7 Fun Family Weekend Getaways in PA

Pennsylvania has abundant activities and lodging throughout the Commonwealth designed for family weekend getaways. From scenic ziplining to wildlife exploration, Pennsylvania provides the backdrop to some of the most beautiful locations where you and your family can relax and recharge in one weekend.

Get away from the screens, reconnect as a family, and create some memories when you book fun weekend getaways in PA.

Weekend Getaways with Kids in Amish Country

If you’re planning on visiting Amish Country in south central PA, make sure you book your lodging at Refreshing Mountain.

Not only can you and your family stay in a comfortable family cabin suite or a hotel room, but you can soar through the skies and take in the stunning views of Lancaster County farmland while you ride the ziplines (view our ziplining tour and adventure options here).

Tour Pennsylvania for Your Family Weekend Getaways

While you’re at Refreshing Mountain, or if you’re looking for other fun things to do on your visit to PA, you can start with these weekend trips that are two hours or less from Philadelphia:

1. Visit Chocolate Town USA in Hershey, PA

There are many places to visit and have fun in Hershey, PA, even during the winter.

• You can stay at the Red Lion Hotel Harrisburg. The Red Lion Hotel in Harrisburg is pet- and kid-friendly.
  The hotel has an indoor swimming pool that you and the kids can enjoy after touring Hershey’s Chocolate World.
• Visit Indian Echo Caverns, located in Hummelstown, PA. Your entire family will enjoy touring the limestone cavern tours and their petting zoo.
• Don’t forget to stop by Hershey Zoo to see North American animals. The zoo is open every day from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You’ll see gray wolves, river otters, snowy owls, and much more.
• Take in a show or a concert at Hershey Theatre. This year’s performances include Beyond the Footlights and Third Eye Blind.
• See the following acts at the 10,500-seat Giant Center Arena in Hershey. Upcoming shows include Bert Kriescher: Tops Off the World Tour, Harlem Globetrotters, and Disney On Ice: Find Your Hero.
• Does your entire family love ice hockey? Catch a Hershey Bears game from now to the end of April at the Giant Center. Take in a Promotional Night to win prizes, such as Hersheypark Pass Night.

2. Head Over to Bucks County, PA, for a Day Trip

Bucks County has a lot to offer the entire family in the winter. If you live in Philadelphia or South Central, PA, you can take in the best sites in one day.

• Drive through covered bridges with a self-guided tour. Bucks County boasts 12 covered bridges in its Covered Bridge Driving Tour.
• Your kids may appreciate the light adventure tour, or if all of you are history buffs, you may want to take the entire day to read up and explore these historic covered bridges.
• If you have little ones, take them to Elmo’s Furry Fun Fest between January 8th through March 20th. Special weekend celebrations include My Fuzzy Valentine’s Celebration, Elmo’s Rockin’ Birthday Bash, and wishing Big Bird a Happy Birthday during his Birthday Weekend.
• Bucks County is filled with fun activities for your kids. You can listen to rocks sing when you take your hammers to Ringing Rocks. The Bucks County Children’s Museum has plenty of hands-on fun, but you need to make advanced reservations on weekends and some school holidays. After visiting the Bucks County Children’s Museum, walk to the Free Bridge. Put one foot in Pennsylvania and the other in New Jersey on the Free Bridge connecting New Hope, PA, with Lambertville, NJ.
• Take in American history in Bucks County. Take a train ride on the New Hope Railroad, see Henry Chapman Mercer’s vast creativity and inventions at the Mercer Museum, and investigate hidden rooms at Fonthill Castle, where Henry Chapman Mercer lived.
• Tour the Underground Railroad at Bucks County Safe Houses. Stop at Upper and Central Bucks County, a part of the Underground Railroad that helped escaped slaves journey to the north in the 19th century.

3. Visit Philadelphia, PA: One of Your Fun Weekend Getaways in PA

It doesn’t matter if you live in one of Philadelphia’s suburbs or you’re coming from another part of PA; make sure you plan on a weekend getaway in the City of Brotherly Love.

There are so many sites to see in Philly, including some of these fun places:

• Adventure Aquarium
• Betsy Ross House
• Franklin Square
• The Franklin Institute
• Independence National Historical Park
• LEGOLAND Discovery Center
• Museum of the American Revolution
• Museum of Illusions
• National Constitution Center
• Philadelphia Zoo
• Sesame Place.

4. Cave Explorations in Kutztown, PA

If your fun weekend getaways in PA include cave explorations, stop by Kutztown, PA, and tour the Crystal Cave. The cave, located in Richmond Township, was discovered by William Merkel and John Gehret on November 12th, 1871 while the duo was blasting for limestone. After its discovery, Samuel Kohler purchased the cave and began to spread bulletins inviting the public to see the beautiful cave. Known for its large crystalline formations, Crystal Cave has remained a timeless alluring attraction for families to visit. The Crystal Cave opens up for tours again on March 1st, making it a fun weekend trip in late winter. Each tour is one hour and includes a showing of a documentary in the Crystal Cave Theater, as well as a tour of the encapsulating caves, 125 feet underground.

Heading to the Mountains and Other Places for a Weekend Getaway with Kids

5. Pocono Mountains in Northeastern PA

It’s only a 2-hour drive from Philadelphia to the Pocono Mountains, where you can ski, splash around in an indoor waterpark, and take in stunning views. You’ll probably want to book more than one weekend trip to the Pocono Mountains.

• Visit Great Wolf Lodge in Scotrun, PA. Enjoy waterslides, weekend passes, large suites, and family dining.
• Pocono Rocks in Mount Pocono, PA, has three large bounce houses, a ninja warrior course, and a boulder climbing wall. Get in touch with your inner kid and create memorable adventures with your children!
• Camelback Mountain Resort and Blue Mountain Resort, both in the Pocono Mountains, provide endless fun and stunning views with their ski and snow activities
• Try snowshoeing in Delaware Gap State Forest and Naturfi in Scotrun, PA. Everyone will get their heart rates up and see amazing views across the Pocono Mountains.

6. Head to the PA Grand Canyon (Pine Creek Gorge)

Mark off a weekend on your calendar for Pennsylvania’s Grand Canyon if you want wintertime adventure. This area of Pennsylvania is also known as the Pennsylvania Wilds.

Be prepared for a long drive to reach your destination to the Pennsylvania Wilds. It takes about 4 hours and 11 minutes from Philadelphia to Wellsboro, PA, a town near Pine Creek Gorge.

Register your snowmobiles to ride the 177 miles of snowmobile trails in Tioga State Forest. If you and your family like cross-country skiing, you will want to take the Pine Creek Rail Trail. The rail trail has a 2% grade over its 62+ mile trail.

Head west from the PA Grand Canyon to visit the Allegheny National Forest in northwestern Pennsylvania. Take your snowmobiles to ride the trails, and enjoy cross-country skiing, ice fishing, snowshoeing, and winter camping.

7. Take a Trip to Western PA to Visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater

If you have tweens or teens, you should head to Mill Run in southwestern Pennsylvania to visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater. Fallingwater.org says it’s “one of the greatest architectural triumphs of the 20th century.”

You can take a winter walk at Fallingwater to observe frozen waterfalls and snowy woods. It costs $12 per person, and the museum recommends making early reservations.

Circling Back to Refreshing Mountain in Amish Country

The above list of family weekend getaways in PA only scratches the surface of all the fun things you can do with your family in Pennsylvania. For more ideas check out our friends over at MacaroniKID Harrisburg for their list of 20 best day trips!

Don’t forget to visit Refreshing Mountain with your family this winter. Refreshing Mountain’s three zipline courses provide all you need for a fun weekend getaway with kids. Right now, you can save 15% off of activities when you stay overnight at Refreshing Mountain.

Get an Ascent Package, and experience ziplines, 33 elevated Obstacle Courses, a visit to the Wildlife Center, and a Hands-on Farm Animal Experience to enjoy during your stay at Refreshing Mountain.

Book your fun weekend getaways in PA with Refreshing Mountain’s Lodging and Outdoor Adventures today!