Reading Travel Guide

 
by curt261
 
  •   Reading
    by curt261
  •   Things to Do
    by C5_CHICK
  •   Warnings and Dangers
    by C5_CHICK
  • Berks County's wild turkeys
      Berks County's wild turkeys
    by C5_CHICK
  •   Reading
    by C5_CHICK
 

Explore Reading

Things to Do  

reading is dangerous

reading is dangerous, Reading

 puffery Says:  berks county is great but stay out of reading unless you like being shot. reading is one of the most dangerous cities in the country.berks county has beautiful recreation areas.berks count also has very affordable housing.you can still buy a great house for 200.000 

Grings Mill

Grings Mill, Reading

 icsgirl28 Says:  Gring's Mill is a large park that the Schulkyll River runs through. This park was actually named for my Grandmother's family, who used to own the land until it was taken by eminent domain. It features a gravel bike/walking trail that is about 3 miles long. There is a covered... 

The Pagoda

The Pagoda, Reading

 icsgirl28 Says:  The Pagoda is a rather unique and interesting destination in the Berks County area. Located overlooking Reading's downtown on a mountain East of the city, it was originally built as a hotel. It never opened, and has become a landmark and point of interest for those passing... 

Maple Grove Raceway

Maple Grove Raceway, Reading

 C5_CHICK Says:  Its where I waste my firday nights... Its a great track they hold the Super Chevy event there as well as the Lucas Oil... 

Hotels  

Sheraton Reading Hotel

 165 Opinions

Restaurants  

Crab Barn: Avoid it!

Crab Barn: Avoid it!, Reading

 rockycomfort Says:  My 1st 100% poor review. My wife & I began going here in the 1990's when it opened; since about 2007 its sinking fast. I wouldn't be surprised it it closes. One of a very few places we ever walked out of before ordering. Service? Well, that night there was none. The menu has... 

Panda Heaven: Cihna meets Japan

Panda Heaven: Cihna meets Japan, Reading

 rockycomfort Says:  An interesting place, huge inside. Japanese fare incl. cocsistently good sushi/sashimi as well as hibachi tables. The Chinese menu is as comprehesive as about any US Chinese place. Nothing especially stands out, but the food & service are better-than-average. Full bar. Large... 

Jumbo China Buffet: Darn Good for All-You-Can-Eat Asian

Jumbo China Buffet: Darn Good for All-You-Can-Eat Asian, Reading

 rockycomfort Says:  This is probably the best Asian buffet in Eastern PA; I've been to most of 'em. HUGE selection includes sushi/rolls; raw bar w/oysters & clams; dessert bar (least appealing); and maybe 40 hot entrees. All for under $10.- for lunch. This is not Mott St. NYC quality, but for... 

Nightlife  

Reading is one big Nightlife...
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Readingnigga 8 reviews

Reading is one big Nightlife you'll get a surprise everywhere good but mostly bad surprises but let me tell you nothing will happen to you if you know the safe streets there very few but there indeed some..........

Written Aug 26, 2002

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Transportation  

All the so called attractions...
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Readingnigga 8 reviews

All the so called attractions are quite close together so i suggest you walk the traffic is not bad at all but some times drivers may come a bit close to you for no good reason but they do that sometimes as a little Welcome to Reading joke lol
Taking a car is basically the best and lazy way to get around

Written Aug 26, 2002

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Shopping  

Cabela's: The "Big Box" Outdoor Store

Cabela's: The "Big Box" Outdoor Store, Reading

 rockycomfort Says:  Located about 20 mins. north of Reading, Cabela's is the #1 tourist attraction in PA, with more "visitors" than the Liberty Bell. Pity. Cabela's has become the hunting/fishing monopoly of the USA, in Hamburg, the local gun shop soon went bust. But they do have a huge... 

Maidencreek TV & Appliance: Great Deals and Stand-Behind Service on Appliances

Maidencreek TV & Appliance: Great Deals and Stand-Behind Service on Appliances, Reading

 rockycomfort Says:  This is a locally-owned & run (ie-NOT big-box) store, been around for years. No sales pressure. Better prices than most big places and a crew who cherish good ol' customer satisfaction. We bought a freezer at a super price and later bought a Bosch (German-made=Quality)... 

VF Outlet: Designers Showcase at Vanity Fair

VF Outlet: Designers Showcase at Vanity Fair, Reading

 curt261 Says:  My girlfriend and I go to VF all the time. It's in a very nice neighborhood with ample parking. There is a coach outlet, ultra diamond, tommy hilger and a number of other luxury brands that I would never buy if I had to pay full price. If you're in the area, check it out.... 

Local Customs  

Don't Eat A Foot-Long Sub On Skyline Drive
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2.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

hooahman 11 reviews

Not long after I first moved to this area I took a drive on a sunny Spring day. I stopped at Subway for lunch and then pulled over on Skyline Drive to eat. I sat on the stonewall (constructed by CCC workers I think) and chomped on the end of this big, thick sub. I was surprised at how friendly people were as many slowed down to look and wave. I waved right back and kept eating. Only later (several years later!) did I learn that sections of the drive are known for gay cruising. Moral of the story: Do not eat phallic-shaped food on Skyline Drive at lunchtime! Other than that, the view is amazing and you can zip on over to the Pagoda and its gift shop.

Written Dec 30, 2003

Website: http://berksweb.com/pagoda-skyline-inc/skyline/

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Warnings and Dangers  

Downtown

Downtown, Reading

 icsgirl28 Says:  Make sure you lock your car doors. It's okay during the day, or if there is a venue going on at on of the facilities. Otherwise, there are a lot of bums and drunks around, and a less concentrated police presence. 

ITS HAUNTED!!!!! lol

ITS HAUNTED!!!!! lol, Reading

 C5_CHICK Says:  The whole county is haunted If you enjoy that type of thing come to berks county. The author Charles Adams has writen 20-25 books on this subject alone. And since Berks has been here since before the civil war alot of things have happened here. we even have our own Berks... 

Tourist Traps  

The Pagoda

The Pagoda, Reading

 curt261 Says:  I'd skip a trip to the Pagoda. Its really not the pretty and the museum inside the Pagoda is not interesting enough to justify a trip to the top of Mount Penn. Go during the day and only go if you're interested in local history. Its really not that exciting and there are... 

Tha Pagoda is a trap due to...

Tha Pagoda is a trap due to..., Reading

 Readingnigga Says:  Tha Pagoda is a trap due to the fact theres really nothing to do there lol but the scenery the gift shop is all old stuff like from 1800's and flags with the city on it and stuff but nothing speical...But if you outside theres some romantic stuff i guess you can say 

Off The Beaten Path  

Honor A Great Man Who Loved Beer

Honor A Great Man Who Loved Beer, Reading

 hooahman Says:  Frederick Lauer was a man who loved beer. He is credited with being the first person to bring Lager to America. He served as the first President of the United States Brewers Association. He even equipped, at his own expense, his own company of men to fight for the Union... 

The Anchor Of The USS Maine

The Anchor Of The USS Maine, Reading

 hooahman Says:  The USS Maine "mysteriously" blew up in Havana Harbor in 1898 killing over 1000 US Navy sailers. This launched the US into the Spanish-American War. Fourteen years later the ship was raised from the harbor and pieces of the wreck were given as mementos to cities across the... 

Favorites  

Definately go shopping with...
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1.5 out of 5 starsHelpfulness

Malguy 38 reviews

Favorite thing: Definately go shopping with loads of things to buy at Reading factory outlets..

Fondest memory: visiting Poconos mountain which was dang good with Cit. gosh the view beautiful

Written Aug 25, 2002

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