Blogroll

Paulus Farm Market

sign for Paulus Farm Market decorated with fall corn husks and a scarecrow

Date of Visit: September 23, 2020

Paulus Farm Market is located just off the Gettysburg Pike exit of the Pennsylvania Turnpike (you can actually see it along the eastbound lanes).

While it is a farm market, it’s also a farm playground, one that is perfect for toddlers and preschoolers.

barns and field of Paulus Farm Market

The Farm Park is open daily from spring through late fall. During the fall months, the activities expand to include a mini corn maze and pick-your-own pumpkins. But a visit during the spring and summer offers plenty to do.

sign advertising feeding a treat to animals at Paulus Farm Market

Admission is $3 per guest with the option to purchase a bag of feed for the animals for $3.75. The bag of feed is definitely worth it because the animal encounters are the highlight of any visit.

Our “feed” included two apples, four pretzel rods and a bunch of leaves. A chalkboard by the entry to the Farm Park explained which animals would enjoy each snack.

sheep poking its head through a fence at Paulus Farm Market

All of the animals clearly know what the bag means because. Our first stop was with the sheep, and as soon as they saw us coming, they stuck their heads through the fence in eager anticipation.

The sheep loved the leaves and were practically begging for more. Thankfully for them there seemed to be a never-ending supply of children and their families bringing them tasty treats.

young child feeding a goat at the Paulus Farm Market

The goats had the same reaction, though they were permitted either the leaves or the pretzel rods. They were just happy with whatever we fed them.

A small donkey resided with the goats. After his first taste of the leaves, he began following us around the pen before finally stopping to eat his hay.

cow looking through a fence at the Paulus Farm MArket

On the other side of the path were the cows. One enclosure had three cows – calves that were not fully grown yet – while the neighboring enclosure had two full grown steers, each with imposing horns that I was careful to avoid while giving them their treat.

longhorn steer behind a fence at the Paulus Farm Market

(I could not, however, avoid the steer’s tongue when it licked the leaf right out of my hand).

pig laying ont he ground at Paulus Farm Market

The apples in the bag were for the pigs. Their enclosures featured PVC pipes where kids deposited the apples. Then we watched as the fruit rolled out the other side and a hungry pig strode over and gobbled it up.

peacock sitting in an enclosure at Paulus Farm Market

Also gobbling up food were the turkeys and other birds, including a ducks, chickens and a peacock. The farm also featured a pair of alpacas who were curious and hungry.

child riding a tire swing at Paulus Farm Market

The Farm Park also includes several play areas. There’s the Dirt Diner (exactly what it sounds like), a giant sandbox and an assortment of tire swings.

The “Tubes, Tires and Tunnels” area featured plenty of places for the little ones to crawl, climb and generally burn off some excited energy.

sunflower patch at Paulus Farm Market

My personal favorite attraction was the giant rocking goat – a lot of fun for the kids and (probably) large enough for an adult if you so desire.

If you want a sweet treat while you’re there, Paulus Farm offers soft-serve ice cream from a trailer called “The Cow Lick.” Or you can head into the farmers market to buy some of their homemade cookies, whoopie pies and cinnamon rolls.

shelves of food inside Paulus Farm Market

If you’re just looking for fresh-from-the-farm foods,  Paulus has plenty of those. You can buy take-and-make meals like hamloaf and meatloaf, chicken cordon bleus, a variety of sausages and a full selection of deli meats and cheeses.

Paulus isn’t the biggest farm attraction in the state, but it’s location makes it one of the most convenient. Our toddler had a blast, and it seemed like all of the other young children at the park were having a blast, too.

sunflower patch at Paulus Farm Market

When You Go

  • Paulus Farm Market raises admission rates for the fall season (starting October 1) but that also includes additional attractions.
  • We spent about an hour at the park – a half hour of which was spent feeding the animals. If you want to extend your visit, buy another bag of feed and make another trip around.
  • We visited on a Wednesday morning at 10 a.m. thinking we would have the place to ourselves. We did not. There were lots of other children – mostly in the 1-3 year-old-range with some that were older. The park is spread out enough that it wasn’t hard to keep our distance, though.

More PA Farms and Markets…

Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles

line of antique automobiles on display at the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles

Date of Visit: August 23, 2020

When people think about the automotive industry, Detroit, Michigan, is usually the first place that comes to mind. But Pennsylvania has played an important in the evolution of travel. That is the story told at the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles in Boyertown, Berks County.

historic marker for the Jeremiah Sweinhart carriage works in Boyertown PA

The borough on Berks County’s eastern border – about 20 miles outside the city of Reading – was once home to the Boyertown Auto Body Works. Closed in 1990 after more than a century in business, the former factory now houses the museum’s collection – exclusively featuring vehicles with a Pennsylvania connection.

At the turn of the 20th Century, during the industry’s formative years, Pennsylvania was home to many upstart auto manufacturers, including Ardmore’s Autocar company, while factories like Fleetwood Metal Body – located just a few miles from Boyertown – were building bodies for Cadillac and other nationally renowned brands.

antique carriage on display at the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles

The history of the Auto Body Works predates the automobile. The site began life as a carriage factory and repair shop owned by local businessman Jeremiah Sweinhart. The original 1872 building has been preserved and restored. It houses a collection of antique carriages – many of which were built by Sweinhart and served the residents of Berks County.

On Saturdays, the Museum hosts live blacksmithing demonstrations in the Carriage Factory. Volunteers also run the shop’s belt-driven tools, showcasing the innovation of America during the Industrial Revolution.

Mister Softee truck built in Boyertown on display at the Boyertown Museum of HIstoric Vehicles

Eventually, the factory transitioned to servicing automobiles and the Auto Body Works became a leading producer of commercial trucks and vans. Most recognizable to residents of southeastern Pennsylvania are the iconic Mister Softee trucks. Many of these original Boyertown trucks are still making the rounds today. The Museum also has one on display, as well as several other Boyertown-built pieces.

Among the museum’s locally made collection is a number of automobiles built by Charles Duryea. Born in Illinois, Duryea eventually found his way to Reading, Pennsylvania, where he set up shop.

Duryea automobiles from the early 20th century on display at the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles

Duryea and his brother, Frank, are credited with building and driving America’s first gasoline-powered automobile in 1893 (the car is in the collection of the National Museum of American History, though not currently on display). This led to a successful commercial automotive business – the first of its kind in America.

A Duryea was also involved in the first recorded auto accident in America, a collision with a bicyclist in New York City.

line of antique cars on display at the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles

Upon his arrival in Reading at the turn of the 20th Century, Duryea founded the Duryea Power Company. The Boyertown Museum’s collection includes many examples of his PA-built cars. Unfortunately, the Duryea brand did not endure as Duryea was unable to keep up with the rapidly changing market.

The Boyertown collection does a great job of highlighting the automotive industry of the early 1900s, when Duryea and others were vying for supremacy in a fledgling market. The pieces on display range from utilitarian to over-the-top luxury vehicles. Some have been expertly restored, others remain in various states of “used” condition. Most of them still run after all these years.

There is also a large collection of Pennsylvania-built sleighs, carriages and wagons near the entrance. The most beautiful – hauntingly beautiful – piece in the display may be the antique horse-drawn hearse.

statue of a mini horse pulling a wagon at the Boyertown Museum of HIstoric Vehicles

Boyertown’s collection goes beyond cars and trucks, as is evidenced by the row of bicycles and recreated bike shop. A replica penny farthing (high-wheeler bicycle) is set up for test rides. Watching a loved one try to climb on – even with the aid of stairs – is always entertaining.

Other exhibits inside the museum include a history of the Pennsylvania Turnpike, a restored Sun Oil Company gas station and the former Reading Diner.

The Reading Diner, now on display inside the Boyertown Museum of HIstoric Vehicles

Fegley’s Reading Diner was a local landmark until it closed in the early 2000s. The original dining car now has a permanent home inside the Museum, allowing guests to have a seat at the lunch counter or in the original wooden booths. On select days throughout the year, the Museum hosts Diner Day, where guests can enjoy a slice of pie for a quarter and a cup of coffee for a nickel inside.

vintage Sun Oil gas station on display inside the Boyertown Museum of Historic Vehicles

The diner sits next to a restored Sonoco gas station, which usually serves as the back drop for one of the featured cars on display.

When You Go

  • The Boyertown Museum has a large parking lot across the street. It also has a second, smaller parking lot with electric vehicle charging stations.
  • Diner Day is one of the most popular events at the museum. Expect to wait before getting a seat.
  • The Museum’s largest annual event is Duryea Day, a car show that is held at a local park on the Saturday before Labor Day.
  • Many weekends, the Museum hosts live blacksmithing demonstrations in the Jeremiah Sweinhart Carriage House.

More Automotive History…

Two Studebakers posed nose-to-nose in front of a painted backdrop depciting the Golden Gate Bridge

AACA Museum

Boasting a collection of antique and classic cars, the AACA Museum in Hershey tells the…
Read More

Easton’s Bank Street

Mural on a brick wall in Easton depicting the State Theater

Date of Visit: August 23, 2020

For two blocks between Church Street in the north and Pine Street to the south, Bank Street becomes a pedestrian-only thoroughfare and one of the most charming aspects of downtown Easton.

The entrance to the Bank Street Creamery in Easton, PA

The south end of Bank Street runs right behind the Crayola Experience. This is where you’ll find the Bank Street Creamery, a popular stop for families before and after their Crayola visits.

grotesque mannequin dressed in overalls sits outside a storefront in Easton PA

A small number of other businesses call Bank Street home, too, but much of the charm is in the aesthetics of the place.

Mural in Easton, PA depicting windows

The small alleyway is paved with bricks and the brick walls of the surrounding buildings have become a canvas for murals by local artists.

Three wire statues made with bike wheels as the base depicting see no evil, hear no evil, speak no evil

And because of the location, Bank Street provides a welcome diversion from the busy Centre Square, the epicenter of the borough.

More Places to Visit in PA…

Easton Public Market

Building with black facade and a bright green sign that reads "Easton Public Market"

Date of Visit: August 23, 2020

Easton is home to the oldest continuous open-air market in the country, the Easton Farmers’ Market.

The Easton Public Market, its year-round, indoor extension, may not have the same history, but it is worth a visit all the same.

Opened in 2016, Easton Public Market is located in the 300 block of Northampton Street, less than a block away from the city’s Centre Square and its most famous attraction, the Crayola Experience.

Signs for Chocodiem and Scratch hang above their respective stands at Easton Public Market

The market boasts more than a dozen vendors all with unique offerings so as to avoid direct competition.

There is no shortage of places to eat inside the Market.

Full of Crepe specializes in sweet and savory French crepes. Scratch – a collaboration between a local brewery and a local farm – serves pizza and craft brews. You’ll also find barbecue, an oyster bar and a ramen shop.

Taylor Taco Shop stand inside Easton Public Market

And Taylor Taco Shop where guests can build their own tacos, burritos and bowls.

A couple pork carnitas tacos, a side of chips and salsa, and a glass of Jarritos makes for a very satisfying meal.

Close-up of tacos from Taylor Taco in Easton, PA

If you want to indulge your sweet tooth, you will also find a bakery (the Modern Crumb) and a chocolate shop (Chocodiem).

As an extension of the Farmers’ Market, the Easton Public Market also offers fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, meats and more at the Farmstand.

Farm stand featuring fresth tomatoes at Easton Public Market

The market also features live music on select nights for those who are dining in.

For those looking for a hands-on experience, the Easton Public Market Kitchen offers demonstrations and classes for all ages.

With an impressive lineup for eateries and stands, the market certainly lives up to its slogan: “Let Your Inner Foodie Run Wild.”

When You Go

  • The Easton Public Market is open five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday.
  • Some of the eateries have dedicated seating, but there is also limited shared seating throughout.
  • The market does not have its own parking, but there is plenty of public parking, including a surface lot behind the market along Church Street. The cost is 25 cents for 15 minutes.

More Nearby…

Springton Manor Farm

Red barn at Springton Manor Farm

Date of Visit: August 21, 2020

Some of Pennsylvania’s best little destinations are its county parks. Many of these parks are more than just a place to get outside, they have a story to tell all their own. Just like Springton Manor Farm.

Springton Manor Farm is just a couple miles north of the highway (Route 322), but it feels like it’s much farther away. Tucked in a quiet corner of the Chester County countryside, it’s unlikely that anyone would find it by accident.

But for those who seek it out, Springton Manor has a lot to offer.

The property has a rich history that dates back to the 1700s, and the beautiful manor house was built in 1833. But it is the late 19th century – the farm’s heyday – that is interpreted for visitors today.

There are parking areas on the north side and south side of the property. A gravel road, Maple Lane, connects the two ends of the park while cutting a path between the pastures.

goat poking its head through a wooden fence at Springton Manor Farm

It’s a downhill walk from the manor house and south parking lot. Goats amble in the pastures on both sides of the lane. On the east side, the animals were congregated on some large boulders in the middle of the meadow, one standing tall atop the largest rock as if proclaiming that he was the G.O.A.T. of goats.

donkey in a field at Springton Manor Farm

The east pasture was broken into three sections. In the middle third we met another goat and a young donkey. The goat seemed content relax against the rock while the donkey grazed on the grass around. My two-year-old lit up as he said hi to the “gonkey,” though the animal was too busy eating to care.

herb garden in raised beds at Springton Manor Farm

Springton Manor is a working farm with more than just animals. While there are no cash crops in the fields, an herb and vegetable garden is maintained on site. The harvest from the garden goes directly to the Chester County Food Bank to provide fresh produce to those in need.

brown hen looking through a wire fence at Springton Manor Farm

Behind the garden is the chicken coop, another highlight for my toddler, though he was a little skittish around the birds (who showed no fear themselves as they came right up to the edge of their enclosure).

We got quite the surprise when we peered inside the coop. Among the chickens, the large green and purple plume of a peacock was unmistakeable. Even in the darkened enclosure the showy feathers were quite a sight.

back of the large red barn at Springton Manor Farm

The Great Barn is a highlight of any visit. The towering structure dates to the 1880s and is home to animals and the Family Farm Museum which houses artifacts from Chester County farms dating back to the 18th century.

Unfortunately with COVID-19 precautions in place, the barn was closed on our visit and we could only appreciate it from the outside.

donkey eating leaves from a treet at Springton Manor Farm

The largest animals we encountered on our visit were at the north end of the west pasture, just beyond the barn. That’s where we found the two adult donkeys. One was content to munch on the grass. The other deftly grabbed a tree branch with his teeth and made a meal of the leaves.

nature trail with greenery on both sides and tree cover at Springton Manor Farm

Animal encounters are great for the kids, but Springton Manor also offers miles of recreation trails to enjoy. We took a quick stroll along the half-mile Penn Oak Nature Trail.

pond at Springton Manor Farm

It’s a fully paved, accessible trail (also great for strollers). Signs highlight some of the native trees along the short path. After a short walk in the woods, the trail opens up to a pond and picnic area across the street from the north parking area.

In all, the park has more than five miles of interconnected trails, mostly unpaved – a mix of gravel, grass and wood chip surfaces that pass through areas of forest, brush, meadow and wetlands.

reddish brown goat with an ear tag poking its head through a wooden fence at Springton Manor Farm

We explored for about an hour before making our way back up Maple Lane toward the parking lot. Along the way, we stopped to meet a few more four-legged friends as another small herd of goats met us by the fence.

We are already looking forward to going back some day when the barn is open to see the museum and to explore more trails.

When You Go

  • There is no fee to enter the park.
  • The park is open every day of the year from 8 a.m. to sunset (except Christmas Day). The barn is open daily from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
  • Do NOT bring food to feed the animals. The animals are on controlled diets.
  • DO bring your own food – there are picnic tables throughout the park for your to enjoy.
  • Most of the trails are multi-use, with horseback riding allowed within the grounds of the park.

More PA Farm Fun…

Berks Heritage Center and Union Canal Trail

blue historical marker for the Union Canal Trail

Date of Visit: July 19, 2020

Before semi-trucks began rolling along the Pennsylvania Turnpike and before the Pennsylvania Railroad became the “Standard of the World,” the fastest way to get products from one side of the state to the other was the canal.

About 300 miles of canals once carried Pennsylvania products to ports in Philadelphia and Lake Erie. The Union Canal was one of the most important links in the chain, connecting Harrisburg (via Middletown) to the city of Reading and ultimately on to Philadelphia.

Relics of the trail remain across the route, but nowhere is the canal’s history highlighted like it is along the Union Canal Towpath Trail in Reading, Berks County.

Concrete platform for fishing along the banks of the Tulpehocken Creek at Stonecliffe Park

The six-mile trail begins just south of Stonecliffe Park in the City of Reading. Stonecliffe is located near the eastern terminus of the Tulpehocken Creek. The Schuylkill River lays just beyond the park and the end of the trail.

lone bench between a pair of trees in front of a rock face at Stonecliffe Park in Reading, PA

Stonecliffe is so named because it is the site of a former rock quarry. Atop the stone cliffs that mark the park’s borders is the city’s Glenside neighborhood. The park, however, is flat – except for a few well-placed ramps and jumps in the action park where skateboards and BMX bikes put on quite a show.

Metal bridge crossing the Tulpehocken Creek near Wyomissing, PA

Just a half-mile up the trail is the Berks Leisure Area, a small park and trailhead that is highlighted by an iron truss bridge that crosses the creek. Just beyond the park is the Nicholas Stoltzfus Homestead, which dates to the 18th Century. Still owned by the Stoltzfus family, the homestead is open for public events on select dates throughout the year.

Stone bridge over water leads to a white barn at Gring's Mill in Reading, PA

Venture a half-mile further along the trail to reach Gring’s Mill Recreation Area. Here the creek is dammed – the stately concrete bridge and dam were added in the 1930s to provide electricity for a local paint maker.

The Mill buildings have been converted into park offices and an event venue. The park hosts a summer concert series and a popular holiday lights display that are set up across the 33-acre grounds.

stone buildings at the Berks County Heritage Area

Heading northwest from Gring’s Mill, it’s about two miles to the Berks County Heritage Area. The museum complex serves as the mid-point of the trail and a worthy stop for history buffs of any age.

large wooden building painted yellow with brown trim

The site is home to a multitude of monuments, historical buildings and exhibits. The most impressive of them is the Gruber Wagon Works. The yellow-painted wooden building was saved from demolition and moved to the site in the 1970s. Today visitors can learn about the importance of wagons in the 18th Century and see the equipment used to build and maintain them.

distelfink (blue and yellow folk art bird) statue in front of a one-room schoolhouse

Another historic building arrived on the site more recently. In the summer of 2020, a one-room schoolhouse – which had been slated for demolition – was brought to the property  where it is currently being prepared for future tours.

folk art statue of a bird painted yellow with blue wings and tail

The schoolhouse is located right next to one of the most iconic features of the complex – the Distlefink statue. Meaning “thistle finch” in the Pennsylvania German dialect, the brightly colored bird has become a symbol in the local culture – and the statue makes for a great photo opportunity.

Red covered bridge behind a bike path

An even more popular photo spot is Wertz’s Covered Bridge. The largest single-span covered bridge still standing in Pennsylvania, Wertz’s bridge was built in 1867 and now connects the Heritage Area to another picnic grove on the other side of the creek.

model canal boat inside the Heister Canal Center in Reading, PA

For those tracing the path – and history – of the canal, you can also visit the C. Howard Heister Canal Center. Located in a converted barn on the property, the Canal Center is filled with artifacts of 19th century transportation, including a houseboat barge that once was moored along the former Schuylkill Canal nearby.

informational sign about Union Canal Lock 47

A little further up the trail is another piece of canal history that has been preserved. Lock No. 47 E was restored in 1976 to illustrate the process of lifting and lowering canal boats. The standing water that gathers around the remnant of the canal has become a haven for the turtles that populate the area. (Tulpehocken literally means “land of the turtles”).

The towpath trail continues on, passing beneath US Route 222 before reaching Reber’s Bridge, a popular trailhead and fishing spot.

Gravel path near Blue Marsh Lake in Berks County, PA

The last two miles of the trail take on a different character, leaving the relative flatness of the creek behind for steep ups and downs as it climbs to its terminus as the Blue Marsh Stilling Basin.

rippled waters of Blue Marsh Lake

Built in the 1970s to help prevent flooding downstream in Reading, the dam slowed the Tulpehocken and created Blue Marsh Lake. What was once a community known as Pleasant Valley is now the 1,000-acre Blue Marsh Lake.

Though the canal trail stops here, the 6,000 acres that surround the lake are home to 36 miles of multi-use trails that are popular with hikers, runners, mountain bikers and horseback riders.

two brick pillars mark the entrance to Deppen Cemetery

Blue Marsh and the Berks County Heritage Area are forever linked – not only by the canal – but by a shared history. The Gruber Wagon Works and Deppen Cemetery were both moved to the Heritage Area to preserve them before the dam was built and the area flooded just a couple generations ago.

And it was the same calls for preserving Berks County history that led to the resurrection of the Union Canal Towpath as a trail.

blue historical marker for the Union Canal Trail

When You Go

  • The trail has seven public trailheads – Stonecliffe, Berks Leisure Area, Gring’s Mill, Berks Heritage Area, Red Bridge Park, Reber’s Bridge and the Stilling Basin. The Berks Heritage Area is the easiest access point for out-of-towners as it is located near Route 222 off the Route 183 exit.
  • The trail is crushed stone with just a few paved areas in parks for accessibility reasons.
  • The Stilling Basin trailhead is actually about a quarter-mile on-road from the stilling basin, itself.
  • The trail can – and does – get crowded on weekends and on pleasant evenings.
  • While the grounds of the Berks Heritage Area are open daily, the Gruber Wagon Works and Heister Canal Center are open more limited hours. Check the Berks County Parks website for the latest information.

More PA History…

Hands-On House

child climbing through a honeycomb-shaped play area

Date of Visit: December 30, 2019

Lancaster’s Hands-On House, the Children’s Museum of Lancaster, is one of those places where kids can just be kids.

The attraction is best suited for preschoolers through early elementary schools, with interactive exhibits that encourages children to use their imaginations.

Just inside the entrance, the “Right in Your Own Backyard” exhibit inspires children to explore their own surroundings.

child climbing through a honeycomb-shaped play area

There are a lot of opportunities to “lift the flap” and peek inside boxes to make a new discovery. Kids can then climb up in a tree house or crawl inside an oversized honeycomb as they pretend to be honeybee.

young child sitting on a blue tractor at the Hands-On House in Lancaster, PA

My son’s favorite thing to do – and the place where we learned about waiting our turn – was “riding” the tractor. A real-life New Holland tractor sits on display and young ones get to take a turn in the driver’s seat.

child playing with a grocery set at the HAnds-On House in Lancaster, PA

The grocery store was another favorite stop. I watched as my son picked plastic fruits, vegetables, bread, and canned goods off shelves. I just sat back and watched as he filled his baskets before carrying it to the play check-out counter.

Other areas of the Hands-On House are geared toward older children, including Marty’s Machine Shop where kids go from station-to-station in a factory setting.

child playing amongst PVC pipes at the Hands-On House

The STEM learning continues with an engineering challenge. Two walls and the floor in a corner of the museum are outfitted with holes to fit PVC pipes. Kids can use different sized pipes and different shaped joints as they “connect the dots.”

In the Mostly Make-Believe area, large foam pieces were scattered about on the floor. The green shapes could be stacked and rearranged, but the kids in the crowded room just seemed happy to crawl over them to get to their next activity.

child dressed in a dragon costume at the Hands-On House

Kids can also play make-believe in the dress-up area. Costumes include pirates, princesses, wizards and dragons.

Mailboxes are set up throughout the attraction. They are all part of the post office exhibit, which gives children the opportunity to deliver the mail to the matching location or pick up the mail and take it back to the post office for sorting.

Child playing at a table at the Hands-On House in Lancaster PA

It was fun watching our two-year-old explore, though it was a little crowded thanks to the holiday weekend. If it was a little less full, we probably would have spent more time exploring. But our son had a blast, and that’s what really counts.

young child sitting on a blue tractor at the Hands-On House in Lancaster, PA

When You Go

  • The Hands-On House has outdoor activities as well that are open during the warmer months. These include the Active Adventure Garden, the Play Garden and Discovery Meadow.
  • We visited on a school holiday, a busy day for any children’s attraction. It was a little too crowded at times. Consider coming on a weekday when school is in session, if you can.

More Things to Do with Kids in PA…

Cactus and desert scene inside the Bird House at Zoo America in Hershey, PA

ZooAmerica

Exploring the animals of North America at ZooAmerica in Hershey, PA.
Read More

The National Aviary

Penguins, flamingos, and exotic birds – some endangered species – at the National Aviary in…
Read More

Choo Choo Barn

Taking my young son to the Choo Choo Barn in Strasburg, PA to experience the…
Read More

Bucks County Children’s Museum

child playing with a paddle and PVC pipes to make music at the Bucks County Children's Museum

Date of Visit: Novembef 29, 2019

Children’s Museums have become a favorite spot for my young son, Jakbo, and I. He loves exploring and learning, and we’ve found several places that offer great hands-on learning.

One of those is the Bucks County Children’s Museum in New Hope.

At the time of our visit, my son had just turned two years old. He was old enough to want to explore every inch of the Museum, but not old enough to do it without a little help from his dad.

The Museum has several distinct areas that teach while encouraging imaginary play. One of those is the Hospital.

child playing with lifesized Operation game at the Bucks County Children's Museum

Here, kids can climb aboard a child-size ambulance playset, view “x-rays” on a screen, and play a game of life-sized operation. The latter was a bit of a struggle for my son, and I don’t think I want him operating on me anytime soon.

Jakob also loved the town square. One of his favorite activities was sorting the mail – or at least opening and closing the doors on all the post office boxes. He also ran up some pretty high totals on the cash register at the general store before we moved on to the next room.

child playing with a Lite Brite wall at the Bucks County Children's Museum

One of the signature attractions at the museum is the giant Lite-Brite wall. Found underneath in the Recycling Clubhouse in “Bucks County Country,” every kid wanted to take a turn moving the large pegs around to create new shapes and patterns of lights.

child climbing a small rock wall at the Bucks County Children's Museum

This was also the area where he found the rock wall. Jakob was able to get to the top of the small wall – with dad’s help of course.

In the “Airways to Waterways” area, Jakob had a lot of fun splashing, but he seemed more interested in taking to the sky than the water.  He loved the hot air balloon simulator that put him behind the controls of a hot air balloon flying high over the Bucks County countryside.

child flying a hot air balloon simlulator at the Bucks County Children's Museum

The Museum offered plenty of other activities, as well, including a station where kids could put soft balls into a tube and watch how air forces the ball through.

child watching a ball float above a PVC pipe at the Bucks County Children's Museum

There’s also a fossil hunt and the factory – but the engineering games in this section didn’t really hold the little guy’s interest the way some of the more straightforward play areas did.

During our visit, Doylestown Health was sponsoring a special stuffed animal clinic. They took good care of poor Cordy Roy Fox after he “fell in the parking lot” according to my son’s made-up story.

In all, he had a great time. And with another year or two of growth, would have even more fun exploring every inch of the Museum.

child playing with a Lite Brite wall at the Bucks County Children's Museum

When You Go

  • Capacity is limited so pre-purchasing tickets is strongly recommended.
  • The Museum is located right next to the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad, another kid-friendly activity in New Hope.
  • There is no food available at the Museum, but there are plenty of places to eat in New Hope before and after your visit.

More Things to Do with Kids in PA…

Cactus and desert scene inside the Bird House at Zoo America in Hershey, PA

ZooAmerica

Exploring the animals of North America at ZooAmerica in Hershey, PA.
Read More

The National Aviary

Penguins, flamingos, and exotic birds – some endangered species – at the National Aviary in…
Read More
young child sitting on a blue tractor at the Hands-On House in Lancaster, PA

Hands-On House

Watching my son explore the Hands-On House in Lancaster, where imaginative and interactive play is…
Read More

Choo Choo Barn

Taking my young son to the Choo Choo Barn in Strasburg, PA to experience the…
Read More

Choo Choo Barn

large model trail layout inside the Choo Choo Barn in Strasburg, PA

Date of Visit: November 26, 2019

Strasburg, PA is a train-lover’s dream – from rides on the Strasburg Railroad to a walk through history at the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania or a stay at the Red Caboose Motel.

Just down the street from the Railroad is a much smaller attraction, but one that has captivated children and adults just the same for decades: The Choo Choo Barn.

young child looks through the glass at the model layout at the Choo Choo Barn

Located in “The Shops at Traintown,” a cluster or businesses along Route 741 just west of the Strasburg Railroad Station (the railroad’s tracks actually end behind the building), the Choo Choo Barn is a miniature world with new discoveries to be made around every corner.

model ski slope on the Choo Choo Barn layout in Strasburg, PA

As the name implies, the original attraction was built inside an old barn, opening in 1961, with everything else being built up around it in the late 80s.

That’s around the time of my first visits as a young child.

I don’t remember much about those visits, other than being awed by the massive layout – made bigger by my comparatively small size. More than 30 years later, I was excited to bring my son to explore the miniature – yet vast – space.

model layout at the Choo Choo Barn in Strasburg, PA

Stepping through the curtain, a whole world opens up in front of you and its hard to choose where to look first. The pathway loops around the 1,700-square-foot display, and families will often make lap after lap in an effort to see every detail.

First and foremost, the Choo Choo Barn exists because of founder George Groff’s love of model trains, and these tiny locomotives are certainly the star of the show with tracks winding around and through the layout, drawing your eyes to follow them to the next scene on the path.

My favorite of the trains is the Lionel version of the Strasburg Railroad. Like the real thing, locomotive #89 pulls the train backward from the Strasburg station to the end of the line before decoupling and running around the coaches to pull the three-car train back in the other direction.

It’s a fun piece of programming that adds to the realism of the scene.

Model replica of Dutch Haven, a building shaped like a windmill, at the Choo Choo Barn

Also adding to it is the realistic renditions of Lancaster County landmarks, including the aforementioned Red Caboose Motel, Dutch Haven (and its familiar windmill shape) and a Turkey Hill gas station.

Model Dutch Wonderland castle and rides at the Choo Choo Barn

The largest-scale replica, however, belongs to Dutch Wonderland. Anchored by the amusement park’s signature castle, the Dutch Wonderland display also includes several rides, including a swinging ship, antique cars, monorail, and even its own miniature railroad.

Most of the layout is less about depicting real life buildings and more about evoking emotions and memories.

Scale model farmhouse and farm at the Choo Choo Barn

Among these are many depictions of rural life, much like it would have been around Strasburg in the early to mid 20th Century. Tractors plow the fields at various farms, a band plays in a gazebo in a local park, and kids play baseball in a makeshift field.

There’s also a whimsical side to the display, one that keeps children giggling while entertaining adults along the way. An actual goldfish swims in a pond; vendors at a flea market sell micro-sized movie posters for Braveheart and ET; and an illegal drag race starts on the street.

scale model of a hobo encampment under a bridge with a figure of a three-headed troll

And there are two hobo encampments, one featuring a three-headed troll.

But in our opinion, there are two highlights that can’t be missed.

Illuminated scale model baseball stadium during the night scene at the Choo Choo Barn

First, the nighttime scenes are some of the most fun. A couple times every hour, the lights in the room dim and buildings and trains illuminate to give the feel of late night. The lights come on at the baseball field, the stained glass windows of a church illuminate, and a light show takes over the fountain in the town park.

Make sure you stay long enough to see the night show at least twice to see all the little effects that make it so fun.

The other highlight is the fire scene. On a regular schedule, smoke will start billowing out of a building near the middle of the display. Fire alarms ring out and a fire truck emerges from the fire station to hit the scene. With a little more programed magic, water douses the fire and the house is saved.

It’s really incredible to think about the detailed planning that was needed to create this five-minute scene.

Figurines of every US President standing on a bleacher at the Choo Choo Barn

One last detail is found near the end of the display (if following the direction and walking in a clockwise manner). Here you’ll find the town park where on the bleachers stands a model of every US President.

Guests enter and exit via a gift shop at the front of the building, one filled with mostly kids toys and a few collectibles. Next door is the Strasburg Train Shop and all the supplies you need to create your own version of the Choo Choo Barn at home.

young child takes a picture inside a wooden play train at the Choo Choo Barn

No visit to the Choo Choo Barn would be complete without a photo op in the wooden train set out front of the building. After taking my son there, we now have the same picture of him that my parents have of me from all those years ago.

And we both will have those same memories for years to come.

When You Go

  • Plan on spending at least an hour at the attraction, maybe more depending on your child’s attention span and interest. Staying for an hour guarantees seeing multiple night scenes.
  • The Choo Choo Barn has its own gift shop, but there is a model train store next door.
  • Be sure to pick up a scavenger hunt paper with a list of unique features to keep an eye out for as you go around the attraction.

More Lancaster County Attractions…

young child sitting on a blue tractor at the Hands-On House in Lancaster, PA

Hands-On House

Watching my son explore the Hands-On House in Lancaster, where imaginative and interactive play is…
Read More

Choo Choo Barn

Taking my young son to the Choo Choo Barn in Strasburg, PA to experience the…
Read More

Hotel Rock Lititz

Hotel Rock Lititz is a truly unique boutique hotel in Lancaster County located on the…
Read More

Idlewild & Soakzone

Kiddie ride at Idlewild

Date of Visit: October 25, 2019

Located along the historic Lincoln Highway, the twin parks of Idlewild and SoakZone are tucked in a wooded area outside the quaint town of Ligonier.

There’s an old-school feel to the park from the moment you pull up to the ticket windows on the drive into the park. Customers pay before parking, allowing you to return to your car as needed throughout the day.

sign shaped like a book at the entrance to Story Book Forest at Idlewild

Story Book Forest

There is nothing at the park that feels like more of a throwback than Story Book Forest. Opening an hour before the rest of the park, Story Book Forest brings to life many of the nursery rhymes and fairy tales we grew up with.

It all starts with a walk through Mother Goose’s house where she sits greeting children and adults, alike, as they start their walk.

The path meanders around a small lake as it leads visitors from one story to the next. Along the way, there were encounters with characters including Raggedy Ann, Goldilocks, and more.

sign with the word for Old King Cole with a large sculpture of the king in the background

Sculptures with wooden cut-out signs illustrate other stories. Little Miss Muffet sits on a tuffet staring up a large spider. Old King Cole sits on this throne. The Seven Dwarfs stand outside their cottage. And Humpty Dumpty rest precariously atop a wall.

There was a crooked man who lived in a crooked house, and his house is one of many that guests can enter for a closer look.

Along the walk are other activities, including a wooden train – the Little Engine that Could – that kids can climb aboard.

sheep in an enclosure at Story Book Forest in Idlewild

There are also several animal encounters along the way, including black sheep in their wool. It was one of my 18-month-old son’s favorite parts of the Forest.

castle at Story Book Forest at Idlewild

The journey through Story Book Forest ends with a stop in the Enchanted Castle and a visit with Princess Lily. According to the sign outside, the castle was opened for the 60th anniversary of Story Book Forest, replacing King Arthur’s castle where the knight formerly greeted guests as they exited for the larger park.

Idlewild and SoakZone are mapped out into smaller, themed areas. They include Olde Idlewild, Hootin’ Holler, Jumpin’ Jungle, and Racoon Lagoon. But the most popular area with the pre-k crowd is Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood.

bridge with a sign for Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood at Idlewild

Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood

For those who aren’t familiar, Daniel Tiger is a cartoon spin-off of Mister Rogers that focuses on the next generation of characters in the Land of Make-Believe. It’s also my son’s favorite TV show and his mommy and I were excited to bring him to meet Daniel and his friends.

The signature attraction is the Neighborhood Trolley. Like this part of the park, the Trolley originally was themed around Mister Roger’s Neighborhood, a nod to the man who grew up just a short drive west in the town of Latrobe.

The Tiger Family on stage at Idlewild

The Neighborhood Trolley carries visitors on a full-sized trolley on a journey into the Land of Make-Believe where they meet characters one-at-a-time on their way to a party at King Friday’s castle.

Characters are animated, two-dimensional wooden cut-outs that have been placed in three-dimensional renderings of the Neighborhood’s landmarks: the Treehouse, the Clock Factory, the Museum-Go-Round, and Daniel’s House on Jungle Beach.

Nearby, Daniel and his friends can be seen on stage, putting on a performance in front of the Tiger Family’s hut.

fountain at Idlewild Park

Idlewild Park

Next to Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood is Racoon Lagoon, the area for the youngest kids.

Here, the little ones can ride on motorcycles, cars, airplanes and even dinosaurs.

mother and young son on a carousel

Crossing back over the Loyalhanna Creek into Olde Idlewild, guests will find the classic rides, including the nearly 100-year-old Merry-Go-Round. The carousel ride has been in the park since 1931 and is at the heart of the Olde Idlewild area.

While still very much a family-friendly area, many of the other rides in Olde Idlewild are a little more exciting than Racoon Lagoon. There are familiar rides like the Paratrooper and the Balloon Race. And there are two small coasters – the Wild Mouse and the Rollo Coaster, the latter of which is a wooden coaster built in 1938.

Paratrooper ride at Idlewild Park

Another ride for the whole family is the Loyalhanna Limited Railroad which makes stops in both Racoon Lagoon and the Hootin’ Holler, the Old West-themed area that’s also home to the log flume ride and Confusion Hill, a walkthrough “crooked house.”

This was also where we grabbed a delicious lunch at the BBQ Pit.

SoakZone

Unfortunately, our toddler wasn’t quite up to making it through the whole park so we weren’t able to visit SoakZone. But we look forward to coming back in the future to try out the water slides (when he’s older) and the various splash pads.

But even if we didn’t get to ride all the rides or explore the entire park, we can say that it certainly was a beautiful day in the neighborhood on our visit to Idlewild.

bridge with a sign for Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood at Idlewild

When You Go

  • Admission includes both the park and waterpark.
  • Idlewild & Soakzone are part of the same ownership group as Dutch Wonderland and Kennywood. Some season pass levels provide access to all three parks.
  • The park operates daily during the summer and weekends in September and October during their HalloBoo celebration.

More Amusement Parks in PA