25/07/2022
Earlier this summer, we went on what we called Alex's Dream Vacation, but Brad and I had a blast in the process! This trip would be perfect for preschoolers through primary aged children. This trip was a cost effective, nice alternative to Walt Disney World.
Day 1- We got a late start, as Brad had to work half day. We traveled to Washington, Pennsylvania. This is a great stopover as there are tons of hotels, restaurants, and shopping in this area. If you had a full day, you could visit the Columbus Zoo or the Center for Science and Industry in Columbus, Ohio.
Day 2-We made our way to Hershey, PA where we got to check out Hershey's Chocolate World. There were many activities for us to enjoy, but the highlight of the this stop was getting watch the creation of our own candy bars. There is also HersheyPark adjacent to Hershey's Chocolate World; however, we opted not to do that, as we had several other theme parks planned for the trip. We finished the day by driving into Langhorne, PA to our hotel, which we stayed in for 3 nights.
Day 3-We made the 45 minute drive to West Mifflin, New Jersey to check out Diggerland. This was one of the things I thought Alex would enjoy the most. However, Alex got overheated and got sick about 45 minutes into our visit. In our limited time there, I would say it has lots of neat attraction; however, be prepared that it is nearly all out in the sun. The manager was very nice, though, and he refunded our tickets in the form of a gift card.
Day 4-This day was dedicated to Sesame Place and all things Sesame Street. The park was awesome with its theming; however, it was somewhat smaller than I anticipated. We were able to experience everything we wanted to in about 3 hours; however, attendance was minimal, so there was never a line.
Day 5-We departed our hotel in Langhorne and headed for the American Dream Mall in East Rutherford, New Jersey. We went to visit Nickelodeon Universe; however, we could have easily spent an additional day or two with other activities available at the complex. Nickelodeon Universe was one of Alex's favorite things we did on the trip. We had minimal wait times and were able to do all the rides Alex wanted to. After we finished there, we also checked out their Toys R Us store (neat but expensive) and the Oreo Cafe (not too impressive) before heading on to the Surfside Hotel in Stratford, Connecticut.
Day 6-We spent 3 nights at the Surfside Hotel. The hotel itself has been recently renovated and is very nice. It sits right on the Long Island Sound with a small beach of its own. However, the location is somewhat remote. After spending time on the beach in the morning, we took at day trip up to Springfield, Massachusetts to see the Dr. Seuss Museum. The museum is like a children's museum themed around Dr. Seuss. Each room puts you in one of the books and has an activity for kids that accompanies it. After the museum, we headed a little farther north to the Yankee Candle Flagship Store in South Deerfield. This store is more like a mall, but there was hardly anyone there. While we were there, Alex got to dip candles, make his own jar candle, and customize a candle jar.
Day 7-After going to the beach, we checked out the Pez Factory about 20 minutes from our hotel. We all really enjoyed this experience, as there were activities along with being able to view what was going on in the factory. From there, the original plan was to visit The Dinosaur Place at Nature's Village; however, there was a traffic back-up that would have left us with little time to explore before it closed. Instead, we decided to take Alex on his second college visit to the campus of Yale University where we realized that it was much different than his first visit at Ball State. :)
Day 8-This day turned primarily into a travel day for us as we began to head back west. We had considered stopping at the Crayola Experience in Easton, PA or Field Station: Dinosaurs in Leonia, New Jersey; however, we decided Alex seemed a bit tired, so we just made our way to our next stop at the Fulton Steamboat in Lancaster, PA. Once we arrived, we checked out the Disney Outlet Store close to our hotel and took advantage of playground and pool at the hotel.
Day 9-This day turned out to be one of everyone's favorite days of the trip. We visit the Cherry Crest Adventure Farm in Strasburg, PA. The farm had SO many neat activities for kids. By mid-afternoon, we were getting pretty toasty, so we headed to Kitchen Kettle Village to pick up some Amish treats before they closed. Then, we grabbed an early dinner at Hershey Farm Restaurant & Inn. The buffet they offered was the largest I'd ever experienced. After a little rest at the hotel, we finished the night out by checking out the Tanger Outlets in Lancaster.
Day 10-This day was a combination of beginning to head towards home and checking out a couple more attractions. After an early lunch, we stopped at Columbia, PA for the Turkey Hill Experience. While here, Alex got to create his own ice cream carton, develop a flavor, and then make a commercial. There was also unlimited free samples of a variety of ice cream and tea. We then drove a few hours to West Mifflin, PA. We checked into our hotel before we headed to Kennywood for the purpose of visiting Thomas Town. Alex absolutely loved this stop, and he has told everyone this was his favorite part of the trip. The park was clean, well maintained, and had lots of activities for kids Alex's age.
Day 11-We came the rest of the way home...and took a nap once we got there! :)
If you are interested in a dream trip of your own, let me know! I'm happy to help set something up for you. The best part it doesn't cost you anything!
