Mini Vacations: Great Family Friendly Day-Trip Destinations
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Hershey, PA
Hershey Park
Hershey Park is a great all in one amusement park with rides for all ages. The park now has ten roller coasters to offer as well as several water park areas that are great for a hot day. It also has several integrated areas with rides just for small children. Admission to ZooAmerica is also included in the price of your ticket. Hershey Park is a beautiful park that is also clean and well managed. There is more than enough to do in one day. The cheapest way to see the park is to buy season passes, which will also get you free parking, free admission to the park's seasonal attractions (Hershey Park in the Dark and Christmas Candy Lane), Hershey's ZooAmerica, as well as admission to the Dutch Wonderland theme park for the entire season.
Cost: 2010 TBA (2009 – $52.95 adult peak season/$32.95 for ages 3-8) Season Pass: $140 Adult/$130 Junior-Senior (Gold Pass – includes Dutch Wonderland - $185/$170) – (Discounted rates on Season Passes the earlier you buy them) Hours: TBA Location: 100 W. Hersheypark Drive
*** Hershey Park Seasonal Attractions
Hershey Park in the Dark
For three weekends in October, Hersheypark In The Dark offers Halloween fun for the entire family, including Hersheypark roller coasters, Halloween-themed shows and attractions, and your favorite fall food! Cost: $24.95 Adult/$15.95 Junior-Senior (3-8, 65+) Hours:
Herheypark Christmas Candylane and Hershey Sweet Lights
The magic of the holidays comes to life at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane. With a million twinkling lights, rides for all ages, festive decorations, and Hershey's Product Characters decked out in their holiday best, there is something for all to enjoy! Cost: $10.95 (ages 3+) / under 3 free Combo Ticket $16.25 (includes one day admission to Dutch Winter Wonderland as well) Hours:
ZooAmerica
ZooAmerica is located in Hershey, Pennsylvania and is home to over 200 animals from five regions of North America. A perfect place for families, youth groups, and, of course visitors to Hersheypark, guests can see over 75 species of animals displayed in naturalistic habitats! ZooAmerica is open year-round. Picnic areas are also available and you can bring your own food into the zoo. Concession food is available seasonally.
Cost: $9.00 Adults / $7.50 Kids 2-8 Free with admission to Hersheypark Hours: Times vary depending on Season. General Hours – Off Season 10-4:30 / Peak Season 10 – 8 Location: 100 West Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, PA 17033
Chocolate World
This recreated factory tour draws more visitors every year than the White House. In addition to the factory tour, visitors can see a 3D movie and take a trolley tour. Shop Hershey's products in the Market Place shops and enjoy deliciously sweet goodies in the cafe, food court, and bake shop.
Cost: Chocolate world ride, shops, and cafe are free. Other attractions have various admissions including Trolley Tour and 3D Movie. Hours: Vary. See web for details http://www.hersheys.com/chocolateworld/hoursFlash.shtml Location: 251 Park Boulevard
There are more reasons than just the amusement park to visit Hershey. ZooAmerica and Chocolate world make have a great day of family fun (that's not as long and tiring for young children) for a lot less money!
Lancaster, PA
Hands On House
Kids can touch everything at this interactive museum designed to help children and their parents learn together in a fun way. Designed for kids 2-10, the museum is a converted house with themed rooms dedicated to imaginative play, instead of rides or video games. Children will enjoy it most when you play with them, rather than just watching. Take this chance to nurture your child's imagination. We recommend this museum only on off peak days as it can get very crowded.
Cost: $7 for all ages Hours: Vary by day and season. http://www.handsonhouse.org/visit.asp Location: 721 Landis Valley Road Lancaster, PA 17601
Landis Valley Farm Museum
Landis Valley Museum's richly layered story is the history of an early Pennsylvania German settlement, an unusual farm family, and the ongoing creation and exploration of a wonderfully diverse collection of artifacts. When the Landis Brothers opened the museum in 1925 at their Landis Valley residence, the area had been a small Pennsylvania German settlement since the mid 1800s. Expanded to its current size, we now invite visitors to experience 18th and 19th century village and farm life in Lancaster County, Pa, all in one visit.
Cost: $12 Adults / $8 Children 2-11 Hours: Mon. - Sat. 9-5 Sun 12-5 Location: 2451 Kissel Hill Road, Lancaster, PA 17601
Lititz, PA
Wilbur Chocolate Factory
Wilbur does not, for health and safety reasons, offer a factory tour. However, it does have working chocolatiers on staff and on display in the museum's back-room kitchen. They are friendly, patient with questioners, and interesting to hear as they describe and show how specialty candies are created. Consider budgeting 60 to 90 minutes for a visit and take a look around the museum shop. Wilbur buds are some seriously delicious candy!
Cost: Free Hours: Mon. - Sat. 10-4 Location: 48 North Broad Street. Lititz, PA 17543
Julius Sturgis Pretzel Factory
The Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery, established in 1861, is the first commercial pretzel bakery in America. As of August 2007, the site is under new ownership. The bakery and store have been completely renovated and are now operated once again by the Sturgis family. Visitors can tour the original pretzel bakery, see soft pretzels being made by hand, and find pretzels baked by the oldest pretzel baking family in the United States.
Cost: $3 Adults /$2 for Children Hours: Open Most Days 9-5 Location: 219 East Main St. (Route 772)
Lehigh County, PA
Crayola Factory and Discovery Center
This is not the real manufacturing plant, but instead a visitor center that allows the child inside each person to unleash its creative spirit. You can color, draw, paint and create with the latest Crayola products without the worry of cleanup afterwards. See how Crayola Crayons and Markers are made. Learn about the history of the Crayola brand. Explore dozens of interactive projects and activities.
Cost: Adults and Children $9.50 Hours: Vary by day and season. See Web for details. http://www.crayola.com/Factory/about_us.cfm#hours Location: 30 Centre Square Easton, PA 18042
Martin Guitar Museum
Your guided factory tour starts in the lobby of the Visitors Center which houses the entrance to the Martin Guitar Museum, 1833 Shop and a gallery wall of famous Martin owners. Guests are also invited to visit the Pickin’ Parlor to play some of Martin’s high-end and Limited Edition models. This Museum
Cost: Free Hours: Museum – Mon. - Fri. 8-5 Factory – Mon. – Fri. 9-4 Closed for Holidays and Employee Meetings Location: 510 Sycamore St., Nazareth, PA 18064
Sesame Place
Sesame Place is not only a fun place to bring young kids, there are rides and attractions that will appeal to all ages. Some people see the parks as primarily a water park, but there are plenty of things to do to stay dry. There are also some theater-type shows that use the Sesame characters. There is an inside (and air-conditioned) show called Elmo's World which mimics the TV Show. The park also has a parade of all of the characters traveling down 123 Main Street. Weekdays are great for visiting this park as they tend to be a lot less crowded.
Cost: $50.95 All ages (2+) for 2 Day Pass Hours: Vary by Season. See website for details: http://www.sesameplace.com/sesame2/ Location: 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, PA 19047
Philadelphia, PA
Franklin Institute
A 175 year-old institute, named in honor of Benjamin Franklin, dedicated to providing a better understanding of science and technology. This museum features permanent exhibits geared to young children and traveling exhibits geared to Adults or older children. I've personally been there three times for Titanic, Egyptian, and Pirate exhibits, two of which were great and the other so-so (Egyptian). I would recommend checking the website to see if the particular exhibits they are running are of interest to you and if so, go for it.
Cost: Tickets Start at $14.75 for Adults/$12.00 for Children. IMAX and Special Exhibits are extra. Hours: Open Daily from 9:30-5pm Location: 222 North 20th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Please Touch Museum
Hands-on museum where adults and children can learn and explore together. Let your child be your guide --- in the newly expanded Please Touch Museum, at the Children's Museum of Philadelphia in Fairmont Park's Memorial Hall. Children can interact with museum exhibits, take part in museum activities, ride our carousel or enjoy one of the Please Touch Playhouse interactive theater shows.
Cost: $15 for Children and Adults (free for Members and children under one) Hours: Mon-Sat 9-5, Sun. 11-5 Location: 4231 Avenue of the Republic (formerly North Concourse Drive), Philadelphia, PA 19131
Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse
Founded in 1899, this beloved facility has been completely refurbished in recent years with state-of-the-art, age-specific equipment; the centerpiece of the 6½ acre site is the aptly named Giant Slide, which measures 40 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 10 feet tall and can accommodate up to 12 children at a time. The Playhouse is full of fun things for kids to do and is dedicated specifically to the 5 and under set --- no older kids allowed (playground is open to all ages).
Cost: Free Open Year Round Tues-Sun 10-4pm (additional hours added in the summer) Location: East Fairmont Park, Philadelphia, PA 19121
Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell (Independence National Historic Park)
The old cracked Bell still proclaims Liberty and Independence Hall echoes the words, "We the People." Explore Franklin's Philadelphia and learn about the past and America's continuing struggle to fulfill the Founders' Declaration that "all men are created equal."
Cost: No tickets required for the Liberty Bell – Tickets ARE required for Independence Hall Tickets to Independence Hall are free (used to reserve a time slot for your tour – but there is a $1.50 Reservation fee. Tickets can be reserved on-line at www.NPS.gov Hours: 7 Days a Week – 8:30-5pm (7pm in Summer) Location: 143 S. Third Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Art Museum of Philadelphia
As one of the largest museums in the United States, the Philadelphia Museum of Art invites visitors from around the world to explore its renowned collections. The Museum's main building features collections including Renaissance master paintings, European arms and armor, and a ceremonial Japanese teahouse called Sankaruku. This is an excellent museum for to visit with your older school age kids.
Cost: $8 for Adults/$6 Ages 13-18 (under 12 free) Hours: Tues. - Sun. 10-5 (open until 8:45pm on Friday) Location: Benjamen Franklin Parkway and 26th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19101
Academy of Natural Sciences
The academy includes a library, museum and exhibits. Its newest feature is Dinosaur Hall.
Cost: $12 Ages 13 and above / $10 children 3-12 (under three free) – Additional $2 fee for butterfly exhibit. Hours: Mon.-Fri. 10-4:30pm, Sat. & Sun. 10-5pm Location: Corner of 9th and Benjamen Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, PA
Adventure Aquarium
Home of two dozen sharks in 760,000-gallon open-ocean tanks, 4,000 aquatic animals, and daily seal and dive shows make this an attraction that the whole family will enjoy.
Cost: $19.95 for Adults/$15.95 Children 2-12 (under 2 free) Hours: Open Daily 9:30-5pm Location: 1 Riverside Drive Camden, NJ 08103
Philadelphia Zoo
America's oldest zoo opened in 1874, and today houses more than 1,600 animals from around the world. Spring, Summer, Winter and Fall: the Zoo is constantly evolving and the animals change and grow with each passing day.
Cost: In Season: $18.00 Adults/ $15.00 Children 2-11 (under 2 free) Winter: $14.00 Adults / $14.00 Children 2-11 (under 2 free) Hours: Open Daily; In Season 9:30-5, Winter 9:30–4:30 Location: 3400 West Girard Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19104
Longwood Garden's (Children's Conservatory)
See exotic plants from around the world, examine insect-catching plants up close, enjoy dancing fountains that shoot water 130 feet in the air, and be dazzled by our colorful indoor and outdoor displays every day of the year.
Cost: $16 Adults/$6 Children 5-18 (4 and under free) Hours: 9-5 (open to 6 in summer) Location: 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square , PA 19348
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