Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.
As parents, knowing how to entertain the entire family for the lowest possible out-of-pocket cost is critical to maintaining your sanity and a healthy bank account. As someone who spent their whole childhood and high school years living in Pennsylvania, I consider myself an expert in low-cost, family-friendly activities because my family was large, and we had no money. Take it from me: these are the places to bring the kids that won’t break the bank.
1. Spend a Day at Knoebels
As a kid, nothing was more exciting than being told you’re going to Knoebels. For those unaware, Knoebels Amusement Resort in Elysburg is one of the last “old school” amusement parks. It opened in 1926 and is the United States’ largest free theme park. Yes, you read that correctly. Admission to Knoebels is free. Sure, you pay for rides carnival-style (a la carte). It’s a small price to pay for the opportunity to ride some of the country’s most rickety and terrifying wooden roller coasters.
2. Run the Steps Like Rocky
The front steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art are arguably the most famous in the country, thanks to the Rocky film franchise. If you’ve already exposed your family to the gloriousness of the movies (and why wouldn’t you, since you’re a great parent), running the steps like Rocky Balboa himself is a fun and free way to kill an hour in Philadelphia. At the very least, the physical exertion will tucker out the kids quickly.
3. See the Liberty Bell
Most families don’t have many chances to experience a piece of American history, so after you’re done running the art museum steps, make time to see the Liberty Bell in person. Located at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, the kids will love the story behind the Liberty Bell’s crack, and admission is affordable for most families. I remember visiting the Liberty Bell on field trips and always viewed it as one of the coolest parts of my childhood.
4. Attend a Pirates Game
Forget about watching the Philadelphia Phillies. The best baseball team to watch in Pennsylvania is the Pittsburgh Pirates due to their incredible riverside stadium. PNC Park opened in 2001 and sits on the banks of the Allegheny River. One visit will make you a believer. Downtown Pittsburgh is the perfect backdrop for enjoying a baseball game. (If only the Pirates weren’t such a terrible Major League Baseball franchise.)
5. Take a History Lesson
Seeing the Liberty Bell up close is one way to experience our nation’s history, but traveling to Gettysburg National Military Park in Gettysburg serves as a master class. Walking on the same fields that hosted one of the most significant and bloody battles of the American Civil War is an awe-inspiring experience that no family should pass up. No parent should miss the opportunity to educate their children on the importance of this hallowed ground.
6. Go to the Poconos
Growing up in eastern Pennsylvania, an annual family vacation to the Poconos was nearly guaranteed. From kitschy family resorts like Woodloch Pines to quiet cabin stays tucked away in the woods (and everything in between), a trip to the Poconos Mountains meant endless memories. The best part? This area of Pennsylvania is fantastic to visit year-round, regardless of the weather forecast.
7. Visit Bowman’s Tower
Located in Bucks County, just a short drive from Philadelphia, Bowman’s Tower is a jaw-dropping historic site. George Washington’s army used this tower as a lookout in the Revolutionary War. It’s still standing, and visitors can climb to the top of the structure for a small fee, where incredible panoramic views of the Philadelphia suburbs greet them. Bowman’s Tower is only a few miles from Washington’s Crossing State Park (another fun family destination).
8. Pose With the Rocky Statue
I may sound like a broken record, but I can’t overstate how important it is to introduce your children to the greatness that is Rocky. Just a few steps away from the iconic art museum steps is the famous statue of Rocky Balboa himself. Yes, Philadelphia erected a monument to a fictional character, but that’s all part of the charm. Bringing the family for a photo op with the statue is a rite of passage for countless parents. It also makes for a heck of an Instagram post.
9. Head to Splash Lagoon
Who doesn’t love going to an indoor water park? In case you were unaware, Splash Lagoon offers 80,000 square feet of water slides, wave pools, and lazy rivers, which is pretty much what kids’ dreams are made of. Although it’s a long drive if you’re on the other side of the state (it’s located in Erie, tucked away in the northwest corner of the state), many families say it’s worth every minute. In addition, Splash Lagoon is open year-round, making it accessible even during the snowy winters.
10. Be Amazed by Amish Country
I still can’t wrap my head around the Amish way of life. Lancaster, Pennsylvania, is home to thousands of people who live without electricity and ride in horse-drawn buggies and carriages. Visiting the town (and being mindful and respectful of the residents’ culture) is like traveling back in time. It’s worth the trip just to see the confused looks on your kids’ faces as they try to understand what they’re seeing. In addition, I maintain that the Amish make the best donuts in the world, so that’s another reason to head to Lancaster.
11. Visit the Ice Cream Mecca
When planning inexpensive, family-friendly activities, you can’t do much better than scheduling a trip to the Turkey Hill Experience in Colombia, Pennsylvania. Learning how ice cream is made is an eye-opening experience regardless of age (eclipsed only by eating the ice cream itself). Visiting Turkey Hill is an immersive experience. Think of it as a small-scale Disney World, and you’ll get the picture. If you really want to rock your family’s world, follow the visit with a trip to nearby Hershey to experience the chocolate-lovers paradise known as Hersheypark.
12. Visit Ringing Rocks Park
Tucked away in Upper Black Eddy, a suburb outside of Philadelphia, is Ringing Rocks Park. Spoiler alert: it’s exactly what it sounds like. Bring your hammers because this field of natural rocks will ring when struck with something. When my dad first took me there, I was stunned. I couldn’t believe these gigantic rocks started ringing when I bashed them with a hammer. The phenomenon is caused by abnormally high amounts of iron inside the stones. Don’t try to explain it to your kids. Just enjoy the park’s free admission and start ringing.
13. Explore the Benjamin Franklin Museum
One field trip from when I was a kid has always stuck out: my class trip to the Ben Franklin Museum in Philadelphia. I’m a science nerd, and the museum was a jaw-dropping scientific tour de force that educated and entertained me and my classmates. The best part about visiting the museum is its affordability; tickets are only $5. If there’s a better use of your hard-earned money (and time), I’d love to find out about it.
14. Get Your Crayon On
There’s a thin line between fantastic and kitschy. Crayola toes the line effortlessly with the Crayola Experience in Easton, Pennsylvania. It’s essentially a smaller, crayon-inspired theme park, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less fun for kids of all ages. Plus, it’s cheap to visit. Annual passes are less than $40, making the Crayola Experience one of the best values in family entertainment if you want to explore the park more than once a year.
15. Explore Longwood Gardens
