It’s hard to narrow it down to seven, as Berks County is unique and wonderful in so many ways, but we polled residents and our social media friends on what they view as being the 7 Wonders of Berks County, and these are the spots that stood out…
1. The Pagoda
No surprise here, the unique building that sits atop Mount Penn and overlooks the City of Reading tops the list. Standing for more than a century, a visit to the Pagoda offers panoramic views spanning 30 miles.
* Fun fact *
According to the Foundation for the Reading Pagoda, the structure is anchored to the mountainside with 16 tons of bolts, and the setting is known throughout the world.
2. Gring’s Mill’s Red Covered Bridge
Formerly named Wertz’s Covered Bridge, the historic wooden covered bridge stretches from Bern Township to Spring Township, spanning 204 feet crossing the Tulpehocken Creek. The structure serves as a walkway entrance to the Berks County Heritage Center, home to the Gruber Wagon Works. It is one of the few remaining covered bridges in the county and is on the National Register of Historic Places, having been added in 1978. The bridge also acts as a connector to the Union Canal Bicycle and Walking Trail, and the Red Bridge Recreation Area is home to a picnic pavilion and badminton court.
countyofberks.com/departments/parks-and-recreation
3. Crystal Cave
The milky white formations found in this piece of natural history have thrilled visitors for more than 145 years. Plan a visit to the site near Kutztown and take in a one-hour tour where guides will lead you 125 feet underground showing off and explaining all nature has created around you. Bring a light sweater or jacket (and comfortable walking shoes), as the cave temperature holds steady at 54 degrees. Unable to visit in person? You can enjoy a virtual tour online.
4. Hawk Mountain Sanctuary
The Kempton spot is regarded for its work in global raptor conservation and is the world’s first refuge for birds of prey. The Sanctuary’s Autumn Migration Hawk Count is the longest-running raptor migration count in the world. It started in 1934 when founder Rosalie Edge hired a curator named Maurice Broun and he started meticulously keeping track of passing migrants. The count runs from Aug. 15 to Dec. 15 each year and sees Sanctuary staff, trainees and volunteers stationed at lookouts to help visitors spot and identify hawks, eagles, falcons and vultures.
5. Railroad History
Play Monopoly? If so, you know the Reading Railroad is a significant marker on the game board. Those looking to lean into learning more about the railroad’s history should head to Hamburg for a visit to the Reading Railroad Heritage Museum, run by the Reading Company Technical & Historical Society. There you’ll discover a collection of old train cars and memorabilia. Start with the introductory 15-minute film as it serves as a great background to what you’ll see on site, including a recreated 1930 station agent’s office.
*Did you know?*
Berks County is also home to 11 Underground Railroad sites, one of them located on the lower level of Old Bethel A.M.E. Church in Reading, which is preserved by the Central Pennsylvania African American Museum (cpaam.net).
6. Mid-Atlantic Air Museum
Home to the popular World War II Weekend each June (this year June 2-4), the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum is a staple on the grounds of the Reading Regional Airport in Bern Township. It’s host to a collection that emphasizes the Mid-Atlantic region’s unique contribution to flight, but is also broad enough to chronicle a general history of aviation, including military aviation. It is open Monday through Thursday and on Saturdays for tours (allow an hour), closed on major holidays, and offers annual memberships. Virtual tours are available online.
7. Blue Marsh Lake Recreation Area
A mainstay in temperate weather months, Blue Marsh Lake is a man-made project constructed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in 1978. The recreation program on site is said to attract nearly 900,000 visitors annually. What can they do? Think: boating, fishing, picnicking, trail hiking, biking and horseback riding. There is no charge to enter and enjoy the area.
* Fun fact *
The dam is a popular fishing area, but was constructed for flood risk management for the Reading, Birdsboro and Pottstown areas. The control tower at the dam is said to have prevented more than $56 million in flood damages.
