21 Fun Things to do in Pennsylvania with kids

Pennsylvania offers so much opportunity for families. We put together a list of the things local parents recommend to do when visiting PA with kids. From outdoor fun to warm and cozy indoor experiences.

Pennsylvania is the perfect state for family friendly weekend getaways. Its variety of  things to do with kids range from outdoor adventures in the mountains to city day trip and historic sites like the liberty bell.

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21 Fun Things to do in Pennsylvania with kids

1. Make your own crayons at Crayola

The Crayola Experience in Easton, PA is a quirky, creative experience for kids and their families. It features a lots of hands-on activities and entertainment. For instance, kids can play with Crayola products or make their own crayons.

Good To Know: While there are lots of experiences for kids of all ages, you definitely can’t miss the Be A Star attraction, where your family photo gets turned into a coloring sheet to print and color!

2. Ride a Rollercoaster at Dorney Park

Dorney Park has rides for kids big and small. For the youngest kids, Planet Snoopy’s gentle rides are fun-sized just for them, while the older kids will enjoy the high-intensity thrill rides like the Talon and Thunderhawk roller coasters

Key Information: Admission is $35 – food onsite – plan for all-day – many allergy-friendly food options – disability access assistance for many rides.

Good To Know: Admission gets you into Dorney Park’s Wildwater Kingdom waterpark, too!

 

3. Play in a caboose at the Railroaders Memorial Museum

Railroaders Memorial Museum is an excellent visit for train lovers. One of the rare museums in the United States that focuses on people instead of the train themselves. The kids will especially love the caboose that they can play in.

Good To Know: You can visit both the museum and the Horseshoe curve with one single ticket.

4. Get Interactive at the Please Touch Museum

The Please Touch Museum is the place for kids to play, and imagine. With dozens of interactive exhibits, like a fairytale indoor garden or river play experience, this museum will keep the kids busy for hours. It is best for kids 8 and under, but there’s no hard age limit.

Key Information: Admission is $19 – food onsite – private nursing room onsite – changing table onsite – wheelchair accessible.

Good To Know: The museum’s First Wednesdays program keeps the museum open for extra hours (4-7 PM), and admission to these evening programs is $2.

5. Visit Daniel the Tiger at Idlewild & Soakzone

This amusement park has both rides and a water park all in one. Its roller coaster is great for older kids, while the Daniel the Tiger Neighborhood will be the little ones’ favorite spot.

Good To Know: There are some great climbing structures and playgrounds to take a break from the rest.

6. Take a Kid’s Cruise in Pittsburgh

What’s more fun than a river cruise? A cruise with your favorite characters! Kids can enjoy spending time meeting and dancing with their favorite princesses, superheroes, and other beloved characters.

Key Information: Adult admission is $30; kids’ admission is $19 – plan for 2 hours of cruise time – food available onsite

Good To Know: The themed cruises change seasonally, with special holiday cruises available around Christmas.  

7. Feel Like Royalty at Dutch Wonderland

Dutch Wonderland is a great amusement park for younger kids. Featuring a dinosaur island and a water park, it was actually voted “Best Family Park of 2021”.

Good To Know: You can extend the fun by staying at their partner hotel with cartoon rooms.

8. Feed Animals at the Living Treasures Wild Animal Park

Living Treasures Wild Animal Park is a clean, super fun zoo with innovative ways of feeding all kinds of animals. It is a truly interactive experience for the whole family.

Key Information: Admission is $15 for adults and $12 for kids ages 3-12 – Food onsite – Stroller friendly, bathroom and changing table onsite.

Good To Know: There are two locations, one near Moraine and one in Laurel Highlands.

9. Learn & Play at the Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh

The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh is a hands-on educational experience where kids learn through having fun. They can make art, play with water, climb through mazes, and much more.

Good To Know: They go above and beyond to accommodate children with disabilities or special needs.

10. Get a Frozen Custard at the Meadows of Greenwood

Everyone loves frozen custard, and frozen custard at the Meadows is a Pennsylvania classic. There are several locations throughout the state, including Greenwood. The custard has been made the same way since the 1950s.

Key Information: Kids’ custard cups start at $3.50 – Outdoor seating – stroller friendly

Good To Know: The vanilla custard is gluten free and many locations offer a dairy-free Italian ice option.

11. Play Pretend at the Lewisburg Children’s Museum

The Lewisburg Children’s Museum has tons of fun, educational play spaces where kids can learn by doing. Children can participate in music classes, art workshops, language classes, and science activities. They can even pretend to go grocery shopping!

Good To Know: No kid is too young to enjoy the Lewisburg Children’s Museum, which regularly hosts special events for toddlers and their caregivers!

12. Take a Splash at Delgrosso’s Amusement Park

Delgrosso’s Amusement Park & Laguna Splash water park is very large and offers attractions for all ages. You can ride by the ticket or get a day pass, which makes this park a great budget-friendly option.

Key Information: Day pass $31.95 – Bag/stroller check – shaded areas – Wheelchair accessible pool.

Good To Know: The food is highly recommended by local families, especially Wednesday Spaghetti day.

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13. Take a Train that Goes Back In Time

The East Broad Top Railroad is America’s oldest operating narrow-gauge railroad and the only surviving railroad of its type east of the Rocky Mountains. You and your family can enjoy a leisurely train ride through the heart of central Pennsylvania. Excursions take passengers on a scenic 1 hour roundtrip through rolling hills, farms and forests.

Good To Know: Outside of special events, the East Broad Top Railroad operates Wednesday through Sunday in the spring and summer and Friday through Sunday in the fall and winter.

14. Stroll Through Longwood Gardens

Longwood Gardens consists of over a thousand acres of botanical gardens and art installations. Kids’ will love watching all the gorgeous colors of the over 9,000 species of plants. 

Key Information: Admission is $25 for adults and $13 for kids  – Accessible – Kid’s play area – Hands-on exhibits

Good To Know: Admission costs are raised around Christmas, due to the popularity of the light and botanical holiday displays.

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15. Make Your Own Candy Bar at Hershey’s Chocolate World

Spend an afternoon taste testing chocolate, learn about the process of making it, and make your own candy bar at Hershey’s Chocolate World!

Key Information: Admission varies based on activities chosen – Food hall and bakery onsite – Bathrooms with changing table onsite – Most attractions are wheelchair accessible. 

Good To Know: The staff will help accommodate any guests with special needs who can’t make wheelchair transfers.

16. Take a Pretend Helicopter Ride

The American Helicopter Museum in Chester PA, offers a great selection of helicopters, lots of information to learn from, and hands-on exhibits for kids. Opportunities to get inside of a real helicopter are plentiful.

Good To Know: They have a whole selection of STEM programs like “science Saturdays” for kids to learn through play.

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17. Wander Around Carnegie Science Center

The Carnegie Science Center in Pittsburgh is a science museum featuring numerous exhibits about the way the world works. From our bodies to space to submarines, there’s something here for every interest!

Key Information: Admission is $19.95, $11.95 for children, and kids under 2 get in free –  Bag/stroller check available – food onsite – changing table available

Good To Know: Exhibits are engaging for a wide variety of ages.

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18. Lose yourself in the Arboretum of Penn State

The Childhood garden in the arboretum is perfect for kids, who want to learn more about local plants, animal and history. The pollinator garden will be a show stopper, especially in the spring / early summer.

Good To Know: You can use the website’s “plant finder” app, to play a nature-filled treasure hunt, while learning about the different flowers.

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19. Go On Scavenger Hunt Amongst Animals

The world-renowned Philadelphia Zoo has lots to do for kids of all ages, but the new NatureBlazer Adventures take your kids’ experience to a whole new level. Smart compasses and engaging challenges and trivia empowers your kids to lead the adventure!

Key Information: Admission is $16 and NatureBlazer wristbands are $12 – Zoo is wheelchair accessible – food onsite – plan for all day – changing table onsite

Good To Know: The Philadelphia Zoo also offers aviary bird feeding experiences and a carousel.

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20. Discover America Through the Eyes of an Immigrant

The Frank and Sylvia Pasquerilla Heritage Discovery Center is home to a variety of fun experiences, including the America: Through Immigrant Eyes experience and the Johnstown Children’s Museum. Kids can explore the Johnstown region’s history and culture through interactive exhibits and play.

Key Information: Admission is $9.50 for adults and $7.50 for kids and includes access to all floors of the building, including the children’s museum – food nearby – wheelchair accessible

Good To Know: In addition to “The America: Through Immigrant Eyes” experience and the Johnstown Children’s Museum, the building also houses an art gallery on the second floor and a museum about the area’s steel manufacturing history.

21. Check Out Real Dinosaur Bones

The Carnegie Natural History Museum has been dedicated for over 50 years to research all about the natural world. Some of their exhibits include real dinosaur bones.

Key Information: Adult admission is $19.95, child admission is 11.95 – food available onsite – wheelchair accessible – private nursing area available.  

Good To Know: Your admission fee gets you into the Natural History Museum and the Carnegie Art Museum

Enjoy your stay and share this post with all things to do in Pennsylvania with kids with someone you know you will visit the keystone state, by clicking a share button below.

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