Top Five Kid Friendly Outdoor Adventures in Pennsylvania

If you are thinking about celebrating Great Outdoors Month in Pennsylvania and you have children, you need to be cautious about the types of activities you plan on enjoying. These five kid friendly activities are all great ways to celebrate Great Outdoors Month in Pennsylvania while also creating outdoor adventures for all ages.

1. Visit a cave. Cave explorations provide excellent outdoors activities for kids and are safe and affordable. Many states offer cave tours and Pennsylvania provides some of the best on the East Coast. The cave tours are always guided and provide a fascinating view inside the Earth which adds learning to this kid friendly outdoor adventure. Crystal Cave in Kutztown, Pennsylvania was discovered in 1871 and has been open to the public ever since. Upon entering the cool underground cave visitors will see marvelous crystal formations growing on the walls, floors and ceilings of the cave. There is a small store at Crystal Cave as well where kids can take home a real crystal from their adventure. For a small fee children can even search for their own crystals the same way gold diggers do. The Crystal Cave has a water basin set up with buckets of dirt and rocks for those feeling adventurous. Children are particularly fascinated by this outdoor adventure and parents will enjoy it as well.

2. Go tubing. Tubing down the Delaware River is a true outdoor adventure for parents and children alike. While relaxing in a floating tube that carries you softly down the river you can observe many things in nature such as birds and animals. There are parks all along the Delaware River, as well as other places to stop such as quaint towns and eateries. The Delaware River can be accessed by New Jersey as well, and tubing sites are offered throughout the region. Pennsylvania offers a long walking and biking trail alongside the Delaware River as well which can be incorporated into this kid friendly outdoor adventure.

3. Visit a renowned park. While all outdoor parks offer scenes of nature and relaxation, some provide outdoor adventures as well. Delaware State Forest in the Pocono Mountains has an array of outdoor adventures waiting for you and your family including ten lakes with boating and other water activities. Most of the lakes are natural while a few are man made. There are also mountain regions and trails throughout the park allowing kids and adult opportunities to create exciting outdoor adventures. There are even waterfalls to explore and view within many of the lakes. The world famous Appalachian Trail also passes through many parts of the Delaware State Forest and River throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Camping, picnicking, hiking and hunting are just some of the many options available to anyone searching for a kid friendly outdoor adventure in Pennsylvania.

4. Go biking. Taking a bike ride down the Lehigh River Gorge trail is a truly exciting outdoor adventure. The trail is on a slightly downhill slope and offers spectacular views all along the way. There are no cars or vehicles on the trail which make it truly safe for all. The trail is actually an abandoned railroad bed, and passes through the Lehigh Gorge State Park. There are picnic tables available all along the route as well as other unique features such as relics from the past railroad. Children will be amazed at the sights and adults will appreciate the outdoor adventure, as well.

5. Go whitewater rafting. Whitewater rafting may seem like a dangerous activity, but many sources in Pennsylvania offer family style outdoor adventures that are safe and fun. The adventure is routed through areas of the Lehigh River that are known for being calm so that there is no chance of turbulence that may be dangerous to children. Additionally, to accommodate children these trips typically last three to four hours instead of six or more. Whitewater rafting trips are offered all summer long and often include other fun events during the day trip including a barbecue or meetup at the end.