leenia, I think there are some great places to visit in Pennsylvania, I haven't been to hawk mountain, but my nature loving friends have. Also recommended, Amish Country and Longwood Gardens.

But to be honest jmho, if you want to see the most glorious stretch of the Appalachians, scoot down I81 in Viriginia and/or North Carolina. The Blue Ridge and Great Smoky Mountains are just about the most heavenly mountain ranges on earth- the oldest range of mountains, with incredibly bio diversity, and virgin forests going back hundreds of years. The mountains, worn by aeons of time, have the appearance of blue waves, and when the sun sets, they look like transparent watercolors of the rainbow. The scent of the flowers is like perfume. Go in spring, when the azalea and rhododendron bloom.
Just lovely.