Things to Do With Kids in Bucks County, Pennsylvania

Parks and Outdoor Fun

• Bucks is ripe with outdoor activities and parks. Peace Valley Nature Center (peacevalleynaturecenter.org) is a quiet respite to boat or hike. If you have animal lovers in your midst, Churchville Nature Center (churchvillenaturecenter.org) offers tours and activities centered around local wildlife, with guided nature walks on most Sundays. Central Park (no website; 452 Wells Road, Doylestown; 215-348-9915) is a one-of-a-kind playground created by the Doylestown Parks and Recreation Department. This huge wooden structure was dubbed "Kids' Castle" when it was built and, with specialty play zones like a miniature Doylestown, provides hours of active play. Families interested in strolling shops and sampling the local flavor will likely enjoy Peddler's Village (peddlersvillage.com), a large group of small shops, specialty stores and eateries.

Farms

• There is an abundance of farmland in Bucks County, which means there are a number of large family-oriented farms with activities, fresh vegetables, fruit and classes for all. Shady Brook Farm (shadybrookfarm.com) has year-round activities including a summer full of cruise nights, a large corn maze and hayride during the fall, and a holiday light show in the winter. Snipes Farm and Education Center (snipesfarm.org) offers weekly flea markets and a wide range of classes on farming topics. Children can partake in daily summer camps where they explore nature around the farm and learn how to grow their own produce.

Amusements

• Sometimes kids just want to play a round of mini golf or ride a roller coaster. The good news is that Bucks County can appease these desires as well. From token games and mini golf to pizza and bowling, Happy Tymes Family Fun Center (happytymesfun.com) has just about every kid-friendly amusement you can imagine. Giggleberry Fair (peddlersvillage.com/kids), located in Peddler's Village, has a very similar feel, but with a large antique carousel and climbing mountain. The grand highlight of Bucks County amusements is Sesame Place (sesameplace.com/en/langhorne), an entire amusement park dedicated to many kids' favorite neighborhood, Sesame Street.

History and Museums

• As an area ripe with activity since the beginnings of the United States, there is plenty of history in Bucks County. Washington Crossing (ushistory.org/washingtoncrossing) is the location of General Washington's Delaware River crossing, the result of which saved his army from defeat. With acres of land, visitors can drive through the park to see cannons, buildings and other relics from the Revolutionary War. Guided tours, available for a fee, allow you to see historic buildings up close, including a gristmill and the watchtower on Bowman's Hill. Tile-worker Henry Mercer was a creative genius -- and you can take the kids to see at the Mercer Museum (mercermuseum.org), which he built along with the accompanying castle, Fonthill. Kids will enjoy exploring the castle and seeing all of the creative artwork throughout. The James Michener Museum (michenermuseum.org) is a local art studio full of works from Bucks County artists and beyond. Kids are welcome to engage the volunteers who give tours and ask questions, or take an educational class. Right nearby, the Bucks County Children's Museum (buckskids.org) provides hands-on interactive science and history exhibits for all ages. Exhibits range from a town square, where kids can see how a real town uses money, to a simulated hot air balloon ride over Bucks County.