Unique shops and attractions in Eastern Pennsylvania (Phil, Easton)

[Kendall]

We are planning a vacation for next summer and my daughter (who is leading the plan!) would like to know of fun, unique shops and attractions in PA.  We will be near the Easton area and also in Philadelphia.  We know about Independence hall and the Liberty Bell and Washington Crossing, Delaware River Gap, Lehigh Zoo (would you recommend it or the Philadelphia zoo?), Franklin Institute (I think this is the name of the children's museum type place-do you recommend it?)

 

Any other highly recommended places?  The kids will be 9 to 19 next summer.

 

We have this neat marble store an hour away from us where you can watch them make a marble.  She loved it and would love to find interesting shops while we are vacationing.  Bookstores are included in that, of course!

 

Thanks,

Kendall 

[bibiche]

In Philadelphia, Mütter Museum and Eastern State Penitentiary are worth a visit. The Philadelphia Zoo is the oldest zoo in the country, and lovely as far as zoos go.

Edited July 12, 2016 by bibiche

[bibiche]

And the Barnes Foundation! If you only go to one museum in Philadelphia, that is the one to choose. It's brilliant, both the building and what's in it.

[kbutton]

I don't know if it's in your category, but the Crayola factory is supposed to be a fantastic experience.

 

Also, it's not exactly between Phila and Easton, but the Landis Valley Museum is pretty cool (about 1.5 hours from either place, a little closer to Philadelphia). It's near Lititz, and you can visit a chocolate factory and pretzel shop right in town.

 

http://www.landisvalleymuseum.org/

http://www.juliussturgis.com/

http://www.wilburbuds.com/Our-Candy-Store.html

 

Lititz may also have some sites of interest regarding the Moravians. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lititz_Moravian_Historic_District

http://www.lititzpa.com/about.php 

Edited July 13, 2016 by kbutton

[Kendall]

Any and all ideas are welcome.  We are wide open at this time. Thank you for the ones you have shared so far.  We hadn't heard of several of them and a few were 2nd recommendations which helps.    Martin guitars is on our list for our guitar player.  It is in Nazereth I think.

[justasque]

Martin Guitar Factory.

Philly:

Reading Terminal Market

Franklin Institute

Natural History Museum (and a little free art gallery and shop next door at Moore College of Art)

Penn Museum (amazing ancient history stuff)

It's a good walking town; lots of sculptures and little things to look at.

Ben Franklin's grave (free)

Arch Street Quaker meeting house (small exhibit; free)

Christ Church (free)

Mother Bethel AME church

[marbel]

Eastern State Pen is one of the best things we've seen in Philadelphia.   It's beautiful in an eerie sort of way.

Reading Terminal Market is fun for lunch.  Don't plan on dinner there, unless it's very early:  it closes at 6pm!

Penn Museum is awesome.

 

Read up on the Mutter Museum before you go.  My son was glad we went, sort of, but he and I agreed that it was good my daughter didn't go.  Some of it is rather disturbing. 

 

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is a favorite place of ours. The grounds around it are wonderful too - right on the river.

 

We liked the National Constitution Center as well.

 

Longwood Gardens is about an hour south of the city; it's lovely if you like gardens.

 

Doylestown is about an hour northwest.  The Mercer Museum is one of the best places we've ever been - not just in Philadelphia, but one of the best ever.  So much to look at.   Related:  Fonthill, Mercer's home.  The Moravian Tile Works are on the same property as Fonthill, but we've never visited that part.  Doylestown has a nice main street for walking.

 

Glencairn Museum in Bryn Athyn might be of interest. 

 

Ringing Rocks is fun if you want to get outside.  Nearby is O Wow Cow, fantastic ice cream.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Sherry in OH]

I would choose the Philadephia Zoo over the Lehigh Valley Zoo and the Franklin Institute over the Da Vinci Center.  

 

In the Easton area, consider:

 

Historic Moravian Bethlehem National Historic Landmark District http://historicbethlehem.org/about/historic-moravian-bethlehem-a-national-historic-landmark-district/

The Moriavian Bookstore and other unique shops are in the historic district.  Musikfest is in August.  http://www.musikfest.org

 

National Canal Museum - https://canals.org

 

Liberty Bell Museum - http://libertybellmuseum.org

 

Scenic/historic train rides:

New Hope and Ivyland Railroad, New Hope - https://www.newhoperailroad.com/maps-directions.cfm

 

The Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, Jim Thorpe, PA  - http://www.lgsry.com

There are many small shops and musems in Jim Thorpe as well as nearby outdoor attractions - http://www.jimthorpe.com

You could also tour a coal mine, there are several in the area.

[MistyMountain]

My kids liked the Franklin Institute. I have good memories from my childhood of it too. It was my favorite museum I went to.

 

Not far from the Easton area is

 

Crayola Museum

Da Vinci Science Center

Dorney Park

Mack Truck Museum

 

The Lehigh Valley zoo is a small zoo.

Edited July 13, 2016 by MistyMountain

[kbutton]

Oh, yes on Longwood Gardens if you like gardens/conservatories at all. It's spectacular!!!

 

I want to go on a trip now...I haven't been to half of these places yet.

[Carrie12345]

Jim Thorpe is full of neat little shops.  There's also the old jail, which gives a history of the Molly Maguires.  And, as posted above, the train.

 

The Franklin Institute would definitely be better than Da Vinci Science Center, but we still love it because my kids can be doing different things at the same time without me worrying I'm going to lose someone.  It's small and friendly.

 

Same with the zoo comparisons.  We still do big city zoos, but LVZ is a much more relaxed event for us!

[Carrie12345]

Oh, and here in the Poconos (if you're doing the Delaware Water Gap,) you can see candle making demonstrations and pretzel making demonstrations!

[ThisIsTheDay]

DaVinci Center was a diversion but not what we were hoping. My kids were 9 and 13, and they both felt they were too old to enjoy it.

 

We don't have access to amazing indoor farmers markets, so I always am in awe of the Allentown Farmers Market at the old fairgrounds. I haven't done this but would like to tour Bethlehem Steel Mill (do they offer that?). My LEGO fan loved the Lego store at King of Prussia Mall. We visited our first (and only!) IKEA somewhere north/northwest of Philadelphia, and although we didn't stop, my older teen adored driving through Amish Country.  These might seem a little boring, but we're a laid back bunch. ;)

[fdrinca]

For this age group, especially, I'd avoid the Crayola Factory. It's mostly a very loud building where you can try art supplies. There isn't a factory there, but you can see a demonstration of how crayons are made. Very underwhelming if you're expecting the "Mr. Rogers" experience.

 

Longwood Gardens is beautiful. Nearby, Winterthur (the home of the DuPonts) has lovely gardens as well. 

 

The Art Museum is amazing. Not to be missed. 

 

[TianXiaXueXiao]

Since you mentioned shops, I recommend Agia Sophia Harrisburg coffee if you're anywhere nearby. Have a fun trip! http://agiasophiaharrisburg.com/

[justasque]

For this age group, especially, I'd avoid the Crayola Factory. It's mostly a very loud building where you can try art supplies. There isn't a factory there, but you can see a demonstration of how crayons are made. Very underwhelming if you're expecting the "Mr. Rogers" experience.

 

...

 

Two very good factor tours are:

 

-- The Martin Guitar factory.  This is an excellent tour, showcasing several different approaches to manufacturing.  A nice complement to any unit on the industrial revolution, as there is an area where guitars are made in something of an assembly line fashion, and another where an individual worker creates a guitar start to finish, providing a nice compare/contrast between the two methods.  The tour is of interest even if you are not musical folks (assuming you like factory tours)..   (Be warned - while the tour is free our extended family ended up buying about four Martins over the year following our tour!  You really appreciate the craftsmanship that goes into them after doing the tour!)

 

--The Herrs potato chip factory.  This one is probably out of your way, but if you're in the Longwood Gardens area Herrs is not too far from that.

 

Herrs skews younger, but Martin is more of interest to older kids.  

 

Harley Davidson also does well-regarded factory tours; I've never done that one.  Note that they are not doing tours in July and most of August due to production changes.

[justasque]

Shopping-wise, there are the usual upscale shops at places like center city Philly and the King of Prussia Mall.  There is also an IKEA by the waterfront in Philly.  But if you're looking for something more unique, I'd suggest walking around Old City in Philly.  There are lots of little boutiques where you'll find vintage, indie designer, and that sort of thing.  http://www.phillymag.com/shoppist/2014/06/10/field-guide-tk-best-shops-old-city/

 

If you end up at Longwood, downtown Kennett is worth a stroll.

[Jan in SC]

We liked the Brandywine River Museum, but we've only been near Christmas when they had the miniature trains running. They have an Andrew Wyeth museum.

 

We did Crayola, and enjoyed it, but my dc were very young. It might be boring for older kids.