Pennsylvania Dutch Country Family Vacation

March 30, 2014 by Kirsten 2 Comments

We have been fortunate enough to be able to make visits to Pennsylvania Dutch Country several times for family vacations (sometimes even several times each year!). Often known as Amish Country, Lancaster, or Lancaster County, the area really consists of many towns and villages. With names like Intercourse, Bird-in-Hand, and Paradise, PA you really can’t go wrong on any trip to this beautiful area. The town of Hershey is close by as well, and it is generally included under the PA Dutch Country umbrella. If you are making a family vacation out of it, you can visit any of these areas while staying in another. If you are doing an East Coast trip, you can add PA Dutch Country to a longer road trip to places like Philadelphia (about 1.5 hours away), the Delaware and Maryland beaches, Baltimore (about 1.5 hours), Washington DC (2 hours) or New York City (3 hours).

I have compiled some of our favorite things to do when we visit PA Dutch Country. It is an extremely family-friendly place to visit, and can also be great for couples as well (my parents went on their honeymoon here!). There are many more things to add to this list, but these 20 are a good start as you plan a family PA Dutch Country trip (and you should).

Pennsylvania Dutch Country Family Vacation

20 Family-Friendly Things to Do

1. Cherry Crest Adventure Farm

Cherry Crest Adventure Farm is a great place to spend a day when the weather is nice and you want some outdoor fun for the kids! We have been several times, and our kids just love it. There are tons of fun family-friendly activities, like a huge corn maze, animals to pet and feed, tractor rides, and so much more.

One of the many fun activities at Cherry Crest Farm in PA Dutch Country

2. Sight & Sound Theatre

Even for those of us who are not religious, the productions at the Sight & Sound Theatre are pretty amazing. They “bring Bible stories to life” with their various productions. We saw an amazing show there (Jonah). The sets for their shows are very elaborate & they even use live animals, which was pretty cool. When I asked my daughter what she learned from the story of Jonah and the Whale she said “don’t jump off a boat, even if God tells you to.” That’s my girl.

Sight & Sound Theatre in Lancaster County, PA – Jonah

3. Dutch Wonderland

Dutch Wonderland is a cute amusement park that is great for kids that are on the younger side. We brought the kids here a few times when they were younger, and they absolutely loved it. There are lots of rides and a water play area for little kids, but with older kids I would go to HersheyPark instead.

Dutch Wonderland is awesome for little kids!

4. Hershey Park

Hershey Park at Christmas!

I have so many great, funny, and gross Hershey Park stories to share, but I will save those for another time. We’ve been to Hershey many times, in different seasons, and it is always so much fun. There are rides that are suitable for the entire family, from little kids to those daring roller coaster lovers (and then there’s me, who gets to hold the bags for everyone because I’m too chicken to ride). Hershey Park is consistently rated as one of the best amusement parks in the country. There is a fun water park area within the park as well. It is a great addition to a PA Dutch Country trip.

Where else can you get your picture taken with a life-sided Hershey chocolate bar?

Where else can you get your picture taken with a life-sized Hershey chocolate bar?

5. Lancaster Science Factory

If you’ve explored my website much, you can tell that we are a family of science loving nerds. Or at the very least, science museum lovers. We visited the Lancaster Science Factory on one of our trips, and we really enjoyed it. We like the hands-on learning that these kinds of places deliver, and this one didn’t disappoint. It was small, which suited our purposes fine, as we didn’t have an entire day to devote to the visit.

Fun family times at the Lancaster Science Factory

6. Horse and Buggy Ride

There are so many horse & buggy ride providers that I cannot even remember the names of the ones that we have used. We have taken these rides through the Amish countryside a few times, and have always really enjoyed it. It’s not hard to find places to hop on a buggy when you are in PA Dutch Country, and I highly recommend giving it a try. The farm scenery is just gorgeous, and most of the guides are very knowledgeable and will answer my your dumb questions about Amish culture (ie Can Amish people drink alcohol? What is Rumspringa? Is there really an Amish mafia?).

7. Kitchen Kettle Village

There are lots of things to do in Kitchen Kettle Village, and you can spend a few hours walking around and taking it all in. There are shops where you can buy local items like canned foods, cafes, and one of the above-mentioned buggy rides. The kids can ride a pony & get their picture taken with a sign that says Intercourse (worth the trip).

8. Farm Stay

I am reluctant to even mention this because we love it sooooooooo much, and it is already really hard to get a reservation. There are a few places in the area where you can stay on a working farm in a B&B type of lodging and participate in some of the farm activities. Our favorite is Rocky Acre Farm (let us make our reservations first, and then you can try it). The farm house has a variety of different types of rooms that you can stay in, and a fabulous (communal style) breakfast is included. There are tons of cats and kittens, which is a dream come true for my daughter. The kids can collect the eggs that are used for breakfast, you can milk and feed the cows, take an ATV ride through the farm, a tractor ride & just completely decompress. This is a very family-oriented place (ie not romantic & I would never stay here without kids).

Feeding the baby cows

Collecting eggs from the hen house

Milking a cow

9. National Christmas Center

It’s Christmas all the time at the National Christmas Center! You can pretty much see every type of Christmas related item ever created on display here. There are lots of decorated trees, of course, as well as information on the history of Christmas customs. When we were there, Santa was there too (it was right around Christmastime) and the kids got to do the whole sitting on Santa’s lap thing. Plus they have old-school Santa themed cigarette displays.

Who knew that Santa smokes?

10. PA Dutch Food

There are a seemingly endless number of smorgasbord restaurants in Lancaster County. My husband has a deep-seated hatred of the word smorgasbord, possibly related to a traumatic childhood smorgasbord memory, so we call them buffets. Pennsylvania Dutch food is a thing, so there are tons of restaurants dedicated to it in the area. I admit, it’s not my favorite, but we always go to a buffet or two (when in Rome….) while we are visiting. There are things like buttered noodles, lots of meats, pickled things, scrapple, fried things, and lots of pies (shoofly and whoopie). Pretzels are popular too.

11. Mini Golf

Just like the multitude of horse & buggy rides, there are tons of mini golf places in the area. We have a mini-golf fan in the family, so we have tried a few of them here.

12. Pretzel Factory Tour

There are a couple of pretzel factories in the area, but the one that we visited was the Julius Sturgis pretzel factory. We were able to take a tour to see how the pretzels were made in the original ovens, and we were each given a piece of dough and were taught how to make a pretzel ourselves. It was lots of fun & the pretzels are great. There is also the Intercourse Pretzel Factory, which I remember enjoying on a visit with my parents many years ago. Plus you may prefer the name.

13. Hershey’s Chocolate World

Right next to Hershey Park, but separate from it, is Hershey’s Chocolate World. It is free to get in, and they have the best milkshakes ever! There is a store where you can purchase all of the candy. Yikes! There is a free ride where you learn how chocolate is made, and they pipe in some faux chocolate scents to make you want to eat all of the chocolate. It works. They also have things like a make your own candybar assembly line (fun) and a 4D movie (ok). Those extras cost money, but you don’t actually have to be visiting HersheyPark to visit Chocolate World.

Making our own candy bars at Hershey’s Chocolate World

14. Doll Outlet

If you have a family member (no gender-bias here) who is a fan of dolls, then he or she will love this doll outlet! The Doll Outlet has what appears to be millions of dolls and doll related items. The huge variety of outfits that fit American Girl Dolls was a big hit with my daughter. They even have Amish-style outfits for your AG doll.

15. Strasburg Railroad

This is a must-do for the train enthusiast in the family. The Strasburg Railroad runs right by Cherry Crest Farm (above). It is a steam train that takes you through the Amish Countryside for a 45 minute ride. If you have a Thomas the Tank Engine fan (ugh!), then it gets even better. They have special days out with Thomas that are very popular & the train is actually pulled by a Thomas train. I am so happy that we are past the Thomas phase. Good luck to those of you who are still in it. Is it better or worse that Barney and/or Teletubbies?

16. Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire

Medieval torture device at the PA Ren Faire

What can I say about the PA Ren Faire? If you want to see a bunch of grown men prancing around in period costumes, wearing tights, and talking in strange accents, all while getting really drunk on ale & eating huge (genetically modified?) turkey legs…this is the place for you! There are jousting tournaments and human chess. There are performers (and wannabe performers) everywhere you turn. Music, comedy, magic. Lots of food. Some of the best people watching ever. We go almost every year & have so.much.fun. I think we are weird.

God save the Queen? At the PA Ren Faire

The Renaissance Faire usually runs from August to October, and they have various theme weekends (family, Celtic, etc). There is a Hampton Inn directly across the street, and we have stayed there for the pure convenience of it. It is expensive (for what you get) around the Faire time, so this can be a good use of Hhonors points if you have them.

One of the old school rides for kids at the PA Ren Faire

17. Amish Tours

There are lots of different types of Amish tours throughout the area. I have visited the Amish Village many years ago, and I remember learning about various aspects of Amish life (one thing that sticks out in my mind is tobacco plants…weird). On most of our more recent visits, we have chosen to take the horse & buggy rides and visits to farms as a way to experience the beauty of the area and as a way to observe (from a distance) the Amish lifestyle.

We love the beauty of the Lancaster County countryside

18. Herr’s Snack Factory Tour

We haven’t visited the Herr’s Factory yet, but we have had it on our list of possible things to do during our visits. The times for the factory tours never seem to fit into our schedule, but it does look like a fun thing to do as a family.

19. Turkey Hill Experience

In all of our visits to PA Dutch Country, we have yet to try the Turkey Hill Experience, but it is on our list for next time. “The Turkey Hill Experience features interactive exhibits allowing you to learn about dairy culture, the story of Turkey Hill Dairy, and how the company’s ice cream and iced tea flavors are selected and created. You will truly experience what it’s like to be a Turkey Hill Dairy ice cream maker for a day, including the opportunity to create your own virtual ice cream flavor. In addition, you can sit in our vintage milk truck, milk our mechanical cows, star in your very own Turkey Hill commercial, and enjoy plenty of free samples of iced tea and ice cream!”

20. Lapp Valley Farm

Great ice cream and a beautiful farm setting…how can you go wrong? Lapp Valley Farm is consistently mentioned when the discussion turns to the best ice cream ever. It is homemade and really creamy. You can walk around a bit and see the farm animals and the peacocks. Just beautiful.

Valley of Fire, Nevada : 3 reasons you should visit

March 24, 2014 by Kirsten Leave a Comment

Valley of Fire State Park in Nevada is a fantastic place to stop on the way to or from Las Vegas (or as a day trip). It’s a beautiful place to visit in and of itself, and we learned a lot on our visit there.

3 reasons you should visit Valley of Fire:

1. The red sandstone formations

These sandstone formations really do lend themselves to the “Valley of Fire” name. The colors are so rich and vibrant. And it was a million degrees when we were there, so we kind of felt like we really were on fire. There are different places to do some easy (kid-friendly) hikes and explore the park.

The various shapes and formations of the sandstone make for some great photographs, even from an iphone!

2. 3000 year old Indian petroglyphs

The Anasazi lived in this area from about 300 BC to 1150 AD, and it is believed that they made the petroglyphs (rock art) that exist here. There is something very surreal about standing there looking at art that was created thousands of years ago, and it’s just there, unprotected, for all to see and experience. It was quiet and almost empty when we were there (it was a million degrees Fahrenheit that day, so I understand why we were among the only crazy visitors), which added to the eerie feeling. I could almost imagine myself living there 3000 years ago. I tried to get my kids to sit there & close their eyes and imagine it also. They were probably thinking about video games though.

3. The Petrified Wood

I still can’t wrap my head around the whole petrified wood concept. I mean, who was walking by and just happened to see this thing (see photo), and figured out that it was a tree millions of years ago and then it turned to stone. Respect to the scientists. Pretty cool.

My daughter checking out the Petrified Log, Valley of Fire State Park

For sure there are more than these 3 reasons to visit Valley of Fire State Park, but they were my 3 favorites. Enjoy!

Cheap Family Science Center & Museum Pass…..HURRY!

March 15, 2014 by Kirsten 2 Comments

: Buy an Annual Pass for 4 for less than $50! Plus get admission to 300 other Museums!

How to get a cheap Family Science Center & Museum pass….limited time offer!

One of our favorite things to do as a family, whether at home or while traveling, is to visit family-friendly Science Museums. Last week we went to the Maryland Science Center in Baltimore for the second time, and we had a blast!

I came across this deal today on Living Social for an annual membership for a family of 4 to the Maryland Science Center. I used the code 15OFFMARCH in the promo code section to bring the total down to $52.70, which is a fabulous bargain. On top of that, I will get 6% cash back by going through the Ebates shopping portal (if you are unfamiliar with shopping portals, see this and this).

This is a limited time offer, so I wanted to make sure that you all can take advantage of this if you are interested.

Now, here is the best part of this deal….

There is a group of about 300 museums that have a reciprocal relationship with one another. Meaning, if you have an annual pass for one museum, you can use it to get into other museums & science centers within the group. You can find the current list here, and I can say that we have been to several of the museums on that list (including our recent visit to the Franklin Institute). We have a trip to Chicago coming up, and there are some places on this list that I was eyeing up for our visit. I am excited about this because I am always looking for ways to save money on our family activities on our vacations. My plan is to bring the Living Social voucher with me (since we won’t be in Baltimore again before Chicago for me to get the actual pass in hand). I may also see if there is another way that I can get the pass in hand without going to Baltimore first. I have read from others that this should work, so we’ll see!

You can also read about the restrictions here. It looks like museums within 90 miles of each other are excluded, and possibly museums within 90 miles of your home. I have heard from others that the enforcement of these restrictions is pretty non-existent, but YMMV. The admission is good for general admission, so things like IMAX tickets will cost extra (thanks Captain Obvious).

So HURRY UP and get this deal while it is still available people!

Yosemite National Park with Kids

February 18, 2014 by Kirsten 2 Comments

Yosemite National Park – Mother Nature at her finest

Yosemite National Park with Kids: Trip Report

As part of our 3 week-long National Parks road trip in the Summer of 2013, we drove from San Francisco to Yosemite National Park, where we spent 2 nights in Curry Village in one of their tents. I don’t really have words to describe the beauty of Yosemite. These kinds of trips make me feel more connected to the world, at the same time feeling small and insignificant compared to the vastness of these spaces, and also important enough that I live in a time when places such as these are accessible to me. It’s often a spiritual experience for me, this feeling of being connected. Yosemite was one of a handful of places where I have felt this way.

I mean:

We spent 2 days in the park, doing a few beautiful hikes and exploring the gorgeousness. The Park Rangers were super helpful with suggesting hikes that would be family-friendly. My kids have a decent amount of stamina (not saying they don’t complain though), but it’s best to know their limits and plan accordingly. The also participated in the Junior Ranger program and earned their badges!

Mariposa Grove

We drove to Mariposa Grove to hike among the ginormous trees. Totally worth it, but heed this advice: if the sign says that the parking lot is full & you need to go to a lower lot to catch a shuttle, take that with a grain of salt. We took the shuttle (very crowded & had to wait a while), and when we got to Mariposa Grove, there were tons of empty parking spots…grrrr. Other than that, it was just amazing to see trees so tall and old.

Mariposa Grove, really, really big trees

Doing tree yoga?

Holy Roots!

Yosemite Valley

We explored the valley and did some great hiking. The view of El Capitan from the El Capitan meadow are breathtaking. There is endless space for the kids to run around and places for them to climb.

El Capitan from Yosemite Valley

Glacier Point

This is one of those not-to-be-missed viewpoints. From the National Park website “From the Glacier Point parking and tour unloading area, a short, paved, wheelchair-accessible trail takes you to an exhilarating (some might say unnerving) point 3,214 feet above Curry Village, on the floor of Yosemite Valley.”

Glacier Point View

After our second night spent at Curry Village, we drove through the other side of Yosemite via the Tioga Pass road, on our way to Mammoth Lakes, CA. Along the way we made lots of stops, including these:

Olmstead Point:

Olmstead Point – no photo could ever do it justice

Tenaya Lake:

Tenaya Lake – nice place for a picnic

We left the park via the Tioga Pass, which is the highest highway in California and the Eastern entrance to Yosemite. You have to check road conditions, as weather can close the road, even in the summertime.

Have you been to Yosemite? Did you love it as much as we did?

San Francisco with Kids : 15 Things to Do

February 17, 2014 by Kirsten 3 Comments

San Francisco with Kids

In Summer of 2013 we visited San Francisco as part of a larger National Parks road trip, which took us to 5 states. We arrived in San Francisco via the Amtrak California Zephyr Train from Denver. For more about that part of the trip, see here. We spent a total of 4 nights in San Francisco (3 on the front end before the rest of the road trip & 1 night before we flew home).

We did so many fun things while we were in San Francisco. It is a perfect city for a family trip, as there is lots to do for kids and families. We were able to walk, use Uber, the Big Bus tour, or the cable cars to get around, and it was very easy.

15 Things to Do in San Francisco with the Kids:

1. Big Bus Tour San Francisco

As I have said before, we really like to get an overall feel for a city by taking one of the ubiquitous city tours that can be found everywhere in the United States. In San Francisco, we decided to go with the Big Bus tour so that we could ride on the top (the kids loved this!). We rode it all over the city and got out at various stops to see what we wanted to see. The recorded info that you hear on the headphones was interesting, but the background music was so annoying. There were some great views from the upper level of the bus.

View of Golden Gate Bridge from Big Bus

We also took the night tour (which costs extra). According to their website “The tour makes its way across the grand Bay Bridge for picturesque views of the city skyline from Treasure Island, site of the 1939’s World Fair.”

View of Bay Bridge and San francisco from Treasure Island

View of Bay Bridge and City from Treasure Island

Our bus happened to break down while we were on Treasure Island, and they had to send another bus to get us. It was really, really cold on the top of that bus while we were waiting. That was somewhat unexpected for us, but at least we had purchased sweatshirts and worn the warmest clothing that we had packed (which wasn’t much, considering other places we were going included Death Valley and Las Vegas in the summer). Note to self (and anyone else who might need this tip): bring warmer clothes to San Francisco in the Summer, it will be colder than you think.

2. Fisherman’s Wharf

Yes, it is cheesy and touristy. It can also be very fun, in a cheesy & touristy kind of way. My kids love this kind of cheese. Cheap Made-in-China souvenir shops on every corner (handy for those sweatshirts you’ll need for the Big Bus tour), ice cream shops, restaurants, and lots of people knitting Angry Birds and Pokemon hats on the streets (what’s up with that?). And Pier 39, of course:

Pier 39 Sea Lions

3. Pier 39 Sea Lions

One of the biggest attractions of this area are the Sea Lions that hang out on the docks. There is plenty of room to stand or sit and watch their antics. We watched for quite a while as they playfully fought with each other, made lots of noise, rolled around, and also just laid there. There is something cool about watching bizarre looking animals doing things. And it entertained the kids for free.

The very windy Lombard Street

4. Lombard Street

Supposedly the crookedest street in the world, Lombard Street is a must-see attraction in San Francisco (IMHO). I remember going there as a kid with my family, and it was something that stuck in my mind forever. When I returned to San Francisco as an adult, it was no less impressive than my memories of it. We walked the STEEP road up to the top and walked down the curvy and beautiful road to the bottom. The flowers and architecture are just gorgeous. I can’t even imagine what you would have to do to afford one of those colorful houses!

Ghirardelli Square – the ice cream…yum

5. Ghirardelli Square ice cream

I admit it, we visited for the ice cream. We are an ice cream loving family & this did not disappoint. It wasn’t my favorite ice cream in San Francisco (see below), but it was really good. It’s also in an easy, walkable location while visiting the other sites nearby.

The Ferry Building, San Francisco

Farmer’s Market at the Ferry Building

6. Ferry Building and Farmer’s Market

This beautiful marketplace was practically across from our hotel (Hyatt Regency San Francisco). We walked over and were able to take advantage of the farmer’s market that was set up outside – we tasted and bought some delicious plums and peaches. We also walked around inside and bought some food at different vendors. They have everything from artisan cheeses to breads and ice cream. This is a foodie paradise.

Dancing in the colored lights at the Exploratorium

7. The Exploratorium

The Exploratorium is a hands-on learning experience for kids, and we can’t get enough of these kinds of places. This was one of the better ones we have been to among the several we have visited across the country. It was both fun and educational (as I like to say, you know it’s good when the kids don’t even realize that they are learning). And you can get this photo op in case you need an idea for your next holiday card:

8. Union Street

We got out of the Big Bus and walked around on Union Street, which is a quaint Victorian style neighborhood with shops and restaurants. We ate at Roam Burger, which, in all of their organic and grass-fed goodness, was the perfect choice for us. When travelling with the kids, quick, casual, and delicious food is about as good as it gets. As much as San Francisco has some of the best nicer restaurants on the planet, we will be saving those for an adults-only trip.

9. Chinatown San Francisco

Probably our favorite Chinatown we have been to, San Francisco’s claims to be the largest outside of Asia. It really is huge, with lots of great places to explore. The shops are colorful, eccentric and cheap. There are Pokemon cards and collectibles, and little dolls with large heads that your daughter will beg you to buy. There are too many restaurants to choose from. We had dim sum (at Great Eastern Restaurant) for the first time, and it will not be the last.

We also visited the Golden Gate Fortune Cookie Factory, which is a tiny little place down an alley & looks nothing like what you might think of as a “factory” of modern times. They have been making the cookies there forever & they make them by hand. You can buy huge bags of them for cheap & they taste completely different (in a good way) when they are so fresh. And just to add more calories into the mix, the best ice cream was at the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory. You only live once, so try the Black Sesame or Durian (Stinky Fruit) flavors.

Walking across the Golden Gate bridge

10. Golden Gate Bridge

This one is kind of a no brainer. We walked across & that helped to burn off all of the ice cream calories. I would definitely recommend walking the length of the bridge if you are able. You get a different perspective of the size and scale of the bridge, and seeing it up close is really breathtaking. It was foggy (of course), but we were still able to see some views of Alcatraz and the city.

walking across the very top of the golden gate bridge

Scariest job in the world?

11. Alcatraz Island

Please learn from our mistake and purchase your Alcatraz tickets ahead of time. We tried to get them about 1.5 months before our trip, and every single time was sold out for all of July and August. We later found out that these tickets book up very fast (and are also purchased by resellers), so if you are going at a popular time of year then buy in advance. We will do this next time.

San Francisco Cable Car

12. San Francisco Cable Car

This was another iconic San Francisco attraction that we did not want to miss. We boarded the cable car at Powell and Market streets, where there is a cable car turntable. We had to decide which line to take, but we really didn’t have much of a preference because our goal was to ride the Cable Car and get close to Fisherman’s Wharf. Both the Powell-Mason and the Powell-Hyde lines will get you over in that direction, but the routes are different, so make sure you check into the route maps if you have a preference.

A few things for next time:

13. Musee Mechanique

“one of the world’s largest (over 200) privately owned collection of coin-operated mechanical musical instruments and antique arcade machines in their original working condition. (You can play them!)”

14. California Academy of Sciences

Fun science learning. Right up our alley.

15. Golden Gate Park

The weather wasn’t cooperative enough for us to do this on this visit, although we did drive through on the Big Bus, and it looks like a great place to go when the weather is right.

Click here to read about how we stayed in San Francisco for free, and even got upgraded to a bigger room! Keep reading by subscribing to emails on the right hand column over there at the top.

Philadelphia with Kids : Things to Do

February 14, 2014 by Kirsten Leave a Comment

Ben Franklin Statue inside the Franklin Institute

A Vacation in our own Backyard : Philadelphia

We had a free hotel night that was about to expire (it was from an SPG stay one night get one free promotion in 2013). With no time to travel anywhere far and only one night to spare, we decided to use it at the Westin Philadelphia, which is within easy driving distance for us. As one who has lived for a good portion of 40 years in the surrounding area, having attended both college and graduate school in the city, I don’t think I ever fully appreciated it until I had kids of my own to schlep around to all of the wonderful sites to see in Philly.

On this weekend trip we went to the Franklin Institute, did the Philadelphia Trolley Tour, walked around Chinatown, visited the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, and ate too much food.

Things to do with kids in Philadelphia:

Exterior of the Franklin Institute

1. Franklin Institute

We have been to the Franklin Institute many times, but this time we were going for the temporary Pompeii exhibit. My son is studying this ancient culture in school, so this was a great opportunity for some hands-on learning. That is the best thing about the Franklin Institute. The kids (and adults) are learning without even realizing it. There are many exhibits focusing on science (physics, biology, earth science & all the other things that sound really boring but are actually very interesting in this environment). You can walk through a giant heart, see an IMAX or 3D movie, fly airplanes & go inside a train. A family favorite is the Sports Challenge area where as you “ test your athletic prowess throughout the state-of-the-art sports challenges, you will also be learning about the physics, physiology, and material science that is a major part of all your favorite sports. Once you understand the role science plays in your favorite sports, you can be on your way to becoming a better athlete.”

2. Philly Trolley Works Tour

While we were at the Franklin Institute, a kind stranger approached and gave us the unused portion of 4 CityPass books. I was psyched because you know how I like free stuff! One of the attractions they had not used was the Philadelphia Trolley Works/Big Bus Tours. We decided to use these tickets, and were so glad that we did! I love taking an overall tour in a new city to get a lay of the land, but it turned out to be just as useful for a city where I have been countless times and have even lived! It is nice to get the tour guides’ commentary on familiar places, and even to find some new places to see.

View of the Philadelphia Art Museum, Ben Franklin Parkway, from the Trolley

The Liberty Bell, crack and all

3. The Liberty Bell

I mean, it’s THE Liberty Bell, so I shouldn’t have to do too much describing here, right? Other than the fact that the kids were very interested to find out how it became cracked & the answer is pretty anticlimactic. But another good hands-on learning experience.

Independence Hall – a ridiculous amount of history happened here

4. Independence Hall

“Independence Hall is the birthplace of America. The Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were both debated and signed inside this building.” Wow, that’s pretty cool. I admit it took me about 40 years to really find this to be interesting (I’ve never been a huge history buff), but taking the (free!) tour and seeing the actual chair where George Washington sat kind of gave me chills.

The Gateway to Chinatown, Philadelphia

5. Chinatown

We, as a family, are strangely really into Chinatowns. There is just something about the vibe, architecture, cheap stores, and food. This is our 3rd Chinatown visit (others were New York and San Francisco) in 6 months. We ate at a great restaurant at the suggestion of a friend & tried a red bean bun (much better than it sounds) at the suggestion of the tour guide.

Where to Eat in Philadelphia with Kids:

There are tons of places to choose from…these are the ones we tried this time -

1. Max Brenner – it’s a restaurant based on chocolate. ‘Nuf said. We went for dessert.

European Chocolate Fondue at Max Brenners

2. 500 degrees burger – I’m told the burgers were great. They have truffle fries and a vegetarian mushroom burger, so we were all happy.

3. Federal Donuts – They looked better than they tasted.

4. Vietnam Restaurant – So. Good. And good vegetarian/pescatarian choices.

5. Franklin Foodworks – the cafeteria style restaurant in the Franklin Institute. Not bad for this type of restaurant & they did have decent salads.

Junior Ranger Program : National Parks

February 7, 2014 by Kirsten 3 Comments

Some of the Junior Ranger booklets and badges we have collected

Junior Ranger Program

In most of the National Parks we have visited, the kids have participated in the Junior Ranger program, which I highly recommend. When you arrive at the National Park Visitor’s Center, ask someone where you can get the information about the Junior Rangers. They will give you a booklet to complete, with all of the tasks that need to be accomplished before returning to a Visitor’s Center and claiming your badge (free souvenir…score!). The kids may be asked to raise their hands and repeat after the Ranger (hint: this is a cute photo op).

I will happily ~~force~~ encourage my kids to participate in these programs because I learned so much more than I would have if they hadn’t. The booklets will give you information about the local plants and animals, and fun facts about the parks. I have found these to be more useful than many of the guidebooks I have read! Because of these programs, we participated in Ranger-led hikes, watched informative films, listened to Ranger talks (who knew dolphins aren’t actually smiling?!?!), and learned about native cultures and traditions.

Plus it is just really nice family bonding time, and who can argue with that?

According to their website:

“There are currently over 200 Junior Ranger Programs in the National Park Service. In each of these parks, kids interview Rangers, complete games, and answer questions about the park and the National Park Service. At the end of their experience in the park, they are sworn in as Junior Rangers and receive a special certificate and official Junior Ranger badge.”

This is yet another example of how travel can be both educational and fun. At times the kids didn’t even realize that they were learning something! I love relaxing days on the beach as much as the next vacationer, but I also try building in some educational travel on our trips, especially on a long vacation. I’m not going to pretend that the kids always go with the travel flow as much as I want them to, but the Junior Ranger program is one that we generally all agree is very worthwhile.

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Pennsylvania Dutch Country Family Vacation

20 Family-Friendly Things to Do

1. Cherry Crest Adventure Farm

2. Sight & Sound Theatre

3. Dutch Wonderland

4. Hershey Park

5. Lancaster Science Factory

6. Horse and Buggy Ride

7. Kitchen Kettle Village

8. Farm Stay

9. National Christmas Center

10. PA Dutch Food

11. Mini Golf

12. Pretzel Factory Tour

13. Hershey’s Chocolate World

14. Doll Outlet

15. Strasburg Railroad

16. Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire

17. Amish Tours

18. Herr’s Snack Factory Tour

19. Turkey Hill Experience

20. Lapp Valley Farm

3 reasons you should visit Valley of Fire:

1. The red sandstone formations

2. 3000 year old Indian petroglyphs

3. The Petrified Wood

How to get a cheap Family Science Center & Museum pass….limited time offer!

Yosemite National Park with Kids: Trip Report

Mariposa Grove

Yosemite Valley

Glacier Point

Olmstead Point:

Tenaya Lake:

San Francisco with Kids

15 Things to Do in San Francisco with the Kids:

1. Big Bus Tour San Francisco

2. Fisherman’s Wharf

3. Pier 39 Sea Lions

4. Lombard Street

5. Ghirardelli Square ice cream

6. Ferry Building and Farmer’s Market

7. The Exploratorium

8. Union Street

9. Chinatown San Francisco

10. Golden Gate Bridge

A Vacation in our own Backyard : Philadelphia

Things to do with kids in Philadelphia:

Where to Eat in Philadelphia with Kids:

Junior Ranger Program

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