36 hours, 2 kids, 4 adventures… plus a 2-hour road trip to kick it off

I planned a quick overnight trip to Lancaster, PA with the kids – part of my Weekend Worthy series of memory-packed, low-stress getaways that don’t require PTO or a plane ticket. It honestly hit the sweet spot between busy enough to be memorable and chill enough not to lose our minds.

We left from the DC area and were there in about two hours – making this the ultimate no-plane, no-PTO memory-making trip. Here’s exactly what we did (and what I’d totally do again), with a healthy dose of girl math, mom hacks, and a few surprises that made it feel like a real vacation.

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🚗 First Stop: Dutch Wonderland

We rolled up to Dutch Wonderland right around 10 AM. Pro tip: I booked Tru by Hilton just up the road for $128, parked there instead of paying $22-27 at Dutch (yes, I’m that mom), and it came with free breakfast the next day – which easily saved another $30–$40.  I would like to say I did the parking “hack” for you… but I am just crazy.

So let’s do the girl math:

$128 hotel

– $27 parking

– $30 breakfast

= $71 actual spend, and I stand by it.

The hotel was clean, kid-friendly, and the location was perfect. I knew we wouldn’t be spending too much time here so I did what made the most sense for us!

Other hotel options nearby:

• Cartoon Network Hotel – adorable and walkable, but reviews say it can get noisy
  
• Wyndham Lancaster Resort – great if you want more of a resort style and plan to spend more time at the hotel – think outdoor pool, splash pad, game room, and more (and you could even use points!)
  

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🎢 Dutch Wonderland: Rides for Young & “Not-So-Young” Kids + Water Play = Win

Dutch Wonderland truly is a “Kingdom for Kids” – perfect for families with kids under 10, yet still fun for older siblings or parent-child duos. With 32 rides, including gentle coasters, water play, bumper cars, and even a wooden coaster that hits 40 mph, there’s something for nearly every age and thrill level.

• Many rides are designed so more than two people can ride together, which is a lifesaver when it’s just you and two kids.
  
• Height requirements range from under 30″ up to 46″ (for the Kingdom Coaster). Kids between about 42–53″ can ride with you – no solo line waits.
  
• Lots of options mean fewer meltdowns and more magic.
  

And let me just say this – if you’re paying full price, you’re doing it wrong.

There are always Dutch Wonderland ticket deals floating around. I paid under $50 per person with a promo code, and that felt like a solid win. Check places like CertifiKID, local moms groups, or Dutch’s own email list for discount codes.

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🎒 What I Packed & What We Did

We did all the dry rides first – and the kids were obsessed. Minimal lines, happy faces, full send into park life. The vibe is super family-friendly and manageable even if you’re solo parenting.

What I packed (and didn’t regret):

✔️ Bathing suits

✔️ Mini towels

✔️ One water bottle – you can refill

✔️ A few snacks

✔️ One small bag (strict 15×15 rule if it’s not a diaper bag – they check!)

That’s it.  Don’t overthink it.  You’re not moving in. And I promise you, less is more here.

It’s also cashless! Don’t bring cash to the park. It will help you remain stress-free when you leave your things to walk around the splash park, or go on a ride!

After about two hours of rides, we changed into bathing suits and headed to Duke’s Lagoon – their water play area. Before being hangry could strike, I grabbed mini hot dogs with no line, and boom: crisis averted.

The kids splashed for a solid 90 minutes. Then we dried off, got back into clothes, hit a couple more rides, and were out by 2:15 PM.

⚠️ If it hadn’t been for an incoming thunderstorm, we honestly could’ve stayed all day.

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🍦 Turkey Hill Experience: Unlimited Samples (Yes, Really)

Next up: The Turkey Hill Experience – and it started downpouring right as we got inside. Perfect timing. And honestly? It was a brilliant next stop.

Here’s the deal:

➡️ Unlimited ice cream samples

➡️ Unlimited Turkey Hill drinks (lemonade, iced tea, etc.)

➡️ Hands-on exhibits

➡️ Play area where kids pretend to run an ice cream shop

It probably cost less than grabbing dessert at Dutch Wonderland, and we stayed for over an hour. No notes.

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🍽️ Dinner: Texas Roadhouse

I know, I know – not a “Lancaster hidden gem,” but it was so close to our hotel and the service was 10/10. I haven’t had service like that in the DMV… ever. The food was hot, fast, delicious and kid-friendly. Also: the cinnamon butter? Elite.

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🛏️ Back to Tru: Showers, Snuggles, Silence

After dinner, we headed back to Tru by Hilton, got cleaned up, and just relaxed. I thought about the hotel pool… and then it stayed a thought hehe. The kids were asleep within minutes, and I got a rare moment to just scroll in peace with my feet up.

Ah, the sweet smell of victory.

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🌄 Day 2: Caves, Cows & Country Charm

After a free breakfast (pancake making station + coffee = functioning mom), we set off.  I don’t drink coffee, but saying it felt right.

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🕳️ Indian Echo Caverns: Cool Caves + Alpaca Feed

This was about a 45-minute drive from Lancaster, and totally worth the detour – but with a few disclaimers.

We arrived early and the kids got to burn some energy at the playground and say hi to the animals outside. You can even feed the alpacas for 50 cents, and there were peacocks strutting around like they owned the place. Warning: there’s also a gift shop that’s basically a glittery trap for little hands – beautiful but $$$. I paid $14 for two pieces of candy. Did they come with a deed to the cavern? I still get lightheaded thinking about it.

The cave tour itself lasts about an hour, and while it was full of cool formations and storytelling, my kids were definitely ready to wrap it up by the end. Also:

• 🧊 It stays around 55°F year-round, so bring a sweatshirt
  
• ⬇️ You go down 70 steps to enter… and climb 70 steps back up
  
• 🥾 It’s a walking tour — not stroller-friendly (but there were families with infants!)
  

Still, it was one of the most unique parts of the trip – and a great way to cool off (literally) and sneak in a little learning. I personally loved it.

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🐄 Verdant View Farm: Real-Life Farm, Real Cute Chaos

Verdant View was the perfect mix of “awww” and “whoa, this is real.” It’s a working Amish dairy farm, but don’t let that intimidate you – they make it super hands-on and kid-friendly.

Right from the start, it felt less like a tour and more like dropping into someone’s backyard where the animals are the main event. Our guide was so kind and patient, walking us through farm life in a way the kids could actually understand (and not get bored).

We got to:

• Milk a real cow (the kids couldn’t believe they were allowed to do this)
  
• Feed a baby goat with a bottle (top memory for my kids — and possibly me)
  
• Hold chickens and pet bunnies (the bunnies were everything)
  
• Learn about the cows, crops, and Amish family life
  
• Watch the farmers go about their actual day — not staged, just real life unfolding around us
  

You’ll walk through the barns, visit the pasture, and see baby animals up close. It’s earthy, sweet, and the kind of experience that stays with your kids (and makes for amazing photos). It wasn’t crowded, and the vibe was calm, which made it easy to relax and just enjoy it.

Bonus: it’s right next to Strasburg Railroad (we saw the trains pass by) and Amish buggy rides, so you could easily spend the whole afternoon in that area and fill your memory card in the process.

A little cluster of kid-friendly charm worth the time. Now, I will say, my original plan was to visit Old Windmill Farm, but it was closed that weekend so I had to improvise!

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🙌 Honorable Mentions (If You Have More Time, or want to change it up!)

• 🐽 Old Windmill Farm – Pig slides, calf feeding, and major hands-on fun
  
• 🌾 Cherry Crest Adventure Farm – Giant outdoor play zone, corn maze in summer
  
• 🧪 Lancaster Science Factory – Over 80 STEM exhibits, climbing zones, and hands-on fun for kids Pre-K–8th grade
  
• 🔭 North Museum of Nature & Science – Live animals, planetarium shows, and nature exhibits
  
• 🚂 Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania – Explore real locomotives and model train displays
  
• 🧺 Lancaster Central Market – For foodies and quick bites in a historic indoor market
  
• 🎭 Magic & Wonder Theater – Variety shows and illusions, great rainy-day entertainment
  
• 🏡 Tiny Town Lancaster – Indoor play space designed like a tiny city, perfect for toddlers
  
• 🛤️ Amish Village Tours – For older kids curious about culture and daily life
  

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💬 Final Thoughts

In just 36 hours on the ground + 2-hour road trip each way, we packed in:

🎢 Theme park rides

💦 Splash pad chaos

🍦 Endless ice cream

🕳️ Underground cave chills

🐐 Goat snuggles

✅ No meltdowns

✅ Worth every penny

✅ Zero regrets

Would I go again? Already planning.

Would I do it in the same order? Pretty much.

Would I add even more snacks? Always.

xoxo

Kaleigh

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📌 Want a custom trip like this for your family? I create memory-packed itineraries just like this under The Kaleigh Edit that are mom-tested and kid-approved. Check out my Weekend Worthy series and let me plan your next escape.

✨ Weekend Worthy Destinations – From Dutch Wonderland to NYC, I test-drive and build real-life itineraries for families who want fun without the overwhelm.