical and cultural sites including the Mercer Museum and Fonthill Castle, New Hope Railroad, Bowman’s Hill Wildlife Preserve, and Michner Art Museum.

Betsy Ross House

The Betsy Ross House in Philadelphia offers virtual sights and sounds of the 18th century.

12. Betsy Ross House

Where is it: 239 Arch St., Philadelphia

What you can experience virtually: You can virtually visit sights and sounds of the 18th century Betsy Ross House, as well as the inspiration that went into creating the tightly woven “stars and stripes” in the colorful fabric of America’s history.

National Toy Train Museum

The National Toy Train Museum in Lancaster County allows website users to immerse themselves in a library of videos shot from the engine cabs of toy trains.

11. National Toy Train Museum

Where is it: 300 Paradise Lane, Ronks, Lancaster County

What you can experience virtually: The National Toy Train Museum allows users to immerse themselves in a library of videos shot from the engine cabs of toy trains. Guests can race along track layouts of the museum and check out the locomotives from the 1800s to now.

Zoo America

Zoo America web users can enjoy a daily live broadcast and learn about the featured “animal of the day.”

10. Zoo America

Where is it: 201 Park Ave., Hershey, Dauphin County

What you can experience virtually: Enjoy everything the zoo has to offer during its Facebook Live at 11 a.m. daily. Guests also can ask questions during the broadcast and learn about the featured “animal of the day.”

Museum Of The American Revolution

The Museum Of The American Revolution's virtual experience goes behind the scenes with host Lauren Tarshis.

9. Museum Of The American Revolution

Where is it: 101 S. 3rd St., Philadelphia

What you can experience virtually: Guests viewing Beyond the Battlefield: A Virtual Field Trip will go behind the scenes with host Lauren Tarshis. Guests will learn about the stories of two teenagers who served during the Revolutionary War and view the real tent that U.S . President George Washington lived in as he traveled with his soldiers.

Railroad Museum Of Pennsylvania

The Railroad Museum Of Pennsylvania takes guests to a roaring time through the industrial age.

8. Railroad Museum Of Pennsylvania

Where is it: 300 Gap Road, Ronks, Lancaster County

What you can experience virtually: Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania web users can take their pick from several 360-degree virtual tours of equipment, ranging from steam locomotives to club-restaurant-sleep cars. The journey takes guests to a roaring time in the industrial age.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania has multiple online exhibits.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania

7. State Museum Of Pennsylvania

Where is it: 300 North St., Harrisburg, Dauphin County

What you can experience virtually: The State Museum of Pennsylvania has multiple online exhibits. These include the “Penn’s Treaty,” which is the peace deal English Quaker leader and advocate of religious freedom William Penn established with the Native Americans. There’s also a “Made in PA” exhibit, which includes objects made in the Keystone state.

Senator John Heinz History Center

The Senator John Heinz History Center is all about the nostalgia of toys from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

6. Senator John Heinz History Center

Where is it: 1212 Smallman St., Pittsburgh

What you can experience virtually: The Senator John Heinz History Center is all about the nostalgia of toys from the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s. Highlights include Barbie, Gumby, and mechanical monkeys clapping cymbals.

National Museum of Industrial History guests can enjoy programming suitable for various age groups.

National Museum of Industrial History

5. National Museum Of Industrial History

Where is it: 602 E. 2nd St., Bethlehem

What you can experience virtually: National Museum of Industrial History web users can enjoy programming suitable for various age groups ranging from children’s story hour to live lectures with historians.

Thunderhawk

Dorney Park's 95-year-old attraction and a historic landmark can be experienced virtually.

4. Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom

Where is it: 3830 Dorney Park Road, South Whitehall

What you can experience virtually: Dorney Park web users can enjoy virtual roller coasters, such as Thunderhawk, Talon and Steel Force. The park website also provides ideas for at-home activities, where children can build your own amusement park or ride or print out Planet Snoopy-inspired coloring pages for more creativity.

Allentown Art Museum

The Allentown Art Museum has activities geared toward children with a chance to win prizes.EXT

3. Allentown Art Museum

Where is it: 31 N 5th St., Allentown

What you can experience virtually: Users touring the Allentown Art Museum receive a new activity to embark on daily. The activities are designed for all ages with the chance to win prizes.

ArtsQuest

The lit-up exterior of the ArtsQuest Center, the hub of the arts-based nonprofit located in Bethlehem's south side.

2. ArtsQuest

Where is it: 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem

What you can experience virtually: The team at ArtsQuest already knows how to bring a community together for gatherings and special events. And now it’s all being done virtually. Guests can enjoy interactive at-home experiences, including live-streaming of concerts, move talks, comedy workshops, art classes and story time.

The Kemerer Museum

The Kemerer Museum is one of several places guests can visit virtually in historic Bethlehem.

1. Historic Bethlehem

Where is it: Various historic places in the city.

What you can experience virtually: There’s lots to see at Historic Bethlehem & Sites, which continues its “Free Sundays at the Museum” programming in a digital format. The organization weekly sends out a newsletter with fun activities for children. Additionally, some of Bethlehem’s most famous structures have been transformed into coloring pages. Guests also can buy digital access to the audio guides across the organization’s website.

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Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com.

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