13 Fall Day Trip Ideas for Philly Families

​1. Peddler's Village — Lahaska

From September 9 to October 27, the brick pathways of Peddler's Village in Lahaska are filled with scarecrows in seven categories for the Scarecrows in the Village competition. Visit the scarecrows, grab some food, and let the kids play. The onsite Giggleberry Fair entertainment center features a maze, carousel, arcade, and toddler play area, and is a family favorite all year round. Check the website for even more special events, such as scarecrow-making workshops, OctoberFeast, and Apple Festival.

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See how many of the 270 sculptures you can spot during a fall visit to Grounds for Sculpture. Photo by David Howarth

2. Grounds for Sculpture —  Hamilton, NJ

Relish the changing season at this “museum, sculpture garden, and arboretum, where art and nature are always at play.” Vibrant leaves make the perfect backdrop for more than 270 sculptures that reside on the grounds. At 42 acres in Hamilton, NJ, Grounds for Sculpture makes the perfect place to spend a perfect day. Children 5 and younger are free, and discounted tickets are available for students.

3. "Christmas City" in the Fall —  Bethlehem

Named one of the 10 most beautiful U.S. towns to visit in the fall by the Huffington Post and one of country’s most idyllic by USA Today, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania is so much more than just “Christmas City.” Walk downtown, and you’ll immediately feel the history while viewing historic sites and architecture. About a mile away, on the other side of the Lehigh River, sit the SteelStacks and the National Museum of Industrial History. River tours run through October: kayak down the Lehigh from Sand Island and swap your kayak for a bike to return along the historic D&L Trail.  

4. New Hope Railroad —  New Hope

All aboard for an autumn adventure! Appropriate for all ages, the fall excursion steam locomotive travels for a two-hour trip from New Hope to Buckingham, PA and back. Travel times are 11am, 2pm, and 5pm on weekends beginning September 28 and running through November 3. Bonus tip: Just 5 miles northwest of New Hope Railroad is Solebury Orchards, with U-pick flowers running through September and apples running into early November.

5. Longwood Gardens — Kennett Square

Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square debuts the Chrysanthemum Festival on October 1. The Garden Railway, almost 500 feet of railroad track for miniature trains and dressed for the season (including Thomas the Tank Engine), will be on view as well starting September 29. Take a stroll through the many gardens, climb a giant treehouse or two, and explore the enchanting Indoor Children's Garden. Once you're in the area: travel a short 4 miles down the road to visit The Creamery for live music, drinks, a meal, and outdoor games. The facility is kid- and dog-friendly.  

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Find the perfect pumpkin at Fall Fest at Shady Brook Farm. Photo courtesy of the farm.

6. Shady Brook Farm —  Yardley

Shady Brook Farm's FallFest kicks off September 13 and continues for a season of fun. Visitors can choose to go for a wagon ride, find their way through a five-acre corn maze, enjoy live music on weekends, toast s’mores over a bonfire, meet the barnyard animals, participate in a sports challenge, and more, all through October 30. 

7. Refreshing Mountain —  Stevens

Families can experience fall's changing colors in Lancaster County. At Refreshing Mountain in Stevens, kids can fly on the zip lines, complete the obstacle courses, or walk the sky bridges. A climbing tower, giant swing, escape rooms, pony rides, and animal experiences are also available. Bundled packages are an option for families looking to experience multiple adventures. Recommended age for the escape room is 10 and older while most other options welcome guests as young as 5.  

8. Hawk Mountain —  Kempton

Get a bird’s-eye view of raptors migrating past Hawk Mountain mid-August through mid-December. September is the peak month, and staff and volunteers are on-site to help viewers spot the birds of prey. The sanctuary boasts 8 miles of trails and picturesque vistas from the mountain ridge. The Fall Photo Contest, meant to foster an appreciation of the sanctuary, launches in September. This is a unique place to spot some of nature's coolest birds! Hawk Mountain is open 8am−5pm, and admission for kids younger than 6 is free.

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Take in fall's majestic colors at Nockamixon State Park. Photo courtesy of the park

9. Nockamixon State Park — Quakertown

Pennsylvania state parks are in full bloom in the fall. Nockamixon State Park in Quakertown is open 365 days a year from sunrise to sunset. Boat, horse ride, mountain bike, and hike with amazing lake views. Hiking difficulty levels meet every need. Pack a lunch and enjoy the available picnic tables and charcoal grills. On your way home, stop for a treat at Owowcow Creamery, voted the third best ice cream shop in the country!

10. Washington Crossing State Historic Park —  Washington Crossing

Got a budding historian in the family? At Washington Crossing State Historic Park, families can see the spot from which Gen. George Washington led his troops across the Delaware River. Educational programs and reenactments are held throughout the year, and the park is crisscrossed with trails for exploring the area on your own.

11. Gettysburg

Take the family for a tour of one of the most important Civil War battlefields, which features plenty of fall programming and events for all ages. And if the Civil War isn't your thing, check out the Northern Central Railway, Mister Ed's Elephant Museum and Candy Emporium, and two of Pennsylvania's beautiful state parks. 

12. Diggerland —  West Berlin, NJ

What toddler wouldn't want to spend the day up close and personal with diggers, fire trucks, and more?! Diggerfest runs on the weekends starting in September and into November, and features a petting zoo, circus, pumpkin decorating, hay rides and fire trucks rides, and much more. 

13. Turn Your Day Trip Into a Family Weekend Getaway

As much as we love Philly, fall is an ideal time to visit some nearby destinations. Visit the Big Apple with a trip to Broadway. Midtown Manhattan is less than two hours by train or car. To the south, Baltimore and Washington, D.C. are also reachable in less than three hours, and the U.S. Naval Academy in charming Annapolis, MD is even closer.    

Writer Hillary Moses Mohaupt contributed to an update in 2024.