Summer has just begun, but those lazy, hazy, crazy days always seem to fly by, don't they? Before back-to-school reading lists and supply lists consume your little ones' to-do lists, help them make the most of a Lehigh Valley (and beyond) summer with this most excellent funtastic checklist.
Go Hands-Free at 75 mph
Dorney Park in South Whitehall has six roller coasters to test the mettle (and stomachs) of guests of all ages. Feeling brave? Wait the extra few minutes in line for the first car on Steel Force and get those hands in the air during the 205-foot drop.
Easton's Bushkill Park caters to smaller thrill-seekers with its lineup of classic, vintage rides, but older siblings (and maybe even mom and dad) might get a kick out of the newly reopened funhouse; the park claims it's the oldest one in America.
The Land of Make Believe in Hope, NJ, and Dutch Wonderland in Lancaster are farther away, but worth the drive for a day of family fun.
Beat The Summer Sizzle
First, the obvious: the Lehigh Valley landscape is dotted with public pools aplenty; all the major cities and suburbs have them, and sometimes there's more to do than just swim. This year, Emmaus is launching a Flick N' Float series at its community pool. Family-friendly movies will be shown in the evenings on June 30, July 28 and August 25. Also, Allentown invites you to bust a move poolside at one of its 10 Dip-N-Dance events, beginning June 10.
Spray parks in Allentown (Bucky Boyle Park, Old Fairgrounds Playground and Valania Park) and Bethlehem (Yosko Park) are good for a quick cool down; or beat the heat—rain or shine—at one of the sprawling indoor water parks in the Poconos: Kalahari, Great Wolf Lodge or Camelback.
Sleep Under The Stars
Whether you prefer camping, glamping or something in between, places like Hersheypark Camping Resort in Hummelstown, Rustic Creek in Tunkhannock and Jellystone Park in Quarryville have you covered: pitch a tent, park your RV or book a cozy cabin and enjoy your stay as Mother Nature's guest, alongside kid-friendly perks like pools, water slides and game rooms.
Get Festin'
The Lehigh Valley and its surrounding regions love a good festival. New this year: ArtsQuest's Upper Mac Days at Grange Park (June 23–25). Get a taste of Pennsylvania Dutch life at the Kutztown Folk Festival (July 1–9) in Berks County. Bethlehem's Blueberry Festival will be in bloom at Burnside Plantation for the 36th year (July 15–16). And of course, there's that little thing called Musikfest (August 3–13) followed by summer's curtain call, The Great Allentown Fair (August 30- September 4).
Lace up your Sneakers
The Lehigh Valley Road Runners offer a summer running series that's for kids only, ages 3–14 years old. Races at Lehigh Parkway will be held June 10, June 24, July 15 and August 5. Also, the region's calendar is chock-full of 5Ks and other races that tend to emphasize community over competitiveness. A few options: BOOK IT 5K Run and 1 Mile Fun Run (Reading, June 24), Firecracker 5K Run/Walk (Port Carbon, July 4) and LV Zoo Run Wild for Animal Conservation 5K & 10K (Schnecksville, August 12).
...or your Roller Skates
Roller skating has made a comeback in recent years, and now is as good a time as any to show your kids how awesome you are on eight wheels. Whitehall's Skateaway holds teen nights every Friday. Not to be outdone, Bethlehem has a Skateaway of its own that features occasional theme nights, like '80s Night and Neon Night. The Big Wheel Roller Skating Center in Stroudsburg gets newbies up and rolling with its lessons for beginners. There are also programs for adult and youth roller hockey players as well as tiny tots (kids five and under).
Get a Fresh Summer ‘Do
Sweet and Sassy at the Promenade Shops in Saucon Valley does it all, from haircuts to up-dos to braiding. Bethlehem's Final Touch promises a classic barber shop experience (cuts, trims, fades, tapers and more) that's G-rated. Every pint-sized customer walks out with a lollipop and a balloon at Sharkey's Cuts for Kids in Limerick. Is it a bit outside the Lehigh Valley? Yes. Is it also just five miles away from the Philadelphia Premium Outlets, where mom and dad can get in a little (or a lot) of shopping? Also, yes.
Chase Away the Rainy-Day Blues
Even the sun needs a vacation now and then. But a summer day that's more drenching than sun-drenched doesn't have to be a downer. How about a little culture and creativity to pass the time? Admission is now (and forever) free at the Allentown Art Museum. Children 12 and under are free every weekend at the nearby America on Wheels Museum, which has special events sprinkled throughout the summer calendar, like Remote Control Racing Day (July 16) and a celebration of National Ice Cream Month (July 23), when sundaes will be for sale for $5. And of course, there's always something colorful cooking at the Crayola Experience in Easton.
Learn Something New at a Day Camp…
Kids who love science (and probably even ones who don't) will love rolling up their sleeves at the Da Vinci Science Center's day-long or week-long camps in Allentown. There are different themes all summer long, including Dawn of the Dinosaurs, Storybook Science and Little Coders.
Flint Hill Farm in Coopersburg offers a variety of hands-on programs for big kids (Horse Lovers Camp; Farm Camp) and little kids (Kinder Camp; Mommy, Daddy and Me Camp). New this year are counselor-in-training (14–15 year olds) and junior counselor (16 year olds) programs.
Lehigh Valley Zoo promises its campers a week packed with animal encounters, nature discoveries and fun. Younger kids can dive into explorations like Jungle Journeys, Woodland Adventures or Days in the Desert. Kids ages 12–14 can get a taste of what's it like to be an animal caretaker at Junior Zoo Keeper Camp.
Allentown's free, eight-week summer playground program begins on June 12. It includes playground activities and free lunch for children ages seven to 15 at 18 different locations in the city.
...Or Stay the Night Blue Mountain in Lehigh County has a day camp that promises to delight the ruggedly inclined with activities like hiking, zip lining, archery and paddle boarding. But overnight guests get to experience Blue after dark with star gazing, storytelling around a campfire, roasting s'mores and more. Sessions are weekly through August 8.
Founded in 1908, Camp Oneka in the Poconos is one of the oldest residential camps for girls in the U.S. Campers ages seven through 16 years old can choose between two-week, half-season or full-season schedules. There's plenty to do on land and on water (the camp is a stone's throw away from Fairview Lake), including offerings to satiate creative appetites like arts and crafts and drama.
Camp Nock-A-Mixon in Bucks County is about as serious an immersive summer camp experience as it gets. Kids wave good-bye to their parents at the end of June, and don't bid adieu to their fellow campers until mid-August. With grounds that include not just one but two lakes, and everything from playing fields to an arts and activities center and an American Ninja Warrior course, those weeks will just fly by.
Perfect your Pose
Don't leave the little ones at home the next time you head out for a restorative yoga session (unless this is “you” time—we get it). Allentown's West End Yoga Center offers classes for kids 5–10 years old. The Yoga Loft of Bethlehem welcomes yogis as young as six months old for its infant yoga sessions. Toddlers have a class to call their own, too. New to Allentown, VIBE POWER YOGA has yoga and mindfulness programs for all ages, including classes for mom and baby, little yogis ages two to five, kids ages six to 10 and something for preteens and teens. The Yoga Gnome in Bucks County is unique because it is a studio exclusively for kids (mom and dad are allowed to tag along with the little ones, of course). There are options for babies to tweens and teens, including a class specifically for LGBTQ+ kids of all abilities.
Chow Down at a New(ish) Local Favorite
Do children belong in a beer garden? Absolutely… if the destination is Wanderlust in Forks Township. The two-and-a-half-acre site offers plenty of room to roam and explore. There's even a playground for the little ones to climb on while mom and dad look on from the nearby picnic tables. The Farm & Table in Nazareth serves up breakfast, lunch and dinner. If your little ones are partial to pancakes, this place is a must-visit. Tandy Cake, Cinnamon Roll and Caribbean Coconut are among the recent flavor offerings. And how about a little on-site entertainment? There are bowling alleys and an arcade area on the premises. DAT'S Eats, Treats & Sweets in Plainfield Township is a casual eatery with a 1950s vibe. Even if everyone in your brood can't relate to the poodle skirts and soda shop vibe, they'll love the kid-friendly menu options (loaded tater tots, anyone?) and many varieties of ice cream.
Published in the June 2023 edition of Lehigh Valley Style magazine.
