Whether you’re visiting the area or live locally, Scranton, PA offers so much to do for families with kids of all ages. From outdoor and indoor play options to museums and historic sites, your family has numerous options for activities. Some of these activities are perfect for a quick afternoon trip, while others may require a full day or weekend to experience everything offered.
No matter what your family’s interests are, there are plenty of fun things to do in Scranton for the whole family. Explore these activities for potential ideas.
Family Activities — Scranton, PA
Check out these activities for family fun in Scranton, PA.
Houdini Museum
The Houdini Museum is a truly unique spectacle of entertainment and education, featuring rare footage of Harry Houdini and award-winning magicians. The museum offers the chance to see a short film about Houdini, a guided tour of the exhibit, and magic shows by featured performers. The performances include live animals and audience participation, making the experience exciting for family members of all ages.
Electric City Trolley Museum
The Electric City Trolley Museum tells the history of Pennsylvania’s electric railways and how Scranton became known as the Electric City. Explore different trolley cars, interactive displays that allow you to generate electricity, hands-on exhibits that put you in the driver’s seat of a trolley car, and much more. The museum also features restored trolley cars and a theater that presents the history of the PA trolley system. You can even purchase tickets at the museum to take a trolley ride.
Montage Mountain
Montage Mountain Resort is the perfect place for a day trip or staycation. In the winter, you can ski, snowboard, or snow tube and even take lessons. During the summer, your family can splash around at the water park with attractions like waterslides, a lazy river, and the Tundra Tornado. Montage Mountain also hosts various festivals and events year-round, making it a popular location full of family activities in Scranton, PA.
Nay Aug Park
Nay Aug Park is a historical park in Scranton that offers various attractions within the park. The park spans 73 acres, featuring numerous hiking trails and natural landmarks like the Nay Aug Gorge. There are also several other ways to experience the park, including a covered bridge and handicapped-accessible treehouse. Spend time in the Rose Garden and Greenhouse, admiring nature and enjoying time with family.
Steamtown National Historic Site
As one of Pennsylvania’s historical sites, Steamtown offers a wide variety of family-friendly activities. One of its most popular activities is the seasonal train rides — either a short trip through the railroad yard or a full-day excursion through the Poconos. Other activities include the Junior Ranger Program, in which kids can become ambassadors of the park, and the Technology Museum which provides an immersive way to experience railroad technology.
Electric City Aquarium and Reptile Den
The Electric City Aquarium and Reptile Den is a popular attraction in the Scranton area, especially because it’s one of the only aquariums nearby. The attraction showcases various aquatic and reptile species and recently opened a Rainforest exhibit that features mammals and birds. Explore and learn about the various animals at your leisure or attend one of the educational programs to learn about a featured animal. Have a curious family member? Check out the aquarium’s touch tanks and feeding opportunities for a hands-on experience.
McDade Park
If you’re looking for a little bit of everything, McDade Park has just that. One of its key features is the inclusive playground area that was designed with children of all ability levels in mind. The park is expansive, also featuring several miles of hiking trails, a stocked fishing pond, a swimming pool, sports fields and courts, outdoor picnic areas, a memorial garden, an arboretum, and much more. Open fields can even be used in the winter for sledding and cross-country skiing.
With so much to do, McDade Park offers something for everyone in your family.
Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple
The Scranton Cultural Center hosts numerous shows, performances, and events each month. From musical presentations to Broadway shows, the Cultural Center offers various opportunities to enjoy the arts. While you can attend a show as a family, there are also youth shows and programs for kids. The Cultural Center tailors their youth workshops and tours to kids of any age so the whole family can participate. The programs feature music, theater, magic, and more.
Marine Corps League Northeastern Detachment Museum
If your family is full of history buffs, consider visiting the Marine Corps Historical Museum in Scranton, PA. In the museum, you’ll find various memorabilia from the Marine Corps, including posters, photos, and other displays. The museum also features numerous dioramas of various Marine Corps engagements. These chronological dioramas are special, as they were hand-painted and crafted. The museum also showcases personal items and equipment that Marines used in combat.
Pennsylvania Anthracite Heritage Museum
Located in McDade Park, the Anthracite Heritage Museum tells the story of coal mining in northeastern PA. The museum highlights the European immigrants working in the hard coal textile and mining industries. Learn what life was like during this time through guided tours of the various exhibits. The museum’s permanent exhibit, Anthracite People, showcases the daily lives of the railroad, coal, and mill families from the area. Your family can also enjoy the current temporary exhibits and check out the gift shop.
Historic Scranton Iron Furnaces
The Scranton Iron Furnaces are located near the Steamtown National Historic Site. Explore the four remaining stone blast furnaces from the historic iron plant operated in Scranton during the 1800s. For many years, the site produced the largest iron capacity in the U.S., having a significant impact on the Industrial Revolution. The historical park is open year-round, where you can walk through the furnaces’ tunnels.
Everhart Museum
There’s always something new to see at the Everhart Museum. Whether exploring the frequently updated galleries or a featured special exhibit, the Everhart Museum offers numerous displays of art, science, and natural history. Sign up for a guided experience that immerses you and your family in the museum’s galleries or attend a themed family workshop with activities, art, and crafts.
Learn More About CCA’s Family Services
Commonwealth Charter Academy (CCA) is a public K-12 cyber school for Pennsylvania students. We offer tuition-free, flexible schooling that’s customized for each student and family. We have several Family Service Centers across the state, including in Scranton, for CCA families to access resources and in-person events and meetings. We also offer over 900 field trip opportunities for our students to visit important sites in Pennsylvania.
Learn more about our family services or contact us for more information about enrolling in CCA.
