Day Trips for Families in the Lehigh Valley, Pennsylvania

For many families, the summer season brings thoughts of a leisurely week away at some far-off destination with the kids. These days, however, not everyone can afford a destination vacation, and many families are opting to take "staycations" and "daycations" in their hometowns instead. For those who live in the Lehigh Valley area, comprised of the cities of Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and their surrounding areas, there are lots of day trip options for families. These vacation spots in the Lehigh Valley are close, fun, and much less expensive than the cost of gas and a hotel room somewhere else. These trips for families in the Lehigh Valley don't need to be reserved for summer, though; most of them are open year-round and provide a perfect escape for a lazy weekend or even a random weekday throughout the year. Forget the expense of a far-away locale and instead reacquaint yourself with all this part of the country has to offer for families. You'll save some money and have a great time making memories together.

Lehigh Valley Zoo
5150 Game Preserve Road
Schnecksville, PA 18078
610-799-4171

The Lehigh Valley Zoo is a fun and relaxing trip for families in the Lehigh Valley. Located in the middle of the Trexler Nature Preserve, the zoo is set in a beautiful location with lots of local and exotic animals, from North American River Otters to Zebras. The zoo's latest members are its African Penguins, which are quite a treat to see up close. When you arrive, you can leisurely stroll the paved paths in whatever direction you wish, exploring the animal habitats at your leisure. Kids will enjoy feeding the swans and brushing the goats, but perhaps the favorite experience is paying $1 to feed the lorikeets; simply hold out your cup of nectar and wait for these colorful birds to perch on your arm or shoulder and snack. When you and the kids need a break, head over to the playground and discovery garden. Here, kids can burn off energy as they play, explore native plants and butterflies in the garden, and the whole family can enjoy a picnic lunch at the picnic tables or on the lawn. The zoo also offers a full-service café and gift shop in the in-season. Beyond the zoo itself, enjoy your car ride through the nature preserve, viewing more animals like bison, and make sure you stop at the lookouts to take some beautiful mountaintop pictures. You can even ford the creek in your vehicle (a big treat for kids) and park the car to explore a nature trail on foot. The zoo is open year-round, so you can explore anytime you have a free day as a family.

Hours:
Daily, 10am-4pm (April 1-October 31); 10am-3pm (November 1-March31)
Admission Rates:
Adults $9.50 in-season, $7 off-season
Children 2-11 $7 all seasons
Children under 2 FREE
Seniors 65+ $7.75 in-season, $7 off-season
Zoo memberships start at only $45; Group rates are available.

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

The Crayola FACTORY® is a fun and interactive experience for the whole family in the heart of downtown Easton, PA. Here, kids and adults can experiment and play with all of the different art supplies Crayola® has to offer, including products that are brand-new to the market. Each person receives gold tokens with their admission ticket, which can be redeemed in special machines and exhibits for crayons, markers, and modeling clay. Start your day by learning how crayons are made in their special show; you may even get the chance to put a wrapper on a real Crayola® crayon. The FACTORY always has a theme which changes several times a year, ranging from tropical islands to the wild west. All of the art stations offer projects related to that theme, from coloring a picture to painting. Make sure you get your plastic Crayola bag to haul home all of your art supplies and projects you're sure to amass during your visit. There's even a special play place for toddlers and preschoolers to entertain them while their older siblings engage in more advanced projects. A McDonald's is attached to the FACTORY for an easy lunch, and be sure to check out the Crayola® Store, just outside and around the corner from the museum. Here, you can view the world's largest crayon, shop for any Crayola® product imaginable, and maybe even meet a real live Crayola® crayon. This famous Lehigh Valley attraction makes a perfect day trip for families that's educational and fun.

Hours:
9:30am-3pm; check the online calendar before you go; hours and closings vary throughout the year.
Admission Rates:
Adults & Children ages 3-64 $9.75
Seniors 65+ $9.25
Military Discount $8.75
Infants 2 and under FREE
Memberships start at $69
Prices do not include the 5% City of Easton Admissions Tax

DaVinci Science Center
3145 Hamilton Blvd. Bypass
Allentown, PA 18103
484-664-1002

The DaVinci Science Center makes learning about science a fun experience for people of all ages. While this center isn't as big as ones in major cities, there are lots of diverse, hands-on exhibits that make it a great day trip for families in the Lehigh Valley. My kids love going over and over, and each time we visit we discover something new. Children will have fun learning about safety as they "drive" a car, get wide-eyed over giant bugs and spiders, enjoy building a dinosaur fossil, laugh as they get wet with sea creatures like starfish, and be amazed at what they can accomplish with gears, ropes, and pulleys. DaVinci even has a special room just for preschoolers where they can play and explore with things such as giant foam blocks. Kids can also learn about the changing Earth, weather, and electricity. The center also regularly hosts special programs that run several times during the day for extra fun and learning. There's a spacious lunch room and café as well so you can enjoy lunch during your visit. But before you eat, an extra treat is a ride in the GyroSphere, which is not for the faint of heart. The great thing about DaVinci is that they're constantly working with area businesses and scientists to promote a love of science and technology among kids, encouraging them to pursue this field in their futures. Your kids will have such a great time on their vacation here in the Lehigh Valley, they won't even realize they're learning, and you'll enjoy watching them explore.

Hours:
Year-round: Mondays-Saturdays, 9:30am-5pm; Sundays 12noon-5pm
Admission Rates:
Adults $11.95
Seniors 62+ $8.95
Military Members/Veterans $8.95
Children ages 4-12 $8.95
Children ages 3 and under FREE
GyroSphere $2.50; $2 for members
Memberships start at $40; Group rates are available.

Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
3830 Dorney Park Road
Allentown, PA 18104
610-395-3724

Dorney Park has been a Lehigh Valley vacation destination for families for over 125 years. This amusement park has something for everyone, from world-famous coasters to the Peanuts® gang at Camp Snoopy. For thrill-seekers, there are 9 high-energy thrill rides, including ground-breaking coasters like Steel Force with its 205-foot drop and Talon, the tallest and longest inverted rollercoaster in the Northeast. There are also lots of classic rides from the 1921 carousel to favorites like the Scrambler, Sea Dragon boat, Thunder Creek Mountain log flume ride, and the whip. Kids will have a ball on all sorts of rides made just for them, including kiddie cars, a mini coaster, and play areas themed with the Peanuts® characters. Wildwater Kingdom has lots of water rides from lots of slides to water play areas and a wave pool. You can do both parks in one day, but there's so much to see, it's even better if you cover them over 2 days or choose one park in which to focus your time. With small children, our family only does the amusement park, since the stress of little ones and water is less like vacation and more like work, which makes for a great day. But if you have a high-energy family with older kids, have a ball cramming as much of both parks into a day of fun as you can. All of Dorney's rides and attractions can be visited on their website, and they offer fun in the Fall as well with their Halloween-themed weekends. No matter what the ages in your family, Dorney Park will give you a great day trip in the Lehigh Valley.

Hours:
Hours vary; check website for details.
Admission Rates:
Check here for all current admission prices, including combo tickets, Starlight admissions, season passes, and parking fees.
Children 2 & under are always FREE.