10 Things to Do in Pennsylvania With Kids

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Pennsylvania is home to many destinations that provide fun, entertaining, unique, and educational things to do with kids.

The Keystone State has something for children of all ages, from interactive toddler fun to giant attractions at water parks for tweens and teens, and options for satisfying a sweet tooth.

These 10 things to do in Pennsylvania with kids are sure to provide memorable experiences.

Things to Do in Pennsylvania With Kids

Hershey’s Chocolate World – Hershey

Hershey’s Chocolate World invites you and the kids to “unwrap your chocolate adventure.”

Enjoy the variety of things to do, including the free chocolate factory tour ride.

Kids of all ages will enjoy the opportunity to create their own candy bars by choosing their favorite ingredients and designing their own wrappers.

All aboard for the Hershey’s Great Candy Expedition, a cinematic train adventure.

Explore the train station destinations and the immersive theater with spectacular special effects.

Participate in the Chocolate Tasting Journey, complete with your Official Chocolate Tasting Kit.

Stop at the World’s Largest Hershey Store after engaging in the many activities and catch a glimpse of the world’s largest chocolate bar and take home some sweet treats for every kid in the family.

Hersheypark – Hershey

Plan your trip to Hersheypark by choosing the Kids Stay, Play & Eat Free Package, or by purchasing other tickets online.

Older kids will appreciate the Add-On option, which allows ticket holders to skip the lines at some rides and attractions with Fast Track. Add-On visitors also save on drinks and dining plans.

Hersheypark features 15 roller coasters, including the Cocoa Cruiser for younger kids.

Older kids will get a rush as they brave the Great Bear.

Parents may be terrified, but teens will likely love the thrill of the inverted roller coaster that takes riders 90 feet into the air, with several drops, loops, and corkscrews throughout the ride.

Hersheypark has several safe rides for younger visitors and for older children.

Enjoy the water park, which has thrilling, fun activities for all kids.

Take the family high above the park on the Monorail before enjoying more entertainment and dining options.

Philadelphia Zoo – Philadelphia

The Philadelphia Zoo was chartered in 1859 but had its opening delayed until 1874 because of the Civil War.

It is the first true zoo in the U.S.

It is noted for several firsts, including the first successful births of chimpanzees and orangutans in the U.S., and opening the first Children’s Zoo in the country.

The Philadelphia Zoo houses more than 1,900 rare and endangered animals today.

The zoo has something for all kids, such as the opportunity to feed a giraffe or animals located in the Wings of Asia.

Explore the McNeil Rainforest Walkthrough, the Big Cat Crossing, and the Great Ape Trail.

Stroll through Bear Country, African Plains, and Meerkat Maze.

There are many activities and special events at the zoo.

The Philadelphia Zoo has several dining options for families of all sizes and ages.

Carnegie Museum of Natural History – Pittsburgh

The Carnegie Museum of Natural History, founded in 1896 by Andrew Carnegie, is one of four Carnegie Museums in Pittsburgh.

Let the kids learn about the millions of different objects and specimens within the museum.

One example is the Dinosaurs in Their Time Exhibit. Families will see dozens of dinosaur fossils and real dinosaur skeletons.

Check out Cretaceous Seaway to discover amazing creatures who lived in the waters of the world during the time of the dinosaurs.

Trace the history of artifacts and objects from Ancient Egypt and learn about the lives of ancient Egyptians.

Step inside a savannah in the Hall of African Wildlife Exhibit.

Learn about the 4,500-year history of the Inuit at Polar World: Wyckoff Hall of Arctic Life.

Explore the cultures of four Native American cultures.

Walk through Bug Hall to examine the many exhibits.

Kids will want to visit the Bird Hall and explore the reptiles of today and yesterday at the Amphibians and Reptiles exhibit.

Waldameer Park & Water World – Erie

The Waldameer Park & Water World started out as a secluded picnic ground that overlooked Lake Erie in the 1800s.

Today, the park and Waterworld feature 32 waterslides, 35 rides, a 500,000 giant wave pool, and activities for the entire family.

Children who can sit alone and who have upper body control can ride the Pony Cart ride.

Take the younger kids to ride the Ravine Flyer 3, a perfect starter roller coaster, while older kids experience the twist and turns of the Ravine Flyer II, with a 120’ first drop and 105’ second drop.

Enjoy the seven water slides and more than 100 water features at the Battle of Lake Erie.

Parents may want to watch and wait while teenagers enjoy the giant-sized spirals and freefall drops of the Bermuda Triangle fast body slides.

Food and beverage options include pizza, burgers, fries, ice cream, homemade fudge, and funnel cakes.

Ask about special dietary options.

Clyde Peeling’s Reptileland – Allenwood

Explore reptiles and amphibians from around the world at Clyde Peeling’s Reptiland.

Learn about and see pythons, vipers, cobras, lizards, giant alligators, and turtles in a recreated natural habitat.

See Komodo dragons, and colorful frogs, including the poison dart frog, and the veiled chameleon.

Take the kids to see colorful parakeets at Parakeet Landing or to see birds of prey.

You can buy snacks and bottled beverages at the site, which does not have dining on-site.

Bushkill Falls – Bushkill

There are an endless number of things to do when visiting the Poconos, including visiting Bushkill Falls.

It is a great destination for families on a budget.

View the majestic eight waterfalls, with one of them standing more than 100 feet tall.

Known as the Niagara of Pennsylvania, Bushkill Falls is a great place for families with kids to participate in activities such as hiking, paddle boating, fishing, and playing miniature golf.

Knoebels Amusement Resort – Elysburg

Does the word “free” excite you when looking for things to do with the kids in Pennsylvania?

Knoebels Amusement Resort is the largest free-admission amusement park in the U.S.

Parking, access to picnic facilities, and some entertainment are also free.

Ride the kiddie rides, family rides, and thrill rides all day for one price.

The resort also offers a pay-per-ride ticket booking option.

There are nominal additional fees for some experiences, such as the Haunted Mansion

Knoebels Crystal Pool features 900,000 gallons of mountain stream water, a variety of slides, and a kiddie play area.

Enjoy dining at a variety of locations within Knoebels, which has been voted Best Park Food in the world.

Consider stopping at Alamo, a sit-down restaurant, Backyard BBQ, International Food Court, Potato Barn, or Old Mill Ice Cream.

There are many other food options available for the kids and for you.

Hands-On House Children’s Museum – Lancaster

Hands-On House Children’s Museum is an ideal fun place that promotes an inclusive environment to take kids 10 years and younger to learn while having fun.

Visit exhibits such as Mason’s Active Adventure Garden or design, construct, and build with green planks and pulleys, ropes, wheels, and other materials at the Construction Zone.

Amazing Airways is a series of plastic tubing that lets kids see how air systems work.

Visit the Robotic Arm & STEM Lab for the kids to learn cool, fun technology.

Hands-On House recently added the robotic arm, which shows children how robotics is used to pick up objects underwater, to make various things work, and how to use tools.

Kids learn how robotics assist us in space, medicine, science, and in the military.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania – Lancaster

The State Museum of Pennsylvania is a family-friendly museum for cultural and natural history.

The Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission explains that this museum “demonstrates that Pennsylvania’s story is America’s story.”

Stroll through Memorial Hall, which is dedicated to the state’s founder William Penn.

Visit the Anthropology & Archeology Gallery and learn about early cultures who lived in Pennsylvania.

Learn how archeologists discovered the objects of the past through excavations and other efforts.

Go to the second floor to explore the Transportation & Industry and the Mammal Hall exhibits.

Venture to the third floor to learn about native plants and the state’s major ecosystems.

Explore the Life Through Time exhibit while you are on the third floor.

The Village Square exhibit demonstrates how Pennsylvanians lived in the 19th century.

It contains a life-sized streetscape of Pennsylvania towns, with a general store, a tin shop, and other historical shops.

The State Museum of Pennsylvania also has a variety of changing exhibits.

Parents are likely to want to check the site to see what exhibits are available when they plan their visit.

Pennsylvania Safety Overview

READ THE FULL REPORT: Pennsylvania Safety Review

Safety Index:

59

• OVERALL RISK: MEDIUM
• TRANSPORT & TAXIS RISK: LOW
• PICKPOCKETS RISK: LOW
• NATURAL DISASTERS RISK: LOW
• MUGGING RISK: MEDIUM
• TERRORISM RISK: LOW
• SCAMS RISK: LOW
• WOMEN TRAVELERS RISK: LOW