Things to Do in Northeast Pennsylvania With Children

Horseback riding is just one of the many activities found in northeast Pennsylvania.

Northeastern Pennsylvania has the Poconos Mountains and several cities, including Carbondale, Scranton, Pittston and Wilkes-Barre. Visitors to this region of the state will find activities ranging from horseback riding to coal mine tours. Your children will have the opportunity to experience an array of local kid-friendly activities.

Nature Activities

Enjoy some animal activities with your children at the Bear Mountain Butterfly Sanctuary (bearmountainbutterflies.com) in Jim Thorpe. Inside this sanctuary, your family can walk through the indoor Flutterarium, where you'll see an array of butterflies flying about, enjoy activities in the activity room, see poison dart and Amazon milk frogs and create works of art in the Kid's Art Space. In Allenwood, take your kids to Clyde Peeling's Reptiland (reptiland.com), a zoo that specializes in an assortment of reptiles. You'll see snakes, including pythons, cobras and mambas, and alligators, lizards, frogs and tortoises.

Area Tours

Go for one of the tours offered in the Northeastern portion of Pennsylvania. The Lackawanna Coal Mine Tour (no website; 1 Bald Mountain Road; McDade Park, Scranton; 570-963-6463), near Scranton, will take your family 300 feet under the Earth's surface to see what it's like in a coal mine. You'll be escorted by a retired coal miner who has experience in the mine. You could also go on the Hiawatha Paddlewheel Riverboat (ridehiawatha.com) in Williamsport for a tour down the Susquehanna River. You'll learn about how the river was a big part of Williamsport becoming a rich city during the timber era.

Horseback Riding Activities

Take advantage of some of the horseback riding opportunities in the area. At the Pocono Adventures Riding Stable (pocono.org/ride), near Mount Pocono, you and your children can take a guided horseback trip that is safe for the whole family, taking you across streams and through the wilderness. Or, take a ride at Deer Path Stable (deerpathstable.com), outside of White Haven. Guided scenic rides are offered to anyone 9 years and older, no matter your riding experience and last around one hour.

Family Fun

Looking for some exciting family entertainment? Head over to That Bounce Place (thatbounceplace.com) in Scranton for some family fun. Your kids can bounce off some of their excess energy on the giant inflatables, with slides, obstacle courses and climbing features. You could also visit Lahey Family Fun Park Inc. (laheyfunpark.net) in Clarks Summit for some activities. You'll find bumper boats, batting cages, mini-golf, an arcade and a go-kart track. Kids 12 and younger can also climb and play in the gigantic soft playground, with a three-story tube slide and hanging trolley ride.

References

• Bear Mountain Butterfly Sanctuary
• Clyde Peeling's Reptiland
• Visit Northeast Pennsylvania: Lackaswanna Coal Mine Tour
• Hiawatha Paddlewheel Riverboat
• Pocono.org: Pocono Adventures Riding Stable Riding in the Poconos Vacation Region
• Deer Path Stable: Location
• That Bounce Place: Location
• Lahey Family Fun Park Inc.