I’m so excited to host another GUEST BLOGGER on The Mint Chip Mama! Please welcome: JENNIFER FRISCH, who has some great tri-state area family adventures to share!
Family travel is one of my passions. I get so many great ideas and family travel tips from The Mint Chip Mama. I wanted to share my family’s most recent fun and exciting tri-state area itinerary with you, her readers.
Where Tri-State Area Family Adventures Begins – Sesame Place
We started with Sesame Place – a fun location to visit and a top one for tri-state area family travel. One of the highlights was the “dining with the character” experience (some characters were only visible with this option) which includes a character show and games. We were nice and relaxed and well-fed from the delicious buffet.
The Family Adventures Continue in New Hope, PA
My family and I rested our heads for the night in New Hope, PA, at the Clarion Hotel – 20 minutes from Sesame Place. Our suite had two separate rooms and a small kitchen. Our family loved having this feature since it’s more like home, and my daughter, Madison, got her own room.
Duck Soup Café
New Hope, PA, is a darling small town – perfect for family adventures – and filled with character. We started our day with a delicious home-cooked breakfast at the mom-and-pop shop, Duck Soup Café. In line with the cafe’s name – there were little wooden boxes of duck food on some street corners throughout the town. My daughter loved feeding the local ducks.
Peddlers Village
After breakfast we explored the charming little shopping area called Peddlers Village. There were so many shops and delicious specialty foods – like gourmet popcorn. We also enjoyed their scarecrow contest.
Waterfront Dining at Martine’s Riverhouse Restaurant
Next, we went to dinner on Main Street at a wonderful restaurant named Martine’s Riverhouse Restaurant, right on the river. Martine’s was delicious and had an amazing view.
Lost River Cavern
The next morning, we got up bright and early and headed to a family-run, family friendly, local cave named Lost River Cavern. My family thought it was so cool to be down in the cave – where they even held weddings many years ago! We explored and learned so many interesting facts about the cave and its history.
Moving On To The Colors of Easton, PA
The next part of our trip was very colorful – in more ways than one. We continued to Easton, PA. Our first stop was the Easton Public Market for lunch. Recommended on a mom’s Facebook page, this place did not disappoint. The market was awesome and it lived up to the hype. We were in the mood for noodles, so we chose ramen. We shopped and found some good coffee drinks and oddball items like birthday cake flavored gum. Finally, we were ready to go to the next mecca for family adventures in the tri-state area – the rainbow factory, A/K/A, the Crayola Experience.
The Crayola Experience – Another Must For Family Adventures!
We entered the building and participated in every activity offered. From climbing up a rope tower structure to scribbles to recreating our own crayons (with custom labels) into the form of a seahorse – we did it all. We also viewed a fantastic behind-the-scenes video of the factory where Crayola makes it’s famous crayons. It kept everyone entertained.
Book & Puppet Company
As closing time approached at Crayola Experience, we had to say goodbye to our new favorite place and find another activity. Luckily, we found that right next door at a local bookstore called Book & Puppet Co. The owner was a nice gentleman who was doing a Zoom Storytime. This store had a great selection of books, toys, and games.
On to East Stroudsburg, PA
Our next stop was East Stroudsburg, PA where we stayed at Staybridge Suites. The Staybridge was a nice suite hotel with a separate sleeping area for my daughter and a big kitchen. It included a hot breakfast which we loved. I mean – who doesn’t love free breakfast?
Lakota Wolf Preserve
We had a wonderful experience at Lakota Wolf Preserve (run by a lovely & knowledgeable husband and wife team) where we got very close and personal with some very cool wolfpacks. Since many of these wolves were raised here from cubs, the couple knew everything about them as well as the other animals on premises. It was so educational and kid-friendly too. You can hike up to the reserve or take a shuttle from the parking lot. It was so interesting hearing the wolves howl and interact with one another.
Bushkill Fall
After we said goodbye to the animals, we headed to an incredible (and reasonably priced) waterfall park called Bushkill Falls. Bushkill Falls had beautiful trails and wooden walks around the falls where we enjoyed our packed lunch. It was very well maintained and a unique experience. There was also a gift shop, café, and museum-like rooms to walk through.
Pocono Snake And Animal Farm
Our next stop was the roadside zoo Pocono Snake and Animal Farm. We fed all types of exotic animals from bears to pigs to goats to monkeys. It was so cool and unique. All of us loved the experience. The monkeys even caught their food with their little hands if they liked what we were throwing!
Dinner On The River At Willow Tree Inn
Dinner time came as did more wonderful waterfront dining – this time along the river at the Willow Tree Inn in East Stroudsburg, PA. It was so gorgeous. Not only was the food delicious but they have a seasonal menu and grow their own herbs. This wonderful experience was enhanced by a piano player serenading us throughout the night (and the waitress mentioning they had a Groupon for the restaurant!).
Wild West City
We headed out early to the fantastic and interactive Wild West City. This place has been open for decades and is such a unique experience (including a live carousel with ponies). My mother-in-law reminded me that my husband visited when he was younger! I’m pretty sure they are still doing the same things as when he was a boy. The kids got to experience what it was like in the old west for the day – from helping solve crimes and apprehend the bad guys (including a visit to the jail) – to visiting the bank and print shop. We even got to ride on a stagecoach and get robbed. It was a hoot.
Cracker Barrel – A Classic For Family Adventures
Our final dinner was at the infamous Cracker Barrel – and it lived up to the hype. It was fabulous and the perfect restaurant for a family adventure. We enjoyed some of their signature dishes like the chicken and dumplings, and the catfish and loaded sweet potato with jumbo marshmallows on top with a pecan sauce. After all the yummies, and a quick pit stop at the gift shop, we jumped into the car to head home.
Overall, it was a fabulous trip with so many adventures in four days. I can’t wait for the next one.
My name is Jennifer Frisch. I’m a loud and funny 40-year-old mom and wife from Dix Hills, Long Island who has lived in Manhattan for the last 18 years. My daughter Madison is four and a half. All my life I have loved exploring my city and surrounding towns and that has not changed after becoming a mom. I still love traveling near and far with my husband and daughter and visiting new, fun, and quirky places I find online.
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