Best Summer Day Trips from Philly: Quick Getaways for Families with Kids

Take a splashy day trip to Morey's Piers Ocean Oasis. Photo by David Howarth

When a summer day with no play dates, soccer practice, or camp presents itself, Philly parents love to hit the road and change the scenery. To make your mini getaway easier, we've rounded up some of our favorite summer day trip destinations, where you'll find everything from amusement parks to beaches.

To extend your daycation into a true vacation, check out our top ten weekend vacay ideas in PA, or browse our list of 20 family road trips under ten hours from Philly.

Heal The Bay: An Insider's Guide to Santa Monica's Aquarium

Little girl enjoying the aquarium. Photo by Kylie Williams

Heal the Bay Aquarium, nestled within the Santa Monica Pier, stands as a beacon of marine conservation and education. The aquarium offers visitors a captivating journey through its exhibits, showcasing diverse sea creatures and habitats. 

From colorful tide pools teeming with sea stars and anemones to shark touch tanks, and interactive displays highlighting the importance of ocean conservation, Heal the Bay Aquarium provides an immersive and educational experience for visitors of all ages. 

Discover all there is to do at the Santa Monica Pier with kids and find more fun things to do with kids in Santa Monica beyond the pier. For more animal encounters, browse our Zoos and Gardens for Los Angeles Kids Guide. For more aquarium fun, check out this guide to the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach

Toronto with Kids: 25 Best Things to Do in Toronto, Canada

Niagara Falls makes for an easy day trip from Toronto.

Toronto, Canada (the country's largest city) is an ideal vacation destination for families looking for an urban adventure. Located on the shores of Lake Ontario, the city offers a perfect mix of outdoor activities, cultural attractions, world-class museums, and charming neighborhoods. With so much to see and do, there’s something for everyone in your family to enjoy.

My family visited Toronto last summer and had a blast. Here are the 25 best things to do in Toronto, Canada with kids, including iconic city landmarks, kid-friendly museums, sports venues, amusement parks, and family-friendly Toronto hotels.

For more great family vacation spots in Canada, check out our Canada Family Travel Guide, including the top things to do in Montreal with kids.

Strawberry Picking near NYC and Summer Strawberry Festivals

Strawberry picking at Bishop Farms makes for a sweet day trip.

Strawberry picking season is one of our favorite milestones of the late spring and early summer. Picking your own strawberries makes the season even sweeter. As we move into the height of strawberry picking season, there are a slew of local farms for strawberry picking near NYC, and a visit makes for a great day trip.

Read on to discover more than a dozen strawberry picking farms all less than two hours away from Midtown Manhattan. We've also found a handful of strawberry festivals celebrating the season's bounty. You'll find even more pick-your-own fun in our Guide to Family-Friendly Farms near NYC.

30 Things To Do with Orlando Babies Before They Turn One

Adventures await you and your little piggies at Rebecca Rabbit's Playground at Peppa Pig Theme Park. Photo courtesy of Legoland

There's so much to do in Orlando for every age, including those who haven't even celebrated their first birthday. The first year of baby's life is so special...full of wonder and firsts. Make the most of baby's first year with our "Baby Bucket List" for Orlando babies. Get ready to make some great memories!

Guide to Visiting Harbes Family Farm with Kids

The pig race is a highlight of a visit to Harbes Family Farm in Mattituck.

A day at Harbes Family Farm in Mattituck is an adventure filled with action-packed excitement for the whole family. Harbes Family Farm delights kids with jumbo jumpers, pig races, and many more family-friendly attractions.

My kids could not get enough of this interactive farm experience on the North Fork, and parents can look forward to relaxing with a glass of wine at the on-site vineyard.

Read on for our favorite things to do and see at Harbes Family Farm, and be sure to check out our Mattituck with Kids post for all the fun things to do in this North Fork town when you visit.

Ninja Warrior Gyms, Parkour, and Obstacle Courses in Westchester and the Hudson Valley

Your kids can practice being a ninja warrior at the Grit Ninja in Pleasantville.

Are makeshift ninja warrior gyms a common sight in your living room? If so, know that you're not alone—and then consider taking your kids to one of the many obstacle courses, ninja warrior, and parkour gyms in the area. It’s a fun indoor activity for when the weather is either too cold or too hot for outdoor play, and it helps get tons of energy out. 

Almost all the programs and gyms featured here offer classes and open gym time. Trial classes, camps, and birthday parties are also possibilities at most.  

Looking for more fun indoor activities with kids, like the area's top bowling alleys? Check out our Guide to Indoor Play Spaces for Westchester Kids.

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