Welcome to the Greater Reading Area! We’re thrilled to have you as part of our community. We understand that getting to know your new neighborhood can be both exciting and overwhelming. That’s why we’ve put together a guide of 30 fantastic things for you to experience in your first 30 days here.
Remember, you don’t have to tackle everything at once. Take your time and savor each experience, allowing yourself to fully embrace all that the Greater Reading Area has to offer. We hope this guide helps you feel more at ease and excited about starting this incredible chapter of your life in our welcoming community.
Get to Know People
Moving to a new area can be tough, especially when it comes to building a social life. We understand how important it is for your mental and physical well-being to connect with others and make new friends. Don't worry, we're here to help you! Getting to know your neighbors and attending local events events are fantastic ways to integrate yourself into the community.
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Join a Unique and Interesting Group
The Greater Reading Area offers a vibrant community of people with diverse interests and skill sets. Find your flock by researching some local social groups and then meet up with those who share common interests. Alternatively, you can dip your toe into something completely new!
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Make Connections at Work
If you’ve recently moved to Reading for work after discovering our multiple impressive industries, companies, and opportunities in the area, the first thing you should do is get to work forging great relationships with your coworkers. You never know when those connections can come in handy down the line!
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Do Some Local Good
Giving back to the Greater Reading community is a great way to feel more at home here. Be apart of something bigger by spending time building and strengthening our blossoming community. Check out some great volunteer opportunities right here.
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Get Virtually Involved
In today’s era of digital media and cutting-edge tech, it is now easier than ever to stay up to date on all the local happenings of the Reading, PA community. Do a little web surfacing and engage online with local personalities, businesses, and organizations. This is a great way to ensure you are always in the loop! Read our Community Stories.
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Visit the Famous Reading Pagoda
The Reading Pagoda is a famous local landmark perched high atop Mount Penn. Modeled after an authentic Japanese pagoda, this structure was originally built as the focal point of a planned mountain top resort. After plans fell through however, the pagoda remained, and now houses a museum, gift shop, and viewing area. Open seasonally on the weekends!
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Check Out the Young Professionals Chapter
Making smart career moves is a symbolic passage to a successful adult life. The Greater Reading chapter of Young Professionals provides business, educational, volunteer and social networking opportunities through a variety of regularly planned events and activities. These events and activities are well-attended and viewed as unique, fun, and attractive by its many enthusiastic members. Get involved today!
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Get Spiritual About It
There’s nothing wrong with having a little faith. Explore local religious communities like the many churches, temples, mosques, and synagogues that pepper the Greater Reading Area. The beauty of religious diversity is having the opportunity to discover your perfect fit.
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Explore Our Great Museums
The Berks County area is rich in unique history, which is why there is so much to do and see in the area. Check out establishments like the Golden Age Air Museum, the Pennsylvania German Cultural Heritage Center, the Reading Public Museum, the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles, the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum, and more. There is always something new to learn in our community.
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Check Out GoggleWorks
The GoggleWorks Center of the Arts is dedicated to transforming lives through unique interactions with specialized art forms. This is a place to develop skills, ask questions, experiment freely, and investigate the true makeup of the human spirit. Stop by today to see how you can get involved.
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Eat Fresh
The Berks County Area is a mega-hub of all-natural agriculture. The area is home to many farms that produce and sell fresh, locally grown and naturally made products including wine, produce, meat, dairy, and horticulture. When shopping, remember to support the local farmers in your own backyard. Buy small and celebrate big so we can grow together!
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Support Local Shops
From corner diners and antique shops to farmers markets, the Greater Reading Area is full of wonderful, small businesses that deserve and need patronage. These businesses are the lifeblood of our community, and you can support them by shopping locally.
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Begin New Medical Relationships
Getting established in a whole new area includes resetting your basic needs. Finding new doctors, dentists, hospitals, and other medical centers and establishing a new rapport is vital to your transition.
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Prepare for Emergencies
In the event that an emergency occurs, you need to be familiar with how to handle your new surroundings. This can include researching local police departments, fire departments, ambulance services, etc., and keeping these emergency contact numbers on file. This way, you are always prepared.
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Get Involved in City Decisions
Now that you are a member of an all-new community, you can get to work molding and guiding towards your ideal utopia. Call community officials and ask how you can get involved in local decisions by attending city hall meetings. You can learn more on the Reading government website!
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Register to Vote Locally
If you truly want your voice to be heard in local government decisions, the best way to do so is to register to vote in the city of Reading. There are four convenient ways to register. Learn more about how to get started right here.
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Learn the Law of the Land
If you want to have a voice in local regulations, you can start by familiarizing yourself with local laws. Regulations and ordinances can vary from state-to-state and city-to-city, so it’s important to learn as much as possible about the lay of the law in your new community.
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Familiarize Yourself with Public Transportation
Getting from point A to point B is vital to your effective transition into new surroundings. Reading public transportation includes the BARTA Bus Service, which can help you get around town quickly and conveniently when you need it.
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Get Your Vehicle Serviced
If you are the proud owner of your very own vehicle that helps you handle your daily commute, it is important to have a qualified mechanic on hand to help you with any automotive issues that may arise. Have your car professionally serviced and inspected locally upon arrival to ensure a seamless transition.
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Explore the Lands and Roads
If you are going to be driving yourself around town, it can be extremely helpful to begin familiarizing yourself with the local roadway system. Getting this down pat early on is vital to your daily commute and travel plans! Take these local road trips!
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Update Your Identification
Updating your identification with the state doesn't have to be a hassle. We're here to help guide you through the simple process so you can start feeling like an official Pennsylvanian in no time.
So, let's dive into what you need to do. The process begins by visiting your local Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) office – don't worry, they can be found in many convenient locations throughout the state. Remember to bring along a few important documents to ensure a smooth update.
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Expand Your Palate
The Greater Reading area is renowned for its vast culinary expertise across a variety of genres of food and beverage. Local eateries play a major role in the shape and culture of our community. To truly fit in as a local, you simply must dine with us!
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Enjoy the Nightlife
The Reading nightlife is vibrant and exciting. Our local area features a number of unique bars, pubs, nightclubs, and more that people of all walks of life can enjoy. Check out local spots like Broken Chair Brewery, Nightclub Reverb, and Chatty Monks.
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Expand Your Local Knowledge
Reading, PA has a unique background; one that is often vital to many of our nation’s most remarkable moments. Once (and in many ways, still) an instrumental railroading hub, our city is a cornerstone in many facets of American history. Organizations like the Reading Company Technical and Historical Society exist to educate our community on this important story.
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Get Educated
With over 28,000 college and technical school students within 20 miles of Reading, and over 4,700 degrees awarded from universities in the Greater Reading Area, you’ll find an area that values lifelong learning. Nearby universities like Alvernia University, Albright College, Reading Area Community College, Kutztown University, and Penn State Berks can help you advance your career and enrich your life through education.
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Get Your Family Educated
The value of education cannot be understated. Whether it be for yourself or for those you love, the Greater Reading Area offers an exceptional schooling system ranging from basic elementary to college-level academia. Local public schools like Wyomissing Area School District, Wilson School District, and Conrad Weiser Area School District are consistently among the highest-rated public education systems in Berks County, PA.
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Become Closer to Nature
Greater Reading has an unmatched trail system, meaning you won’t have to travel far for safe, accessible fresh air and fun. While names like the Neversink Mountain, the Schuylkill River, Gravity Trail, and the Witches Hat might take some getting used to, their views and amenities will not. With flora, fauna, and trails geared for any experience level, you’ll find the outdoor adventure you’re looking for in Greater Reading.
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Set Aside Time for a Little Recreation
There’s lots of ways to have fun all throughout the Greater Reading Area. When you’re looking to get your sport on with public basketball courts, tennis courts, hockey rinks, soccer fields, or baseball and softball fields, you can find them all nearby.
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Support the Home Teams
Though we’ve never quite achieved major league status, there is still a hefty amount of pride in our local minor league sporting teams, The Reading Fightin’ Phils Double-A baseball team and the Reading Royals mid-level professional ice hockey team continue to bring thrills and entertainment to Reading-area sports fans each and every season.
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Get Some Rest
Moving is hard work. This stressful life change can take a lot out of you, so it’s important to just stay home and enjoy some solitude every once in a while. The Greater Reading Area and all of its many amenities will be waiting for you after you recharge our batteries.
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