Even though Pennsylvania calls itself the Keystone State, it could also be called the nation's Stepping Stone State for its bulk of groundbreaking history. Driving across Pennsylvania's rolling landscape is like following a personal growth chart for the nation itself.

Philadelphia, with Independence Hall, represents the birth of democracy. Pennsylvania's Dutch country, in and around Lancaster, harkens back to the nation's agrarian roots. Gettysburg documents the Civil War. And Pittsburgh towers as a thriving metropolitan monument to when the nation transitioned into a global industrial giant through the aid of steel production.

Pennsylvania's ability to simultaneously embrace the past and the present lends it a style that is unmatched anywhere else in the country. Not only is it a good place to visit, but as the nation itself will attest, it is also a good place to grow.

Top What to Do as You Settle In

If you're moving to the Keystone State, you can ease the relocation process by accessing the information below about getting a Pennsylvania driver's license, registering your car here, making sure you're properly insured, and more:

• Motor Vehicle Office Locations and Hours

• Applying for a New License

• Applying for an ID Card

• Changing Your Address

• Car Registration

• License Plates

• Motorcycle License

• Driver License Manual

• Application Forms

• Car Insurance

Top Climate

Pennsylvania, the most southern of the northeast states, averages 70 degrees in the summer and 30 degrees in the winter. Because it is bordered by Lake Erie to the west and is influenced by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, temperature averages vary depending on location.

The same fluctuation applies to precipitation. The state, as a whole, averages 45 inches of precipitation per year. But the western edge, especially near Lake Erie, experiences higher snow totals due to lake-effect storms.

Top Arts and Culture

Pennsylvania's bulk of historical sites tends to divert attention from the state's wealth of cultural opportunities. The Philadelphia Orchestra, long a musical staple in the city of Brotherly Love, is considered one of the top orchestras in the world. The Pittsburgh Ballet Theater might seem like an enigma in a city with a blue-collar image, but it thrives as one of the nation's leading ballet companies. And the Andy Warhol Museum, also in Pittsburgh, represents the largest museum in the world devoted to one artist.

Top Attractions

To refer to Pennsylvania as a tourist's dream landscape is an understatement. Attractions abound in every corner of the state.

Fallingwater, Frank Lloyd Wright's architectural masterstroke, is found in the tiny town of Mill Run. Lancaster, the hub of Amish country, maintains its agricultural focus and represents one of few places on earth where Microsoft has not made a profit.

Independence Hall in Philadelphia, the birthplace of the Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, is preserved with historical integrity and neighbors the Liberty Bell Center. And Gettysburg, site of Lincoln's most famous address and one of the ugliest battles in the Civil War, enjoys "wow" status.

Top Fun Facts

• Hershey, Pennsylvania is considered the chocolate capital of the United States.

• The Rockville Bridge in Harrisburg ranks as the longest stone arch bridge in the world.

• Two counties, Forest and Perry, have the rare distinction of having no traffic lights.

• Pennsylvania dairy cows produce more than 10 billion pounds of milk every year.

• In 1946 Philadelphia became home to the nation's first computer.

• Pittsburgh's KDKA radio produced the nation's first commercial radio broadcast.

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