It feels like it’s taken forever, but spring is FINALLY here! It’s time to shed those winter coats and soak up the sunshine, and thankfully, the South Central PA area has so much to offer. We live in a truly gorgeous corner of the world, and it’s so exciting when winter sheds its skin and everything starts blooming again.
Whether you just want to take advantage of the great weather, or are looking for fun things to do over spring break, we’ve got plenty of suggestions for you! From Reading to Lancaster, Hershey to Harrisburg, there’s no shortage of activities. Looking for some general ideas for springtime fun? We’ve got that, too:
- Make a springtime craft
- Have a garage sale (the kids can sell lemonade!)
- Plant new flowers in your garden
- Go on a nature walk
- Visit a local farm
- Have a picnic in a nearby park
- Fly a kite
- Go to a farmer’s market
- Check out a mud sale
- Bake a carrot cake with your kids
- Buy some fresh rhubarb and make a pie
- Make some painted rocks and hide them
- See a baseball game
Oley Turnpike Dairy: Visit the petting zoo, and bonus — during the spring, you’ll get to see some baby animals, too!
Reading Fightin’ Phils: Take in a baseball game with the Fightin’ Phils starting in April.
Berks Nature Trails: Hike or bike one of the numerous nature trails throughout Berks County and see wetlands, wildlife, and beautiful PA nature.
Colebrookdale Railroad: See the gorgeous scenery while riding the train on one of their spring expeditions.
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary: Stop by Hawk Mountain and see the migrating birds, or even up close at the amphitheatre.
West Reading Farmer’s Market: Get some fresh fruit and veggies, as well as other locally-produced items… perfect for an outdoor picnic afterwards!
Berks County Heritage Center: Walk the longest single span covered bridge in Pennsylvania, check out Gruber Wagon Works, and more.
Reading Pagoda: Take in the 30-mile panoramic view and hike the 10 acres of surrounding land.
Appalachian Trail: Spend a day hiking the country’s most famous trail, 46 miles of which runs through Cumberland County.
Ashcombe Farm and Greenhouse: Take a gardening class, do a workshop, or make some crafts.
Cumberland Valley Photo Trail: Spend a day traveling the county and getting some fun photos together as a family.
Bricker’s Strawberries: Get in the spring spirit with some berry picking for a day of seasonal fun.
Cumberland Valley Rail Trail: Get your bikes out, go horseback riding, or just take a walk through the gorgeous countryside.
Bent Pine Alpaca Farm: Take the kids to see some alpacas at one of Cumberland County’s local farms.
Children’s Lake: Feed the ducks and swans, stroll through the gardens, go fishing, and marvel at the bubbling lake before taking a picnic beneath the weeping willows.
Spring Weekends at Hershey Park: Spring is in the air! Enjoy 8 fun-filled weekends of rides, coasters, Hershey Characters, and so much more!
ZooAmerica: Spring is an exciting time at ZooAmerica®! Stop by to welcome your favorite animals back from hibernation.
Hershey Gardens: Take in the signs of spring in the gorgeous gardens, from their Spring Extravaganza to early and late blooms.
Hershey-Harrisburg Adventure Trail: Get outdoors and hike, bike, or kayak along the trail — or go fishing and birding, too!
Harrisburg Senators: Baseball is back! You can catch the Senators on City Island starting in April.
Water Golf on City Island: Have some outdoor fun on this beautifully-landscaped miniature golf course.
Pride of the Susquehanna: Take a ride on the Harrisburg riverboat again, starting in May!
Riverfront Park: Go cherry blossom-spotting as they bloom throughout the spring.
Cherry Crest Adventure Farm: Reopening for the season in May, you can see baby animals and have loads of fun with their other fun farm activities.
Mud Sales: Spend a day in an Amish tradition and do some shopping, eat some Amish treats, and mingle with the community.
Lancaster Stormers: The Barnstormers you know and love are back with an all-new name for you to cheer on this spring.
Dutch Wonderland: Reopening for the season on March 29th, spend a day at the kingdom for kids!
LancasterHistory: Visit President James Buchanan’s Wheatland, and for spring, make sure to walk the grounds and see the Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum.
Kitchen Kettle Village: Do some shopping, get some rhubarb, and eat fresh farm food in the sunshine.
Covered Bridge Tour: Nothing is more quintessentially Lancaster than covered bridges… so spend a day exploring and taking pictures with all of them!
Strasburg Railroad: Take a scenic ride through Lancaster County on America’s oldest operating railroad – get an open-air coach to full immerse yourself in the spring spirit!
Wolf Sanctuary of PA: See wolves in their natural habitat for a day that is both thrilling and educational.
Lancaster Central Market: Shop at the oldest farmer’s market in the country and stock up on locally grown foods, bread, cheese, meat, flowers, crafts, and more.
High Sports Family Fun Center: Get outside and play a few games – mini golf, batting cages, go karts, and more.
Susquehanna National Heritage Area: Explore the Susquehanna River aboard the Chief Uncas, tour the river with expert guides, learn about Native American tribes, hike a nature trail, and much more.
Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum: Learn about Pennsylvania German traditions and folklore through living history demonstrations across the grounds of this historic farm, and cap it off with a wagon ride – always fun for the kids.
Cornwall Iron Furnace: Go back in time to see the country’s most complete charcoal fueled ironmaking complex, and wander the grounds as well.
Swatara State Park: Go hiking, biking, or horseback riding in this gorgeous park… make sure to stop by Bordner’s Cabin, too!
Patches Family Creamery: Not only can you get delicious ice cream, your kiddos can play on the FREE playground and feed the farm animals, too.
Royal Oaks Farm: Reopens in April for the season, you can pick your own flowers here and take some beautiful family photos while you’re at it.
Union Canal Tunnel Park: Hike the grounds, take a picnic, or – on Union Canal Days in May – take a boat tour through the historic tunnel.
Game Time Fun Center: Reopening for the 2024 season, play a round of miniature golf and then indulge your sweet tooth afterwards with some ice cream.
Governor Dick Observation Tower: Get a multi-county panoramic view, and while you’re there, don’t miss the chance to see the rain garden and hike the boardwalk.
Risser-Marvel Farm Market: Reopens for the season March 20th; get fresh fruits and veggies, jams, preserves, baked goods, and much more.
Lebanon Valley Rail Trail: Take in the scenery on this mixed-use trail that starts on the Lancaster County line and runs 14 miles through Lebanon County.
York Revolution: Welcome back baseball in April with a Revs game.
Highpoint Scenic Vista and Recreation Area: Take in breathtaking views of the Susquehanna Valley, including 360 degree views of the river.
Heritage Rail Trail: This trail stretches nearly 30 miles, and you can not only see the beautiful scenery, but do some trainspotting along your walk, too.
The Markets at Shrewsbury: Stop by this Amish farmer’s market for locally-grown fruits and veggies, as well as homemade breads, cheeses, furniture, crafts, gifts, and more.
Stewartstown Railroad: Take a train through the scenic countryside aboard “Mighty-Mo,” a vintage 1943 Plymouth switcher locomotive.
Orchard Valley Farm: Reopening for the season in May, pick your own fruits, starting with strawberries, raspberries, and cherries for spring.
- Berks County
-
Oley Turnpike Dairy: Visit the petting zoo, and bonus — during the spring, you’ll get to see some baby animals, too!
Reading Fightin’ Phils: Take in a baseball game with the Fightin’ Phils starting in April.
Berks Nature Trails: Hike or bike one of the numerous nature trails throughout Berks County and see wetlands, wildlife, and beautiful PA nature.
Colebrookdale Railroad: See the gorgeous scenery while riding the train on one of their spring expeditions.
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary: Stop by Hawk Mountain and see the migrating birds, or even up close at the amphitheatre.
West Reading Farmer’s Market: Get some fresh fruit and veggies, as well as other locally-produced items… perfect for an outdoor picnic afterwards!
Berks County Heritage Center: Walk the longest single span covered bridge in Pennsylvania, check out Gruber Wagon Works, and more.
Reading Pagoda: Take in the 30-mile panoramic view and hike the 10 acres of surrounding land.
- Cumberland County
-
Appalachian Trail: Spend a day hiking the country’s most famous trail, 46 miles of which runs through Cumberland County.
Ashcombe Farm and Greenhouse: Take a gardening class, do a workshop, or make some crafts.
Cumberland Valley Photo Trail: Spend a day traveling the county and getting some fun photos together as a family.
Bricker’s Strawberries: Get in the spring spirit with some berry picking for a day of seasonal fun.
Cumberland Valley Rail Trail: Get your bikes out, go horseback riding, or just take a walk through the gorgeous countryside.
Bent Pine Alpaca Farm: Take the kids to see some alpacas at one of Cumberland County’s local farms.
Children’s Lake: Feed the ducks and swans, stroll through the gardens, go fishing, and marvel at the bubbling lake before taking a picnic beneath the weeping willows.
- Dauphin County
-
Spring Weekends at Hershey Park: Spring is in the air! Enjoy 8 fun-filled weekends of rides, coasters, Hershey Characters, and so much more!
ZooAmerica: Spring is an exciting time at ZooAmerica®! Stop by to welcome your favorite animals back from hibernation.
Hershey Gardens: Take in the signs of spring in the gorgeous gardens, from their Spring Extravaganza to early and late blooms.
Hershey-Harrisburg Adventure Trail: Get outdoors and hike, bike, or kayak along the trail — or go fishing and birding, too!
Harrisburg Senators: Baseball is back! You can catch the Senators on City Island starting in April.
Water Golf on City Island: Have some outdoor fun on this beautifully-landscaped miniature golf course.
Pride of the Susquehanna: Take a ride on the Harrisburg riverboat again, starting in May!
Riverfront Park: Go cherry blossom-spotting as they bloom throughout the spring.
- Lancaster County
-
Cherry Crest Adventure Farm: Reopening for the season in May, you can see baby animals and have loads of fun with their other fun farm activities.
Mud Sales: Spend a day in an Amish tradition and do some shopping, eat some Amish treats, and mingle with the community.
Lancaster Stormers: The Barnstormers you know and love are back with an all-new name for you to cheer on this spring.
Dutch Wonderland: Reopening for the season on March 29th, spend a day at the kingdom for kids!
LancasterHistory: Visit President James Buchanan’s Wheatland, and for spring, make sure to walk the grounds and see the Louise Arnold Tanger Arboretum.
Kitchen Kettle Village: Do some shopping, get some rhubarb, and eat fresh farm food in the sunshine.
Covered Bridge Tour: Nothing is more quintessentially Lancaster than covered bridges… so spend a day exploring and taking pictures with all of them!
Strasburg Railroad: Take a scenic ride through Lancaster County on America’s oldest operating railroad – get an open-air coach to full immerse yourself in the spring spirit!
Wolf Sanctuary of PA: See wolves in their natural habitat for a day that is both thrilling and educational.
Lancaster Central Market: Shop at the oldest farmer’s market in the country and stock up on locally grown foods, bread, cheese, meat, flowers, crafts, and more.
High Sports Family Fun Center: Get outside and play a few games – mini golf, batting cages, go karts, and more.
Susquehanna National Heritage Area: Explore the Susquehanna River aboard the Chief Uncas, tour the river with expert guides, learn about Native American tribes, hike a nature trail, and much more.
Landis Valley Village and Farm Museum: Learn about Pennsylvania German traditions and folklore through living history demonstrations across the grounds of this historic farm, and cap it off with a wagon ride – always fun for the kids.
- Lebanon County
-
Cornwall Iron Furnace: Go back in time to see the country’s most complete charcoal fueled ironmaking complex, and wander the grounds as well.
Swatara State Park: Go hiking, biking, or horseback riding in this gorgeous park… make sure to stop by Bordner’s Cabin, too!
Patches Family Creamery: Not only can you get delicious ice cream, your kiddos can play on the FREE playground and feed the farm animals, too.
Royal Oaks Farm: Reopens in April for the season, you can pick your own flowers here and take some beautiful family photos while you’re at it.
Union Canal Tunnel Park: Hike the grounds, take a picnic, or – on Union Canal Days in May – take a boat tour through the historic tunnel.
Game Time Fun Center: Reopening for the 2024 season, play a round of miniature golf and then indulge your sweet tooth afterwards with some ice cream.
Governor Dick Observation Tower: Get a multi-county panoramic view, and while you’re there, don’t miss the chance to see the rain garden and hike the boardwalk.
Risser-Marvel Farm Market: Reopens for the season March 20th; get fresh fruits and veggies, jams, preserves, baked goods, and much more.
Lebanon Valley Rail Trail: Take in the scenery on this mixed-use trail that starts on the Lancaster County line and runs 14 miles through Lebanon County.
- York County
-
York Revolution: Welcome back baseball in April with a Revs game.
Highpoint Scenic Vista and Recreation Area: Take in breathtaking views of the Susquehanna Valley, including 360 degree views of the river.
Heritage Rail Trail: This trail stretches nearly 30 miles, and you can not only see the beautiful scenery, but do some trainspotting along your walk, too.
The Markets at Shrewsbury: Stop by this Amish farmer’s market for locally-grown fruits and veggies, as well as homemade breads, cheeses, furniture, crafts, gifts, and more.
Stewartstown Railroad: Take a train through the scenic countryside aboard “Mighty-Mo,” a vintage 1943 Plymouth switcher locomotive.
Orchard Valley Farm: Reopening for the season in May, pick your own fruits, starting with strawberries, raspberries, and cherries for spring.
