Lancaster, PA
The Ultimate Family Guide to Playing, Exploring, Eating & Making Memories
Welcome to Lancaster, Pennsylvania, one of my favorite family-friendly places for a getaway! Whether you're traveling with toddlers, elementary-age kids, tweens, or the whole family, Lancaster has SO much more to offer than just Amish country.
Mom Tip: Lancaster is very seasonal. Always check the official website before heading out for current hours, admission prices, reservations, seasonal schedules, and closures.
🛝 PLAYGROUNDS & PARKS
🌳 The Tree House of Lititz
300 W Orange St, Lititz, PA 17543
One of my favorite playgrounds to add to your Lancaster adventure! This community-built playground offers plenty of creative places for kids to climb, slide, and explore.
The Tree House of Lititz
🌳 Lititz Springs Park
24 N Broad St, Lititz, PA 17543
A beautiful park right in the heart of Lititz with playgrounds, walking paths, open space, picnic areas, and the famous Lititz Springs.
Lititz Springs Park
🌳 Long's Park
1441 Harrisburg Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601
This massive 80-acre park is a great place to let the kids burn off some energy. You'll find playgrounds, walking areas, a lake, picnic areas, and a petting farm.
Long's Park
🌈 Daniel's Den Playground
530 Central Manor Rd, Lancaster, PA 17603
An inclusive community playground with creative play areas, slides, and swings.
Daniel's Den
🌳 Manheim Township Community Park
209 Petersburg Rd, Lancaster, PA 17601
A large community park with playgrounds, a tot lot, sports fields, and plenty of space to run.
Manheim Township Parks & Recreation
🌳 East Lampeter Township Community Park
2330 Hobson Rd, Lancaster, PA 17602
A family-friendly park with playground equipment, walking paths, and recreation areas.
🌳 Lancaster County Central Park
1050 Rockford Rd, Lancaster, PA 17602
One of the area's larger parks with trails, playgrounds, recreation areas, and a seasonal swimming pool.
Lancaster County Parks
🌳 D.F. Buchmiller County Park
60 Buchmiller Park Dr, Lancaster, PA 17602
A 79-acre park with a playground, trails, picnic areas, sports facilities, and plenty of room for outdoor adventures.
🌳 Manor Township Community Park
2670 Charlestown Rd, Lancaster, PA 17603
Another great stop for families looking for playgrounds, open space, sports areas, and picnic areas.
🌳 Greenfield Park
1853 William Penn Way, Lancaster, PA 17601
A beautiful park with playground equipment, trails, open space, and recreation areas.
🌳 Stoner Park
1280 Winchester Dr, Lancaster, PA 17601
A neighborhood park with playground equipment, fields, picnic areas, and room for kids to play.
🌳 Noel Dorwart Park
408 Parklawn Ct, Lancaster, PA 17601
A smaller family-friendly park with a playground and outdoor space.
💦 POOLS & WATER FUN
🏊 Lititz Springs Pool
201 Maple St, Lititz, PA 17543
⭐ ADD THIS ONE TO YOUR SUMMER LIST!
If you're visiting Lancaster during the warmer months, don't forget about Lititz Springs Pool. This is a great option for families looking for a day-pass pool adventure.
Check the current season's admission, hours, and day-pass availability before you go.
Lititz Recreation Aquatics
🏊 Lancaster County Swimming Pool
1050 Rockford Rd, Lancaster, PA 17602
A great summer option with water-play areas, slides, fountains, and swimming.
Lancaster County Swimming Pool
🌊 Overlook Pool
2040 Lititz Pike, Lancaster, PA 17601
A family pool with a zero-depth area, water features, and a slide.
Overlook Pool
🎢 AMUSEMENT PARKS & BIG ADVENTURES
👑 Dutch Wonderland
2249 Lincoln Hwy E, Lancaster, PA 17602
You can't talk about Lancaster with kids without talking about Dutch Wonderland!
Rides, shows, water attractions, and family-friendly entertainment make this one of the area's biggest kid destinations.
Dutch Wonderland
Best for: Toddlers through elementary-age kids, with plenty for families to enjoy together.
🌽 Cherry Crest Adventure Farm
150 Cherry Hill Rd, Ronks, PA 17572
This is WAY more than a farm visit. Cherry Crest offers hands-on farm adventures, seasonal activities, mazes, and tons of opportunities for kids to explore.
Cherry Crest Adventure Farm
🧗 Refreshing Mountain
455 Camp Rd, Stevens, PA 17578
For kids who need a little more adventure, check out ziplining, climbing, and outdoor adventure courses.
Refreshing Mountain
🤸 Spooky Nook Sports
2913 Spooky Nook Rd, Manheim, PA 17545
A massive indoor sports complex with activities that can be great for active kids and tweens.
Spooky Nook Sports
🤸 Urban Air Adventure Park
2040 Bennett Ave, Lancaster, PA 17601
An indoor option for rainy days with trampolines, climbing, and other active attractions.
Urban Air Adventure Park
🚂 ALL ABOARD! TRAIN ADVENTURES
Lancaster is basically a train-loving kid's dream destination!
🚂 Strasburg Rail Road
301 Gap Rd, Ronks, PA 17572
Take a ride through the beautiful Lancaster countryside aboard a historic railroad.
Strasburg Rail Road
🚂 Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
300 Gap Rd, Strasburg, PA 17572
Get up close to historic locomotives and learn about the history of railroading.
Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania
🚂 Choo Choo Barn
226 Gap Rd, Strasburg, PA 17572
A huge model train display filled with animated scenes. Kids can spend a surprising amount of time looking for all the little details.
Choo Choo Barn
🚂 National Toy Train Museum
300 Paradise Ln, Strasburg, PA 17572
Another fun stop for train lovers featuring toy trains and model railroad displays.
National Toy Train Museum
🍫🥨 CHOCOLATE & PRETZEL ADVENTURES
🥨 Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery
219 E Main St, Lititz, PA 17543
Learn about pretzel history and experience one of Lititz's most famous attractions.
Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery
🍫 Wilbur Chocolate
45 N Broad St, Lititz, PA 17543
Chocolate lovers need to make a stop here!
Wilbur Chocolate
Mom Tip: These two stops are close to downtown Lititz, making them easy to combine with a playground, coffee, and lunch.
🥤 Turkey Hill Experience
301 Linden St, Columbia, PA 17512
This is one of those "you have to see it to understand it" Lancaster-area attractions.
Taste, learn, and play your way through the world of Turkey Hill.
Turkey Hill Experience
🐺 THE "THIS IS SO COOL!" SECTION
🐺 Wolf Sanctuary of PA
465 Speedwell Forge Rd, Lititz, PA 17543
A unique experience where families can learn about wolves and see these incredible animals.
Wolf Sanctuary of PA
Check age requirements and tour schedules before visiting.
🏘️ The Amish Village
199 Hartman Bridge Rd, Ronks, PA 17572
Learn about Amish history and life while exploring historic buildings and demonstrations.
The Amish Village
🔬 MUSEUMS FOR CURIOUS KIDS
🔬 Lancaster Science Factory
454 New Holland Ave, Lancaster, PA 17602
Hands-on STEM exhibits where kids can touch, build, experiment, and learn.
Lancaster Science Factory
🦕 North Museum of Nature & Science
400 College Ave, Lancaster, PA 17603
A fun stop for kids interested in dinosaurs, animals, science, and nature.
North Museum
🏠 Hands-on House Children's Museum
721 Landis Valley Rd, Lancaster, PA 17601
Especially great for younger children, with interactive exhibits and opportunities for pretend play.
Hands-on House
🐄 FARM ADVENTURES
Lancaster is packed with farms, and many offer seasonal activities that are perfect for families.
🌽 Cherry Crest Adventure Farm
150 Cherry Hill Rd, Ronks, PA 17572
Cherry Crest Adventure Farm
🐄 Lapp Valley Farms
1401 Lampeter Rd, Lancaster, PA 17602
Farm animals, dairy experiences and homemade ice cream!
Lapp Valley Farms
🐄 Oregon Dairy
2900 Oregon Pike, Lititz, PA 17543
Farm market, seasonal activities and ice cream.
Oregon Dairy
🌻 Lancaster Central Market & Local Farm Stands
Don't forget to explore Lancaster's local markets and farm stands for fresh produce, baked goods, treats, and local products.
🍦 ICE CREAM STOPS
Because no Mom Adventures trip is complete without ice cream!
🍦 Lapp Valley Farms
1401 Lampeter Rd, Lancaster, PA 17602
Lapp Valley Farms
🍦 Oregon Dairy
2900 Oregon Pike, Lititz, PA 17543
Oregon Dairy
🍦 Down on the Farm Creamery
1597 Old Philadelphia Pike, Lancaster, PA 17602
A fun farm-style ice cream stop to add to your Lancaster sweet-treat tour.
Down on the Farm Creamery
☕ MOM'S COFFEE TOUR
Because let's be honest...
The kids aren't the only ones who need an adventure.
Mom needs coffee!
☕ Passenger Coffee
7 W King St, Lancaster, PA 17602
Specialty coffee and baked goods.
Passenger Coffee
☕ Square One Coffee
145 N Duke St, Lancaster, PA 17602
Local coffee roaster and café.
Square One Coffee
☕ Café One Eight
18 W Orange St, Lancaster, PA 17603
Coffee, breakfast, lunch, smoothies and desserts.
Cafe One Eight
☕ Prince Street Café
15 N Prince St, Lancaster, PA 17603
A great downtown stop for coffee, breakfast and treats.
Prince Street Café
☕ Rachel's Cafe & Creperie
201 W Walnut St, Lancaster, PA 17603
Crepes and coffee make this a fun breakfast stop.
Rachel's Cafe & Creperie
☕ Lancaster Beignet Company
230 N Prince St, Lancaster, PA 17603
Coffee + beignets = YES.
Lancaster Beignet Company
☕ LITITZ COFFEE STOPS
When you're exploring Lititz, add some of these to your coffee list:
Whiff Roasters
Lititz, PA
Whiff Roasters
Slate Café
Lititz, PA
Slate Café
Café Arabella
27 E Main St, Lititz, PA 17543
Café Arabella
CoffeeCo
Lititz, PA
CoffeeCo
New Holland Coffee Co.
Lititz, PA
New Holland Coffee Co.
🍽️ FAMILY-FRIENDLY RESTAURANTS
🍴 Miller's Smorgasbord
2811 Lincoln Hwy E, Ronks, PA 17572
A classic Lancaster-area family dining experience.
Miller's Smorgasbord
🍴 Hershey Farm Restaurant
240 Hartman Bridge Rd, Ronks, PA 17572
A Lancaster favorite with a farm-market atmosphere.
Hershey Farm
🍴 Good 'N Plenty
150 E Brook Ln, Smoketown, PA 17576
Traditional Lancaster County dining.
Good 'N Plenty
🍴 Tomato Pie Café
23 N Broad St, Lititz, PA 17543
A great stop while exploring downtown Lititz.
Tomato Pie Café
🏨 FAMILY-FRIENDLY PLACES TO STAY
🏨 Dutch Wonderland Hotel (previous Cartoon Network)
2285 Lincoln Hwy E, Lancaster, PA 17602
If your kids love cartoons, this is definitely worth checking out.
Cartoon Network Hotel
🏨 Eden Resort & Suites
222 Eden Rd, Lancaster, PA 17601
A family-friendly resort option with amenities that can make staying on property part of the adventure.
Eden Resort & Suites
🚢 Fulton Steamboat Inn
1 Hartman Bridge Rd, Lancaster, PA 17602
Want a hotel that's a little different?
Stay aboard a steamboat-inspired hotel!
Fulton Steamboat Inn
TIPS FOR LANCASTER
✔️ Plan by area. Lancaster is spread out, so grouping activities together can save you a lot of driving.
✔️ Check the calendar. Many farms, pools, attractions, and seasonal activities have different schedules throughout the year.
✔️ Make reservations when needed. Popular attractions can sell out during weekends, holidays, and summer.
✔️ Bring snacks and water. Especially when you're planning a farm or amusement-park day.
✔️ Don't forget Mom's coffee stop! Seriously. Build it into the itinerary.
✔️ Check websites before traveling. Hours, admission prices, day passes, seasonal attractions and policies can change.
📌 Disclaimer
This list is always being updated and is based on my personal experiences, business recommendations, and suggestions from my followers. My job is to provide you with ideas and resources, but it's your job to check each business's official website before traveling to make sure they're open, the information is current, and the activity is appropriate for your children. Always check websites directly for the most up-to-date hours, pricing, reservations, and seasonal information.
© Mom Adventures in NJ & Beyond — Please do not copy, reproduce, or screenshot this content without permission.
Credit: Dutch Wonderland