Reading is a mid-sized city in the Schuylkill Valley of eastern Pennsylvania, roughly halfway between Philadelphia and Harrisburg. It's a working-class city with a large Latino population — one of the largest proportionally in the US — and an economy that has seen better days since its industrial manufacturing base declined. But it has a genuine character and a few things worth knowing about.
The Pagoda, a red-painted Japanese-style tower perched on the ridge of Mt Penn above the city, is Reading's signature landmark — visible for miles at night when lit. It was built in 1908 as a hotel but never opened; now it's a public viewpoint with panoramic views over the city and the Berks County hills. Free to visit. Downtown, the GoggleWorks Center for the Arts occupies a converted factory building and has galleries, studios, and a cinema. The Historical Society of Berks County covers the region's Pennsylvania German heritage. The Santander Arena and Performing Arts Center anchor the downtown entertainment district.
Reading was for decades a major outlet shopping destination — the old factory buildings downtown were converted into discount malls, and the area earned the nickname "The Outlet Capital of the World." The Vanity Fair Outlets in West Reading remain the largest concentration. The Reading Regional Airport houses the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum, focused on WWII aviation, with a major annual air show each June.