Family Attractions

Bringing the kids along? The whole family is sure to find entertainment at countless family-friendly attractions in Pennsylvania. For family fun, let Choice Hotels help you find the perfect attraction for your next family adventure.

Philadelphia & Countryside

Main Street Theatre
10 South Main Street
Quakertown, PA   18951
215-536-3545

Quakertown is named after the Quakers who settled Pennsylvania and to whom we owe a large part of our national political and philosophical heritage. Situated in the heart of a historically rich context, Main Street Theatre provides quality family theatrical programming and children's theatre. Shows range from the classic to the campy, and must be caught from June to December.

Ride The Ducks!
Sixth & Market Streets
Philadelphia, PA   19106
877-88-QUACK

So you came to Pennsylvania to experience history and a little bit of fun in the cultural smorgasbord of Philadelphia. You've probably never been asked, but what better way to do it than from the perspective of a duck? Once aboard Ride The Ducks, you'll quack your way down the Delaware River at Penn's Landing in addition to experiencing the historic by-ways of Philadelphia, all under a sagacious captain's friendly tutelage.

Insectarium
8046 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA   19136
215-338-3000

We're hoping you'll love the Philadelphia Insectarium, but then, we're hoping you already love insects. If you don't, we're guessing the thousands of insects contained within its walls might bug you a little - we're not talking roach infestation here, we're talking roach farm. Either way, it's worth the trip to be creeped out by these multi-legged crawlers, if only to amaze friends and family with your visit to the largest insect museum in the nation.

Pittsburgh & Countryside

Story Book Forest
Route 30 East
Ligonier, PA   15658
724-238-3666

Straight from the story to real-life is the path characters travel in this enchanted woodsy location. There's magic in the air in Pennsylvania: there are wands-a'-wavin', and fairies are flying all over the place in this enclave where kids can meet their favorite story-book characters. Commiserate with the Old Woman in the Shoe, catch a glimpse of Jack-Be-Nimble, and see if Peter Rabbit can really speak human.

Johnny Appleseed Children's Theater
275 Manor Road
Delmont, PA   15626
724-468-5050

Johnny Appleseed got his start as a play actor. Now you can witness the heritage handed down to Pennsylvania's theatergoing youths throughout the centuries. The Orchard Performing Arts Company produces six children's shows annually for the Apple Hill Playhouse, and kids of all ages are sure to enjoy the spectacle. Of course, that first part was - what else? - a tall tale.

Carnegie Museum of Natural History
4400 Forbes Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA   15213
412-622-3131

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania is watching with eyes agape as the city anticipates the grand reopening of the dinosaur hall which is so central to Pittsburgh paleontologists. Revamped with impressive additions, DITW is scheduled to reopen in late November 2007, and as a result of renovations the museum will display dinosaurs in their recreated environments with an impressive call to scientific detail. But empiricism fails to trump wonder within these halls, and guests of all ages will be astounded at the thousand-year-old contents of this fine museum.

Alleghenies & Valleys

Stuffingtown
1742 S. Atherton St.
State College, PA   16801
813-272-7883

No, Stuffingtown U.S.A. is not officially incorporated, but its location in the hearts and histories of thousands of children is central to every child's imagination. Pennsylvania's Stuffingtown plays host to a population of 50 unstuffed animals, and your job is - you guessed it - to stuff! Once your creatures come to three-dimensional life, individualize with a wide range of clothing and accessories. Events abound and parties are easily accommodated, but the popularity of this kid's dream-come-true is bound to make some days a little stuffy!

Gravity Hill
Bethel Hollow Road
New Paris, PA   15554
800-765-3331

Gravity Hill is exactly the opposite of what its name implies - a hill where, for unknown and mysterious reasons, the all-exacting laws of physics do not apply. Put the car in neutral and gasp as it rolls not down-, but up-hill. Bring some water and observe the ultimate in seamless irrigation. Whatever method you use to test the bounds of physics, you'll have to call the number listed above for exact directions to gravity hill. It's a windy road, but well worth it - we know you'll be mystified, and you might even hear Isaac Newton blushing in his grave.

Stackhouse Park
998 Luzerne Street
Johnstown, PA   15905
814-536-1674

Stackhouse Park isn't your typical neighborhood park with its assortment of monkey-bars and water fountains. You'll find no sandbox in Stackhouse. What you will find are over 250 acres of serenely punctuated Pennsylvania woodlands. After you've explored and garnered a curiosity for the various flora and fauna, Stackhouse offers a comprehensive selection of educational and recreational programs for both children and adults.

PA Great Lakes Region

Pymatuning Deer Park
804 E. Jamestown Rd.
Jamestown, PA   16134
724-932-3200

Teach your children a lesson straight out of Maria Von Trapp's lesson plan at this densely populated Pennsylvania wildlife refuge. Singing or speaking, point to the herds of deer which rove throughout this family-owned park, single out the correct one and gently explain, "Doe, a deer - a female deer." Or pick one of the other 250 species of animals and birds from destinations as exotic as Australia. Lessons in biology are easy to come across at this lakeside wildlife preserve which we're sure will delight young and old visitors to Pennsylvania alike.

Lazer Tag at Splash Lagoon
8111 Peach St.
Erie, PA   16509
814-864-9463

Want the thrill and excitement of a heavy-duty uniform without having to go through the training? While visiting Pennsylvania Great Lakes region, stop off at Splash Lagoon, whose lazer tag arena provides riveting action and suspense. You'll want to hone your hand-eye coordination before competing against your group or others in this massive multi-colored 3000 sq. ft. labyrinth.

Pymatuning Wildlife Learning Center
12590 Hartstown Road
Linesville, PA   16424
814-683-5545

Exhibits both man-made and natural make this biologically sound center a diverse location for guests of all ages and interests. An assortment of mounted specimens is permanently on display, many propped in convincing and informative diorama displays conveying their original environments. Major exhibits will wow guests as they travel to a Pennsylvania mountain stream scene or witness the stunning proportions of a real Bald Eagle's nest. In addition to saturating the mind with knowledge, this Pennsylvania wildlife center offers an activity room with computerized games for guests to test their newfound knowledge.

Pennsylvania Dutch Country

City Island
Off Market Street Bridge
Harrisburg, PA   17101
717-255-3020

Resident park of Harrisburg, the capital of Pennsylvania, City Island claims home to the minor league Harrisburg Senators, whose games run throughout baseball season. But the activities at your disposal at City Island don't end there. Bring your kite or check out Island Breezes, an in-park shop specializing in airborne toys. When the stomach starts to rumble, visit RiverSide Village Park, whose appetizing concession stands offer some of Pennsylvania's most appetizing roast beef and fish sandwiches, crab cakes, sausages and more. Then quench your thirst with some fresh-squeezed lemonade and head down to an extravagantly landscaped 18-hole miniature golf course whose obstacles' specialty is water: waterfalls and water hazards are just a few of the fates your ball may fall prey to.

Popcorn Hat Players
605 Strawberry Square
Harrisburg, PA   17101
717-238-4111

The Popcorn Hat Players, some of Pennsylvania's silliest thespians, are putting on a show, and you're invited. A subsidiary of the prestigious Gamut Theatre Group, the Players are composed of seven zany performers who get together and put on plays like "Three Little Pigs" and other fairy and folk tales. Improvisation ranks high in their method, so you never know what surprises will be coming your way. Gamut also offers special events featuring renowned actors and musicians, as well as group and birthday party accommodations.

Allstar Family Fun and Events Complex
2638 Emmitsburg Road
Gettysburg, PA   17325
888-497-9386

If 46,000 square feet of indoor space packed with state-of-the-art arcade and virtual reality games don't make kids rejoice, perhaps the 30-acre outdoor recreational features packed into this high-density Pennsylvania complex will. Go-Kart Tracks and 36 holes of miniature golf overlook a pristine 14-acre lake for your paddle-boating enjoyment. Also the host site of many important Pennsylvania-based expositions and trade shows, Allstar is ready-made for group outings and picnics, and even your child's birthday party - just call and reserve!

Northeastern PA Mountains Region

Crayola FACTORY
30 Centre Square
Easton, PA   18042
610-515-8000

Don't take the word factory lightly - the Crayola FACTORY is a huge factory space whose $1.5 million renovation has turned it into an animated playplace for your child's imagination to run rampant. At this Pennsylvania destination, every color of the rainbow (and countless combinations thereof) can be found in their classic wax form. Education and creativity are a fruitful combination, and in addition to art projects, parents and their kids can watch live demonstrations of the Crayola production process, from plant to dye to the box of twenty we're all so familiar with.

Costa's Family Fun Park
2111 Rte. 6
Hawley, PA   18428
570-226-8585

We know you came to observe the majesty of the great outdoors. But for that afternoon when the family is craving a brief return to civilization, stumble upon the oasis of fun that is Costa's Family Fun Park. Kids who are suffering from an aquatic absence will delight in a fierce round of Bumper Boats before they jump headfirst down one of the park's winding waterslides. Costa's also features batting cages, Go Karts, and 18 holes of miniature golf to help satisfy the inner-athlete in the whole family. A child-oriented Playland affords the little ones all the excitement at one-third the size.

Pocono Snake and Animal Farm
7 Bridges Road
East Stroudsburg, PA   18301
570-223-8653

Exotic is the key word at Pocono Snake and Animal Farm, ironically located at the center of Pennsylvania's quintessentially American natural beauty. PSAF features a glimpse into the world of animals which are probably best left behind the glass and out of your camping tent. The bears and wolfs may sound exciting, but we think kids will be more than fascinated once they hear about the sloths and leopards, not to mention the prodigious 20-foot python and the pernicious alligator pond.

PA Wilds Region

Animaland Zoological Park
4181 Route 660
Wellsboro, PA   16901
570-724-4546

Spanning 12 acres of the Pennsylvania wilds on the outskirts of the town of Wellsboro, this zoo features a diverse array of animal life, from bears and buffalo to monkeys and pot-bellied pigs. But that's not all - over 200 animal species from all destinations of the world await you at Animaland, which features convenient walkways to weave in-between exhibits. Kids of all ages are welcomed.

BWP Bats, LLC
80 Womeldorf Lane
Brookville, PA   15825
814-849-0089

See where the sticks that make the dreams are manufactured, "From the Tree to the Home Runs." BWP specialized in the production of the finest hardwood professional bats, and many of the wooden sticks you see in production on your tour at the sawmill will make appearances in the fists of a baseball great. See it up close and pre-action in Pennsylvania, and marvel at the complex process these iconic instruments undergo, from lumberyard to sawmill, to kiln and factory, and - ultimately - to ballgame.

Santa Parade
210 4th Avenue
December 7, 6pm - 8:30pm
Warren, PA   16365

Once a year, during that special time when cheer lingers heavy in the air, old Saint Nick makes his Pennsylvania appearance in the joyful streets of Warren, Pennsylvania. Don't miss the chance to participate in this annual festivity, which accommodates window displays, live music and tons of holiday entertainment. Santa Parades from up Penn Ave. to Liberty St, culminating in the majestic lighting of the tree.

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