Photo by Emily Paine, Bucknell University

The lure of historic Lewisburg has grown well beyond its reputation as a college town and home to Bucknell University. Nestled along the West Branch Susquehanna River, the county seat of Union County boasts a natural beauty accentuated by classic 19th-century architecture, especially in the area of Market Street, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This, plus a bevy of antique shops, diverse local restaurants, art and performance venues, and access to the Susquehanna River, Lewisburg grows in prominence as a destination for a day trip, weekend, or a long-term stay.

Photo by Tony Ragusea

1. Plan Your Stay: Popular chain hotels dot the landscape west of State Route 15, which dissects the borough from north to south. Those looking for something a little closer to downtown’s charm should check out the Lewisburg Hotel on Market Street.

2. Eat Your Way Across Town: Downtown eateries to put on your itinerary include Gram’s Eatery on N. 3rd Street; Brasserie Louis, Brendan’s Town Tavern, Bull Run Tap House, Elizabeth’s American Bistro, Saffron Restaurant on Market Street; LA Primavera Italiano Ristorante & Pizzeria on Old Turnpike Road; Street of the Shops on St. Mary Street; and Matty’s Sporthouse Grill on Walter Drive. And be sure to treat your sweet tooth at Purity Candy, a family-owned confectionery on Market Street that opened in 1907.

3. Go for a Walk: Lewisburg is a great walking town. Details of the Notable Architectural Tour of Downtown Lewisburg can be found at visitcentralpa.org. Another unique pathway is the self-guided Lewisburg Mural Trail, including a section of Cherry Alley between North Third and Fourth Streets known as Modern Art Alley. Look for the White Pine Alley Mural and the Donald Heiter Community Center, a memorial to a past police chief with its own artistic embellishment. There are 18 painted rail abutments in Piers Art Park.

Photo courtesy of Lewisburg Downtown Partnership

4. Bike or Hike: Lewisburg also serves as a beginning point of the Buffalo Valley Rail Trail, which stretches through the countryside paralleling Route 45, the major east-west corridor between Lewisburg and Mifflinburg. The trail is wheelchair accessible, dog-friendly, and suitable for walking, mountain biking, and inline skating.

Photo courtesy of Kelly Ann Mifsud

5. Go Antiquing: For those who believe that everything old is new again, treat yourself to a stroll of a different kind by visiting one or more of Lewisburg’s many antique shops. Options include Rollermills Antique Mall, Antiques at 221, Lewisburg Antique and Consignment Mall, Silver Moon Antique Mall and Flea Market, and Street of Shops.

6. Go Back to School: Bucknell University’s beautiful 450-acre campus is replete with special venues and activities open to the public, including its own self-guided walking and driving tours accessible at bucknell.edu, where you can also book a student-led tour of the facilities.

Photo by Tony Ragusea

7. Let Lewisburg Entertain You: After a stroll or drive around campus, take in a show at the Weis Center for Performing Arts or the Samek Gallery. The Lewisburg Arts Council (LAC) has a gallery at 15 North Water Street where jazz, folk, and blues music is offered every fourth Thursday. Live music is on the schedule at the CommUnity Zone’s Listening Room on Market Street every second Wednesday. The Historic Campus Theatre on Market Street hosts a free Family Film Series on Tuesday mornings.

Photo by Bic’s Water Sports & Outdoor Adventures

8. Enjoy the River: Have a picnic in Soldier’s Park, situated next to the Susquehanna River at the end of Market Street. Bic’s Water Sports and Outdoor Adventures in nearby Milton will put you on the river in a canoe, kayak, a paddle board. Also in Milton is the Fence Drive-In, a car hop restaurant that offers spectacular views of the river and the Susquehanna River Bridge from about one mile south.

9. Dive Into History: The Dale-Engle-Walker Historical Site is a house and farm built in 1793 on Strawbridge Road and bequeathed in 2001 to the Union County Historical Society (UCHS), which restored it to tell the story of the three families who resided there over the years. The 1789 Milne Log House was moved there in 2019. The former Packwood House – a 1790s tavern and hotel – overlooks the river and has been recently restored to showcase local arts and exhibits. The UCHS routinely hosts history presentations.

10. Join in Community Fun: Special summer events to plan for that draw both visitors and locals include the Summer Festival hosted by the Lewisburg Downtown Partnership in Hufnagle Park on May 31 and the Sidewalk Chalk Festival in July conducted downtown by the Lewisburg Arts Council, who also sponsor free music in Hufnagle Park on Wednesday evenings. The Fireworks Extravaganza sponsored by the Union County Veteran’s 4th of July Committee is set for Friday, June 27, and their annual Independence Day Parade through the center of town will take place on Saturday, July 28. The Lewisburg Children’s Museum will host Bubble Bonanza on Tuesday, August 19th.