The Reading Public Museum (and Planetarium)

The museum has just put in a new hands on children's exhibit. Older kids will enjoy the nature gallery featuring a native Pennsylvania wildlife collection and interactive displays. The Egyptian mummy is also a perennial favorite, but not for the squeamish. The Planetarium features shows for kids every Sunday afternoon. The Museum also has a new Story time program for Pre-schoolers on Thursdays for an additional fee.

Cost: Adults $7/ Kids and Seniors $5/ Under 4 free (cheaper for members) – Planetarium star shows are extra

Hours: Tues, Wed, Thur, Sat, 11-5pm

Fri. 11-8pm

Sun. 12-5pm

Closed Monday

Location: 500 Museum Rd, Reading, PA 19611-1425

The Berks County Heritage Center

The Heritage center is a great place to take your family for a little outdoor activity and a little history of Berks County. The park features a covered bridge (bring a flashlight to see members of the brown bat colony that live in it's rafters), museums featuring classic modes of transportation, a house boat that you can tour, a canal path for walking and biking, open areas for playing frisbee or just getting some energy out, and a snack bar with really great ice-cream. The park is open seasonally from May to October. The heritage center is rarely crowded. It makes a great place for some free outdoor fun and has both indoor and outdoor picnicking options for your family. There are also seasonal events and workshops to check out. We highly recommend the “Little Brown Bat” program (held in Wertz Red Bridge every August in the evening when the bats are most active).

Cost: Park is Free / Gruber Wagon Works and Canal Museum tours for a fee

Hours: Closed Mondays

Tues-Sat: 10-4

Sunday 12-5

Location: Part of the Berks County Parks System

(If you use a GPS it will bring you to the wrong side of the Red Bridge which is no longer open to traffic) ---- To get to the other side of Red Bridge Rd (where parking lot is located) – From rte 183 / 222 intersection – Take 183 south (toward Reading). Red Bridge Rd is on the Right hand side before you reach St. Joseph's Hospital. Look for the sign at the entrance to drive. Call (610) 374-8839 for further directions.

The Mid-Atlantic Air Museum

Explore the machines which help humans travel and navigate the skies at the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum, where a variety of aircraft produced from 1928 until 1982 are displayed in their restored conditions. Tour of the museum is self guided or guided for groups. Some of the aircraft will be on loan to Air Shows during the summer. The museum has several aircraft undergoing restoration, which is always neat to see.

Cost: Adults are $6/ Kids 6-12 are $3 / 5 and under Free

Hours: 9:30-4pm 7 Days a Week

11 Museum Dr, Reading, PA 19605

Reading Railroad Museum

Most of us Berks County-ites have experienced some form of this same conversation --- “Where are you from in PA?” “The Reading Area” “Oh, like the Monopoly board!” “Yep, thats the one.” --- This most famous ambassador of Berks County, now long extinct, was once one of the largest corporations in the world. This museum, although still in it's infancy, has been long over due. Featuring relics and artifacts from the heyday of the Reading Railroad Company, this museum is a must-see for anyone in Berks County. Even if only to support such an important work in progress. Oh, and the occasional Passenger Excursions are pretty flippin cool too!

Cost: $5 for Adults / $3 for Children /under 5 free

Hours: Sat. 10-5

Sun. 12-5

Location: 500 South Third St. in Hamburg, PA

Crystal Cave

Caverns are the oldest in PA. Natural and Educational family activity. This is a classic family destination in Berks county but beware of tourist trap feel and some lame tour guides. Still, school age kids who are interested in geology will enjoy this natural wonder.

Cost: $11 for adults / $7 for Children over 3

Hours are seasonal. See website for details www.crystalcavepa.com

Location: 963 Crystal Cave Rd, Kutztown, PA 19530

Reading Rocks

Reading Rocks is an indoor rock climbing facility that has just moved to a new, bigger location. It's fun and active so consider it for entertaining cooped up older kids on a rainy weekend. Since it's indoor it's all-weather and completely safe. Like white water rafting on a simulator, it's all the thrills and none of the spills. Consider it Extreme Sports-Lite. Your kids will still love telling their friends they can repel at expert level.

Cost: Expect to pay $21 per adult and $15 per child under 6 unless you have your own equipment (Memberships available for discounted return visits)

Hours: Tues – Fri. 4pm – 10pm

Sat. 10am – 10pm

Sun. 12pm – 7pm

Location: 550 George Street, Reading PA 19605

The Jump Factory

The Jump Factory is an indoor inflatable wonderland of screaming, bouncing children and parents day-dreaming of how well their little ones are going to sleep tonight. Open bounce sessions make a great rainy day activity for burning off excess energy. The Jump factory features giant slides, bounce-houses, and other inflatable play equipment. They also other separate sessions for smaller children (to reduce risk of trampling) and group/party reservations. Plus parents (and children under 2) get in free.

Cost: $8.00-$9.00 per child

Hours: www.thejumpfactory.com for open jump session times

(weekends are reserved for parties)

Location: 1035 James Drive, Leesport, PA 19533

Ontelaunee Orchards

Ontelaunee is a Pick-Your-Own orchard offering strawberries, cherries, peaches, blueberries, and apples --- depending on the season. This is a fun, easy outdoor family activity and a great way to teach kids about where their food comes from and how it is grown. The fact that they will be excited to eat what they pick for a healthy snack is just an even better bonus!

Cost: depends on how much you pick...

Hours: 10-5 during picking season (June through October)

Location: West Leesport Rd., Leesport, PA

More Places to See Coming Soon.....