Discover the Best Kid-Friendly Things to Do in the Poconos
Are you planning your family vacation to the Poconos? Perhaps you are going when school lets out or taking a trip for the holidays. It’s stressful enough trying to find a place to stay and coordinating how you’ll get there without trying to figure out what you’ll do once you’re there. That’s where we come in! We’ve narrowed down the best kid-friendly things to do in the Poconos, so you can spend less time worrying about your vacation and more time looking forward to it. See below for some of the best family-friendly activities!
Looking for other things to do in the Poconos? Access our complimentary Vacation Guide! It’s full of the best restaurants, shopping, and more in the area.
Here Are the Best Kid-Friendly Things to Do in the Poconos
Things to Do in the Poconos in the Summer
Outdoor Activities
If your kids like water sports and the great outdoors, they’ll love coming to the Poconos in the summer! Warm weather and an abundance of lakes, streams, hikes, and more turn the mountains into a vast outdoor playground, and many of the best free things to do in the Poconos involve the outdoors. There are so many kid-friendly things to do!
The Delaware Water Gap provides ample opportunities for recreation. From kayaking at a smooth pace to rafting at rapid speeds to floating lazily down the river in an inner tube, there are many family-friendly excursions that you can make on the rivers.
Dry off and take a hike through one of the many forests, parks, and nearby preserves. There are thousands of hiking trails that take you right into the heart of the gorgeous scenery, and many of them are not overly strenuous, so it won’t be too much of a challenge for your kids (but just enough to tire them out!). Some of the hikes even take you to rushing waterfalls! If you’re looking to cool off and go for a swim, check out Promised Land State Park.
If you’re looking for something truly unique to do with your kids, try horseback riding! There are lots of options in the area whether you’re an experienced rider or a beginner.
Other Activities
If it’s a rainy day but the kids still want to play in the water, there are also three large indoor waterparks nearby. Kalahari Resort, Camelbeach Mountain Waterpark, and Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark are among the best indoor waterparks in America, and they’re all within a half-hour of each other. Your kids will love the endless water slides!
The children are sure to have a blast at Costa’s Family Fun Park. They’ve got just about everything you could hope for, from miniature golf to go-karts to laser tag to arcade games to bumper boats and more! They’re only open during the summer, so be sure to take advantage if you are visiting then.
Another place open only during the summer is the Claws ‘N’ Paws Wild Animal Park. It’s a charming zoo in the woods filled with big cats, wolves, macaws, monkeys, reptiles, and more! You can interact with some of them in the petting zoo, at Turtle Town, or by feeding a lory parrot.
When you’re kids need to cool down, take them to get some ice cream! We recommend 940 Junction just a mile from the Lodge. They have tons of options that you and the kids will love.
Things to Do in the Poconos in the Winter
Winter in the Poconos is packed with just as many kid-friendly things to do as the summer is. If you’re here when there is some snow on the ground, treat your kids to a memorable dog-sledding excursion! There’s nothing quite like flying over the powder on a sleigh as a team of powerful huskies run along.
Head over to one of the nearby ski resorts for a day filled with snowy fun! Each resort features trails with a variety of difficulty levels as well as practice areas, so even if your kids have never gone skiing before, they can learn here. If they aren’t quite ready to strap on a pair of skis, there are also plenty of places where you can go snow tubing—an activity the whole family can enjoy!
If you’re visiting during the holidays, Country Junction offers pictures with Santa, opportunities to get a jump on Christmas shopping, and much more! There’s a reason it’s known as the “World’s Largest General Store.”
Year-Round Things to Do
There are some kid-friendly things to do that are available no matter the season.
The Shawnee Playhouse typically has a new production each month, and many of their plays are great for a younger audience. The Scranton Cultural Center also presents many family-friendly productions throughout the year.
Take your kids to the Great Wolf Lodge for a magical adventure with MagiQuest, and afterward, they’ll have their very own magic wand! The resort also features an indoor water park. Your kids will love getting to pretend it’s summer even during the colder months.
Have your kids ever been on a train ride? The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway provides narrated scenic round trips through the gorgeous Lehigh Gorge State Park, along the Lehigh River, and through Glen Onoko. As the train progresses, you’ll pass high cliffs, mountain scenery, forests, and you might even catch some glimpses of wildlife.
Quiet Valley Farm is a great educational experience for kids and parents! The living historical farm transforms into a festive wonderland during the Holidays and is full of one-of-a-kind events during the summer. The farm describes itself as “a living history museum preserving 19th century Pennsylvania German agricultural heritage.”
Stay in a Cozy Lodge
Mountaintop Lodge is close to all of the kid-friendly things to do in the Poconos, and it provides many of its own activities, too. Guests of our lodge enjoy complimentary access to the amenities at Lake Naomi Club. This includes the use of Lake Naomi, access to the indoor and outdoor pools, and Community Center, whose 56,000 square feet are filled with things to do.
