Anyone Been to Pennsylvania?

We road-tripped to Disney in March & on the way back went sideways thru a lot of Penn, including a stop at Hershey - fun & kid friendly. All along the way, my hubby & I kept commenting about how someday we'd just do a PA vacation - that there seeemed to be a ton of fun stuff to do in Penn.

thank you also for posting this!! we are planning a vacation to PA in AUG too!! however my DD is almost 3 and I will be 8mos pregnant...so we are torn between Hershey--a destination in itself and Sesame Place where you have to drive everywhere

My kids loved Sesame Place and Philadelphia. Be aware, tho, that Philadelphia in the summer is HUMID. We had bucket hats and as much sunscreen as we could slather on the kids. We also took our stroller, since they were wiped at the end of the day. We sprang (sprung?) for the more expensive parking because it was closer - it was worth it for the shorter walk after a very sweaty day.

It is VERY beautiful.
Bring lots of money.

what a funny coincidence. we're going to a wedding in Lancaster in July. flying in to Philly. Mapquest says it's a 1.5 hour drive to Lancaster. Family I have in Lancaster says quite a bit is in walking distance once you get there and that there's a lot to see. we shall see. have fun!

We're headed to Philly this weekend with our 20-month old little girl. We considered Sesame Place but after reading about the long lines, we opted out because my little one is not patient enough to wait longer than 2 minutes or so :)

Our plan is to see the Please Touch Museum (http://www.pleasetouchmuseum.org/), the Smith Playhouse/Playground (http://www.smithplayhouse.org/) or Franklin Square (http://www.gophila.com/C/Things_to_Do/211/Boundless_Phila...) and Longwood Gardens (because it is nearby to folks we are visiting) - http://www.longwoodgardens.org/FamiliesandFun_1_3_5.html

I'm figuring these are all things we can do at our own pace and she will enjoy!

Have fun :)
G.

I grew up right over the river from PA in NJ, and Sesame Place is a bit hit. I would see if anyone has been recently. It's definitely a good day spent, but not might else to do in the immediate area. If you go to the Lancaster area (we're going in July), you have to go to the Shady Maple (huge restaurant, shop, etc). Philadelphia (as with many big cities) is a neat place to visit. I hope others have been there recently, or, if you go later than the end of July I can tell you how our trip went. : )

Hi!

We took our almost 8 year old son to Lancaster and Hershey one month shy of his 3rd birthday. He had a wonderful time--he loved the chocolate tour at hershey and thethe bus tour of the city. And in Lancaster, he loved the buggy rides. Enjoy!

Whenever we used to go PA for vacation we would stay in Lancaster which is still my favorite vacation place its so relaxing and a laid back vacation and we would go to sesame place for a day and also to Hershey even if we didn't go to the park we still would go to Hershey...yummmmmmm and I can't remember if we ever went to Philly when I was a child but I know my oldest loved Hershey we went there when he was a little over 2 another place we go when there is the strasusburg railroad which my oldest loved he also enjoyed all the animals we saw. We always camp we had a farm right behind us every morning we would wake up to horses.

I grew up in Pennsylvania and visit my parents each year with my 3 year old son. My parents live in the Chester County area which is right in the middle of Philadelphia and Lancaster area. So it was about 45 minutes to the city and 45 minutes to the Lancaster area depending on what part you are going to. Sesame Place is definitely a great option. Plus the Amish area and all the history and culture of that is interesting. I was disappointed in the Hershey tour of how chocolate is made, it reminded me of a ride "it's a small world after all". Unless you plan on actually going to the Hershey park with the rides. Philadelphia is great. They have a Science museum called the "Please touch me museum" or the Philadelphia Zoo is really nice. There is the Liberty Bell and all the tours related to that time period. There so much to do it is hard to mention it all. Since the Lancaster County is not that close to Philadelphia I would definitely do them on separate days. You can start at Lancaster County and the drive east to Philadelphia and then head north to go home when you are done. It is worth the drive.

I am originally from PA and headed there myself in August. Dutch Wonderland is in Lancaster County and is a really great park for kids: http://www.dutchwonderland.com/index.php I plan to take my 1.5 year old there this year and am so excited! It gets lots of raves from my friends with kids who still live in the area. Hershey Park is also a short drive (45 min or so) from Lancaster and Sesame Place is a little bit longer, closer to Philly.

I don't see historic Philly as a good option with a little one unless she sleeps in the stroller while you walk around - not much to interest her unless you are going to museums with children's centers, and you can do that in Boston/Providence. It's also very hot in Philly in the summer. I have friends in Center City and LOVE the area, but your little one is not old enough to appreciate things. I think it's great during April vacation, which is a Mass/RI thing and not universal, so you don't always have the crowds.

There are many towns in Lancaster County - we did it some years ago in a rented RV and had a fabulous time. My family comes from central PA so it's definitely near and dear to my heart. Our son loved it, and the campgrounds offered small ponds/lakes, covered bridges, and so on, plus cheap campsites. You can do small cabins too, and there's a lot to be said for the quiet. Many of the local people (Amish & Mennonite) came through selling home made pies and breads and it was wonderful. We got lots of great info from AAA. Your daughter is a little young for the Strasburg railroad but it's fun. There are some great shops and museums if you and your husband are into that, but it depends on your child's nature, sleep schedule and so on. Try not to rush the theme parks - your child is only 2 and won't remember much, may be overstimulated, and so on - takes the pleasure out of paying that kind of money. So choose wisely. You might be better off postponing it for a couple of years and trying something else closer to home while she's so little. When our son was little, we just went to Cape Cod (no more than a few hours) or day trips to the Mystic Aquarium and the Boston museums. That was more than enough car travel for him.

I'm not trying to discourage you, just help you choose a realistic vacation for this year.

My aunt lives down there and it is totally worth it. Philly is great and Lancaster county is really interesting. It takes her about 1 hour to get into Philly.

W.

We did this trip a few years ago.. Lancaster county is mid Pa.. Sesame Place is about an hr or two east of it.. Hershey Park is closer to Lancaster county andyes there are a lot of things for a little one to do at Hershey.. We actually thought it was way better for our daughter than Disney. She was 3 1/2 when we went. Coming from Boston, we drove 4 hrs, stopped on the NY/NJ line, got dinner, stayed the night and continued on the next day..we hit the Palisades Mall and it was a vacation in itself! Indoor roller coaster, merry go round, ferris wheel! did the same thing coming back, but stopped in Easton right at the PA border and went to the Crayola Factory (Really fun place!). Sesame Place is total water park (not my kind of place), but that's more on the eastern side which is a bit of a drive from Mid PA.. have fun and good luck with your plans!

Hi K..

I grew up in PA. Hershey park is another great place to take the family. You start out with a riding chocolate factory tour and you end up in the bakery. And then you have the amusement park. There seem to be reasonable priced hotels there as well. Historical Philly is also great! Have fun!

We went to Sesame Place when the kids were 3 and 6. I would never go back because I felt that the rides were not appropriate for little kids. The shows while entertaining were over crowded and there were a ton of water areas. Not to mention is was very expensive and you are not allowed to bring in any outside food.
I have heard that Dutch Wonderland is much better.

K.,
First I have to say you are an wounderful amazing person to work in the NICU.My son did 122 days in 2000.
Next Sesame st is great we went when my son was 3 had an awesome time.Philly is not far from Sesame about a half hour. This is the link.
http://www.sesameplace.com/sesame/pa/index.aspx
Amish country is better when kids are older I went at age 16 and Hershey park is close. L.

We went to Sesame Place with my son when he was 21 months. We plan on going back again because my 1.5 year old twins like the characters. That being said, my husband and I did not like it---its really hot, expensive and crowded. VERY long lines for short rides that weren't that great. We are going back only for some shows and to see the characters and will get there early in the morning and leave before it gets hot and crowded. The beaches at NJ are an hour away and a lot of fun.

Sesame Place is a fabulous park. It is very clean and, of course, child friendly! We have gone two times now, and we would love to go back for the water park! Have fun if you decide to go!

K. - if you are going to Lancaster County then
I highly reccomend Dutch Wonderland. It is so much
fun and definitely less expensive than Sesame Place.

They have a website definitely check it out. I'm going
again with my kids (2 boys ages 8&4) for the 3rd yr in
a row. We stay at the Country Inn & Suites which is
right across the street. The Strausburgh Railroad is about
a 1/2 hr away and you can buy a combo pass.

You can send me a private msg if you need more info.

C.

Omg! You have to go to sesame place it was one of my kids favorite vacations. My kids were 1 1/2 and 3 and they had a blast. It was a 6 hour drive for me from newbedford, ma but worth it . Sesame place is like a six flags but for toddlers and its all sesame street themed with. There is a full water park and they do really fun parades with all the charactyers, its almost like a mini disney. You should definitely go, oh and it was really affordable.

Well, thanks for posting the question, as I got some great hints for my trip to Sesame Place.

My husband grew up the next town over from Hershey Pa and we can smell the chocolate from the playground at the end of the in-laws road. We once drove through Lancaster on our way home, but didn't stop (my husband was raised it was rude to stare at the Amish so he never saw the point of going to Lancaster) and Philly is too far after driving so long to Hummelstown - so I never went there either.

I recommend Hershey Park if you get the discount tickets from AAA or the grocery stores (actually, I have only been there in the winter for Candy Land - we spend so much time with family I have never gotten to the park in the summer!). My older son loved it when he was 8 or so. Hershey Park has a water park as well as the amusement park and there is a zoo too. The Chocolate World tour is not as good as it used to be. There are other fun things in the Hershey area like Indian Echo Cave and the par three golf course.

For the drive down - it depends on where you are coming from. I STRONGLY recommend going over the Tappen Zee bridge and not the George Washington (which I think is beautiful but too much traffic with a little one). Someone else mentioned the mall on the Jersey side - a really good place to stop and stretch your legs. We will often stop in the Delaware Water Gap National Park visitor center - walk to the river. The restrooms are not open in winter but I don't know about summer. The Water Gap visitor center (state run, not National Park) is a nice place for a bathroom break.

I loved Bethlehem during the music festival and went to the Lehigh Valley velodrome for bicycle races Friday night (now THAT'S AFFORDABLE entertainment). Just some ideas if you change your itinerary.