Lancaster, PA makes a great family-friendly day trip alternative to the standard weekend beach trip, especially if you’re looking for things to do with kids – It’s not just fields, pastures, and cows in Lancaster County, PA. The area is perfect for family-friendly and kid-approved attractions for day trips, from train rides and cool museums to its beautiful countryside. If you’re planning a one-day trip to Lancaster County with your family and you need things to do to keep your kids busy for the day, read on.
Our Top 5 Things to Do On Your Day Trip With Kids:
1. Strasburg Railroad
Attention passengers: head to Strasburg Railroad for an exciting, narrated 45-minute ride on a coal-burning steam train to Paradise, PA, and back again. If you’re looking for some exciting things to do in Lancaster, PA with kids, make sure you make a stop at a one-of-a-kind adventure aboard America’s oldest operating railroad. Catching glimpses of the acres of rolling hills, cows, and farmlands as your family travels through the heart of Amish Country makes this one of the best outdoor adventures for kids. Before or after your ride, you can explore shops, a playground, and fun extras like Cranky Cars, Pump Car, and Pint-Sized Pufferbelly the real miniature steam train that travels around the property.
2. Bounce Kraze
Looking for some kid-friendly indoor activities to do in Lancaster, PA? An absolute favorite of things to do in Lancaster, PA with kids on rainy days is visit Bounce Kraze, Lancaster, PA’s only indoor inflatable park! Featuring 9 huge inflatables, where kids can jump, climb, crawl and – of course – bounce! In addition to the inflatables, Bounce Kraze also features an arcade and food café.
Bounce Kraze is Lancaster, PA’s Best Value for 3 hours of bounce time and arcade fun!
3. Tiny Town
Welcome to Tiny Town, where everything, yes everything, is tiny. We’re talking about a mini-hospital for examining X-rays, a fun-sized garage for a quick car tune-up, a petite fire station for housing the smallest fire engine in Lancaster, PA, and more. Here in the interactive indoor space, kids can explore and imagine while exploring eleven luxury playhouses set in over 8,000 square feet of small city streets.
4. Turkey Hill Experience
Who wouldn’t want to sample ice cream and learn more about the how it’s made? At the Turkey Hill Experience, you and your kids will be able to learn about dairy and make ice cream through an immersive, interactive experience. Kids can milk mechanical cows, design an ice cream flavor, star in their TV commercial promoting their new ice cream, and learn about the origins of that delicious tea.
This is one of the most exciting kid-friendly interactive exhibits in Lancaster, PA.
5. Hands-On House Children’s Museum of Lancaster
At Hands-On House Children’s Museum of Lancaster, kids are encouraged to take the lead when it comes to playing. Here kids can have fun while exploring, creating, and experimenting with interactive activities and their imagination. The unique interactive exhibits include Little Valley Farm for picking apples and hauling hay bales, Right in Your Own Backyard for learning about the jobs of bees, and Mason’s Active Adventure Garden for playing percussion instruments and exploring the garden.
Plan your day trip and enjoy the fun!
Looking for more day-trip ideas or for some cheap things to do in Lancaster, PA with kids? You definitely won’t find yourself bored in Lancaster County, PA. Check out our full list of attractions and activities for kids that are sure to keep them busy and build fun family memories to last a lifetime. And if the weather isn’t cooperating, check out our list of rainy day things to do in Lancaster, Pa with kids.
