Pennsylvania is the perfect place for family-friendly weekend getaways. Its variety of kid-friendly activities ranges from outdoor adventures in the mountains to city day trips and historic sites like the Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. At GoWhee we pushed the discovery a little further and gathered a list of favorite things to do in Pennsylvania with kids recommended by local parents.
Here are our recommendations for things to do when your want your trip to be cultural and engaging.
Railroaders Memorial Museum is an excellent place to visit for train-loving children. 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 right out front.
General Information: Entry starts at $12 and is Free under 3 years old. The site has hands-on exhibits for school-aged kids. Bathrooms are equipped with changing tables onsite, and it is mostly wheelchair accessible.
Insider Tips: You can visit both the museum and the Horseshoe Curve with one single ticket so parents recommend visiting that site first. Families spend about one to two hours onsite.
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The Frank and Sylvia Pasquerilla Heritage Discovery Center in Johnstown PA, is home to a variety of fun experiences, including the America: Through Immigrant Eyes experience. This museum offers a unique insight into the life of Polish immigrants from their departure to their hard-working life in the U.S. Exhibits are interactive and even hands-on. With a full 1900s neighborhood replica and children’s characters to tell the story, kids stay captivated.
General 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. There is some food nearby. The building is stroller and wheelchair accessible.
Insider Tips: After this learning experience, make sure to spend some time a let some energy go at 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.
The Carnegie Natural History Museum in Pittsburgh has been dedicated for over 50 years to research all about the natural world. Some of their exhibits include real dinosaur bones. But learning experience for all aspects of life is covered from insects to climate and minerals. Parents recommend going for their Super-Science Saturdays to enjoy the hands-on demonstrations included in the ticket.
General Information: Adult admission is $25 and child admission is $15. There is food available onsite. They have a strong commitment to providing a learning experience to children with all abilities with wheelchair-accessible paths and sensory-friendly “camp out” hours. The museum also offers a private nursing area for breastfeeding sessions.
Insider Tips: Your admission fee gets you into the Natural History Museum AND the Carnegie Art Museum. Take advantage of the parking next door which is only $10 for the whole day, to walk around in town after your visit. And if you are on a budget go on the weekdays after 3 PM for a ½ OFF admission with the code: after3.
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The historical park is doing a great job at making this part of the Civil War’s history more accessible to younger audiences with their “Children of Gettysburg 1863” program run by the Gettysburg Foundation. The visit is done around a family’s story of living there during the war and includes scavenger hunts and other fun interactive activities like feeling the weight of a soldier’s pack.
General information: The tour is about 45 minutes long and costs $10 for adults and $5 for children 5+. The battlefield itself is FREE to visit as well as the visitor center since it is part of the national park network. There are bathrooms scattered throughout the park. There is food onsite but it is not recommended to eat there.
Insider tips: Be careful not to pay for expensive tourist bus tours. You can tour the battlefield with your car for FREE and download a self-guided tour app on your phone. Don’t forget your passport stamp!
Pennsylvania is known for its colder weather, so here are things to do indoors.
The American Helicopter Museum is about 1-hour from Philadelphia and is perfect to spend a few hours indoors. It offers a great selection of helicopters, lots of information to learn from, and opportunities to climb inside some of the aircraft. Since it is outside of the city, it is often much less crowded which makes it a great option for sensitive kiddos.
General Information: Adult tickets are $15 and children’s are $14, parking is free onsite. It is a wheelchair-accessible facility. There are snacks for purchase onsite but you are welcome to bring your own and enjoy their picnic room.
Insider Tips: Check out their selection of STEM programs like “Science Saturdays” for kids to learn through play with knowledgeable staff. Families also recommend heading over to the Kid’s playroom with the train and toys display, as well as comfy seats perfect for taking a break from the excitement or entertaining toddlers.
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The Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh offers tons of hands-on educational experiences where kids learn through having fun. What makes this place super special is its partnership with the Museum lab next door. Toddlers and younger kids can play with water, climb through mazes, or create things at the maker’s lab. Teens and pre-teens can create, and learn new artistic skills besides professional artists or freely at the museum lab. This combination of programs they offer makes it a perfect spot for families with children of big age gaps, or anyone with a curious mind!
General Information: Admission is $19 for adults and $17 for kids (children under 2 are free) and includes the museum lab entry. Plan for the entire day on-site, they have a cafe but they allow you to bring your food too and they provide changing tables throughout. Parking is $7.
Insider Tips: Parents recommend bringing bathing suits and towels for their water area.
The museum provides an extensive set of information for accessibility of all kinds, and sensory-friendly days monthly. There are also better food options within walking distance.
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The Please Touch Museum is located in the heart of Philadelphia. This large museum offers tons of permanent exhibits like an oversized supermarket and food court, a garden, a water room, and even a pretend campsite for little ones to play. The museum is best for kids 8 and under and offers some great toddler programs for local families.
Key Information: Admission is $22 for anyone aged 1 year and older. Parking costs $16 and food onsite averages $5 to $7 for kid-friendly food combos. You can find a private nursing room and changing tables on specific floors. Parents reported the site to be both stroller and wheelchair accessible.
Insider Tips: They offer different special discounts throughout the year so make sure to look at their promotion. For parents of sensory-sensitive children, they offer a calm-down corner to escape from stimuli and a detailed sensory map. Parents have also reported that their cafeteria is great for large families with lots of seating and bigger tables.
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The Lewisburg Children’s Museum is perfectly located between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh near Route 80. If you are planning that road trip through Pennsylvania with younger kids, it is worth visiting this little family-friendly hidden gem. It has some fun, educational play spaces. Children can also participate in music classes, art workshops, language classes, and science activities.
General Information: Admission is $9 for everyone. It is wheelchair accessible but the space is pretty cramped. Note that strollers should stay outside of the entrance. There is a no-eating or drinking on-site policy and a bathroom with a changing table available near the entrance.
Insider Tips: Families usually spend about 2-3 hours with toddlers here. Their body exhibit is allowing kids to remove their shoes, so bring socks!
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The Crayola Experience in Easton, PA, is a quirky 4 story high indoor fun, with creative experiences for kids and their families. Featuring lots of hands-on activities and entertainment, kids can play with Crayola products, make their own crayons, and interactive play.
General Information: Admission is $27 if you buy online, you get tokens to use in specific exhibits involving materials (like the make your crayons one). On average families spend 5 to 6 hours there. Outside food is not allowed! There are changing tables onsite and all attractions are wheelchair accessible. For parking options check this website.
Insider tips: Families recommend this activity for ages 1- 8 years old and be aware that the place gets very crowded on the weekend. Parents recommend staying away from the cafe and instead using your re-entry privilege to go check out the couple of food options within walking distance which are much more affordable.
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The keystone state is famous for its array of theme parks and water parks. But only a few made our list, see below.
Dorney Park has rides for kids big and small. For the youngest kids, Planet Snoopy’s gentle rides are fun-sized just for them; older kids can enjoy the high-intensity thrill rides like the Talon and Thunderhawk roller coasters
Key Information: Admission is $40 per person but counts an additional $30 for parking. Between both parks plan for all day with a 15-45min wait for ride lines. They offer many allergy-friendly food options and disability access assistance for many rides.
Insider Tips: Admission gets you into Dorney Park’s Wildwater Kingdom waterpark, too! If you have a child between 3 and 5 years old get their FREE pre-K pass! Bees can be intense at this park so come prepared.
This amusement park is located about 1 hour east of Pittsburgh and opens mid-May for the season. There are multiple sections to choose from, from fairytale vibes to a full water park and a great roller coaster for older kids. For little ones, we recommend visiting Daniel the Tiger Neighborhood. There are some great climbing structures and playgrounds to take a break from the rest as well.
Key Information: Tickets are $69.99 with many discount opportunities and advantageous season passes (giving you free tickets). Bathrooms can be tricky to find so make sure to find them ahead of time. Wheelchair accessible paths and rides are available and they offer sensory-sensitive amenities onsite.
Good To Know: Families recommend booking the 2-day tickets and staying nearby overnight since one day is not enough to enjoy both the rides and the waterpark. Parents warn that the pool gets super crowded after launch typically, so instead start your day there in the morning and head over to the other sections later.
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Age appropriate amusement park is always a struggle when you travel with babies and toddlers, luckily Pennsylvania has something for everyone!
We selected this theme park for its good food and budget-friendly options. Delgrosso’s Amusement Park is a small park ideal for younger kids and large families. It is also connected to Laguna Splash water park by a walkway. You can ride by the ticket or get a day pass, which makes this park perfect for budget control. Tons of discounts are also available on their website.
Key Information: Day passes are between $25 and $37 and the parking is free. You will find shaded areas throughout and a wheelchair-accessible pool. The whole park is cashless so come prepared.
Good To Know: The food is highly recommended by local families, especially on Wednesday Spaghetti Day. If you want a cabana you will need to reserve them at the beginning of the day since they fill up quickly.
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If you have a child who is a fan of Sesame Street or wants to fall back into childhood yourself, this is the place to be! You can enjoy this unique dining experience only 30 minutes from Philadelphia. You get to spend some time with characters and enjoy a family-friendly all-you-can-eat buffet (you can also send dietary restrictions ahead of time). The park is also ideal if you have toddlers since most rides are adapted to a younger crowd. You will find both dry and water attractions there.
General Information: The experience starts at $19.99 for children and $22 for adults (which doesn’t include the park tickets). They offer low sensory spaces in the park as well as full park sensory-friendly dates. LGBTQ+ families, be aware, that bathrooms are not for all genders.
Insider tips: Parents mentioned the “sunny day” guarantee at Sesame Place is only applicable to the parking ticket and not the experiences or the parking. You should reserve your tickets online since the waiting lines can be quite long. Make sure to arrive early since they close the park once they reach full capacity!
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Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is in our selection because of their commitment to accessibility. The park offers rides mainly for younger kids and a couple of roller coasters. If your toddler is 3 feet or taller they will be able to ride most attractions. Parents love the duke’s lagoon and the water park for hot days, they also have a sensory dino dig for anyone needing a break from the rides. It was voted “Best Family Park of 2021“.
Key Information: The day pass is $49 – They provide a detailed list of their ADA rides. LGBTQ+ families please note that they have their changing tables in the women’s bathrooms only. Food onsite is typical of any theme park and outside food is not allowed. Plan to spend the day but parents report that ride lines are not too long.
Insider Tips: You can extend the fun by staying at their partner hotel with cartoon rooms. Or organize your stay around an RV trip in Pennsylvania by staying at the campsite nearby. Both offer discounted rates for the park entry! Bags sizes are also limited to 15X15X15 so come prepared!
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What about a treat? Here are our recommendations for taking care of that sweet tooth!
Meadows is a Pennsylvania classic for everyone who loves frozen custard or milkshakes! There are several locations throughout the state. Greenwood’s location gives you 1950s retro vibes with a fun bump car and retro seats scattered throughout. The custard has actually been made the same way since the 50s.
Key Information: Kids’ custard cups start at $3.50. Outdoor seating is available and the place is stroller-friendly. They also advertised themselves as being pet-friendly.
Good To Know: The vanilla custard is gluten-free and many locations offer a dairy-free Italian ice option as well as no sugar-added ones. Make sure to check out their calendar to know about their “flavor of the day”.
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Yes, a visit to Hersheypark in Lancaster County is a staple of Pennsylvania! But if you don’t want the traditional theme park vibe or are looking to discover a more unique experience, you can spend an afternoon taste-testing chocolate, and still get on a free ride at Hershey Chocolate World. Parents especially rave about the “Make your own candy bar” exhibit!
General Information: Entry is Free for the Hershey story tour but tickets for attractions start at $33 and vary to accommodate other activities. Food hall and bakery for lunch and bathrooms with changing tables are all available onsite. Parking is FREE.
Insider Tips: We also love that most attractions are wheelchair accessible and the staff accommodates any guests with special needs who can’t make wheelchair transfers. Since all the fun is indoors, this also makes for the perfect backup option for a rainy or snowy day planned at the park
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We see you outdoorsy families! This is for all families not looking for hikes but wanting to enjoy the fresh air.
Much less famous (and therefore touristic) than its counterpart Strasburg Rail Road, 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. Families can enjoy a leisurely train ride allowing a relaxing experience, through the heart of central Pennsylvania. The visit takes passengers on a scenic 1-hour round trip through rolling hills, farms, and forests.
General Information: Tours range between $22 and $25 for the 2024 season. Plan for 1 hour on the train and be sure to look at their schedule. It is partially wheelchair accessible. There is no food on site but outside food is allowed.
Insider tips: They have an array of special events like their pumpkin patch or Christmas train ride so take a look at their calendar before planning. Families in particular recommend it for the foliage season. Tickets should be booked a week or more in advance since they fill up quickly.
Outdoor adventures can be on the water too in Pennsylvania! This special river cruise allows kids to enjoy meeting and dancing with their favorite princesses, superheroes, and other beloved characters.
General Information: Adult admission is $35 and kids’ admission is $20. Plan for 2 hours of cruise time + embarking time. Although there is food available onsite parents are not super fan of the value (quality price).
Insider Tips: The themed cruises change seasonally, with special holiday cruises available around Christmas. In the summer the cruise can run pretty hot so plan accordingly for little ones.
Longwood Gardens is located on the outskirts of Philadelphia and consists of over a thousand acres of botanical gardens, art installations, and over 9,000 species of plants. Families usually spend a whole afternoon enjoying nature displays and recommend the fountain show.
General Information: Admission is $25 for adults and $13 for kids. Admission costs are raised around Christmas, due to the popularity of the light and botanical holiday displays. It is an accessible location and they provide wheelchairs for FREE. They have a beer garden and other food options onsite but do not allow outside food.
Insider Tips: There is also a great tree-house-themed kids’ area to not miss for younger visitors. The bathrooms are not all over so make sure to use the one by the entry. Overall the place is quite large so a lot of walking is involved for small kids definitely bring strollers!
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Learning about all the animals and how they interact with their habitat is always fun! Here is a list of our top choices for animal encounters.
Adorable theme park meets farm life, is what you get at Cherry Crest Farm. Younger kids can enjoy activities for their age group like a hatchery, a corn pit, or a jumping balloon. While pre-teens and teens may try the paintball range or their version of the soccer “corny ball cage”.
General information: Tickets range from $27 to $47 based on the type of activities your family wants to participate in and they do offer season passes too. Note that the whole place is cashless.
Insider tips: Wrap up your day with some local wineries and breweries for some adult fun too. And make sure you check out their special shows and escape rooms during your visit!
A family trip to Pennsylvania is not complete without a stop at the world-renowned Philadelphia Zoo. Their behind the scene experiences give kids age 5+ the chance to learn more about animals like a red panda, big cats, reptiles and even a mole rat! For the little ones the zoo offers an aviary bird feeding experience and a carousel.
Key Information: Admission is $16 and the behind the scene experiences start at $25. The Zoo is wheelchair accessible but most extra experiences are not. There is food on site but options are limited and expensive. We recommend planning for a whole day to make sure to see it all.
Good To Know: Parents say the train is a kid’s favorite and great for catching up on nap time. And some recommend booking the big cats experience. Prepare your littles for a lot of walking, a stroller is highly recommended.
Living Treasures Wild Animal Park is located less than an hour’s drive from Pittsburgh. It offers an innovative way to learn about animals, by feeding, petting, and having close encounters. Their whole premise is to make the visit as interactive as possible while keeping their commitment to the animals well being.
General Information: Admission is $15 for adults and $12 for kids and you need to count a little extra for animal food. They only have a vending machine so come with your food and drinks, and make sure to use the bathroom before your visit.
Insider tips: The tickets allow for 50% off the Keystone safari drive perfect to end the day with tired kiddos or as a backup for rainy days. There is also a little playground for kids to run off before leaving.
Parents review: “A must-see if in the city for the first time”
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Parents say: “Really cool science museum in Philadelphia”
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Parents reviewed: “Great if your kids love shows and theater and you are visiting Bucks County”
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