Altoona (Pennsylvania)

By train

Altoona is served by a once-daily Amtrak service, the Pennsylvanian between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. is in downtown at 1231 11th Ave.

By car

Altoona is located along Interstate 99, which can be reached from I-70 from the Washington-Baltimore area or Pittsburgh area, from I-76 (the Pennsylvania Turnpike) from the Philadelphia area, or from I-80 from the New York City area. Altoona can also be reached directly from Pittsburgh via I-376/US 22.

By plane

Altoona's airport is Altoona-Blair County Airport (AOO). United Airlines operates direct flights to both Washington Dulles and Johnstown, PA. This is a very small airport and is a convenient 12 miles from the downtown area.

• Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament

  phone: + 814-944-4603
  address: 1 Cathedral Sq
  A Roman Catholic cathedral

• Horseshoe Curve National Historic LandmarkBuilt by the Pennsylvania Railroad to allow trains to climb the steep Allegheny Mountains, this historic and well-known construction is a mecca for railfans. Located along the current Norfolk Southern east-west mainline, over 50 trains per day pass around the triple-track curve. Admission includes access to a small museum and a funicular ride up the hill to a grassy area on the inside of the curve, which has over 180 degrees' view of railroading action.

  The curve can also be viewed from on-board Amtrak's Pennsylvanian train between Altoona and Pittsburgh.

• Altoona Railroaders Memorial Museumin downtown Altoona is a museum showing Altoona's history as a railroad town.

  It features a model train layout, plus several interactive exhibits. It is closed during the winter.

• Allegheny Portage Railroad National Historic Site

  phone: +1 814 886-6150
  address: 110 Federal Park Road, Gallitzin, PA 16641
  The Allegheny Portage Railroad was a great achievement in early travel. Charles Dickens, Jenny Linn, and Ulysses S. Grant traveled over the Allegheny Mountains. They braved a system that injured passengers on a weekly basis. A system of inclined planes and a nine hundred foot tunnel carved through solid rock by Welsh coalminers made this feat possible. For twenty years, it was the fastest way to transgress the rough and wild terrain of Pennsylvania. The site features a recreated incline and winch used to pull portaged barges over the hill.

• The Megahan House

  address: 1537 2nd Avenue

• Altoona Curve Baseball

  address: 1000 Park Avenue
  Watch a live-action baseball team - up close and personal!

• Lakemont Park & The Island WaterPark

  address: 700 Park Ave
  Family fun park, with the oldest operating wooden roller coaster in the world.

• Boyer Candies outlet storeThe manufacturer of Mallo Cup and Smoothies peanut butter cups is in Altoona and has an outlet store on site at their factory. Factory tours may possibly available.

• Logan Town Center - strip mall with a Boscov's store.
• Logan Valley Mall, Route 220 & Goods Ln, +1 814 944-6128.
• Specialty shops in Altoona.

• Wong's Wok in the food court of the Logan Valley Mall, Route 220 & Goods Ln, +1 814 944-6128

• The Knickherbocker Tavern

  address: 3957 W 6th Ave
  Cool place with decent pub grub and a very wide selection of craft brews from all over the country (and the world). Kind of strange "suburban" location but probably the best bar in town, especially if you like beer. Reasonable prices.

• Altoona Grand Hotel

  phone: +1 814-946-1631
  address: 1 Sheraton Dr
  Offers a lobby with a fountain and fireplace, 124-rooms, and Sunday Brunch buffet.