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Pennsylvania Has One of America’s Best Holiday Lights Displays

Thanksgiving is upon us, and that means it’s officially time to start celebrating the holiday season. As it turns out, one popular Pennsylvania spot has been named one of the…

Suburbia Lights

(Photo by Matt Cardy/Getty Images)

Thanksgiving is upon us, and that means it's officially time to start celebrating the holiday season. As it turns out, one popular Pennsylvania spot has been named one of the best places to enjoy holiday lights this year.

The study, which names the "USA's Most Spectacular Winter Light Displays," comes from Frommers.com. In the article, Frommers.com states, "Wanna go on a holiday lights safari this winter? You have plenty of options. When the weather turns chilly, gardens, zoos, racetracks, caverns, city parks, resorts, and mansions across the U.S. outdo themselves with multitudes of twinkling lights and stunning décor involving trains, animals, North Pole denizens, and other creations."

In Pennsylvania, they name "A Longwood Christmas" in Brandywine Valley one of America's Best Holiday Lights Displays. "The holiday celebration at Longwood Gardens in the scenic Brandywine Valley of southeastern Pennsylvania combines electrical and horticultural splendors," the article raves. "The 1,000-acre botanical garden's conservatory shows off themed displays with festive blooms, decked-out trees, and gilded garland. Outside, meanwhile, you can walk through a 200-foot light tunnel, wind past 150 trees ribboned with more than 500,000 lights, and watch colored lights mimic dancing fountains. Get warm by cozying up next to the firepits." The display is open from Nov. 18 to Jan. 8.

They also spotlight the "Holiday Train Show and Glow" at the New York Botanical Garden. "The flora takes a backseat to model trains inside the grand Enid A. Haupt Conservatory during the New York Botanical Garden’s annual Holiday Train Show," the article states. "More than two dozen mini choo-choos and trolleys chug along a half-mile track, rolling past 175 cleverly crafted miniatures of such NYC landmarks as the Statue of Liberty, Brooklyn Bridge, and Penn Station. Outside, NYBG GLOW adorns 1.5 miles of walkways with eye-catching light displays you can stroll among to the accompaniment of live music." That event runs from Nov. 19 to Jan. 16, so you have plenty of time even after the holidays to enjoy it. Find the full list of America's Best Holiday Lights Displays here.

Just like any state, Pennsylvania has some safe spots and some areas where you have to be extra careful. If your priority is living in one of the safest cities in Pennsylvania, we have your list.

The staff at Niche.com has put together a list of the safest areas in the Keystone State. While Niche.com is known for their information on the best schools in America and come out with those lists annually, the outlet also conducts research in other areas, such as safety. According to their official website, "Niche is the market leader in connecting colleges and schools with students and families. With in-depth profiles on every school and college in America, over 140 million reviews and ratings, and powerful search and data tools, Niche helps millions of students and families find and enroll in the right school for them. For schools, school districts, and communities, Niche’s platform, data, and services help thousands of schools recruit and enroll more best-fit students."

If you're wondering about the overall safety of Pennsylvania, according to Safewise.com, crime is up a bit. Safewise.com states, "Violent crime in The Keystone State jumped from 3.1 incidents per 1,000 people to 3.9 this year, barely beating the US rate of 4.0. Property crime bucked the nationwide downward trend, rising from 14.0 crimes per 1,000 to 16.4 this year—but that still keeps Pennsylvania under the national rate of 19.6." They add that, "Very few Pennsylvania cities reported crime data to the FBI compared to last year, which may be why crime rates rose this year after either falling or remaining steady in our previous reports."

So, what are the safest cities in Pennsylvania, according to Niche.com? Read on for the top 10 areas where you should feel the most secure. Many of these are suburbs of Philadelphia or Pittsburgh. Find more cities and the full tally here.

10. Jenkintown

"Jenkintown is a suburb of Philadelphia with a population of 4,418. Jenkintown is in Montgomery County and is one of the best places to live in Pennsylvania. Living in Jenkintown offers residents an urban feel and most residents own their homes. In Jenkintown there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks."
https://www.niche.com/places-to-live/jenkintown-montgomery-pa/

9. Fox Chapel

"Fox Chapel is a suburb of Pittsburgh with a population of 5,104. Fox Chapel is in Allegheny County and is one of the best places to live in Pennsylvania. Living in Fox Chapel offers residents a rural feel and most residents own their homes. In Fox Chapel there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks."

8. Upper Uwchlan Township

"Upper Uwchlan Township is a suburb of Philadelphia with a population of 11,677. Upper Uwchlan Township is in Chester County and is one of the best places to live in Pennsylvania. Living in Upper Uwchlan Township offers residents a suburban rural mix feel and most residents own their homes. In Upper Uwchlan Township there are a lot of restaurants and parks."

7. East Whiteland Township

"East Whiteland Township is a suburb of Philadelphia with a population of 12,328. East Whiteland Township is in Chester County and is one of the best places to live in Pennsylvania. Living in East Whiteland Township offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In East Whiteland Township there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks."

6. Nether Providence Township

"Nether Providence Township is a suburb of Philadelphia with a population of 13,744. Nether Providence Township is in Delaware County and is one of the best places to live in Pennsylvania. Living in Nether Providence Township offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Nether Providence Township there are a lot of restaurants and parks."

5.

"Franklin Park is a suburb of Pittsburgh with a population of 14,701. Franklin Park is in Allegheny County and is one of the best places to live in Pennsylvania. Living in Franklin Park offers residents a rural feel and most residents own their homes. In Franklin Park there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks."

4. Aspinwall

"Aspinwall is a suburb of Pittsburgh with a population of 2,687. Aspinwall is in Allegheny County and is one of the best places to live in Pennsylvania. Living in Aspinwall offers residents a dense suburban feel and most residents own their homes. In Aspinwall there are a lot of bars, coffee shops, and parks."

3. Narberth

"Narberth is a suburb of Philadelphia with a population of 4,304. Narberth is in Montgomery County and is one of the best places to live in Pennsylvania. Living in Narberth offers residents an urban suburban mix feel and most residents own their homes. In Narberth there are a lot of parks."

2. Mount Lebanon Township

"Mount Lebanon Township is a suburb of Pittsburgh with a population of 31,808. Mount Lebanon Township is in Allegheny County and is one of the best places to live in Pennsylvania. Living in Mount Lebanon Township offers residents an urban suburban mix feel and most residents own their homes. In Mount Lebanon Township there are a lot of bars, restaurants, coffee shops, and parks."

1. Swarthmore

"Swarthmore is a suburb of Philadelphia with a population of 6,339. Swarthmore is in Delaware County and is one of the best places to live in Pennsylvania. Living in Swarthmore offers residents an urban suburban mix feel and most residents own their homes. In Swarthmore there are a lot of restaurants, coffee shops, and parks."

Source

This list is via Niche.com.

Anne Erickson started her radio career shortly after graduating from Michigan State University and has worked on-air in Detroit, Flint, Toledo, Lansing and beyond. As someone who absolutely loves rock, metal and alt music, she instantly fell in love with radio and hasn’t looked back. When she’s not working, Anne makes her own music with her band, Upon Wings, and she also loves cheering on her favorite Detroit and Michigan sports teams, especially Lions and MSU football. Anne is also an award-winning journalist, and her byline has run in a variety of national publications. You can also hear her weekends on WRIF.