New and old collide in the pretty Bucks County, Pennsylvania, countryside, where young families can play the day away at Sesame Place and older kids can enjoy Revolutionary War history at Washington Crossing Historic Park. From real castles to playground castles, ice cream shops to kayaking, Bucks County is a sweet spot for a family weekend getaway. Just an hour north of Philadelphia and less than two hours from NYC, Bucks County is the perfect place to visit with kids.
Ready to plan a trip? Read on for our list of 30 kid-friendly places in Bucks County to play, learn, eat, and stay. We've divided it into four family-friendly mini itineraries. Choose one or get some ideas to mix and match an adventure of your own.
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Itinerary No. 1: The Best Places for Kids to Learn and Play in Bucks County, PA
With Sesame Place on the list of things to do, this trip itinerary is great for preschool-age kids who want to play, need hands-on experiences, and want to go, go, go!
Fuel up at a local favorite restaurant
As the saying goes, breakfast is the most important meal of the day, and Cross Keys Diner in Doylestown takes it seriously. This breakfast and lunch joint stays pretty busy, but locals will tell you they turn tables over quickly and you won't have too long of a wait to get a great meal. Prefer to linger? Consider The Hattery Stove & Still for a top-notch brunch underneath a fancy chandelier.
Kids Castle Park provided hours of heart-pounding entertainment.
Kids Castle Park
Did you know that you can explore a castle in Bucks County! Doylestown is home to four different castles--well, five, if you count the famed Kids Castle Park. This one makes it onto many of our lists of top things to do with kids in the Philly area and for good reason. It's an eight-story wooden castle playground that's great for kids aged 12 and under. There is also a more modern toddler playground on-site, bathrooms, and plenty of park space to run around.
Fonthill Castle
Once you're done playing at Kids Castle, take a guided tour through a real castle in Bucks County. Fonthill Castle, built around 1908, was once home to Henry Chapman Mercer, a Doylestown anthropologist and scholar.
Bucks County Children's Museum
Learn hands-on at the Bucks County Children's Museum. From learning how factories work to digging for fossils, this museum is a great open play space for young ones, ages 7 and under, to explore through all their senses. NOTE: Be sure to check the website for recommendations about ticket reservations due to capacity limitations.
New Hope-Lambertville Toll Supported Bridge
Stand in two states at once with a quick stroll across the New Hope-Lambertville bridge that straddles the Delaware River running between Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Enjoy lunch on either side of the river, as both towns offer shops and restaurants (and ice cream!) aplenty.
Family-friendly Hotels
Turn in for the night at a family-friendly hotel within walking distance of Sesame Place. Several hotels are near Sesame Place, setting you up for an easy start for the next day. The Springhill Suites Langhorne location, for example, has free parking, a free hot breakfast buffet, an indoor pool and hot tub, and a paved private path that leads you right to the amusement park.
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After checking out the rides, cool off at the water park at Sesame Place. Photo courtesy of Sesame Place
Sesame Place
Play the day away with your toddlers and preschoolers at Sesame Place in Langhorne. Both an amusement park and water park, Sesame Place is an exciting spot for younger kids to visit and nostalgic for parents who grew up watching the classic TV show. Kids can meet their favorite characters, watch a parade, catch a show, and, of course, play.
Itinerary No. 2: Discover Kid-Friendly Old and New Sites in Bucks County, PA
This Bucks County trip includes some fun for both the history enthusiast and the video gamer. Enjoy learning some of our rich Pennsylvanian history and then finish the trip with an indoor obstacle course and ice cream.
Scavenger Hunt at Mercer Museum
Families can choose from eight different scavenger hunts, ranging from the historic to the fantastic, completing the activity while exploring 18th and 19th-century life at this history museum.
Explore downtown Doylestown by bike.
Discover Historic Doylestown
DIY your own Bucks County kids adventure by creating a scavenger hunt by walking or biking the streets of downtown Doylestown hunting for nameplates on houses. You'll see these plaques with names and dates affixed to a number of homes in the historic district, listing the original owner dating back into the 1700s.
Jules Thin Crust Pizza
Grab a slice of exceptional thin crust at Jules Thin Crust Pizza before you head out of Doylestown.
Insider tip: The slices are kind of large, but if you ask, you can get your pizza cut up into smaller kid-friendly pieces. We also like the popcorn chicken for kids at Lovebird downtown, operated by the same owners.
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Washington Crossing Historic Park
This 500-acre Bucks County park preserves the site where General George Washington and his troops made their famed crossing of the Delaware River during the Revolutionary War. The park contains restored 18th-century buildings and homes, Revolutionary War gravesites, picnic pavilions, and historic collections, and is one of the best places in Bucks County for kids to learn about history.
Take a Ghost Tour
When the sun goes down, go in search of ghosts in New Hope! With all that history, Bucks County is sure to have some otherworldly occurrences. Whether they're more myth than fact is something for you and your family to discover on one of the lantern-led ghost tours in Bucks County that happen nearly every week of the year.
The Golden Plough Inn
Giggleberry Fair
Complete your travel from past to present with a visit to Giggleberry Fair. This entirely indoor facility, located within Peddler's Village, is perfect for kids who want to let loose. There's a three-story indoor obstacle course, a mini-carousel, and arcade games, which are all rated "E" for everyone.
Nina's Waffles and Ice Cream
Waffles and ice cream. Need we say more? Once everyone has worked up an appetite, grab a waffle sundae, waffle cone, or just a waffle at an ice cream shop within Peddler's Village that makes small-batch ice cream and Belgian Liege waffles hot and fresh.
Itinerary No. 3: Great Things That Go for Kids in Bucks County, PA
From cars to horses to trains and boats, this visit to Bucks County will get you and your kids moving! Start with a relaxing drive and end up on your feet.
Covered Bridge Tour
Explore some of the 10 remaining covered bridges in Bucks County with a scenic DIY drive. These bridges, romantically known as "kissing bridges," have been around since the 19th century and are great photo-ops. Plus, what kid doesn't like driving through something like these magical beauties?
Hop on your bike and get ready to race at the Doylestown Pump Track.
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Doylestown Pump Track
Let your daredevils hit the jumps at the Doylestown pump track. It's FREE, but bring your own bike. There's a nearby playground for non-bikers, too.
The Spinnerstown Hotel
Eat fresh food in someplace old. This restaurant opened in 1750, back when it was a welcome stop for weary travelers going between Philadelphia and New York. With outdoor seating, a rustic taproom, a nice sized kids' menu, and 18 rotating beer taps for the grown-ups, Spinnerstown is a great Bucks County restaurant for kids.
Wedgwood Inn
Delight in the rare find of a family-friendly B&B. It's not often bed-and-breakfast inns are the right fit for families, but the Wedgwood Inn in New Hope is rare indeed. Regardless of guests' ages, the proprietors give tours of the property, which includes secret passageways and stairwells, ample room sizes, and a yard to run around in.
New Hope & Ivyland Railroad
Go back to the "Golden Age" of train travel. Board an early 20th century diesel train at the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad to take a 50-minute round-trip excursion through the hills and forests of Bucks County. This railroad also runs holiday trains: Halloween, Santa Express, Polar Express, and a fall foliage trip.
Itinerary No. 4: The Best Outdoor Adventures for Kids in Bucks County, PA
For families who like to be outside, Bucks County has plenty of hikes, water sports, and farms.
General Store
Fuel up for the day at an authentic general store. Parents and kids alike are sure to love the General Store at Homestead Coffee and Roastery in Upper Black Eddy. Pancakes for breakfast, right on the canal, and fresh coffee made at the roastery next store is a fun way to start your day and gather up supplies before heading out on your adventure.
Peace Valley Park
By far one of the best parks in Bucks County for kids, Peace Valley has easy walking trails, a nature center, playgrounds, and more, not to mention beautiful Galena Lake.
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Bring a hammer to the field of boulders at Ringing Rocks Park to "play" the rocks.
Ringing Rocks Park
Listen to the beautiful sound of...rocks? Ringing Rocks Park contains eight acres of boulders that are truly a unique geographic phenomenon. Bang the rocks with a hammer and hear them ring. There's also a short trail that leads to Bucks County's largest waterfall. Catch it in the spring when the water really flows.
Ringing Rocks Family Campground
Pitch a tent, rent a cabin, or drive the RV and set up camp at the seasonal Ringing Rocks Family Campground (open April through October). Whether you're a camping aficionado or like to keep a firm boundary between you and bugs, this campground will make sure you have fun in the great outdoors. Plus, camping trips, whether they go according to plan or not, can produce some really fond memories.
Nockamixion State Park
Nockamixion State Park is a Bucks County favorite for a whole host of water sports, from fishing and swimming to tubing and rafting. And in the colder months, you can still play. Ice skating and sledding are available to visitors during the winter.
Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve has several easy nature paths.
Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve
Head into the woods and meadows of New Hope to explore the beauty of wildflowers, butterflies, and bullfrogs at Bowman's Hill Wildflower Preserve. It's the perfect pick for families looking to enjoy the wonders of nature with a number of kid-friendly easy hikes and trails in Bucks County.
28. Shady Brook Farm
This popular Yardley farm has been around for over 100 years, offering pick-your-own crops, a playground, farmer's market, local pub, and a slew of fun family events throughout the year. Grab some homemade ice cream for the kids and a pint for the grown-ups, and savor the last bits of your weekend away in Bucks County.
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Hellerick's Family Farm
Big kids can walk the aerial ropes course or zip-line from above, while younger kids enjoy the playgrounds, barnyard animals, and various seasonal activities, including a corn maze and pumpkin bowling in the fall.
Delaware Canal Path
Families can bike or walk along the Delaware River for a car-free outing in Bucks County, serving up miles of pretty views on all sides.
This article first published in 2018. Additional reporting and photos by Rose Gordon Sala, with a 2024 update by Hillary Moses Mohaupt.