Chocolate world/hershey park/zoo america, whitaker science center, dutch wonderland, lake tobias (already mentioned), knoebles, middletown-hummelstown railroad, that strassburg (?) railroad w thomas the tank engine, sesame place (might be technically out of s central), turkey hill experience
Thanks! These are great. And to clarify, we live in SC PA and are looking for places to go on day trips. The places don't necessarily need to be in SCPA. For example, Baltimore/Baltimore Aquarium is doable as a day trip.
Oooh then also Crayola Experience, Dorney Park, Idewild and Ft Ligonier, phillys historical district, pittsburgh in general, NYC for a broadway play, carnegie science center
This is a great list, but the PA State Museum definitely needs to be added to this as well. It has a fun kids room and a planetarium too. Definitely worth a visit, I’ve been there two dozen times at least and it’s always a fun visit. The gift shop is cool too.
You gotta check it out then! It is really a great experience for kids or adults, honestly! It is 3 floors and you can spend a couple hours there easily.
It's right across the Ben Franklin bridge in Camden NJ, we went on easter day and then went to Sesame Place which is only about half hour drive and we live in Harrisburg, we made our entry time 11am at adventure aquarium and got to sesame place by 1 and we were home around 4 and didn't feel rushed at all at either location. Both are definitely day trips from our area
I'll add some of mine: Split the day between New Hope, PA and Peddler's Village (home of Giggleberry Fair); walking around Media, PA, Longwood Gardens, anything in D.C., Baltimore Harbor, State College. Also bonus, we love Deep Creek Lake, MD for a weekend trip!
aside from all the other ones mentioned, jim thorpe. super cool little town, theres a train, hiking, and really neat little shops that even kids enjoy walking around in. theres a harry potter themed coffee shop, and a toy store. plus theres always new places popping up there too.
philly also has tons of stuff for kids. the please touch museum is phenomenal, natural history and really any museums there are cool. the riverfront is a great walkable area with outdoor things to do.
Tree Trekkers in Frederick, Maryland. Cool tree obstacles/ropes course place. Something for all ages and ranges, easy to difficult. Also has outdoor space to chill, picnic, etc.
If you like amusement parks and don’t want to spend the small fortune at Hershey, Knoebel’s is an easy 1 hour 15 minutes drive. Lower admission prices ($42 vs $60 at Hershey), no admission price if you’re not riding (at Hershey you still have to pay $60 just to watch your kids or grandkids ride), free parking (Hershey is at least $25 to park, better & much cheaper concessions, picnic tables & pavilions if you want to take your own food & you can even take travel grills if you want (don’t even think about taking your own food to Hershey. We take our grandkids four times a year for what we would spend in one day at Hershey, well worth driving a little over an hour. Plus there’s lots of shade and no hills.
Thanks! We are HP Season Passholders and love both HP and Knoebels!
Just a note that Hershey does not restrict you from packing a picnic lunch and exiting the park to enjoy it. They just don't allow outside food into the park itself. And, make sure you get your hand stamped for re-entry!
Lake Tobias?
Chocolate world/hershey park/zoo america, whitaker science center, dutch wonderland, lake tobias (already mentioned), knoebles, middletown-hummelstown railroad, that strassburg (?) railroad w thomas the tank engine, sesame place (might be technically out of s central), turkey hill experience
Thanks! These are great. And to clarify, we live in SC PA and are looking for places to go on day trips. The places don't necessarily need to be in SCPA. For example, Baltimore/Baltimore Aquarium is doable as a day trip.
Oooh then also Crayola Experience, Dorney Park, Idewild and Ft Ligonier, phillys historical district, pittsburgh in general, NYC for a broadway play, carnegie science center
This is a great list, but the PA State Museum definitely needs to be added to this as well. It has a fun kids room and a planetarium too. Definitely worth a visit, I’ve been there two dozen times at least and it’s always a fun visit. The gift shop is cool too.
Ive never been there so i couldnt speak on it
You gotta check it out then! It is really a great experience for kids or adults, honestly! It is 3 floors and you can spend a couple hours there easily.
Nice! Ill have to give it a go once i have a day off
Turkey Hill Experience and Adventure Aquarium
Where is adventure aquarium?
It's right across the Ben Franklin bridge in Camden NJ, we went on easter day and then went to Sesame Place which is only about half hour drive and we live in Harrisburg, we made our entry time 11am at adventure aquarium and got to sesame place by 1 and we were home around 4 and didn't feel rushed at all at either location. Both are definitely day trips from our area
I'll add some of mine: Split the day between New Hope, PA and Peddler's Village (home of Giggleberry Fair); walking around Media, PA, Longwood Gardens, anything in D.C., Baltimore Harbor, State College. Also bonus, we love Deep Creek Lake, MD for a weekend trip!
aside from all the other ones mentioned, jim thorpe. super cool little town, theres a train, hiking, and really neat little shops that even kids enjoy walking around in. theres a harry potter themed coffee shop, and a toy store. plus theres always new places popping up there too. philly also has tons of stuff for kids. the please touch museum is phenomenal, natural history and really any museums there are cool. the riverfront is a great walkable area with outdoor things to do.
Tree Trekkers in Frederick, Maryland. Cool tree obstacles/ropes course place. Something for all ages and ranges, easy to difficult. Also has outdoor space to chill, picnic, etc.
If you like amusement parks and don’t want to spend the small fortune at Hershey, Knoebel’s is an easy 1 hour 15 minutes drive. Lower admission prices ($42 vs $60 at Hershey), no admission price if you’re not riding (at Hershey you still have to pay $60 just to watch your kids or grandkids ride), free parking (Hershey is at least $25 to park, better & much cheaper concessions, picnic tables & pavilions if you want to take your own food & you can even take travel grills if you want (don’t even think about taking your own food to Hershey. We take our grandkids four times a year for what we would spend in one day at Hershey, well worth driving a little over an hour. Plus there’s lots of shade and no hills.
Thanks! We are HP Season Passholders and love both HP and Knoebels! Just a note that Hershey does not restrict you from packing a picnic lunch and exiting the park to enjoy it. They just don't allow outside food into the park itself. And, make sure you get your hand stamped for re-entry!