Fun Places to Visit in Pennsylvania With Kids

Pennsylvania, the Keystone State, has an enviable location in the Mid-Atlantic region. Many vacation spots in Pennsylvania are an easy drive from New York and Washington, DC. Two mountain areas—the Poconos and Laurel Highlands—draw outdoor-loving families all year long.

Top kid-friendly places to go in Pennsylvania include a major theme park with thrill coasters, a theme park for little kids, a historic grand hotel, and an indoor water park resort.

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Hershey

Three hours from New York City and 90 mins from Philly, "Chocolate Town USA" offers a major theme park known for thrilling roller coasters (and a summertime water park) as well as family-friendly hotels with a sweet theme. Driving time is about 1.75 hours from Philadelphia and 2.75 hours from New York City.

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Sesame Place

Do your kids love Sesame Street? Here's a whole theme park designed around Elmo, Big Bird, and the gang. Sesame Place is 30 minutes from Philadelphia and 90 minutes from New York City and is open mid-May through mid-October. The ideal age for kids is 2 to 7 years old.

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Philadelphia

Are you looking for a getaway in the Keystone State? The City of Brotherly Love is much more than cobblestone streets, historical landmarks, cheesesteak, and big pretzels. Reasons to love Philly include some very cool blockbuster exhibits that families will enjoy.

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Skytop Lodge

This grand Poconos resort on 5,500 acres has a venerable history and myriad fun things to do for families, from hiking, biking, and ziplining to paintball and ATV excursions. All-inclusive rates cover accommodation, meals, and most activities. Driving time is just under 2 hours from New York City and 2.25 hours from Philadelphia.

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Great Wolf Lodge Poconos

This wildly popular indoor water park resort wows families with water slides, raft rides, tipping buckets, a lazy river, and wave pool. Dry activities include MagiQuest, high ropes, bowling, and more. Holiday celebrations include Howl-O-Ween and Snowland. Driving time is about 1.75 hours from New York City and 1.75 hours from Philadelphia.

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Nemacolin Woodlands Resort and Spa

Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa in Pennsylvania — Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa

In the Laurel Highlands of southwestern Pennsylvania, the 2,800-acre upscale Nemacolin Woodlands Resort offers myriad indoor and outdoor activities, a wide variety of accommodations, and, for parents, a top-notch spa. Driving time is about 4.5 hours from Philadelphia, 3.25 hours from Washington, DC, and 3.5 hours from Columbus, OH.

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Seven Springs Mountain Resort

This winter family resort is well-known for skiing, snowboarding, and its award-winning terrain parks. Other activities include snow tubing, horseback riding, sleigh rides, snowmobile tours, snowshoeing, and more. Indoor fun includes swimming in the indoor pool, bowling, mini-golf, and roller skating. Driving time is about 4 hours from Philadelphia and 3.5 hours from Washington, DC.

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Deer Valley Family Camp

Young father with son and daughter bird watching in eco forest camp — Chad Springer / Getty Images

Open year-round, Deer Valley YMCA Family Camp is set on 742 acres with woods, hills, fields, and a lake for watersports and fishing (ice-fishing and skating in the wintertime). Guests can stay in the lodge in dorm-style bedrooms or cottages and cabins. Count on a two-hour drive from Pittsburgh or three hours from Washington, DC.

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Split Rock Resort

Split Rock Poconos Resort — Split Rock Resort

Once a hunting and fishing lodge in the popular Poconos, Split Rock is an expansive and reasonably priced four-season resort on over 1,200 acres in the town of Lake Harmony. Driving time is about two hours from New York City and 90 minutes from Philadelphia.

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Pittsburgh

"Kidsburgh," named one of America's best places to raise a family, is affordable and has many kid-friendly attractions that educate and entertain, including a children's museum, zoo and aquarium, and amusement parks.

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