Fun Things To Do With Kids: Best places to travel with kids

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What's Open For Kids and Families in the Philadelphia Area (Updated 12/17)

Fun Things Kids Best places to travel with kids , COVID 19

updated 12/17

Here is a list of open places in and near Delaware County that you can enjoy responsibly with restrictions. As things are slowly reopening, we’ll update you on the things you can do outside the house. Please visit the website of the place you would like to visit before leaving home. Visitor capacity is often limited, and most locations require you to purchase tickets in advance. The list below is just suggestions. Please use your own discretion to decide what is best for your family during these unusual times.

Parks

Ridley Creek State Park- trails open

Newlin Grist Mill - trails open

Valley Forge National Park - trails open

Franklin Square Park - open

Zoos

Brandywine Zoo - reservations required.

Elmwood Park Zoo - reservation required

Philadelphia Zoo - reservation required

Railroads

Strasburg Railroad - reservations required

West Chester Railroad - reservations required

Pick Your Own/ Cut Your Own Trees

Linvilla Orchards - reservation required to cut your own tree

Highland Orchards - reservations required for private hayrides

Gardens

Longwood Gardens - reservation required

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens - closed till April 1st

Tyler Arboretum - open

Chanticleer Gardens - closed for the season

Museums/Tours

Colonial Pennsylvania Plantation - closed for the season

Brandywine River Museum - closed until 1/4

Camden's Adventure Aquarium- reservation required

Franklin Institute - temporarily closed due to COVID until 2021

Battleship New Jersey - reservations required

Independence Seaport Museum- temporarily closed due to COVID until 2021

Mural Arts Philadelphia Mural Mile Center City Walking Tours - reservations required

Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University - temporarily closed due to COVID until 2021

Penn Museum - temporarily closed due to COVID until 2021

Please Touch Museum - temporarily closed due to COVID until 2021

Philadelphia Museum of Art- temporarily closed due to COVID until 2021

Insectarium and Butterfly Pavilion - temporarily closed due to COVID until 2021

National Constitution Center- temporarily closed due to COVID until 2021

Museum of the American Revolution- temporarily closed due to COVID until 2021

*photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Zoo

Fun Things to Do With Kids is not responsible for and can not be held liable for any of the events or activities posted on this blog. Events and activities are posted for informational purposes only. We do not guarantee the accuracy of the times, dates, or locations of activities and events. We also do not guarantee that you and your kids will have fun, but we hope you will.

COVID-19 DISCLAIMER

All the contents on this website and all social media platforms are provided for informational and educational purposes only. It is intended to offer guidance regarding venues and businesses that are reopening. The ultimate judgment regarding any specific activity is yours. We do not take any responsibility for any decision you make with the information provided on this website and on our social media platforms. We are not medical doctors or professionals, nor do we have any medical or scientific training, education, or experience. You should follow government guidelines for safe practices for yourself and your family members before making any decisions relating to any activities that are outside your home.

Virtual Field Trips

Fun Things Kids Best places to travel with kids , COVID 19

Just because you are stuck in the house it doesn't mean you can't take a field trip. Check out some of these fun places the kids can visit from home.

Art

Google Arts and Culture teamed up with over 500 museums and galleries around the world to bring everyone virtual tours and online exhibits of some of the most famous museums around the world.

Animals

San Diego Zoo

Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden will have a Facebook live event every day at 3pm

Monterey Bay Aquarium live cams

Panda Cam at Zoo Atlanta

Animal Cams at Houston Zoo

Georgia Aquarium

Space

Explore Mars

Saturn 5 Rocket

National Parks

Acadia National Park

Death Valley National Park

Everglades National Park

Grand Canyon National Park

Grand Teton National Park

Great Smoky Mountain National Park

Joshua Tree National Park

Mount Rainier National Park

Olympic National Park

Redwood National and State Parks

Rocky Mountain National Park

Sequoia National Park

Shenandoah National Park

Yellowstone National Park

Travel Ideas with Kids on the East Coast

Fun Things Kids Best places to travel with kids , east coast travel

Looking for a quick getaway before the kids head back to school? We have picked out some of our favorite places to visit. All of our picks are driveable and no more than a few hours from the Philadelphia suburbs.

1. Double Tree Resort in Lancaster PA. There is so much to do at this family-friendly resort. This 185-room resort is very family friendly, but it's also perfect for a weekend getaway without the kids. The hotel is about a 10-15 minute drive to the Strasburg Rail Road, Choo Choo Barn, Cherry Crest Adventure Farm and other Lancaster attractions.

2. Kalahari Resort in the Pocono Mountains. If you are looking for a water park adventure then Kalahari will keep everyone happy and entertained. Kalahari is just under two hours away from the Philadelphia area. Kalahari is truly a family oriented place and they have thought of everything to keep all members of the family happy and occupied while on vacation.

3. National Harbor Maryland

The National Harbor area is located on the banks of the Potomac River and it has plenty of activities to keep the family busy, take a breathtaking ride on the Capital Wheel or a spin on the Carousel. Explore the area with Water Taxis or a Sight Seeing Cruises.

There are two great resorts to stay in while visiting the area Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center and The Residence Inn

4. Inner Harbor Baltimore Maryland

Baltimore has something for everyone. Younger kids will enjoy Port Discovery Museum, which offers 3 floors of hands-on activities for the kids. National Aquarium and the Maryland Science Museum are also must see places when visiting the Harbor

If you want to stay check out the Hyatt Regency Baltimore Maryland that is in walking distance to all the attractions.

5. Williamsburg Virgina

The Williamsburg area has plenty of activities to keep your family busy. Head to Busch Gardens for some family thrills. Take a step back in time at Colonial Williamsburg, Historic Jamestown or Jamestown Settlement.

6. Crystal Spring Resort Grand Cascades Lodge

Grand Cascades Lodge is a beautiful and well-appointed AAA 4-Diamond hotel located in Hamburg, New Jersey. The main attraction for families at the hotel is the Biosphere, which is an indoor pool complex with an aquarium, vortex pools, and caves, and lush tropical foliage; year-round outdoor heated pool; 140-foot waterslide. There are plenty of outdoor activities to keep the family busy.

Traveling to Washington DC on a Budget with Kids

Fun Things Kids Best places to travel with kids , family friendly travel

A few weeks ago my family and I attended a convention in Washington DC. I was trying to keep the cost down since I was paying for both of my children to attend the convention, I spent a lot of time researching a money saving way and I wanted to share what I discovered with my readers.

Many families from our area take trips into Washington to see the sites. Many of the hotels in D.C. have high parking costs $30-$50 a night. If you drive into to Washington there is free parking in the mall area but it's hard to find unless you're there very early in the morning. If you find a parking garage you can pay $25 or more a day to park your car.

After some research, I found out that if I stayed in the town of Bethesda and took the red line metro into D.C., we would be in walking distance to the convention hotel. I never knew how easy and convenient it was.

Where to Stay
We found the Hyatt Regency Bethesda, which is right by the entrance of the Metro. Which turned out to be perfect because it was raining on Saturday. The Hyatt was just renovated and was gorgeous and perfect for our family. I loved the modern finishes in the room. The kids loved the mirror showed the time. The staff at the Hyatt were so helpful with helping us find restaurants, offering umbrellas to use when it was pouring rain and giving us tips on riding the metro.

Bethesda
The town of Bethesda is a great town for families everything was a no more than a 10-minute walk from our hotel. Plenty of restaurants to choose from and many different price points. For instance, they had budget friendly choices like &pizza, Noddles & Company to a romantic date night Morton's Steak House. If you want a special treat after dinner or lunch Georgetown Cupcake is there and also a frozen yogurt store. We loved window shopping after dinner at all of the boutiques.

Riding the Metro
Since we arrived after dinner on Friday night we decided to check out the metro before we needed to board it on Saturday morning. I do have to warn you there is a very steep and long escalator that you need to take to get to the Metro. You can purchase passes right at the station you load the SmarTrip card with money and you can use the card over and over just reload it with more money. I found the Metro station clean and the metro cars were clean. Coming from Bethesda and going into DC you pass many stops, for instance, the zoo, Smithsonian, Dupont Circle, and so much more that are perfect for sightseeing in the area. The D.C. Metro website has tools for you to plan your trip using the Metro.

Overall, we found staying in Bethesda and taking the Metro a fun experience and would do it again. My husband and I couldn't get over how easy it was and how much money we saved on parking and the stress of driving in the DC area.

Last Minute Summer Travel Ideas

Fun Things Kids Best places to travel with kids , educational travel

3. National Harbor Maryland

There are two great resorts to stay in while visiting the area Gaylord National Hotel and Convention Center and The Residence Inn

4. Inner Harbor Baltimore Maryland

If you want to stay check out the Hyatt Regency Baltimore Maryland that is in walking distance to all the attractions.

5. Williamsburg Virgina

6. Crystal Spring Resort Grand Cascades Lodge

Review of Crystal Spring Resort Grand Cascades Lodge

Fun Things Kids Best places to travel with kids , Family Travel

If you have been following me on Instagram or Twitter you know that my family and I were invited to spend a few days at Crystal Springs Resort in Hamburg, New Jersey. Crystal Springs in about 2 1/2 hours from the Philadelphia Area, located in the Mountains in New Jersey and 1 hour away from NYC.

Resort

We stayed at the Grand Cascades Lodge which is a beautiful and well appointed AAA 4-Diamond hotel. Minerals Hotel and Mourtain Creek Resort are also part of the Crystal Springs Resort. The views of the Kittatinny Mountain Range were breathtaking. I loved the high ceilings and natural light in our room, with a husband who is tall this was a plus making our family comfortable. We stayed in a room with 2 double beds and we had plenty of room for the 4 of us.

Our Room

The main attraction for families at the hotel is the Biosphere, which is an indoor pool complex with an aquarium, vortex pools and caves, and lush tropical foliage; year-round outdoor heated pool; 140-foot waterslide, My kids loved the outdoor heated pool, nothing like swimming outside when the air temp is 30 degrees.

Biosphere

I had the chance to sneak away for some me time at the Reflections Spa. The spa was ranked #19 in Spas of America’s Top 100 Spas. I can see why it was ranked so high. This was a truly relaxing place to unwind. One of my favorite parts was the post-treatment sensorial room for relaxation.

Dinning

There are multiple restaurants at the resort. While we were there not all of them were open. I liked that we could call down to the lobby and a bus would drive us over to the Minerals Resort to have dinner at Kites. We went there for pasta night and had a wonderful meal! If you wanted to stay at the Grand Cascades there is the Crystal Tavern which offers American cuisine with plenty of options for the whole family from sandwiches to rib eye. I also loved that the ingredients are provided by local growers.

What to do in the area:

View from High Point State park

If you love golf then this is the resort for you, there are 6 golf courses in the area to choose from. There are many wineries in the area the offer tours. Also there is plenty of hiking in the area. The two places we went to for easy hikes were the High Point State Park, I recommend checking this out for some breathtaking views and incredible pictures. We also went to the Pochuck Boardwalk on the Appalachian trail.

Pochuck Boardwalk

We also visited Warwick New York. This adorable town was a 20 minute ride from the resort. This cute town has shops and restaurants for you to explore. Many people recommended Fetch for us to grab a bite to eat and this restaurant didn't disappoint.

Other options for activities are fishing, horseback riding, skiing, mountain biking and much more.

In conclusion Crystal Springs has something for everyone in you family. This is a year round resort with plenty of activities or relaxation if that's what you need. The resort has plenty of things to do for families, but it's also good for a romantic getaway, or a girls/guys weekend.

For more info: http://www.crystalgolfresort.com

Disclosure: Thanks Crystal Springs Resort for arranging for our complimentary stay to facilitate this review. As always all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Cherry Crest Adventure Farm

Fun Things Kids Best places to travel with kids , Corn Maze PA

Looking to have some fall family fun? Head to Cherry Crest Adventure Farm in Lancaster PA. Last weekend my family and I visited the family friendly farm that has something for everyone.

Cherry Crest Adventure Farm is a 15-acre farm, with 50+ Farm Fun activities, including the Hay Chute Slide and Straw Bale Racer, Jump Pillow, Farm Tour Wagon Ride, Petting Zoo and Farm Experience Center, Corny’s Ball-cade, and everyone's favorite the Corn Maze.

They have thought of everything to keep everyone having fun! Forgot your stroller or the kids tired of walking rent a wagon for the day. Kids hungry their are plenty of options for the family to get something to eat or drink.

Cherry Crest has been open for 20 years and this year the corn maze is a locomotive just like it was 20 years age. I loved the fact the there were 3 options when going through the maze, Easy, intermediate and advanced. The advance takes the longest to complete 3.5 to 4 hours and the easy takes under 30 minutes. There are different stations that you can visit while going through the maze where you can get clues on how to get out of the maze. If you get hungry to need to use the bathroom while in the maze no worries they have food and bathrooms in the maze.

After the maze you can enjoy the many activities around the farm the will certainly tire your family out after a day at the farm. Looking for more adventure? Hop on the Strasburg Railroad you can by tickets inside the farm and catch the train.

On October 31st Cherry Crest Adventure Farm will hold Pumpkin Madness Fest

The Pumpkin Madness Fest begins at 12 noon with Corny’s Costume Parade – for kids who come in family-friendly costumes (no masks permitted). Cherry Crest’s mascot Corny will be joined by the Pumpkin Princess for the parade and to greet guests throughout the day.

Pumpkin Madness proves you can get very creative when it comes to smashing pumpkins. Activities include:

Reverse Pumpkin Darts – where you will hurl pumpkins at a board filled with pointy darts!
Pumpkin Shotput Contest – carefully monitored, where competitors with the farthest throws in their category win a Cherry Crest Adventure Farm season pass!
Pumpkin Ring Toss - based on the classic carnival game with various levels for different ages.
Notes from the Sky Pumpkin Drop – where your pumpkin is hurled from the top of a giant boom lift and crashes onto the target below. The bigger the pumpkin the better the splat! People really have fun with this as they can write messages on their pumpkins which are read over the microphone before they’re dropped!
Pumpkin Smashing – with a big rubber mallet – very therapeutic for all ages!
Pumpkin Bowling – for kids age 10 and under.
Pin-the-Face-on-the-Pumpkin – a play on Pin the Tail that’s perfect for small children.
Flyby Pumpkin Pie Drop – at 3:45 p.m.,where you can watch parachuted pies fall from the sky, just for fun!
Flyby Candy Drop – at 4 p.m., where kids age 12 & under can grab all they can as a plane drops the goods from 200 feet.
Monster Pumpkin Drops:
at 3 p.m. see a 800+ pound pumpkin fall from the giant crane.
at 5 p.m. the Grand Finale Giant Pumpkin Drop starring the largest pumpkin we can find. The largest to date – at 1,744.5 pounds – is the record to beat this year!

No worries if you can't make it for a visit this fall, they will open again in the spring for more fun adventure.

For more information: http://www.cherrycrestfarm.com

Location: 150 Cherry Hill Road, Ronks, PA 17572

* Disclosure: Thanks Cherry Crest Adventure Farm for arranging for our complimentary visit to facilitate this review. As always all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Review of Kalahari Resorts in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania

Fun Things Kids activities to do with Children , Best places to travel with kids

If you've been following me on Twitter or Instagram you may saw that I visited the new indoor water park located in the Poconos called Kalahari Resort. Kalahari is just under two hours away from the Philadelphia area. When you visit Kalahari you certainly feel like you've been taken on a tour to Africa.

This family resort is owned by the Nelson family who own two other Kalahari Resorts located Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin and Sandusky, Ohio. This is truly a family oriented place and they have thought of everything to keep all members of the family happy and occupied while on vacation. When you first arrive at the resort you will notice the decor of the resort is African themed. The family traveled to Africa to bring authentic experiences back to the US.

Facts about Kalahari Resort

The resort is home to Pennsylvania’s largest indoor water park and also includes:
457 guest rooms containing one-, two- and three-bedroom suites
An outdoor water park with a huge outdoor pool, a large sundeck for relaxing, indoor/outdoor whirlpools and a swim-up bar
30,000 sq. ft. family entertainment center with dry activities such as mini-bowling, cutting-edge arcade games, a 5-D theater and black light mini golf
Three full-service signature dining experiences
Spa Kalahari & Salon
100,000 sq. ft. convention center
6,000 sq. ft. of retail

Hotel Rooms

1 bedroom suite

The hotel rooms keep with the African theme of the resort. There are many options for rooms they have one-, two- and three-bedroom suites. We stayed in a 1 bedroom suite. It had 2 queen sized beds and a pull out couch. The room also had a large tub and shower. The rooms are equipped with a microwave and a small fridge. We also had a room that had a small balcony that overlooked the Pocono Mountains.

Lazy River

Water Park
Kalahari is home to the largest water park in Pennsylvania. There is truly water fun for everyone in your family. If your not into slides then take a ride on the lazy river. Want a drink, swim up the the adults only swim up bar or take a dip in the outdoor pool. Babies and toddlers will enjoy their own special water park with age appropriate slides, lazy river and so much more. Older kids and adults will enjoy all the choices of slides and pools. There is plenty of seating around the water park. There are also lockers available to rent and a locker room to change in.

Delicious Food

Dining

There are plenty of options at the resort for your family. There are nine different dinning options at the resort. Buffet, quick service and sit down options. There are so many options for everyone in your family.

Plenty of choices in the water park

Conclusion
Overall my family and I fell in love with the resort, we loved that everything was in one place and we didn't even have to carry money or credit cards around with us while staying. We had our credit card linked to our wrist band. The wrist band was our room key and allowed us entrance to the water park. Before we left the resort we talked about special occasions that were coming up and how we would love to come back for a visit.

For more information: www.kalahariresorts.com/pennsylvania

Disclosure: Thanks Kalahari Resorts for arranging for our complimentary stay to facilitate this review. As always all thoughts and opinions are our own.

Fun Things Kids Visits Residence Inn National Harbor

Fun Things Kids activities for kids during the holidays , Best places to travel with kids

Residence Inn National Harbor

From the moment we arrived at the Residence Inn National Harbor we felt like we were home. The front desk staff greeted us with a smile and were eager to help us, explaining where to park and were to visit on our stay at the National Harbor. The kids received activity books during check in which is perfect to keep them busy while parents unpack and organize the room.

The Room

We had a 1 bedroom suite which was roomy enough for a family of 4. My husband and I had a king size extremely comfortable bed and the kids shared a sleeper couch, which they said was comfortable. I loved that we had a full size refrigerator, 2 burner stove, and microwave in the room We could store our leftovers and heat items up when the kids were hungry. We also had wonderful view of the Potomac River from our room.

Breakfast

Each morning complimentary breakfast was served in a room off of the lobby. This is great for families. You save money and don't have to worry about finding a place to eat every morning while away. The kids loved the make your own waffle station and the assortment of toppings available. The staff was helpful, making sure each guest had everything that they need during their stay. I enjoyed the fact that coffee and hot water for tea/ hot chocolate were always available to make in the lobby throughout the day.

Staff

I could go on and on about how wonderful the staff was at the Residence Inn National Harbor. They always greeted us with a smile. They would share ideas on what we should do in the area, they even shared their favorite pizza shop when we were craving pizza one night.

Pool/ Fitness Room

The pool was nice and the kids had fun.. They have an indoor pool that is open from 5 pm to 10 pm. The hotel also has a fitness room with a treadmill and other equipment. What I found super convenient was free ear buds to use while working out.

Overall

The Residence Inn National Harbor is a great value for families traveling to the National Harbor area. You don't have to go out to eat every meal, you can cook in. It's even great to cook in snacks or leftovers. They even have a grill to cook meals on in their patio area and a fire pit to sit outside and relax after a day of sight seeing. The hotel is close to all the activities in the area and easy to get to.

For more information: http://www.marriott.com

Location: Residence Inn National Harbor Washington, DC-192 Waterfront St National Harbor Maryland 20745

Disclosure: Thanks to the National Harbor Visitors Bureau and The Residence Inn National Harbor for arranging for our complimentary stay at the Residence Inn to facilitate this review. As always all thoughts and opinions are our own.