Its always a great time to plan family activities in our surrounding areas and beyond! We’ve widened our reach a bit to compile this list of fun, family-friendly day trips with something for everyone to enjoy!
State Parks & Nature Excursions
🌲Rickett’s Glenn State Park (Benton, PA)
Scenic waterfalls, lots of trails to hike, Lake Jean with a beach to swim, boat rentals, and more!
🌲Nescopeck State Park (Drums, PA)
Lots of educational programming and an incredible Nature Discovery Area.
🌲Montour Preserve (Danville, PA)
Offers a variety of fields, forests, trails, and streams; a sugar shack, fossil pit, boat launch, fishing pier, wildlife observation blinds, environmental education center, pavilions, children’s play areas, and more, centered around Lake Chillisquaque.
🌲Frances Slocum State Park (Wyoming, PA)
Swimming, boating, and fishing opportunities as well as a wide variety of educational programming.
🌲Hickory Run State Park (White Haven, PA)
Amazing sights including Boulder Field, Hawk Falls, and the Lehigh Gorge.
🌲World’s End State Park (Forksville, PA)
Two scenic vistas (High Knob & Canyon Vista), many hiking trails, and educational programming.
🌲RB Winter State Park (Mifflinburg, PA)
Halfway Lake- swim, fish, play!- and programming at their Halfway Run Environmental Learning Center & Sheary-Linn Amphitheater.
🌲Bald Eagle State Park (Howard, PA)
Two campgrounds, boating, fishing, swimming at their expansive beach area, the Nature Inn, and diverse habitats that are excellent for wildlife watching. We also love their DiscoverE Day Camp!
🌲Weiser State Forest (Elysburg, PA)
Lots of bike/walking trails, as well as canoeing and kayaking options on the creek.
🌲Shikellamy State Park (Selinsgrove, PA)
Separated into two main parts: the Marina area and the Overlook area, there is boating, camping, scenic views, and so much more available here!
🌲Harvey’s Lake (Harvey’s Lake, PA)
PA’s largest natural lake with access to swimming, boating, fishing and more!
🌲PA Grand Canyon/Wellsboro Area
An incredible natural wonder super close to home! Hike/explore the canyon via trails and look outs, and visit the town of Wellsboro for super cute and quaint restaurants, shops, and more!
🌲Beltzville State Park
In the southern foothills of the Poconos, with a huge, sandy beach area to swim, refreshment stand, boating, fishing and much more.
Susquehanna Valley/Central PA Area
🎢Knoebels Amusement Resort (Elysburg, PA)- tons of rides, games, a waterpark, golf course, campground, and more! Free parking and admission, pay for tickets or get wristbands. Such a local gem!
🎳Outta Boundz (Bloomsburg, PA)- Newly renovated space with bowling, arcade, axe throwing, laser tag, and upscale dining.
🚸Bloomsburg Children’s Museum (Bloomsburg, PA)- Offers a diverse range of sustainable and engaging learning opportunities for children of all ages through year-round interactive exhibits, carefully curated programming, and active community outreach initiatives.
🦌Rolling Hills Red Deer Farm (Catawissa, PA)- See over 400 red deer raised on the farm; during summer and early fall, hayride tours guide visitors through over 200 acres of rolling landscape to hand-feed the deer and snap pictures.
🛝Nanny’s Indoor Play Place (Berwick, PA)- fairly new to the area, its a fun, safe indoor playground for kiddos to romp and play!
🥧Rohrbach’s Farm (Catawissa, PA)- Fresh farm goods, homemade treats, gourmet items, specialty gifts, classes, educational & fun events, all in a family-friendly environment.
🛝A Cute Little Place (Danville, PA)- Newly opened in 2023, an indoor playground with separate spaces for toddlers and older children.
🐍Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland (Allenwood, PA)- lizards and snakes and turtles, oh my! An amazing zoo with a wide variety of reptiles to see, educational programs, and indoor/outdoor spaces
🦙Country Vale Alpacas (New Columbia, PA)- A family-friendly farm where guests can interact with a troop of twelve friendly male alpacas. Visit on Sunday afternoons spring through fall, or attend one of their special events!
🫐Green Barn Berry Farm (Muncy, PA)- Opening in June, there are different berries to pick all summer long, as well as a gift shop with edible and other goods to purchase.
🍎Green’s Fruit Farm (Elysburg, PA)- Pick-your-own apples from September through November, featuring eco-friendly and sustainable practices.
🍏OHF Orchards (Bloomsburg, PA)- Pick-your-own apples from September and October.
🦋Folk’s Butterfly Farm (Nescopeck, PA)- Tour the butterfly farm, learn about butterflies, or purchase butterfly related products; attend special events which are happening regularly.
🔬Joseph Priestley House (Northumberland, PA)- National Historic Landmark and home/laboratory of the English scientist, which has been turned into a museum and run by volunteers, with educational programming geared towards children and adults alike.
🎮Hoopla’s & Hoopla’s Xtreme (Muncy & Shamokin Dam, PA)- Two awesome indoor play places with a restaurant, bowling, mini golf, axe throwing, arcade, trampoline park, toddler zone, and more.
🛼Trout Pond Park (Muncy)- 150 year-owned family business feauring two roller skating rinks, a fishing pond, and lots of fun games and billiards. Great place to bring the whole family for a party or just a day out!
🛝Climb-A-Lot Clubhouse (Tamaqua, PA)- A 2,800 square foot, specially designed, ADA accessible, in-door playground. Climb and play in our tree house, navigate our tunnels and tubes, and slide the four slides.
🌷Brown Hill Farms (Tunkhannock, PA)- Beautiful flower farm with tulips in spring, sunflowers in summer and pumpkins in fall, with lots of special spots to take unique family photos.
🦒Lake Tobias Wildlife Park (Halifax, PA)- Family centered activities and animal attractions for all ages at a 150-acre wildlife park and zoo.
⛰️Penn’s Cave & Wildlife Park (Centre Hall, PA)- America’s only all-water cavern & farm-nature-wildlife park, offering various tours and experiences for all!
⛰️Lincoln Caverns & Whisper Rocks (Huntingdon, PA)- Woodland nature trails & campgrounds around 2 show caves with crystals, stalactites & flowstones.
🦁T & D’s Cats of the World (Penn’s Creek, PA)- Animal sanctuary for various kinds of large, wild cats, bears, canines, and more.
🦓Green Horse Farm Animal Park & Petting Zoo (Dornsife, PA)- Interact with, touch, and feed lots of different animals!
🚂Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine and Steam Train (Ashland, PA)- Train rides and mine tours in the anthracite coal mining region of our state.
⛰️Woodward Cave & Campground (Woodward, PA)- One of the largest caverns in Pennsylvania, experienced guides conduct a well explained, easily walked tour offering 50 minutes of nature at its best.
🦘Nova Trampoline Park (Wyoming, PA)- Get your game on at the arcade, or swim around in the foam pit. Be sure to bounce on down to the trampolines and test your balance on the rope course or try the climbing wall.
🛝LEWISBURG, PA– Explore Lewisburg Recreation Area and Hufnagle Park, and/or experience their wonderful Children’s Museum. The Campus Theatre also offers kid-friendly movies throughout the year, often free!
🛝SUNBURY, PA– Take a walk or listen to live music (check Downtown Sunbury‘s schedules) at Merle Phillips Riverfront Park, with beautiful views of the Susquehanna river. Oppenheimer Playground has a water area, a huge play area, and free lunch for anyone under 18!
WILLIAMSPORT, PA– A great, fairly local spot offering so many wonderful day trip opportunities, including:
⚾World of Little League®: Peter J. McGovern Museum and Official Store-Baseball/softball themed museum with tours, a giftshop and more.
️🛥️Hiawatha Paddlewheel Riverboat– Cruise the Susquehanna river in this unique paddlewheel boat, offering many kid-centric and thematic tours.
🛝Treasure Castle Playland– An amazing indoor playground where your kids can play, host parties, and even do summer camp!
🎳Kaos Fun Zone– A huge indoor destination with bowling, laser tag, arcade, trampoline park, restaurant, and more.
🐟SCRANTON, PA- Head over to Steamtown National Historic Site, which offers educational programming, museum, train rides & more; or explore Electric City Aquarium and Reptile Den, an incredible place to see, learn about, and interact with fish, reptiles and even some mammals!
⚾Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Rail Riders @ PNC Field (Wilkes-Barre, PA)- Take the family out to the ballgame to catch a Minor League baseball game at this great, affordable and easily accessible field.
🌊Montage Mountain Resort (Scranton, PA)- Whether your family enjoys skiing, tubing, and winter sports, or summer fun at the waterpark with lots of slides and pools, this is the place to be!
🐝Bee’s Backyard (Scranton, PA)- areas are filled with a large soft play-yard, inflatables and other attractions, offering endless opportunities for kids of all ages to explore and imagine.
🎃Roba Family Farms (N. Abington Township, PA)- Lots of festivals, especially in fall, including Jurassic Farm Dino Fest, Halloween and pumpkin festivals, rides, food, and entertainment.
🍫HERSHEY, PA– Home of the famed chocolate company, this neat town close to our state’s capitol has a ton of family friendly options including Hershey Park, Hershey’s Chocolate World, Hershey Gardens, and lots more!
🐆ZooAmerica North American Wildlife (Hershey, PA)- A wide variety of animals from cold-blooded reptiles to hot desert critters, grasslands herbivores to mighty carnivores, and lively birds to nocturnal animals.
🎨HARRISBURG, PA- Our very own state capitol, visit several museums including The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Susquehanna Art Museum, as well as restaurants, tours of government buildings and historic mansions, and many other historic and cultural destinations.
🏔️Tussey Mountain Resort (Boalsburg, PA)- Near State College, a great little ski resort for all types of winter sports fun! Go in the summer time to enjoy go karts, pickleball, and ampitheatre and lots more.
🏰Fort Hunter Mansion & Park (Harrisburg, PA)- Take a tour of the historic mansion and museum, or enjoy the many events and festivals they hold annually. Enjoy the wonderful playground and spectacular views of the river, and the famous Rockville Train Bridge.
️🎖️GETTYSBURG, PA– Richly historical, this small town has a ton to offer including two state parks, several museums, guided tours, and so much more.
Lehigh Valley/Poconos Area
🎢ALLENTOWN, PA– Dorney Park & Wild Water Kingdom are world renowned amusement/water parks, and the Da Vinci Science Center is nearby too!
🚂Jim Thorpe, PA- Year-round family-friendly experiences including restaurants, shopping, train rides, museums, and more!
🦁Lehigh Valley Zoo (Schnecksville, PA)- a myriad of animals including mammals, reptiles, birds, and more with lots of events and programs for kids.
️🖍️Crayola Experience (Easton, PA)- Go on a colorful adventure at the Crayola Experience for kids and adults alike to explore art and technology, express their creativity and experience color in a whole new way!
🐺Claws n Paws Wild Animal Park (Lake Ariel, PA)- Open air zoo with shady trails and many different kinds of animals including giraffes, tigers, wolves, and many more.
🐓Country Junction (Lehighton, PA)- The world’s largest general store, as well an events venue, petting zoo, fun center and more!
🎢Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom (Allentown, PA)- More than 60 rides, shows, attractions, an area made just for kids, and a waterpark, Dorney Park has amazing fun for everyone!
Philadelphia Area
🎢Sesame Place (Hulmeville, PA)- Sesame Street themed amusement park with rides, water park, restaurants and live performances.
️🚸Please Touch Museum (Philadelphia, PA)- Children learn through playing and interacting with a ton of exhibits just for them.
🔭The Franklin Institute (Philadelphia, PA)- Incredible science museum with the Tuttleman IMAX Theatre, Fels Planetarium, and countless other exhibits.
👩🎨The Philadelphia Museum of Art & Barnes Foundation– Explore two of the best visual/fine art institutions in the city, right across the street from one another!
🐘The Philadelphia Zoo– America’s first zoo! Home to more than 1,900 rare and endangered animals, the Zoo offers award-winning animal exhibits, education and conservation programs.
🐅Elmwood Park Zoo (Norristown, PA)- Having just celebrated its 100th anniversary, this quaint zoo has free parking, is dog friendly, and is home to a plethora of different animals.
🧱LegoLand Discovery Center (Plymouth Meeting, PA)- The ultimate indoor Lego playground with Lego characters, a theatre, and millions of Legos to build anything your little one pleases!
🏗️Diggerland (West Berlin, NJ)- The only construction theme & water park in the US. Families can Drive, Ride & Operate specially engineered real machines. During the summer, head over to The Water Main to Swim, Soak & Slide in their construction-themed water park.
⚓CAMDEN, NJ– Home to Adventure Aquarium, featuring one-of-a-kind exhibits and over 15,000 aquatic animals, including the largest collection of sharks in the Northeast; and Battleship, New Jersey Museum, where you can tour and learn about America’s most decorated battleship.
🔔PHILDELPHIA HISTORICAL PLACES– Do a tour of some of Philly’s most famous historical landmarks including the Betsy Ross House, The Liberty Bell, and Independence Hall.
🐎LANCASTER, PA– An amazing place full of history, particularly Amish & Pennsylvania Dutch historical locations, as well as:
👐Hands-On House– A wonderful children’s museum fostering a love of learning through play
🍦The Turkey Hill Experience (Columbia, PA)- Take an ice cream factory tour and sample lots of flavors
🎢Dutch Wonderland– Meet beloved characters like Duke the Dragon and Princess Brooke. Spin, swing and soar on 30+ family-friendly rides of all sizes. Enjoy entertaining puppet shows and daring dive shows, plus find refreshing fun in Duke’s Lagoon water play area.
🪻Washington Crossing Historic Park/Bowmans Wildflower Preserve (New Hope, PA)- Enjoy trails, birding, flower meadows, a children’s library, and lots of other natural wonders.
🌺Longwood Gardens (Kennett Square, PA)- 1,100 acres of garden splendor, including outdoor gardens, green houses, fountains, beautiful architecture, and a ton of family-friendly events, activities and performances year round!
🌲Morris Arboretum & Gardens (Philadelphia, PA)- A beautiful arboretum & garden with lots of kid friendly courses, activities, and events.
🎢Six Flags Great Adventure (Jackson, NJ)- A huge amusement park with rides for all ages, entertainment, restaurants, and shopping.
⛲Grounds for Sculpture (Hamilton, NJ)- A museum, sculpture garden, & arboretum where art and nature collide; showcasing the work of over 700 artists.
Other Noteworthy Destinations
⚛️Liberty Science Museum (Jersey City, NJ)- STEM experiences galore with a wide range of science-based activities and exhibits.
🧱LegoLand New York Resort (Goshen, NY)- Lego-themed amusement park with rides, live shows, dining, shopping, and more!
🪞Corning Museum of Glass (Corning, NY)-Kids 17 and under visit FREE! The world’s most comprehensive collection of glass, the world’s foremost library on glass, and one of the top glass working schools in the world. Watch glass blowing demos, explore kid’s class & workshop options. Visit The Rockwell Museum of American Art with a special ticket for both museums.