We lived in Philadelphia for 2 years while my husband was in business school. When he didn’t have classes, we would explore the nearby cities and towns! Philly is a really fun city to live in, but we lived dooooowntown and it was great to get some fresh(er) air and room to breathe for a change.
Here are our 5 FAVORITE weekend getaways near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania! We did all of these with a baby or toddler in tow, so I have deemed all of them family-friendly.
1. Lancaster: Amish Communities & Pennsylvania Dutch Country
1 hour + 20 minute drive from Philadelphia
The first destination on our list is also my very favorite. I think I was primed & ready for Amish Country after visiting Reading Terminal Market so much in downtown Philly. There are multiple stalls there run by Amish workers, featuring Amish goods and foods- including the most divine donuts I’ve ever had. Ever ever. (Read all about my favorite iconic Philly foods HERE)!
Oh, and bonus: those divine Beiler’s donuts are available both at Reading in downtown Philadelphia AND in Lancaster, PA! What are we waiting for, let’s go!
So, what should you do while in Lancaster?? There are multiple shops where you can see beautiful handmade items such as quilts and wood furniture.
The best thing we did in Lancaster was take the tour at The Amish Village and explore the surrounding grounds. I cannot say enough good things about it! It was so well-run, educational, and family friendly (we had our one year old and he was just fine to join for the tour). There were some designated places to play outside for kids, too.
Where you should eat in Lancaster:
Stop by Miller’s Smorgasbord (buffet!) restaurant to try some of the delicious Amish foods for yourself! Miller’s has been around for almost 100 years, so you know it’s good.
There are lots of different appetizers, salads, creamy soups, veggies, and carved meats to choose from. The fried chicken is one of their specialties, though.
And definitely get yourself a slice of the famous Pennsylvania Dutch Shoofly Pie before you go! If you are unfamiliar, you can expect a molasses-y pie filling and crumb topping.
P.S. Fall is a beautiful time to visit Lancaster! Highly recommend!
2. Hershey, PA: For the Thrill-Seekers & Lovers of Chocolate
1 hour + 40 minute drive from Philadelphia
I have been to Hershey, PA twice and would EASILY go back again. But… I also have all the sweet teeth and would happily peruse the novelty gift shop full of chocolate all day long. You can even party with a dancing, larger-than-life Hershey’s kiss. What’s not to like??
In the warmer months you can seek for thrills at Hersheypark (official website HERE)! This amusement park has it all- huge coasters and thrills plus an abundance of family and kiddie rides, too.
Did you know it’s the largest theme park in the state of Pennsylvania? (You do now!)
Don’t fear, though, if you visit in the colder months (like we did). There is a delightful ride inside of Hershey’s Chocolate World that gives you the backstory of how Hershey came to be. There are singing cows, and that fact alone should make you want to visit Hershey, PA. Learn more at the Hershey’s Chocolate World official website!
3. Poconos Mountains: A Scenic Getaway in Nature
1 hour + 40 minute drive from Philadelphia
These mountains are MUCH less mountainous than the Rocky Mountains out west. So if you are familiar with those, and are expecting something similar… just… don’t. However, if you are wanting some lovely forest-y rolling hills to escape to for a few days? The Poconos fits the bill perfectly! The lakes are very pretty, too.
We rented an airbnb with some friends (including lots of young kids!) one weekend in September. It was great to be somewhere that felt night-and-day different than downtown Philly for a bit.
I’d highly recommend going to the Poconos in the fall! The trail we were on was beautiful and it was great weather to hike in. I know you can ski in the winter, or swim and boat in the summertime! There isn’t a bad time to visit the Poconos, basically.
4. Scranton, PA: A Must-Stop for fans of The Office
2 hour drive from Philadelphia
The American version of The Office ran for 9 seasons and was famously (fictionally) set in Scranton, Pennsylvania. If you aren’t familiar with The Office then you may have been living under a rock for the past 15 years or so. If so… welcome back! And good news! There’s a hilarious sitcom that you should definitely catch up on.
In fact, The Office has been named the most popular sitcom of all time (source).
Whether you’re a long-term fan of the show OR just want to be a part of the pop culture phenomenon for a day — Scranton may be worth a quick trip.
What to do in Scranton:
The Lackawanna County’s Visitor’s Bureau has created a self-guided tour with all of the stops you don’t want to miss:
- Scranton welcome sign (now located in a mall to promote visitor safety, haha)
- Poor Richard’s Pub
- Cooper’s Seafood
- and more!
The Office Ladies podcast would be the perfect thing to listen to in the car to get you all psyched up for this destination!
5. Cape May, New Jersey: Time to hit the beach!
1 hour + 40 minutes away from Philadelphia
Last on our list is coastal Cape May! Cape May, New Jersey is a beautiful beach town oozing with charm. It’s less than 2 hours away form Philadelphia, but feels completely and utterly different.
Lighthouses? Check. Family-friendly beaches? Check. Unique Victorian architecture? CHECK.
Basically, you & your family should pack your bags for a trip to Cape May! NJ Mom blog has a great guide for visiting Cape May with kids- check it out!
That’s it!
Have you been to any of these locations? What family-friendly weekend getaways near Philadelphia would you add to this list??
I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below!
Another post is coming soon on our highly-recommended (and family-friendly!) DAY TRIPS near Philadelphia, too!
