Hey mom and dad -if you are planning a trip to or through Pennsylvania this is worth taking a look at!

With a house full of kids ourselves - four to be exact - we know what it's like to travel these days. From this page you will be able to plan a trip for your kids in the different geographical sections of Pennsylvania. Or, if you are traveling through the state, you'll find great places to stop and explore on your adventure. Hope you like it! Bookmark Now and take the time to let the whole page load!

For exact driving directions to wherever you are going use this link!

You will also find nifty little maps like the one on the left. If you click on the map you will go to a page where links to each of the counties highlighted on that map have links for where to stay, where to eat, etc.

Use the links below to look at each region on the site and go from there! Any questions just E-MAIL us. If you find this site useful please don't hesitate to tell your friends and neighbors about it by using the referral form on the right. And Visit Pennsylvania.

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Lake Erie Region

This four county region may be small but there are a couple neat thing to do. First off check out our Erie county site for state parks. You'll find them under "What to Do". In particular Presque Isle has some nice beaches and great scenery. Nice place for picnics and swimming. Also in the area try the Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad in Crawford and Venango counties. A nice relaxing train ride through two counties is a lot of fun. If you are in a hurry and just want an hour or two in the area try Erie Maritime Museum. The Brig Niagara is there, along with a lot more neat things. "We have met the enemy and they are ours!"

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Allegheny National Forest Region

A lot of area to cover here with lots of neat little critters (no dragons though!) running around. For the great outdoors the kids have got to see the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania and the American Bald Eagles that nest there. Great wildlife sightings in Potter County along with scads of hiking trails. You will see elk in Cameron County. We also suggest a train ride in this region - Knox, Kane & Kinzua Railroad. Maybe they'll even sleep after all that hiking adventure!

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Valleys of the Susquehanna

Interstate 80 and US 15 dissect this region so if you're traveling those routes this is a good place for kids. We have the Little League Museum and the Children's Discovery Workshop, both in Williamsport. Knoebel's Amusement Park in Northumberland county is a fine family-oriented park - plan on the day! For the wild animal in all of us there's Clyde Peelings Reptiland in Union county right along US 15 and not far from I-80. And in Centre county you'll find the Children's Museum near State College.

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Pocono Mountains

In addition to the traditional outdoor stuff in the Poconos you will find tons of things for the kids to do in Luzerne county and up in the Endless Mountains. Some of our family favorites are the Houdini Museum, and Pocono Indian Museum in Pike county. And the boys were absolutely in awe from their tour of the Pioneer Tunnel Coal Mine in Schuylkill county...can we do it again dad...please??? Oh, we almost forgot...everybody loves the trains at Steamtown National Historic Site in Lackawanna county!

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Philadelphia and Its Countryside

Everyone's heard of the Philadelphia Zoo and the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. But there's a ton of fun outside of Philadelphia as well. A favorite is Sesame Place along with another train at New Hope & Ivyland Railroad in Bucks county. The girls (we have artisits) loved the The Crayola Factory and all of the kids got a kick out of the Lost River Caverns, both in nearby Northampton county. For the historically oriented kids we highly recommend a stop at Valley Forge National Historical Park in Chester county. And, by the way, we have enough crayons to last until the kids all get through college!

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Pennsylvania Dutch Country

This region has enough to keep all of the kids going for a week. The Land of Little Horses is delightful and the Gettysburg National Military Park is thought provoking for everyone. Both are in Adams county. Reading has a nice planetarium, Reading Public Museum & Planetarium for the little scientists in the family. You will be beside yourself when you see the looks on the kids faces while they are watching the miniature trains at Roadside America Miniature Village. Both of these are in Berks county. Everyone-including you, mom and dad, should visit The State Capitol of Pennsylvania in Dauphin county before heading to Lancaster and spending the rest of the day at Dutch Wonderland.

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Laurel Highlands

Here we're talking the Allegheny Mountains and natural beauty. And a lot of things for the gang. Your junk food junkies might like to see pretzels being made at Benzel's Pretzel Factory in Blair county, where, after gorging themselves, they can work it off at Bland's Park, a nice family-oriented place. For the little historians (and the big one's too), Fort Bedford Museum is a must-see in Bedford county. Up in Huntingdon county take your pick of buffalo at Zebrovka Bison Ranch or old trolleys at Rockhill Trolley Museum. Both are neat and the size of the bison is something to see! Over in the western end of the state we would have the kids see the Pennsylvania Trolley Museum in Washington county and take a ride through the mountains on the Laurel Highlands Railroad in Westmoreland county.

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Pittsburgh Region

The city of Pittsburgh and the surrounding area have a ton of fun for the kids. The Jennings Environmental Education Center, Pennsylvania's only prairie, is a nice outdoorsy thing with lots to see and learn. Wendell August Forge in Butler county is a great forge with tours. Any of the kids interested in blacksmiths and metal works will love it. Fort McIntosh, in Beaver county, has a lot of history from Revolutionary War days and is worth a couple hours when you need the kids to get out and stretch. For the railroaders in the family this model train exhibit, Pittsburgh Model Railroad Historical Society in Gibsonia, Allegheny county, will delight you. We've also tried Kennywood Park and The National Aviary in Pittsburgh delighted all of the kids. You'll love it too!

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