Best Family Weekend Destinations in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania offers exceptional family destinations across its full width — Philadelphia's museums, Hershey's theme park, Amish country, and the Pocono resorts.

Hersheypark (Hershey)
Pennsylvania's most-visited theme park — built by Milton Hershey adjacent to his Hershey chocolate factory. The park has 70+ rides including 13 roller coasters. The adjacent Hershey's Chocolate World (free, factory tour experience) and the ZooAmerica Wildlife Park (included with Hersheypark) make this a full-day destination. The town of Hershey itself has Hershey-shaped streetlights and is a completely company-created community.

Philadelphia: The Franklin Institute
The finest science museum in Pennsylvania — the 29-foot Benjamin Franklin statue, the Giant Heart (a walk-through model of a human heart, 1954 — the museum's signature exhibit), the Fels Planetarium, and the SportsZone make this a full family day. The adjacent Please Touch Museum (for children under 8) and the Philadelphia Zoo (the first zoo in the US, 1874) are within walking distance.

Gettysburg Battlefield
For families interested in history — the auto tour with the NPS audio guide makes the battlefield accessible to children. The Gettysburg Heritage Center (immersive battle simulation), the Gettysburg Address reading at the National Cemetery, and the ghost tours (Gettysburg has the most ghost tour operations of any city in the US) engage older children and teenagers.

Lancaster County Amish Experience
The Amish Farm and House tour, carriage rides through farm country, and the Strasburg Rail Road (operating steam trains between Strasburg and Paradise since 1832) combine education and experience in a way that works well for families. The Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania in Strasburg (national collection of steam locomotives) is adjacent.

Knoebels Amusement Resort (Elysburg)
Pennsylvania's most beloved regional amusement park — Knoebels has operated since 1926 and is one of the last free-admission amusement parks in the US (you pay per ride or buy a day pass). The Phoenix wooden roller coaster (consistently rated one of the best wooden coasters in the world) and the Haunted Mansion are classics.