Super Post on Destinations in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania is a big and beautiful state. We have explored much of it, but still have much to see! These are the destinations we recommend to families in the areas with which we are familiar.

Greater Philadelphia Region

Philadelphia is full of history and culture. These are just a few family-friendly attractions there. If it’s a nice day, visit Love park and the fountains at Logan Square Park, for some very Instagrammable photo opportunities. I love the Philadelphia Art Museum, but my own children prefer the Philadelphia Zoo (it’s BIG!), the Benjamin Franklin Museum, and the Academy of Natural Sciences at Drexel University, mainly for the bugs.

The Benjamin Franklin Museum always has a new exhibit to check out (our favorite temporary exhibits so far were Harry Potter and the Lego Art of the Brick), and it also has lots of permanent exhibits that are always fun to explore. These include a giant model heart/play area, a huge climbable spider web, and even an area where you can a nice little electric shock (also a huge hit with my children. Kids are weird.) You can easily spend a whole day there, going from exhibit to exhibit.

About 30 minutes from Philadelphia is Linvilla Orchard, in Media, PA. We visit in the fall to get our pumpkins, but it has something going on most of the year, such as barnyard animals to pet (they even have some tame deer you can visit – not pet), playgrounds, pick-your-own fruits and veggies, a beer garden, and more. It’s fun and yummy no matter what’s in season.

Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, PA is one of the top botanical gardens in the country and is absolutely impressive any time of year. It is family friendly (but not dog friendly). Even in the colder months, the grounds are beautiful and the indoor conservatory is incredible. We visited often as members, but it’s BIG – you can easily spend a whole day, or several days if you choose to purchase membership (worth it if you’re paying for multiple children for multiple days).

Valley Forge National Historic Park is absolutely worth visiting. Set among small rolling hills, meadows and woods, it boasts preserved and restored buildings, cannons, redoubts, an excellent museum and beautiful statues and monuments, including the impressive National Arch, commemorating soldiers lost at Valley Forge. The park is entirely free.

Start by visiting the Visitors Center, and then follow signs in your car for the encampment tour, which will allow you to see all the highlights at your own pace.

Morris Arboretum and Gardens is a beautiful place filled with exhibits that the whole family will love. You can find an awesome tree canopy boardwalk with netting for the kids to jump in, a giant nest, and interesting forest views. There are interesting pieces of sculpture art throughout the gardens, a lake with swans, a little plant-covered house with sandboxes for excavating artifacts, an indoor “fernery,” a fairy forest, a beautiful rose garden, and more.  Admission is about $20/adult and $10/child.

Ridley Creek State Park boasts a stone mansion that is a great place for a photo shoot, or just a cool place to explore with climbing kiddos. It’s also surrounded by many trails and several small playgrounds. The park is home to a colonial plantation that’s open spring, summer and fall. The park is free to enter, but the plantation has an admission fee of about $10/grownup and $6/child. The park is open during daylight hours, but the plantation has limited weekend hours, so check the website before you visit if you want to see the living history.

Dutch Country Region

West of Philadelphia, you’ll find the capital city of Harrisburg. The PA Capital is quite an impressive building, both on the inside and outside. The architecture is stunning and even young children will enjoy it. You can walk around on your own, but if you join a tour it’s only about 30 minutes, so not too long for little ones.

Probably the most well known destination in this region is the city of Lancaster, and if you drive through the surrounding countryside, you’re sure to see picturesque covered bridges and Amish buggies making their way along the shoulders of the road, and likely you’ll see some Amish folks out and about on their farms. You’ll find them selling quality, handmade furniture and other goods, as well as delicious, Pennsylvania-Dutch style food (think German-inspired, homemade dishes).

If you’re interested in learning more about their lifestyle, you can visit the Amish House and Farm and take a tour, as well as visit the animals on your own. Your children may be fascinated by this community living (by choice!) free of electricity for the most part (yes, that includes YouTube and gaming).

Another classic Lancaster attraction for families is Dutch Wonderland, where you’ll find tons of rides geared toward the younger set, along with shows and a water park. It’s a blast!

If you’re familiar with the Lancaster area, you have likely driven over Octoraro Lake on Route 472. After spotting bald eagles flying above and great blue heron sheltering along the banks, we finally stopped one day, parking at Jim Neary’s Bait & Tackle and took a walk along the shore. There are benches and a boat launch. Someday we hope to return and rent a paddle boat to explore this reservoir.

There are some very lovely nature preserves and overlooks at the southern end of Lancaster county, along the Susquehanna River. Here you can find Susquehannock State Park and Pinnacle Overlook. The view at Pinnacle is right at the edge of the parking lot, and it’s beautiful. There are trails at either end you can take, as well as a few picnic tables and a clean portable restroom. If you take the trail on the right facing the overlook, there is no barrier and a deadly steep drop off to the river gorge, so keep a close eye on kids and dogs. 

Venture just across the river into York County to see Holtwood Dam and Mill Creek Falls. There are numerous trails to access near Lock 12, as well as picnic tables, portable restrooms and a small playground, but you can also continue down the narrow gravel road closer to the dam. Before you reach the lot near the dam, you’ll see an unmarked but clear trailhead opposite the river that leads to Mill Creek Falls. 

The falls can be seen almost immediately upon starting on the trail, and go on in fits and starts for perhaps a quarter mile or so. Also of interest is the dam itself. Continue down the gravel road to the lot closest to the dam, and walk down to the river if it’s a clear day. It is a good way for kids to learn about hydroelectric power, as you can hear, see and feel the power of the river rolling over the dam and it’s easy to imagine it being converted into electricity.

Fort Hunter Mansion and Park lies along the Susquehanna, and makes for a gorgeous walk.  There is a small playground, bathrooms, lovely views of the river and mountains beyond, and of course, the mansion, which is believed to be built over the blockhouse of an eighteenth-century fort. It was first built in 1786 and was added to in later years.  Several trails from the parking lot near the mansion wind down to the bank of the river, and there is also a trail heading parallel to the river that leads to Rockville Bridge, the longest stone arch railroad bridge in the world.

In the more northern area of this region, you can find Money Rocks County Park, an interesting small park about 10 minutes away from Shady Maple Smorgasbord.  So named because it was rumored that people hid their money amongst the rocks, it is free to enter, includes adequate parking, and has a short trail leading to an interesting rock wall.

It is a great idea to pair this park with a meal at Shady Maple Smorgasbord, a well-known and enormous buffet that is a can’t-miss in the area if you are interested in trying authentic, Pennsylvania-Dutch food.  We love going for breakfast, which is quite affordable and delicious! 

In this region, you’ll also find the town of Reading, and an unusual attraction there (for PA) – the Reading Pagoda that overlooks the city. It is free to walk around, but the inside is closed.

Hershey Park is also located in this area, about 15 miles east of Harrisburg. It is well known for it’s many roller coasters, but it also has a zoo and a waterpark. It was developed for employees of the Hershey Company, and you can take a free tour ride of the chocolate factory right outside of the park.

Another fun family activity is the Turkey Hill Experience in Columbia, PA. In this engaging museum, you can learn about the process of ice cream making, and even make your own. They also have a section dedicated to ice tea.

Lastly, Cornwall Iron Furnace in Lebanon, PA, is worth a visit if you’re interested in history or production. It is a well-preserved charcoal-fueled iron making furnace that operated in the 17 and 1800’s.

Lehigh Valley

Going a bit further north, you will come to Allentown, and the surrounding area, which is mountainous and lovely. We enjoyed the resort at Bear Creek Mountain, where there is skiing of course, and also snowtubing.

In the summer time, the Allentown Rose Garden is a really pretty little park (very photo-friendly), and about 40 minutes east of Allentown you can visit a lesser known, but really cool attraction called Ringing Rocks Park. Bring a hammer (no, it’s not for anything nefarious), and try hitting the various boulders in the park with it. You will find they produce various musical tones that your kids and you will enjoy hearing.

You can find amazing views, especially in the fall, at Hawk Mountain Sanctuary. You also have the chance to see raptors and many other types of birds during their fall migration over Pennsylvania, and you will almost certainly see chipmunks scurrying here, there, and everywhere.

The cost of admission is about $11 per person, and parking is free and ample. Admission gives you access to the Visitor’s Center and trails, which you can take to some truly breathtaking lookouts that can be accessed pretty easily from the parking lot. There are also much more challenging trails that will take you along mountain ridges and past interesting boulder fields for more amazing viewpoints.

To make a day of it, you may also want to drive about 20 minutes to check out the oldest brewery in the USA – Yuengling Brewery, located in Pottsville, PA. You can take a free tour of the brewery which lasts about an hour, and taking the tour is the only way to sample the product afterwards. There are also a number of local options in Pottsville to get a meal as well, such as the Crimson House or the Eagle Tavern.

During the holiday season, visit the town of Bethlehem, which is known as “The Christmas City,” and for good reason. The Moravian Historic District comes to life with twinkling white lights, candles and stars, horse and carriage tours, and stalls where local crafts and treats of all kinds are sold during the Christmas season. This Christmas market is free to enter and sprawls along Main Street and out from the Historic Hotel, Moravian Museum, and Visitor’s Center. You can also view the Moravian “putz,” which is a handmade nativity scene used to tell the story of Christ’s birth. 

On the southside of the river, where the well known steel stacks are located, you will find an indoor ice rink and another Christmas market actually inside the steel stacks, but there is an entrance fee which is around $15. The decorations are very lovely and the market is very popular.

Poconos Mountains and Susquehanna Valley Regions

A little farther north you will come to the Poconos, and the picturesque little town of Jim Thorp, which is considered the gateway to the Poconos. We love stopping here to throw stones in the Lehigh River, admire the train, and take a walk around the charming town.

Bushkill Falls is a really beautiful attraction, with a fun network of wooden walkways, stairs and bridges that gives you a variety of views to enjoy. Prices are around $22 per adult and $12 per child.

But there are also plenty of waterfalls you can see for free! The Delaware Water Gap is a gorgeous area with a variety of hikes from easy to challenging. The hike to Dingman’s Falls is family friendly, includes boardwalks and platforms for viewing the falls from below and above, and also passes Silver Thread Falls, which is right beside the Visitor’s Center, for those who would like to enjoy a waterfall but can’t walk the mile or so to Dingman’s.

This region of Pennsylvania is rural and rugged, covered with farms settled peacefully among the Appalachians along the Susquehanna River, and dotted with charming small towns. Here are a few reasons to visit.

A little further west in the Susquehanna Valley area, you will find numerous state parks, wilderness areas, and hikes, such as the trail to Hawk Rock Overlook. The trailhead for this fun hike is in the tiny town of Ducannon, which is tucked into a very rural area.

If you’d like an overlook, but would rather skip the hike, another great place to visit is Shikellamy State Park. The park has two sections that span the counties of Northumberland and Union. The overlook section is accessed by driving up a steep mountain road, and the parking lot is directly at the overlook. There is also a little playground and a big open field and picnic area, and some wooded trails.

The marina section of Shikellamy State Park is a short drive away, in between the two branches of the Susquehanna that can be seen from the overlook. There is a slightly bigger playground, a pretty butterfly garden, and a paved path along each branch of the river – the park is on a little island in between the two. Of course, there is also the Marina where you can see boats launching and walk out on the docks.

A few of the charming small towns in this area are Sunbury, Selinsgrove, and Ducannon, where you can have dinner at the historic Doyle’s Hotel. On your way in or out, visit the small town of Enola and Cupboard Makers Books. This is a very unique used book store in Cumberland County.  It is painted like a book shelf on the outside and covered with murals and archways on the inside.  It also had an elaborate cat walk around the ceiling and perimeter of the store and a few fluffy cats.

Finally, don’t miss Knoebel’s Amusement Resort. There is no fee to enter, and rides are abundant and reasonably priced. There is sometimes live music and a variety of places to eat – and the food is actually good. There is also a water park area called the Crystal Pool. It includes diving boards and small, old fashioned slides, or you can pay to ride several giant tube slides.

The pool is affordable at less than $10/per person and less than $10 additional if you wanted to go on the tube slides. There were locker rooms with complimentary lockers and lots of places to eat.

You can also choose to stay at the adjacent campground or cabins for lodging at the resort. There are three museums if you want to get out of the weather for a spell. All in all, this is definitely a must-do if you’re in the Susquehanna River Valley area of PA.

Upstate PA

We love upstate PA, and have found that the Scranton/Wilks Barr area is affordable and has a lot to offer. It’s also a fun place to find some quintessential Pennsylvania experiences. We loved the lesser known Seven Tubs Recreation Area because of the unusual formations or “tubs” created by continuous glacial melt, creating tiny waterfalls, pools, and miniature gorges in different shapes throughout the park. There is some steep and rocky terrain which was not particularly difficult, but made me slightly nervous for the younger kids (though they probably managed it more easily than I did.)

We also enjoyed taking a tour of the Lackawanna Coal Mine, where you are given a hardhat so you can ride a coal car down into the mines and find interesting historical information on this very challenging livelihood. We also loved visiting the Steamtown Train Museum and enjoying a short train ride through this picturesque area.

The Endless Mountains area is also a lovely place to visit. We visited the small town of Montrose, including the Susquehanna County Historical Society (check the hours on the museum before you go)and several other historic buildings – a courthouse and fire house. This area is beautiful and festive during the holidays, with a fun festival called Christmas in Montrose.

Just outside of the town of Montrose is beautiful Salt Springs State Park, especially if you’re ready to enjoy the snow that is frequent in the area. Park in the first parking lot and climb the hill, following the path to the gorge. Walk along the rim of the gorge until you come to the waterfall. There are also wide, clear hills that are great for sledding, which is allowed, and trails that work well for cross country skiing or snowboarding.

Another great opportunity for outdoor recreation is the D&H Rail Trail, a 38 mile trail that can be accessed at Simpson, PA and taken all the way to the New York border. It is a wide gravel trail that is great for strollers or bikes. You can scan a QR code on signs along the way that will take you to nearby trail friendly businesses if you’re looking to hop off the trail and check out the town.

Elk Mountain Ski Resort typically opens for the season in mid-December. The lodge is beautiful and includes the Winter Garden Restaurant, which is open to the public, even if you’re not skiing. There are a wide variety of slopes from blue to black diamond and 9 different lifts, so people of all skill levels can find great options for skiing and snowboarding.

PA Wilds and Alleghenies

In these areas of PA, we loved visiting Benezette and State College. The drive up to the town of Benezette was absolutely stunning, and we were lucky to see a heard of Elks almost immediately upon parking at the Elk Country Visitor’s Center.

At Penn State University, we especially loved the Penn State Arboretum, which had a number of kid-friendly structures that ours really enjoyed. The whole area holds a great deal of natural beauty.

The town of Williamsport is also well worth a visit. It has many unique establishments to enjoy shopping or a meal, such as Bullfrog Brewery, or the Potting Bench Greenhouse, Ice Cream, and Workshops.

The town is the home of the founder of Little League and continues to host the Little League World Series today. You can learn all about it and see where it’s played at the World of Little League Museum – a great place to learn about this history as well as the positive, worldwide impact of Little League today. With interactive exhibits that will have you running, jumping, and learning, this is a great attraction for the whole family, and may spark fond memories for many.

Then, hit the Thomas Taber Museum and learn about how the lumber boom led to the opulent Millionaires Row in which the museum is located. The museum is chock full of local history, from Native American history to the underground railroad to the lumber boom. To my children’s delight, it also contains an enormous model train collection and a very fancy historic doll house.

Finally, take a one-hour cruise down the beautiful Susquehanna River in the gorgeous Hiawatha paddle-wheel river boat. The Hiawatha, “Queen of the Susquehanna,” is an old-fashioned, simulated paddle-wheel excursion boat that provides a smooth and peaceful ride on the river. The ride is about an hour, and the view from the top level is lovely. If an escape from the heat is needed, the bottom level is air conditioned, and there is a small bar where you can purchase a small snack, soda, beer, or mixed drink. Tours in the summer are at 12:00, 2:00, or 4:00.

Loyalsock State Forest is a huge area of beautiful hardwood forest with a wide range of different hikes. You’re sure to see wildflowers in summer, an abundance of vibrant green ferns, and interesting rock formations on any hike you choose. The 2 mile out and back trail to Angel Falls is beautiful and challenging at the end, with steep rock scrambles just prior to the falls.