'Mom, I'm bored!' Check out 12 day trips for families to take from Central PA
We're a month into summer, and now your family is ready to get out and have some fun.
Sure, the family could take a trip to one of the amusement parks in the region or take a hike at one of the many state and local parks. But there are some other sites or to learn about science, history, or animals, or just to have fun.
Here are a dozen places to consider for a day trip:
Crayola Experience
Address: 30 Centre Square, Easton, Pennsylvania 18042
Phone: (610) 515-8000
Website: crayolaexperience.com/easton
Families can express their creativity at this museum, learn about how crayons are made and play some games. The Crayola Factory, which is larger than NFL football field, features 27 attractions "where color, chemistry, and technology magically combine to create a colorful adventure for your child," according to the website.
Children can make spin art, turn a photo into a coloring page, and see a 1,500-pound blue crayon created from crayon donations from around the world, according to the website.
The color playground is now open.
East Broad Top Railroad
Address: 421 Meadow Street, Rockhill Furnace, Pennsylvania 17249
Phone: (814) 447-3285
Website: eastbroadtop.com
While there are a variety train rides to take in the region, such as Strasburg Rail Road in Lancaster County and the Northern Central Railway (formerly Steam Into History) in York County, the East Broad Top Railroad, which had been on an endangered list for decades, has been preserved and is running again. The narrow-gauge railroad was built from 1872 to 1874.
Visitors can check out the nearby Rockhill Trolley Museum to take a ride on a trolley. One of the trolleys — York No. 163 — operated in York years ago.
Go 'N Bananas
Address: 1170 Garfield Ave., Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17601
Website: gonbananas.com
This 22,000-square-foot indoor play attraction offers a variety of fun for the family, including a playground with foam balls, blasters, fountains and slides; laser tag, a rope course, an arcade, a toddler zone and more.
It offers a new attraction for visitors: XD Dark Ride. It's a 7D-interactive theater that will make viewers feel like they are part of the action, according to the website.
Havre de Grace, Maryland (the Promenade)
Address: Commerce Street, Havre de Grace, Maryland 21078
Phone for visitor center: (410) 939-2100
Website: explorehavredegrace.com
Take a walk along the Promenade and enjoy looking over the waterfront where the Susquehanna River meets the Chesapeake Bay. Watch the boats go by. See the 1827 Concord Point Lighthouse. Let the children play on the playground at Millard Tydings Memorial Park.
Visitors can check out museums in the area, including the Havre de Grace Decoy Museum and the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum and Environmental Center. Families can learn about the art of decoy carving and the maritime history of the area.
Hickory Falls
Address: 110 Hickory Lane, Hanover, Pennsylvania 17331
Cost: Varies. You can pay per attraction or buy a package.
Website: hickoryfalls.com
Check out a huge indoor playground — a big jungle gym with slides, tubes, swings, a trampoline area and more. There's one gate to the indoor playground, which helps when it comes to keeping track of children. Or perhaps you want to go for a race on one of the go-karts. It doesn't matter what the weather is because the indoor track is open year round. (You can race on the outside track, too, if the temperature is above 40 degrees and the weather isn't inclement.) The play facility also features a three-tier laser tag arena, rollerball bowling (duckpin bowling), an arcade and more. It's cheaper to buy a package, and the staff can help with selecting the right one based on the ages of the children.
Lancaster Science Factory
Address: 454 New Holland Avenue, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Phone: (717) 509-6363
Website: lancastersciencefactory.org
Who wouldn't want to launch airplanes, build bridges or learn how a hydroelectric dam works?
The Science Factory features more than 70 hands-on exhibits related to science, engineering, technology and mathematics, and some families spend all day at the center as their children experiment while learning, said Amanda Bakay, director of operations. It's geared for children in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade.
The more than 17,000-square-foot, air-conditioned science center is located in a reclaimed warehouse, and it's a place that families can go on a hot or rainy day.
"It's a good place to visit in the summer time, for sure," Bakay said.
Land of Little Horses
Address: 125 Glenwood Dr. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325
Phone: (717) 334-7259
Website: landoflittlehorses.com
Families can see 50 horses — miniatures, ponies and full-size ones — as well as farm and exotic animals at this attraction in Adams County.
Visitors can see shows performed by the miniature horses, spend time in a Western town and take a pony ride, according to its website.
Tony Garulo and Stu Erickson started the attraction in 1971 when they imported 25 Falabella miniature horses from Argentina. It has changed ownership over the years, but the tradition has continued.
Millersburg Ferry
Address: P.O. Box 93, Millersburg, Pennsylvania 17061
Phone: (717) 692-2442
Website: millersburgferry.org
Before bridges spanned the Susquehanna River, people crossed the water on a ferry boat. Families can see what it was like by taking a ride on the Millersburg Ferry, which has been in continuous operation since 1817, according to its website. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
It features two wooden boats: The Roaring Bull V, built in 1998, and The Falcon III, built in 1917. Both can carry up to four vehicles or more than 20 motorcycles, according to the website.
Penn's Cave & Wildlife Park
Address: 222 Penns Cave Road, Centre Hall, Pennsylvania.
Phone: (814) 364-1664
Website: pennscave.com
Here's a cool way to beat the heat. Penn's Cave — not far from State College, Pennsylvania — is a cool 52 degrees. It has been open since 1885, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Visitors tour the limestone cavern by boat and see a variety of stalactites and stalagmites. One formation looks like "The Statue of Liberty." Another reminds visitors of the Nittany Lion. It's an active, living cave, meaning that the formations continue to grow.
In addition to the cave, visitors can take the Farm, Nature and Wildlife Tour. They can see a variety of animals, such as the mountain lion, timber wolves, elk, black bears, bison and more. Other activities also are available.
The State Museum of Pennsylvania
Address: 300 North St., Harrisburg, PA 17120
Phone: (717) 787-4980
Website: statemuseumpa.org
It's a popular museum for school field trips, but it's nice to make another visit to learn more about the Keystone State's history and culture. It's where visitors can learn more about early Native American culture, the Pennsylvania Turnpike, the species of animals that live here, and products made in the state.
The displays show how Pennsylvania — its people, places, products and events — have influenced the nation, according to the website.
Strasburg Rail Road
Address: 301 Gap Road, Ronks, Pennsylvania 17572
Phone: 1-866-725-9666
Website: strasburgrailroad.com
This popular tourist attraction in Lancaster County offers a 45-minute ride through the countryside.
It features a variety of locomotives, including No. 475, the rail road's oldest and second largest steam locomotive, according to the website.
Visitors can book a behind the scenes tour of the railroad, and special events are offered throughout the year.
Visitors also can walk across the street to visit the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, which features a variety of trains, artifacts and more.
Turkey Hill Experience
Address: 301 Linden Street, Columbia, Pennsylvania 17512
Phone: (717) 684-0134
Website: turkeyhillexperience.com
It's summer — a great time to sample ice cream and tea at the Turkey Hill Experience in Lancaster County — and learn about how the products are made. Visitors can experiment with making their own virtual flavor, create a commercial for it, and learn about the history of Turkey Hill. The attraction features plenty of interactive play for children. For an extra price, visitors can make their own ice cream flavors — for real — in the Taste Lab.
This article originally appeared on York Daily Record: Check out 12 day trips for families to take from Central PA
