When the kids have off school, I’m always torn on what to do. Part of me feels like we should go do something fun together, like a mini-family field trip. But part of me feels like it’s a golden opportunity to stay at home and enjoy some sibling and family time together.
It usually works out that with every holiday they have off school, I end up doing something different and unexpected. Here is a list of some ideas you can do with your family!
I don’t know why we love this so much. Maybe its because it starts out with a well-done movie in a mini-theater and then you walk from building to building, seeing how the pretzel and potato chip process works. Maybe its because you get to eat FRESH hot off the factory machine potato chips (I don’t like potato chips, but these are amazing!), or maybe its because you get a FREE bag of chips at the end of the tour. Its just a fun place to go! Open from 9am to 3pm. There is now a fee for this tour and you register online before you go.
They have fee-free entry days on ten holidays throughout the year and Martin Luther King Day is one of them! Here is a list of national parks within 2 hours of Lancaster that are worth visiting. FREE.
You can ride as many times as you want, and each time you get a piece of chocolate candy at the end! Our favorite part is going through the ‘hot’ oven. 🙂 FREE.
4. Sturgis Pretzel Factory (Lititz)
Founded in 1861, the Julius Sturgis Pretzel Bakery is the first commercial pretzel bakery in America. Tour the original bakery, get a hands-on lesson in pretzel twisting, and then taste a fresh soft pretzel. This tour works well with kids of all ages. Open 10am-4pm. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children.
5. That Fish Place (Centerville)
If you’ve never been there, this is a pet store with tons of animals and fish—including a stingray petting tank! You can explore over 88,000 square feet of retail store. Great for kids of all ages. Here’s what our family loves seeing at That Fish Place.
6. Choo Choo Barn (Strasburg)
Martin Luther King Day is the LAST day for their Christmas display. The 1,700 square foot train layout features over 150 hand-built animated figures and vehicles and 22 operating trains, and special for the Christmas display you have to find 55 hidden Santas! Kids 3-11 are $4.50, adults are $7.50.
Previously, you could sign up for completely FREE passes throughout the year. Now there is a small fee to get those, but still a great price. You do have to pay for skate rentals, unless you take your own. Castle Roller Skating frequently offers free skate days too, so watch their schedule!
Do you know where the FREE indoor play areas are in Lancaster County? Or the dozens of other play areas that have a fee? From McDonalds, to GoNBananas to Universal Kidmazium to discounted passes for Laserdome, these ideas are perfect to get you through cold winter days!
Do your kids love dinosaurs? Check out these local museums and attractions with dinosaurs for your whole family to enjoy. All of these dinosaur events and exhibits are within a 2 hour drive from Lancaster County—or right here, in Lancaster County!
If you are a family that loves science, you’ll love this science center as you experience Newton’s laws, explore space and the solar system, enjoy a planetarium, and be entertained by regular science encountering shows! Plus, they are offering a Groupon deal right now to make your visit even more affordable!
More Great Field Trip Ideas
There are also so many fantastic field trip ideas in the Lancaster County area that are an hour or less away. Some of our favorites include…
Inside of Lancaster County
- Lancaster Science Factory (Lancaster)
- The North Museum (Lancaster)
- National Watch & Clock (Lancaster)
- National Toy Train Museum (Lancaster)
- Railroad Museum of PA (Lancaster)
Outside of Lancaster County
- The Franklin Institute (Philadelphia)
- The Crayola Factory (Allentown)
- Roadside America (Hamburg)
- LegoLand (Philadelphia)
- DaVinci Science Center (Allentown)
If you plan ahead, you might be able to
request some free tickets from the library!
Stay at Home Ideas for Martin Luther King Day
Sometimes its also nice to just stay at home and enjoy each other and a change of pace. For those of you who like to do just that, here are some great recipes to make with your kiddos! Then curl up in a blanket and watch a good movie or play a family game (we’ve found ourselves playing this game for over an hour and not even realizing it!) .
This is a totally simple recipe, a little messy, but no raw eggs so you can just let your kids make them shirtless and then wipe them clean! 🙂
A few years ago I heard about a mom who would set a blanket in the middle of the living room floor and then put an air popcorn popper in the middle of the blanket/sheet. Just for fun and something special, she would pop the popcorn onto the blanket! How fun is that for kids?! This simple recipe is fun to make with the popcorn.
This is our favorite snow day activity but it really works on any nice winter day!
Everyone who loves keeping it simple in the kitchen will enjoy this easy recipe.
