Where the Wild Kids Wander

In case you needed a reminder that is still beautiful to hike in Pennsylvania during the winter 😍 (And also an excuse to post photos since I never do ) 1: Ringing Rocks County Park 2: Shades of Death Trail at Hickory Run State Park 3. Pole Steeple Trail at Pine Grove Furnace State Park 4. Hackers Falls at Delaware Water Gap 5. Bake Oven Knob on the AT in Germansville 6. Glen Onoko Overlook Trail at Lehigh Gorge State Park #winterhiking #pennsylvaniaisbeautiful #pastateparks #ringingrocks #visitbuckscounty #hickoryrunstatepark #polesteeple #pinegrovefurnacestatepark #appalachiantrail #lehighgorgestatepark #winterwaterfalls #onlyinpennsylvania #visitpa #WildKidsWander

Who can resist a good boulder? 🪨 If your kids are anything like mine, they're ready and willing to climb every rock in their path. How else are you gonna claim that you're " 👑 King of the Mountain!!" 😆 These are four fun spots where kids can enjoy some good climbing, and they aren't too far from Philly. 📍Sourland Mountain Preserve (Hillsborough, NJ) You'll want to take the Orange Trail to the Yellow Trail and head to the Devil's Half Acre (about one mile). There are plenty of boulders to climb on there! 📍Ringing Rocks County Park (Upper Black Eddy) Obviously, the boulder field has plenty of fun for the kids! And don't forget your hammer to make them ring! But there are some good boulders along the waterfall trail that are also fun to climb. 📍Top Rock Park (Quakertown) You know this trail is great for climbing rocks when you see a lot of people practicing bouldering on the trail! You'll have to hike about a 1/2 mile to reach the fun rocks. But once you're there, your kid will have plenty to choose from! 📍 Hickory Run State Park (White Haven) It's the largest boulder field in the Appalachian region, and kids will enjoy trying climbing across all of those rocks! And you watch them because you don't have that kind of energy 😆 (or is that just me?) Do you think your kids would like climbing at these places? #sourlandmountainpreserve #ringingrocks #hickoryrunstatepark #toprock #quakertown #buckscountyparks #newjerseyhikes #climbingrocks #kidfriendlyhikes #WildKidsWander

Ruins don't ruin the hike 😜 If I can't get a view or a waterfall, at least give me some ruins! They are so cool to see and explore (as long as they aren't falling down on you 😬) These are some fun trails that are family-friendly near (and in) Philly. Some belonged to old factory-type buildings, and others were old houses. No matter what, they fun to see! 😍 ❗️Please keep these trails in good shape for everyone to enjoy. Pack out your trash and stay on designated paths ❗️ 📍Valley Forge NHP - Mount Misery/Horshoe Trail 🥾 The Mount Misery portion is very steep. To get to the ruins, follow the Horshoe Trail. From there, you can either backtrack or take the trail down to the Valley Creek Trail for an easy walk back 📏 It's about 3 miles if you do the loop or treat it as an out and back. 📍Ridley Creek State Park - Blue Trail 🥾 The fastest way to get to the ruins is to park at lot 16 and take the Yellow>White>Blue. There are steep sections, but it's a moderate trail. 📏 The Blue Trail is 2.3 miles, but with all of the trails connecting at several points, you can shorten or lengthen it easily 📍 Rolling Hill Park - Blue Trail 🥾 You have to use the Yellow Trail to connect to the Blue Trail 📏 It's about a 1.7-mile loop, steep in sections, but flat near the ruins 📍Wissahickon Valley Park - multiple trails 🥾 You'll find most of the ruins along Forbidden Drive and the Orange Trail 📏 As long as 8 miles, but can be shortened to 1-2 miles spurts depending on where you enter/exit Do you have any favorite trails with ruins? ##hikesnearphilly #familyfriendlyhike #hikingruins #hikeswithkids #hikeswithruins #foundonthetrail #hikingfinds #padcnr #ridleycreekstatepark #valleyforgepark #gladwyne #wissahickonvalleypark #pahikes #hikesinpennsylvania #WildKidsWander

Need a fun night out? 😍 This is the 3rd and FINAL year for Night Forms at Grounds For Sculpture! This multi-sensory light and sound art installation is so unique! Night Forms uses video projection and sound to bring sculptures to life. There are over a dozen installations. And some of them are interactive! We loved making music at "Dorion" (the space ship looking thing). In addition to the event, you can purchase a cocktail🍸 passport that includes 3 different cocktails for $35 or enjoy a prix fixe menu at Rat's. 📅 Night Forms runs every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday (plus Valentines Day) until April 7th. 🎟 Tickets are $24 for kids 6-17, $30 for adults.  Kids 5 and under are FREE. 📍Grounds For Sculpture in Hamilton, NJ #nightforms #groundsforsculpture #hamiltonnj #visitnj ##onlyinnewjersey #njisntboring ##winteractivity #njthingstodo #lightshow #newjerseyisntboring #newjerseylife #WildKidsWander

Who needs some color right now? 🌺 I think winter is beautiful in its own way, but sometimes, you need a splash of color to perk you up! That's why I love visiting Longwood Gardens in the winter months. Outside, their trails are quiet, with a few rhododendrons to give some color. It's still fun to walk around and visit the treehouses. But there is something about walking into the conservatory where the color, warmth, and humidity hit you all at the same time! 🤩 It amazes me how quickly they change everything from the Christmas flowers and decorations. 🤯 Out of nowhere, poinsettias become pansies. 🌸 The children's area is one of my favorites! We love the dragon, the mist, and the jumping fountains. It's a fun place for kids to explore. Add Longwood Gardens to your winter activities list! It's one of the best things to do near Philly to warm up and get you out of your winter blues. 📍Longwood Gardens in Kennet Square, PA 📅 Open Wednesday-Monday 🎟 Adults are $25, kids over 5 are $13, but kids 4 and under are FREE! They also participate in Museums for All, so if you have an ACCESS card, admission is $2 #longwoodgardens #winterinphilly #winteractivities #chestercountypa #brandywinevalley #winterwarmup #greenhouseinteriors #familyfuntime #kidfriendly #bringthekids #visitpa #visitphilly #WildKidsWander

Who doesn't love a waterfall hike? Especially ones you can do in winter! 🙌🏻 These are 5 waterfall hikes that we have done in winter with no issues. Plus 2 more options! ❗️Please remember to respect nature and other visitors and leave no trace!❗️ 📍Ringing Rocks County Park in Upper Black Eddy, PA •A 1 mile loop with views of the waterfall halfway. Climb down the rocks to the creek for a better view! Best to visit after a lot of rain in the fall and winter. 📍Kilgore Falls, Rocks State Park in MD •A .7-mile, one-way trail to waterfall. Trail is relatively easy. Cross the creek via the stepping stones to get a better view of the falls 📍Shades of Death, Hickory Run State Park in PA •A 1 mile, out-and-back, (2 miles total) moderate trail with multiple waterfalls and cascades as you follow the creek. Park at the visitor's center for bathrooms and picnic tables. 📍Raymondskill Falls, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in PA •A .4-mile loop to Pennsylvania's tallest waterfall. Very steep in sections and includes steps to both the lower and top overlooks. 📍Hackers Falls, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area in PA •A 1.4-mile trail to the waterfall. Trail is steep in several sections. Park at Raymondskill Falls lot and see two waterfalls in one day! Bonus Hikes: 📍Hawk Falls, Hickory Run State Park in PA •A .6-mile hike, one way, to the waterfall. Relatively easy with some steep slopes. 📍Hemlock Falls, South Mountain Reservation in NJ •A 1.6-mile loop, passing the waterfall. Easy side of moderate with some stairs along the trail. Can be very muddy in the winter. Have you been to any of these waterfalls in the winter? #waterfallhike #winterwaterfalls #hikesnearphilly #pennsylvaniahikes #marylandhiking #hikeyourownhike #winterhikes #winterhiking #WildKidsWander

When it's this cold 🥶, we need a place to thaw out! 🌞 Thankfully, we have so many fun indoor waterpark options less than two hours from Philly.🙌🏻 Some of these places are hotels, so you can always stay overnight. But if you'd rather be in your own bed, a day pass is the perfect option! All of the below indoor waterparks offer day passes. Some also offer half-day or twilight passes for a discount. The prices below are the cheapest day passes for adults. Prices go up on weekends. If you're looking for the best deal, Great Wolf Lodge is probably it for price and quality. They offer a lot, and you can add on the other activities at the resort, too. 🤩 Kalahari was the most expensive, with day passes over $100 on the weekend. I think they would rather have people stay there! 🤔 We visited Aquatopia last winter (where the video is from) and had a great time. I think the rides are fun for both the littlest ones and teens. Camelback Aquatopia 📍Tannersville, PA 🎟 Starting at $52 Kalahari 📍Pocono Manor, PA 🎟 Starting at $70 Great Wolf Lodge - Poconos 📍Scotrun, PA 🎟 Starting at $40 Great Wolf Lodge - Maryland 📍Perryville, MD 🎟 Starting at $40 H2Oooh! at Split Rock 📍Lake Harmony, PA 🎟 Starting at $38 DreamWorks 📍East Rutherford, NJ 🎟 Starting at $69 Big Kahuna (formerly Sahara Sam's) 📍West Berlin, NJ 🎟 Starting at $31 (online) Island Waterpark at Showboat 📍Atlantic City, NJ 🎟 Starting at $49 #indoorwaterpark #greatwolflodge #aquatopiawaterpark #camelbacklodge #americandreammall #dreamworkswaterpark #bigkahuna #islandwaterpark #showboat #kalahari #splitrock #poconosmountains #visitnj #visitpa #funnearphilly #phillyfamily #winteractivities #WildKidsWander

Who says arboretums are just for summer?? We love visiting the Morris Arboretum on a sunny winter day! The grounds are still so beautiful to walk around and enjoy. 😍 The kids love that the Out-On-A-Limb nets are still open to play on. We love exploring all of the nooks and crannies of the garden. 🧐 And, believe it or not, you can still find color everywhere! When we visited in February, flowers were already popping up! 🌸 The best part about visiting Morris Arboretum in winter is that admission is discounted. 🙌🏻 It makes it more affordable to get the kids out of the house and outside. 📍Morris Arboretum 100 E Northwestern Avenue in Philadelphia ⏰️ Open daily, 10 am - 4 pm 🎟 Admission is $12 for adults and $6 for kids 3-17. Kids under 3 are FREE! #morrisarboretum #chestnuthill #chestnuthillpa #visitphilly #winteractivity #wintergardens #americasgardencapital #phillyfamily #outsideinwinter #winterfun #onlyinpennsylvania #phillyfun #winterinphilly #WildKidsWander