As parents know, going to a place where kiddos can stretch their legs, and get a little nature to boot, is always worth adding to the itinerary. Gardens certainly fit the bill, and there are green spaces across Pennsylvania that offer exciting outside adventures for kids large and small, whether they’re looking to twirl through a field or learn more about botany.
Allegheny RiverTrail Park
Pittsburgh
Formerly Aspinwall Riverfront Park, the Allegheny RiverTrail Park is an 11-acre waterfront oasis and a prime example of building a green space that serves all members of a community, including the littlest ones. Kids can stroll the walking trail, taking in native plantings and wetlands, enjoy free ice skating in the winter, or hit the river itself in a kayak thanks to a partnership between Venture Outdoors and Kayak Pittsburgh. And don’t miss the jaw-dropping 30-by-30-by-24-foot bronze sculpture by New York artist Tom Otterness. Named “Playground,” it also happens to be a playground, complete with a slide.
The Arboretum at Penn State
State College
Opened in 2014, the Childhood’s Gate Children’s Garden at the Arboretum at Penn State begs to be explored. Designed for children ages three to 12, this enticing space is rife with quirky doorways, climbable structures such as a large painted caterpillar, and a gorgeous bell-shaped greenhouse. Kids can get hands-on, planting, nurturing, and harvesting vegetables in the Harvest Gardens. Produce that is not used in on-site demonstrations is donated to the State College food bank. During one recent growing season, the program donated nearly 3,000 pounds of herbs and vegetables. Be sure to stop at the famous Berkey Creamery for ice cream on your way home.
Hershey Gardens
Hershey
When everyone has had enough of roller coasters and chocolate treats, head over to Hershey Gardens and let nature refresh you. The magnificent site is home to greenhouses, expansive grounds, stunning flowers, and a designated Children’s Garden featuring Hershey’s Kisses-shaped misters, themed plantings, and the Hoop House, where inquisitive kids can learn about growing plants at home.
Lake Erie Arboretum
Erie
Located in Frontier Park in downtown Erie, the Lake Erie Arboretum is a compact arboretum that has plenty to offer including a stone labyrinth, a winter garden, living sculptures made from willow rods, wetlands, and a sledding hill. But the number one draw for young folks — and those young at heart — is The Griff Slides. The four massive metal slides are two stories high and sure to provide plenty of thrills