Overnight mini vacay with kids up to 4 hours from Lakewood.

amother

Powderblue

Mon, May 22 2017, 7:07 am

Hi looking for ideas for a fun overnight vacation with kids up to 4 hours away. Already been to:
Lancaster
Hershey
Camelback
Baltimore

Not interested in Catskills.
Would love some new ideas thanks!

essie14

Mon, May 22 2017, 8:06 am

Bushkill Falls

amother

Periwinkle

Mon, May 22 2017, 8:20 am

We did Cape May. You can do it pretty cheaply because the zoo (a hug attraction with the parks and fields) is free so that is a big activity. The downside is that the closest kosher restaurants and shul is in Atlantic Cityn 45 min away. But we had a blast with barbecues, sandwich makers, etc.
There are more epensive things to do, and there is plenty to do not spending al day at the beach if tznius is a concern.

amother

Natural

Mon, May 22 2017, 9:40 am

Manhattan!!

I've never been, but there are places in Connecticut that are supposed to nice. Mystic maybe? or Norwalk? if I'm remembering correctly. Have fun Smile

crust

Mon, May 22 2017, 10:02 am

amother wrote:

Hi looking for ideas for a fun overnight vacation with kids up to 4 hours away. Already been to:
Lancaster
Hershey
Camelback
Baltimore

Not interested in Catskills.
Would love some new ideas thanks!

Wow you're a fun mom! Good for you.
I don't have ideas, sorry. Just wanted to applaud you.

doctorima

Mon, May 22 2017, 10:13 am

Philly has tons of kids-friendly activities. In DC many of the main attractions are free.

sky

Mon, May 22 2017, 11:11 am

We found a cabin last year in PA on Penn creek and found fun stuff to do nearby. It was our best vacation and I think we will do again this year. Its very secluded no non-kosher stores for miles even so you really have to bring everything.
We were in authentic Amish country - not lancaster. Our neighbors all rode horse and buggies - it was amazing to see them constantly while we spent time outside.
We had a fire pit and cooked our meals outside, there was a creek for the kids to explore trails with bikes.

Examples of activities:
- stopped at Hershey chocolate ride to break up the trip and use bathrooms and get free ride and twizzlers at the end
- took a wooden car ferry across the susquehanna
- Found an amish farm along the rode with a sign that they had a small store and when we stopped they gave us a tour of an authentic amish working farm (we paid him for it even though it was free).
- Went to Bald eagle state park, rented a pontoon and and water tube. It was amazing - it was so secluded. And hiking. There was also a beach, but even one person in bikini we couldn't go.
- Stopped at Knoebels on the way home.

There is also a state park in the area with hiking and lots of waterfalls within an hour drive.

Lehigh valley we have also done - there is the lock museum and Beer Creek resort - with unlimited canoe and kayaking and paddle board on a small lake - all kids can do. We spent a whole day at the resort just taking advantage of amenities. We got a great price on Groupon. Also a hawk preserve.

Knoebels is a great park to plan a trip around. We've done that the past few years as the main stop on the trip.
One year we did Lake Tobia and Knoebels. There is also a deer park around there. We make a stop in Centraville ?? to check out the burning city = not too much to see there - but I built it up for my kids and they thought it was the coolest thing ever. It is hard too find.

Or Conneticut - Gillet castle, train ride, Sheffield island ferry, aquarium next door, not very exciting trip but good with young children.

amother

Babyblue

Mon, May 22 2017, 2:08 pm

Newport RI. Lots to do there.

amother

Powderblue

Mon, May 22 2017, 2:35 pm

Thank you sky! We've never been to knoebals looks great

doctorima

Mon, May 22 2017, 3:46 pm

What ages would Knoebel's be good for?

debsey

Mon, May 22 2017, 4:14 pm

Connecticut has a great children's museum, with a handicapped accessible playground outside that is very cool. Prices were reasonable. We also went this time of year, and because the weather was cooler, outdoor attractions were not a tznius issue for my husband.

We've done the Delaware, boating and hiking , but that was a long time ago.

sky

Mon, May 22 2017, 4:26 pm

knoebels is great for all ages they have baby rides and great roller coasters and all the classics. It is a more affordable amusement park - you only pay for the rides you go on. Free parking. Can take in food. We let our kids go on whatever rides they wanted and didn't say no and still spent half of what dutch wonderland would have cost us. You buy ticket books - each ride is expensive but you only pay for those that ride. It has a very friendly vibe, there is a water park but locked to the side so it isn't as much of an issue as Hershey. Weekday books are cheaper and you can prebuy books for even less.

amother

Powderblue

Mon, May 22 2017, 5:29 pm

Sounds awesome. Have you ever stayed around there? Is there a place with a minyan near there? If yes maybe we would hang around that area what else is there to do in the area?

sky

Mon, May 22 2017, 6:20 pm

No minyan - its in the middle of no where. Probably the closest minyan is harrisburg, maybe allentown.

ETA = if you need a minyan you can do something like Lake Tobias near Harrisburg - sleep over in Harrisburg for the minyan and then drive to knoebels the next morning.