York's main appeal is its colonial and industrial history. The York County History Center anchors downtown, and the Continental Congress room in the Colonial Complex is where the Articles of Confederation were first drafted and adopted — one of the more underappreciated moments in American history. The Harley-Davidson factory and museum draws motorcycle enthusiasts from across the country. The Central Market, operating on its current site since 1888, is the social heart of the city on market days.
The surrounding countryside rewards those with a car: covered bridges dot the rolling farmland, and small towns like Shrewsbury and Red Lion preserve a quiet rural Pennsylvania character.