The historic town of Carlisle is noted for its restored architecture and tree-lined streets–once walked on by George Washington, Molly Pitcher, and other icons of early America. If history is your passion, this town offers landmarks such as the U.S. Army Heritage & Education Center, the Cumberland County Historical Society, and several self-guided walking tours that delve deeper into the town's rich history. For these reasons and more, Carlisle was voted #4 in USA Today's 10 Best Historic Small Towns.
Carlisle was recently named one of 9 Ideal PA Destinations for a 3-Day Weekend by WorldAtlas.com.
The town is also close to the Appalachian Trail, which provides opportunities to escape into the great outdoors through hiking and offers nearby biking trails. Be sure to take part in tasting the unique flavors in the Carlisle area with their dine around the world experience and attending one of Carlisle's numerous car shows, such as Corvettes at Carlisle.
Home to Dickinson College, Carlisle also made the 2021 list of Safest College Towns in America by SafeWise.com, an online safety resource. Carlisle was ranked at #20, making it one of only two Pennsylvania college towns to make the list of 50 locations nationwide.
Carlisle was one of 10 communities nationwide to receive a 2021 All-America City Award from the National Civic League. The award recognized communities that overcame the overwhelming challenges of the past year to unite during difficult times and build equity and resilience.
In 2024, Carlisle Borough was one of only five municipalities in Pennsylvania to earn a score of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign's Municipality Equality Index. The MEI evaluates how inclusive municipal laws, policies, and services are for LGBTQ+ people and offers a public snapshot of the community's commitment to equality and inclusion.
To further encourage guests to explore, Carlisle Borough recently passed an ordinance amendment allowing downtown visitors to take their beer or wine with them in a non-breakable container while strolling downtown C-1 business district. (Due to current state laws, liquor is not allowed at this time.) This area extends from South Street to the intersection of Spring Road (just past Chen's) and from West Street (just before Dickinson College) to Bedford Street (just past the Old Jail.)
