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The spirit of versatility in Pennsylvania

By Monique Sanmiguel

Photos: Courtesy by USGA, Paramount, Unsplash, Getty Images, Brenda Carpenter, C.Raymond Davis & Sons

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Pennsylvania embodies a deep cultural and administrative diversity. The state is divided into 67 counties, within which communities are categorized as cities, boroughs, and townships. A borough is generally smaller than a city and operates with its own local government, preserving distinctive identities. There are 958 boroughs, each with its own character—from former industrial villages to revitalized artistic enclaves.

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Erie

 

Set along the lake that shares its name, Erie strikes a delicate balance between coastal sophistication and maritime charm. Though less known than Pennsylvania’s major cities, it draws visitors who appreciate tranquility paired with high-end comforts. Waterfront properties offer exclusive summer retreats, while clubs like the Erie Yacht Club serve as hubs of private sailing—perfect for those who find reconnection in fishing or sailing.

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Presque Isle North Pier Light, the lighthouse forged in France and relocated several times since the 19th century, stands as a quiet symbol of endurance and understated grandeur. The golden beaches of Presque Isle, its scenic trails, and the lake’s gentle breeze create an ideal setting for unwinding after a busy social season.

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Foxburg

 

Tucked into the valley of the Allegheny and Clarion rivers, this borough represents the elegance of the untouched. With just over 200 residents, Foxburg is home to the oldest continuously operating golf course in the United States: the Foxburg Country Club. Created by Joseph Mickle Fox after traveling to England and Scotland with the All-American Cricket team in 1874, he visited St. Andrews, met four-time British Open winner Old Tom Morris, and brought home not just memories, but a vision. The spirit of the legendary Scottish golfer lives on in the course’s ancient trees and undulating greens.

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Visitors come not only for a round of golf, but to join a legacy. Locally crafted wine from Foxburg Wine Cellars and fine confections from Divani Chocolate Boutique complete the experience. A pontoon cruise along “Wild & Scenic” rivers, a waterside dinner on the Allegheny, and a stay in boutique residences turn time in Foxburg into a celebration of a lifestyle that resists fashion. Accessed via I-80 without crowds, its slow pace invites kayaking, segway rides, or simply reading on a lakeside veranda.

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Pittsburgh

 

With an industrial past still etched in its architecture, Pittsburgh has reinvented itself with contemporary finesse. The neighborhoods of Shadyside and Mount Washington are now home to boutique hotels, minimalist spas, and private residences with panoramic views rivaling those of any European capital.

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The Duquesne Incline, still operating after 148 years, offers one of the most celebrated vistas in the United States—where three rivers meet beneath a shimmering skyline. The city pulses with modern art —the Andy Warhol Museum being its creative epicenter—, elite sports, and a culinary scene driven not by excess, but by excellence.

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Private boats navigate the Monongahela, Allegheny, and Ohio rivers like Venetian canals. Just minutes from downtown, the strictly private Oakmont Country Club remains one of the most challenging courses in the world. Playing there is almost ceremonial—an experience reserved for the few.

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Brandywine Valley

 

The gentle hills are a quiet declaration of aesthetic discretion. This region—shaped by the slow rhythms of rural life and the understated refinement of founding families—evokes the feel of the French countryside, but with a narrative all its own: independent vineyards, centuries-old estates, and the artistic legacy of the Wyeth dynasty as a silent backdrop.

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The gardens at Longwood, with their dancing fountains and geometric paths, offer a vision worthy of a Flemish painting. For those seeking a more immersive experience, Galer Estate Vineyard provides the perfect harmony between terroir and Haute Cuisine. Private tastings, led by a Le Cordon Bleu-trained chef, reveal the complexity of limestone-grown varietals, paired with impeccably executed dishes served in beautifully restored cellars.

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Philadelphia

 

Philadelphia or “Philly” is the only U.S. city recognized as a World Heritage City, and it defies the stereotype of urban America. Its distinction is not rooted in excess, but in coherence. In Rittenhouse Square—one of five original parks planned by William Penn—refined urban life thrives, where art, fashion, and architecture engage in a quiet dialogue of elegance. Notable figures born here include Benjamin Franklin, Grace Kelly, David Rittenhouse, Michael Landon, and Richard Gere.

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Here, penthouses with butler service overlook the canopies of century-old trees, and Haute Couture boutiques coexist with galleries representing museum-caliber emerging artists. Social life revolves around terraces serving rare champagnes, discreet literary clubs, and luncheons at places like Lacroix, where each plate is crafted like edible goldsmithing.

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Each spring, Devon hosts the Devon Horse Show & Country Fair—the oldest of its kind in the U.S. Since 1896, generations of families have secured their VIP boxes beneath raw linen tents, served by award-winning chefs and surrounded by guest lists that include philanthropists and diplomats alike.

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For the traveler who has seen the far ends of the world—from private villas in the Indian Ocean to tastings in Saint-Émilion—Pennsylvania reveals itself as an unexpected sanctuary. A place where luxury is not loud, but intimate. Where the extraordinary is hidden in plain sight, and where the art of living lies in being quietly present.

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