Middletown to Springfield train

Middletown is a very common place name in Pennsylvania, but the most significant is the borough of Middletown just south of Harrisburg. Though Middletown itself is pretty small, the Harrisburg International Airport is within Middletown and brings a good amount of traffic through the town. However, the area's charming activities and landscape merit a few days of slowing down and enjoying central Pennsylvania.

Families with young kids will love wandering through the enormous National Christmas Center, open during Christmas Season and for select weeks in July, filled with holiday displays, decor, and gifts. You can enter the spooky, spiky Indian Echo Caverns in nearby Derry Township to discover local natural history or enjoy nature's fresh air on the Swatara Creek Water Trail and the Jonathan Eshenour Memorial Trail.

Middletown is home to several brewing companies, distilleries, and brewpubs, including the famous Appalachian Brewing Company and Tattered Flag. In Downtown Middletown, you can shop at a handful of malls and enjoy entertainment at hotels, clubs, bars, and museums.

No intercity bus companies stop in Middletown, but Amtrak's Keystone Service provides train service to the station downtown. Catch the train west to Harrisburg or as far east as Philadelphia.

There are 34 cities in America called Springfield, but the state capital of Illinois is one of the most well-known. Beyond Springfield's political clout as a state capital, it is known for being the home of Abraham Lincoln for many years, plus the site of his final resting place. While in town, you can visit President Lincoln's restored home, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum, and the Lincoln Tomb in Oak Ridge Cemetery. An enormous bronze bust of Lincoln outside his tomb features a nose as shiny as a new penny, rubbed by scores of visitors who consider it good luck.

Springfield is one of the state's best destinations thanks to more than just history. Check out the incredible artistry on display in the capitol building's stained glass windows, or discover the dogwoods lining 5 miles of trails in the Lincoln Memorial Garden and Nature Center. Not to mention Springfield's bustling craft beer scene; hit up the city's microbreweries, nano breweries, and craft beer companies like the famous Springfield Beer Company.

It should be no surprise that one of the primary transportation methods to Springfield is called the Lincoln Service. This Amtrak train route stops in Springfield on its way from Chicago to St. Louis, and so does the Amtrak Texas Eagle from San Antonio to Chicago. Amtrak Thruway buses run from Springfield to Peoria, where travelers can connect to further bus destinations.