A famous PA Dutch farmer's market where you can barter with the Amish, Mennonites, and some guy from Philly all in the same day, while snacking on a great variety of food. Only open on Fridays--worth getting in early for if you wanna check it out. Bit of a drive but in very scenic countryside, especially if you take roads other than 222/272 to get there.
Real deal Italian deli and grocery
Local grocery store chain with a great deli and bakery. You can even have a beer there. Recommended for standard grocery shopping.
Large bodega about five blocks from the DoubleTree.
Essentially the symbol of the City. Built as a resort at the turn of the 20th Century and eventually donated to the City of Reading as a park. Great place to view the skyline and see the sunset. The roads leading to the Pagoda (Duryea Drive and Skyline Drive) are where some of the first domestically produced cars were tested and developed. Hill climbs and races are held there even today. All the walls and other works lining the area were built by the WPA and other New Deal organizations during the Great Depression. The base of the mountain, i.e., Hessian Road, is also the former location of a Revolutionary War POW camp for Hessian soldiers. Down the road is also the "fire tower" built to observe the city from Mt. Penn. The Pagoda itself is currently closed for renovations.
Take a scenic stroll on the trails along the Schuylkill River and enjoy the fresh air. Beautiful place to spend a morning or have a picnic.
The "asylum" where they raised her. Only a short drive into the neighborhood adjacent to the museum park, if you're a swiftie who wants to make a pilgrimage.
A little bit of a drive but it is the oldest continuously operating brewery in America. They do daily tours, have tastings, and sell all kinds of merch.
Built in 1931 and inspired by a 13th century English castle by the same name, now serves as a bar and restaurant on Mt. Penn.
So most mushrooms you buy at the store on the east coast (and beyond) are grown up the road from this sandwich shop and while it is a great sandwich shop where you can get tomato pie and other great stuff, what's really the best thing to try and worth the trip for is their fried mushrooms--which are the best you'll ever have.
Reading's Landmark Irish Pub. From the website: "The Ugly Oyster was built in Yorkshire England by Traditional English Craftsmen, then disassembled, transported and reconstructed by those same craftsman at it's current location."
Visited by President Obama and recently renovated by Gordon Ramsey, this place has always been a breakfast favorite and local staple. Make sure you get there early enough to catch the cream chipped beef or order a Marvel Mess.
Good daytime dive bar up the street from the Doubletree with fantastic chili cheese dogs (make sure you get mustard and kraut too)
Open late and close to the Hotel, no set menu to speak of but great Dominican and Puerto Rican food