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.
The town is also close to the Appalachian Trail, which provides opportunities to escape into the great outdoors through hiking and also offers nearby biking trails throughout the town. 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 and was one of only two Pennsylvania college towns to make the list of 50 locations throughout the country.
Carlisle was one of 10 communities across the country 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.
To further encourage guests to explore, Carlisle Borough recently passed an ordinance amendment allowing downtown visitors to take their beer, wine, or spirits with them in a non-breakable container while strolling downtown. (Due to current state laws, mixed drinks are not allowed at this time.) Restaurants, breweries, and distilleries may also continue to extend their sidewalk cafes (pending other requirements), allowing for continued outdoor dining, which proved popular during the pandemic.
