By Denny Dyroff, Entertainment Editor, The Times
Highland Orchards
You can say “Joyeuses Pâques” (French), “Buona Pasqua” (Italian), “Христос воскрес” (Russian), “Fijne Pasen” (Dutch), “Kaló Páscha” (Greek), “Frohe Ostern” (German), “Wesołego Alleluja” (Polish), “Feliz Páscoa” (Portuguese), “Christos se Rodi” (Serbian), “Sretan Uskrs” (Croatian), “Felices Pascuas” (Spanish) or “Mutlu Paskalyalar” (Turkish).
They all mean the same thing in different languages.
The Hindi phrase “हैप्पी ईस्टर (haippee eestar)” comes closest to what we say – “Happy Easter.”
Easter 2026 will be celebrated on April 5 with a variety of activities all around the region.
Obviously, there will be “Easter Egg Hunts” everywhere. You won’t need any help finding them.
Other Easter activities include hayrides, brunches, parades and train rides – lot of train rides with the Easter Bunny.
Highland Orchards (1000 Marshallton-Thorndale Road, West Chester, www.highlandorchards.net) is presenting “Hayrides to Easter Bunny” on April 3 and 4.
Participants can enjoy a leisurely hayride to visit the Easter Bunny, hear a story about spring and receive an egg with a coupon for a treat to be redeemed back in the Market.
The event takes about 30 minutes with wagons leaving about every half hour. Event hours are from 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. each day.
The bunny doesn’t come out in the rain! Hayrides run weather permitting. No refunds, but you can visit a different day.
Reservations are encouraged but not required.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased in the Farm Market on the day or in advance.
Linvilla Orchards
Linvilla Orchards (137 West Knowlton Road, Media, 610-876-7116, www.linvilla.com) will be presenting “Hayrides to Bunnyland” on April 3 and 4.
There’s no place quite like Bunnyland at Linvilla Orchards.
Visitors can hop aboard a hayride as it carries them through the woods to visit the Easter Bunny’s house where they will have the chance to meet Linvilla’s Easter Bunny.
One of Linvilla’s Bunny friends will tell a magical story and guests will receive a special treat.
As an added attraction, the Easter Bunny likes to take pictures with all special guests.
This hayride lasts approximately 20-30 minutes.
Tickets are $13 for ages 5 and up and $10 for ages 1-4.
“Easter Brunch at Elmwood Park Zoo” (1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, www.elmwoodparkzoo.org) is scheduled for April 4 and 5.
Participants can enjoy a delicious breakfast, participate in Easter activities, and meet one of the zoo’s beloved education animals. They can also take a picture with the Easter Bunny and then enjoy exploring the Zoo.
Tickets include admission to the Zoo, brunch, a photo opportunity with the Easter Bunny and more.
The Easter menu features Roast Top Round, Ham, Carved Turkey, Sausage, Turkey Sausage, Red bliss Potatoes, Waffle Bar with Fried Chicken, Pasta Primavera, Mac and Cheese Shells, Omelette Bar, Scrambled Eggs, Quiche Danish, Cinnamon Buns, Dessert Cart, and various beverages.
Prices start at $115 for a table of two.
Sesame Place
Sesame Place (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, www.sesameplace.com) will celebrate “Elmo’s Eggstravaganza” now through April 5.
Guests can visit Sesame Place Philadelphia for a hoppin’ good time with exciting rides, entertaining shows, the Sesame Street Party Parade and special Easter fun with everyone’s favorite furry friends.
Visitors can enjoy soaring, spinning, whirling and twirling on Sesame Street-themed rides, get photos with your favorite friends in their Eggstravaganza attire, meet and take photos with the Easter Bunny, go on a scavenger hunt for Easter Eggs around the park, and so much more.
They also will be able to dance and sing along to the “Sesame Street Party Parade,” the “Furry Friends Bunny Hop Dance Party” and “The Magic of Art.”
Park admission and parking fees are not required for entry.
PEEPS® at Peddler’s Village
Peddler’s Village (Routes 202 and 263, Lahaska, 215-794-4000, www.peddlersvillage.com) will present the “Sixth Annual “PEEPS® in the Village” now through April 12 (except on Easter Sunday).
The popular event showcases the creative talents of regional residents–and the longstanding allure of the colorful candies. There will be more than 130 marshmallow masterpieces carefully crafted with bright bunnies and chicks in inspired, inventive settings.
The event will start at 10 a.m. each day except on Sundays when it opens at 11 a.m.
The Easter Bunny is known for hopping around but not always. Sometimes, he opts for a different form of locomotion – with real locomotives.
Sometimes, instead of bouncing along the ground, the big happy rabbit rides a train. This weekend, the holiday bunny will be riding trains all around the area.
One of the best train rides with the Easter Bunny is the one presented by the West Chester Railroad (Market Street Station, West Chester, www.wcrailroad.com).
The special “Easter Bunny Express” trains will run on April 4 at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. each day.
The 75-minute journey on the trail line’s heated and decorated train travels through Chester Creek Valley.
Along the way, the Easter Bunny makes a special appearance, offering plenty of photo opportunities and holiday fun for children and adults alike. It’s a delightful way to celebrate the season while enjoying a classic train ride experience.
Adult fare for the West Chester Railroad trips is $35. Tickets for children (ages 2-12) are $30 while toddlers (ages 9-23 months) get to ride for $15.
The Wilmington & Western Railroad (2201 Newport Gap Pike, Wilmington, Delaware, www.wwrr.com) will run its “Easter Bunny Express” on April 3 and 4 at 10:30 a.m., noon and 2 and 3:30 p.m.
The Easter Bunny hops aboard the train for a 1.5-hour round-trip ride to Ashland and hands out special treats to all of the kids onboard.
The Easter Bunny will visit everyone aboard the train and pose for pictures. This is a great way to welcome Spring and bring the family out for a fun time on the rails.
This event is powered by one of the rail line’s historic first-generation diesel locomotives.
Tickets for these trains are $27 for adults, $26 for senior citizens and $25 for children.
The New Hope and Ivyland Railroad (32 West Bridge Street, New Hope, 215-862-2332, www.newhoperailroad.com) is running its annual “Easter Bunny Express” on April 4 and 5 with departures at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.
The Easter Bunny is going to ride onboard the train where he will visit with each child, hand out special treats and pose for pictures.
Coach tickets are $50 for adults, $48 for children (ages 12-plus) and $11 for toddlers (under 2).
The train ride departs from and returns to the New Hope Train Station. Riders can take in the sights of early spring as the Easter Bunny visits with all of the children handing out special candy treats and posing for photos taken by the railroad staff.
The Northern Central Railway (2 West Main Street, New Freedom, www.northerncentralrailway.com) is running its “Eggspecially Fun Bunny Run!” on April 3 and 4.
The special excursion will take passengers to Glen Rock and back – allowing them to take in views of the scenic Heritage Rail Trail County Park. The Easter Bunny’s Helper will be on the train for photo ops.
After returning to New Freedom, children can participate in an egg hunt (weather permitting). Each child will receive a free treat bag, including a bunny pretzel donated by Smittie’s Soft Pretzels.
The coaches are pushed and pulled by the rail line’s vintage PRR GP9 Diesel Locomotive, built in 1959.
This is a one-hour excursion. Tickets will be printed and available for pick up at the ticket booth on the day of the excursion.
Departure times are 10 a.m. and noon on Friday and 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. on Saturday. Tickets prices are — Adults (13 and older), $28.99; Children (3-13), $19.99.
The Colebrookdale Railroad (South Washington Street, Boyertown, www.colebrookdalerailroad.com) is running its “Easter Eggs-press” on April 4.
A good way for families to make Easter memories that will last a lifetime is to join Peter Cottontail aboard this special ride on the Colebrookdale Railroad.
Kids can visit with the Easter Bunny outside and join other children in a search for Easter eggs. Children will enjoy a complimentary Easter themed coloring book and 10 prefilled Easter eggs.
Tickets are $35.
The Middletown & Hummelstown Railroad (136 Brown Street, Middletown, 717-944-4435, www.mhrailroad.com) will be running its “Easter Bunny Express” trains on April 3 and 4.
The trains will depart at 1 and 2:30 p.m. on Saturday.
The Easter Bunny has a special surprise for all kids aged 11 and under – and will also be posing with children for keepsake photos of the event.
The ride is a 1.5-hour round trip.
Ticket prices are Adults (Ages 12+), $23; Children (Ages 2-11), $19; and Infant (Under 2 years, lap-held), $6.
The Strasburg Rail Road (Route 741, Strasburg, 717-687-7522, www.strasburgrailroad.com) is running its “2026 Easter Eggstravaganza” on from April 3-5.
Passengers can welcome spring with a timeless voyage through the heart of Pennsylvania’s most beautiful farmland, led by a very special guest
Aboard the rail line’s meticulously restored early 20th-century coaches, the Easter Bunny himself serves as your Conductor, greeting every child with a special surprise and the hallmark hospitality of the Strasburg Rail Road.
Riders can experience the magic of heritage steam railroading as the landscape awakens for the season, creating a memorable journey that connects our historic legacy with your family’s newest traditions.
Fares are $37.08 for adults and $31.46 for children.
Woodstown Central Railroad (650 Woodstown-Alloway Road, Pilesgrove Township, New Jersey, woodstowncentral.com) is running its “Easter Bunny Express” on April 3 and 4.
Passengers will embark on a springtime excursion aboard a beautifully decorated train as the Easter Bunny meets with every child.
The train will take riders through the blossoming forests and fertile farmland of historic Salem County before reaching the Easter Bunny’s home at Fenwick Grove.
There, guests will have 45 minutes to look for eggs and take in the scenic creekside views before returning home on the train.
Fares are $39 for adults and $32 for children.
The area’s event schedule also includes a plethora of non-Easter activities.
Longwood Gardens (Route 1, Kennett Square, 610-388-1000, www.longwoodgardens.org) is now featuring one of its popular annual special events – “Spring Blooms.”
Spring in Longwood Gardens isn’t rendered. It’s real.
Every bud, bloom, and birdsong is nature-generated, crafted by sunshine and soil … not software. Color pops, leaves unfurl, and the whole landscape awakens with fresh, authentic, undeniable energy.
Early spring bulbs bring the season to life, followed by flowering trees bursting into bloom. Fragrance drifts on the breeze. Radiant tulips stretch towards the sky.
No filters. No shortcuts. Real spring … far beyond anything pixels can imitate.
Spring at Longwood: nothing artificial about it.
A featured attraction is the Kurume Azalea Bonsai Display.
This display features early spring blooming Kurume hybrid azalea (Rhododendron hybrid), known for their bright flower colors and evergreen foliage. Also known as Japanese azaleas, this type of hybrid has been cultivated in Japan since the late 1600s.
These Kurume azaleas were obtained as full-sized plants from Fairmount Park in Philadelphia, given to the United States from France as part of the bicentennial celebration. Grown in the clump style, their bonsai training began in 1980.
Inside Longwood’s Conservatory, visitors can check out the towering Clerodendrum schmidtii (chains of glory) as well as nearly 300 blooming orchids on display in the Orchid House.
As always, admission by “Timed Ticket” — tickets issued for specific dates and times. Timed ticketing limits the number of people in the Gardens at any given time and allows guests to enjoy minimal lines and a better viewing experience.
You may enter the Gardens up to 30 minutes prior and 30 minutes after your designated time. Make every effort to arrive at your designated reservation time. Earlier or later arrivals may not be accommodated.
Admission to Longwood Gardens is $35 for adults, $21 for seniors (ages 62 and older) and $20 for youth (ages 5-18).
In 2026, America turns 250, and Philadelphia is throwing the ultimate yearlong celebration.
After all, we’ve been first in freedom, first in innovation and first in fun for 250 years.
52 Weeks of Firsts (www.visitphilly.com/52-weeks-of-firsts) is a yearlong, citywide celebration honoring Philadelphia’s legacy of innovation produced by the Philadelphia Historic District 250th Committee.
Not only was Philadelphia the birthplace of the country, but it was also the backdrop for many other marvels.
To honor these groundbreaking inventions and firsts, the Philadelphia Historic District is holding a year’s worth of free events to celebrate the country’s 250th birthday.
52 Weeks of Firsts shines a light on different Philly-born Firsts each week through a series of free public events called Saturday Firstivals — held every Saturday of 2026, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in more than a dozen neighborhoods.
Firstival: Saturday April 4 will focus on “First Stadium in America: 1895.”
Cheer loud for history!
Franklin Field was the nation’s first stadium, home to roaring crowds, thrilling games and unforgettable moments.
Philly built the stage for American sports. Franklin Field is world-renowned for hosting the annual Penn Relays track and field meet every April.
The event will be held at Franklin Field, which is located at 235 South 33rd Street in the University City section of Philadelphia.
On April 4, Fort Mifflin (Fort Mifflin and Hog Island roads, Philadelphia, 215-685-4167, www.fortmifflin.us) will host a special event — “Open Investigation Evening.”
The event, which will start at 7 p.m., is billed as a “Haunted Fort Mifflin Event.”
This is an open investigation where visitors can explore and enter the most haunted locations within the fort.
The fort will have seasoned paranormal investigators on hand to help and guide if needed.
“Experienced Paranormal Teams,” “Only Ghosts in the Building” and “Drop Paranormal” will be on site to assist and make this an unforgettable investigation.
Admission is $49 for the event, which runs from 7 p.m. until midnight.
Chaddsford Winery (Route 1, Chadds Ford, www.chaddsford.com) is presenting “Reserve Tastings –Spring Sips” on April 4.
Guests will join the CFW Crew for an intimate and educational 60-minute experience in the Barrel Room. The trained staff will guide them through a pre-selected tasting of five widely diverse and award-winning wines from across our portfolio.
The staff will also discuss topics such as grape growing conditions at our partner vineyards and the onsite winemaking process from production to aging and bottling.
The following is the 2026 Pairing Line Up –
Greeting Drink: Cherry Blossom Spritz featuring Sparkling White
Vidal Blanc with Fresh Chèvre and Lemon Infused Olive Oil
Painted Rosé with Radish Salsa
Noiret with Bresaola and Mint Chimichurri on Baguette
Sunset Blush with Lavender Chocolate Truffle from Éclat Chocolate.
There are three seatings per day – noon, 2 and 4 p.m.
Tickets cost $40 per person and reservations are required.
Newlin Grist Mill (219 South Cheyney Road, Glen Mills, newlingristmill.org) will celebrate “Opening Day of Trout Season” on April 4 from 9-4.
The event is open to Newlin Grist Mill’s fly fishing club members.
Fishing in the stream is limited to catch-and-release fly fishing, reserved for the use of Newlin Grist Mill fly fishing club members for a seasonal fee. In order to fish in the stream, members and guests need both a Pennsylvania fishing license and a Newlin Grist Mill fly fishing club membership.
Fly fishing is open every day from the opening of the Pennsylvania trout fishing season on the first Saturday in April to December 31st. The creek is stocked ahead of Opening Day and at intervals as needed throughout the season.
Newlin Grist Mill will also present its “1704 Mill Tour” will be held on April 4 and 5.
Visitors can take a guided tour of the site’s 1704 water powered mill.
While the Mill is not currently operational, visitors on guided tours will get a rare opportunity to see the process of building a new waterwheel and waterbox.
Visitors must be on a guided tour to go inside the Grist Mill.
Cost is $10 for adults and $6 for seniors and children 12 and under.
Tyler Arboretum (515 Painter Road, Media, 610-566-9134, tylerarboretum.org) will present “Saturday Wildflower Walk: Early Spring Edition” from 1-3 p.m. on April 4.
Explore the Arboretum with wildflower expert Dick Cloud. Slow down and look closely at what’s growing along meadows, wooded paths, and occasional streamside spots. Enjoy the simple pleasure of seeing the landscape in detail and notice the Arboretum with fresh eyes.
In March, look for newly emerging spring ephemerals and listen to the chorus of frogs and birds.
Cloud will lead an informative two-hour hike that takes you through meadows, woods, and occasionally streamside.
Tickets are $18 per adult; $10 per teen (ages 12-17). The non-member fee includes admission.
On April 4 at 9 a.m., the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum (8601 Lindbergh Boulevard, Philadelphia, www.fws.gov/refuge/John_Heinz) will host “Bird Walk with Chuck Root and Emily Dodge” on April 4 at 8 a.m. and “Bird Walk with Cliff and Nancy Hence” on April 5 at 9 a.m.
Participants will be able to discover the 300+ species of birds that use the Refuge during their migration routes — each week guarantee different species.
Walk will meet by the Visitor Center and take place at a relaxed pace on flat surfaces.
Laurel Hill Cemetery (3822 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, laurelhillphl.com) will present “Beautiful Blooms: Spring Arbor Tour of Laurel Hill West” on April 4 at 10 a.m.
Visitors can view the newly arrived azaleas, cherries, and dogwoods.
They will be able to enjoy the splendor of Laurel Hill’s certified arboretum in all of its spring glory.
Aaron Greenberg, Board Certified Master Arborist and Arboretum Manager, will lead guests on a tour of spectacular flowering trees and shrubs of Laurel Hill West.
Tickets are $20 for general admission, $18 for seniors and $10 for children (ages 6-12).
Andalusia Historic House, Gardens and Arboretum (1237 State Road, Andalusia, www.andalusiapa.org) has opened for its 2026 season.
Located on a wooded promontory overlooking the Delaware River, Andalusia has been a stately presence on this stretch of water, just north of Philadelphia, for more than 200 years. The ancestral home of the Biddle family,
Andalusia is also a natural paradise of native woodlands and spectacular gardens that have evolved over time.
Placed on the National Register of Historic Landmarks in 1966, the Big House — one of the finest examples of Greek Revival architecture in the United States — provides an unparalleled look into our nation’s past, while also offering a glimpse into the life of a family that helped to shape its future.
Its surrounding gardens delight the senses all through the year, from the tumbling, brightly colored leaves of fall to the floral extravaganza of spring and the abundance and scent of summer.
Self-Guided Garden Tours will be available Mondays through Wednesdays through November 4 (excluding holidays) at 10 a.m. or 1 p.m.
Visitors can stroll the spectacular formal gardens and native woodlands during a self-guided garden tour at their leisure and enjoy sweeping views from the banks of the Delaware River. Picnics are allowed on the grounds (with a “carry-in, carry-out” policy).
Hagley Museum and Library (Buck Road East entrance via Route 100, Wilmington, Delaware, 302-658-2400, www.hagley.org), a 230-acre historical village on the site of the original du Pont Company gunpowder mills in northern Delaware, is presenting its “Nation of Inventors” exhibition.
Visitors can learn about the patent process and see examples of early American ingenuity in the “Nation of Inventors” exhibition.
“Nation of Inventors” celebrates the American spirit of ingenuity by taking visitors on a journey from the early years of the patent system, in the 1790s, through the “golden age” of American invention, in the late 1800s.
The exhibit features more than 120 patent models from Hagley’s unique collection — highlighting the diverse stories of inventors from all walks of life.
Patent models are scaled representations of inventions and were part of the patent application process for nearly 100 years.
“Nation of Inventors” includes patent models from well-known inventors and companies like Ball (Mason Jars), Jim Beam, Bissell, Corliss, Steinway, and Westinghouse.
“Nation of Inventors” is located on the first two floors of Hagley’s Visitor Center. Visitors can plan to spend about 30 minutes on their self-guided tour of the exhibition.
Admission to Hagley is $22 for adults, $18 for students and seniors (62+) and $12 for children (6-14).
Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library (Route 52, Wilmington, Delaware, www.winterthur.org) just opened its 2026 season.
Visitors are invited to celebrate the early bulb display of the March Bank with self-guided garden tours.
Hikers will be able to explore the site’s trails with Winterthur estate guides. Winterthur’s 1,000-acre estate features 25 miles of walking paths and trails and 10 miles of roads to discover.
Admission to Winterthur is $27 for adults, $25 for seniors (age 62 and older) and students, and $10 for children (ages 2-11).
Historic Odessa (Main Street, Odessa, Delaware, 302-378-4119, www.historicodessa.org) is both a scenic and an historic site in Delaware.
Historic Odessa just reopened for spring tours and celebrated the beginning of its 2026 season.
Known in the 18th-century as Cantwell’s Bridge, Odessa played a vital role in commercial life along the Delaware River as a busy grain shipping port.
Today, visitors can stroll along tree-lined streets and admire examples of 18th- and 19th-century architecture in one of the best-preserved towns in Delaware. They can also tour a remarkable collection of antiques and Americana preserved in period room settings and quaint exhibits.
Historic Odessa is open to the public from March through December, Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and Sunday from 1-4 p.m. The site is also open Monday by reservation.
March 1 was the Opening Day for Odessa’s new exhibit – “The Return of Odessa’s Artifacts.” It will run through May 17.
When the Historic Odessa Foundation re-opened the doors to its 18th-century museum homes on March 1, the biggest change was not immediately visible — a significant collection of historic objects has quietly “returned home.”
In late 2025, Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library deaccessioned and transferred ownership of 44 artifacts to the foundation, deepening Odessa’s ability to tell its stories through objects that once again belong to the place they were made to serve.
Included in the transfer are 33 objects previously on display at Odessa through a long-term loan agreement, plus 11 others that Winterthur owned and used for display and educational purposes in the Winterthur/University of Delaware graduate-study programs in conservation and American material culture.
Rockwood Park & Museum (4671 Washington Street Ext, Wilmington, Delaware, 4671 Washington Street Ext, Wilmington, www.newcastlede.gov/431/Rockwood-Park-Museum) is presenting “Rockwood Self-Guided Tour” on April 4 and 5.
Visitors can explore the grandeur, history and beauty of the Rockwood Museum, home of the Shipley, Bringhurst and Hargraves families for 120 years, at your own pace.
Visitors access most of the museum’s major rooms on this self-guided tour. Also, staff will be nearby to answer any questions.
The museum will also present a “Guided House Tour: The Rockwood Experience” on April 5.
Visitors will be able to get a deeper look into Rockwood and the people who lived, visited and worked here.
This guided tour introduces key members of the Shipley, Bringhurst and Hargraves family of Rockwood through the spaces they lived and some of objects they collected.
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University (1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia, www.ansp.org) has just opened a new exhibit – “Botany of Nations.”
Visitors can experience a groundbreaking exhibition that provides a new perspective on the legendary Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery.
Co-curated with Enrique Salmón, PhD, an ethnobotanist and author of IWÍGARA: The Kinship of Plants and People, and developed with contributions from Indigenous cultural historians, “Botany of Nations” offers a culturally layered view of the plants of North America.
Collected on the famous expedition, some of the oldest plant specimens in the country today are housed in the Academy’s own Lewis and Clark Herbarium.
Guests can learn how the Native Nations Meriwether Lewis met on the trail shaped America’s plant knowledge long before Western scientists claimed these “discoveries.”
Centering the voices of Native Nations who have protected and cared for the lands for thousands of years, “Botany of
Nations” presents plants as portals to Indigenous storytelling and knowledge.
Visitors will:
- See 18th and early 19th century scientific instruments, original journals, maps and herbarium sheets that illuminate the role of natural science on the Corps of Discovery.
- View Native American peace pipes as well as Corps of Discovery peace medals.
- Navigate prairie, plains, plateau and Pacific coast landscapes within a model of the trail as you learn about the importance of plants such as tobacco and chokecherry through film, interactive media, cultural artifacts, sensory experiences and contemporary voices.
- Watch a newly produced film about how Indigenous traditional land practices and cultural systems surrounding food provide contemporary solutions to today’s biodiversity and climate challenges.
- Experience a native plant garden on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway to learn how you can grow heritage plants that foster biodiversity.
Museum admission is $22 for adults, $19 for seniors and $18 for children (ages 2-12).
Throughout the month of March, the Betsy Ross House (239 Arch Street, Philadelphia, historicphiladelphia.org) will offer self-guided tours from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. daily.
The well-known and loved story of Betsy Ross sewing the first Stars & Stripes is tightly woven into the colorful fabric of America’s rich history. The Betsy Ross House, the birthplace of the American flag, is alive with the sights and sounds of the 18th century.
Tour the house and then stay a while longer to meet Betsy.
As always, visitors will meet Betsy Ross as she works in her upholstery shop. She can share the story of the first flag and so much more.
Ross was a business owner, patriot, single mother, and entrepreneur and led a fascinating life during exciting times.
Grim Philly’s “Dark Philly History Tour” (www.grimphilly.com) will be held every evening throughout the spring.
Participants can walk with tour guides from the grounds of America’s first White House, Congress, and Liberty Bell to homes and sites of Hamilton, Washington, Franklin, Adams, Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, and more than 10 other Founding-Fathers.
The surprising dirt of espionage, murder, sexual license and blackmail highlight the secrets of 1776 with a ghost story or two along the way.
This tour is highly researched. And your guide is a historian.
Ticket prices start at $38.
Founded more than 50 years ago, Choo Choo Barn — Traintown U.S.A. (Route 741 East, 226 Gap Rd, Strasburg, 717-687-7911, www.choochoobarn.com) presents a 1,700-square-foot train layout featuring over 150 hand-built animated figures and vehicles and 22 operating trains.
The majority of trains that are running in the display are “O Gauge” trains but there are also some HO Gauge trains as well as one N Gauge train.
Several of the original pieces and animations are still on the display today, including the ski slope, ski lodge and ice skaters, Dutch Haven, the Willows, the two-lane moving highway (in front of Dutch Haven), the farm with the tobacco barn, the Strasburg Fire House, the church beside Dutch Haven and a few other houses.
Tickets are $10 for adults and $6 for children (ages 3 and under) at Choo Choo Barn — Traintown U.S.A.
LEGOLAND Discovery Center Philadelphia (500 W Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, Https://philadelphia.legolanddiscoverycenter.com/) is open all winter with its family-oriented rides and play.
Popular attractions are “Imagination Express,” “4-D Cinema,” “The Great LEGO® Race Virtual Reality Experience,” “LEGO® NINJAGO® Training Camp,” “Duplo Park” and “Pirate Adventure Island Spoftplay.”
Admission is $21.99.
Ghost Tour of Philadelphia (215-413-1997, www.ghosttour.com), Ghost Tour of Lancaster (717-687-6687, www.ghosttour.com) and Ghost Tour of Strasburg (717-687-6687, www.ghosttour.com) operate throughout the winter and offer an eerily entertaining evening of true ghost stories and real haunted houses.
The Ghost Tour of Philadelphia, which is based on the book, “Ghost Stories of Philadelphia, PA.,” is a candlelight walking tour along the back streets and secret gardens of Independence Park, Society Hill, and Old City, where ghostly spirits, haunted houses, and eerie graveyards abound.
Participants can discover the ghost lore of America’s most historic and most haunted city with stories from the founding of William Penn’s colony to present-day hauntings.
The activity is open year-round – weekends, December-February; every night, March-November. Tickets are $28.
The Ghost Tour of Lancaster and the Ghost Tour of Strasburg are based on the book, “Ghost Stories of Lancaster, PA.”
Participants in the Ghost Tour of Lancaster explore the long-forgotten mysteries of one of America’s oldest cities, with haunting tales of otherworldly vigils, fatal curses, and star-crossed lovers. The tour provides the opportunity to experience 300 years of haunted history from the Red Rose City’s thorny past. Tickets are $28.
The Ghost Tour of Strasburg is a candlelight walking tour of the quaint and historic town of Strasburg in the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country. Visitors will experience an entertaining evening with a costumed tour guide spinning tales of haunted mansions, eerie graveyards, and spirits that roam the night … in a town lost in time. Tickets are $28.
“TreeTrails Adventures Trevose” (301 West Bristol Pike, Trevose, treetrails.com/trevose-pa) is an adventure park full of fun challenges for outdoor adventurers of all ages.
Participants can experience the rush of TreeTrails Adventures as they swing through the trees of the new adventure park. They will be able to discover the excitement of climbing and zip lining above the forest floor with family, friends, co-workers, or teammates.
The park, which is based at Phoenix Sport Club in Bucks County, offers two ways to experience climbing – TreeTrails Adventure Park and KidTrails Park. Young explorers can enjoy miniaturized courses in the adjacent KidTrails Park.
General Park Admission prices are: Main Park Adult Tickets (Ages 12+), $69; KidTrails Tickets (Ages 4–7), $23.
