Play Spaces

View Play Spaces in and around Chester County PA in a full screen map

NOTE: Places tagged with a ** have a review posted below. 

Ardmore, PA

• Lulu's Casita

Avondale, PA

• Boomers Family Fun Center
• Bucktoe Creek Preserve

Bernville, PA

• Koziar's Christmas Village

Bryn Mawr, PA

• Play Cafe

Chadds Ford

• Brandywine River MuseumBrandywine River Museum

Chester Springs, PA

• Milky Way Farm & Creamery
• Binky Lee Preserve

Coatesville, PA

• ChesLen Preserve
• Chester County Airport

Devault, PA

• Great Valley Nature Center

Devon, PA

• Jenkins Arboretum
• Playdrome / Devon Lanes

Downingtown, PA

• Marsh Creek State Park
• Caln Skating Center
• Palace Bowling
• United Sports
• Vertical Extreme

Doyelstown, PA

• Fonthill Museum
• Central Park Playground

Easton, PA

• Crayola Factory

Elverson, PA

• French Creek State Park

Exton, PA

• Bounce U
• Exton Square Mall
• Gym Olympic Sports Academy
• Power Play Ice Rink

Glen Mills, PA

• Oasis Family Fun Center

Glenmoore, PA

• Springton Manor Farm**

Hershey, PA

• Hershey Park

Hockessin, DE

• Ashland Nature Center

Kennett Square, PA

• Longwood Gardens

King of Prussia, PA

• KoP Mall Play Areas sponsored by CHOP
• Valley Forge National Park

Lancaster, PA

• Dutch Wonderland

Langhorne, PA

• Sesame Place

Malvern, PA

• Grand Slam USA

Media, PA

• Linvilla Orchards
• Tyler Arboretum

New Hope, PA

• Giggleberry Fair at Peddler's Village

Newtown Square, PA

• Jumper's Fun Zone

Norristown, PA

• Superior Play Systems
• Elmwood Park Zoo
• Bouncetown

Nottingham, PA

• Herr's Potato Chip Factory

Philadelphia, PA

• The Little Treehouse (Chestnut Hill)
• Academy of Natural Sciences
• African American History Museum
• Fireman's Hall
• Franklin Institute
• Independence Seaport Museum
• Penn Museum
• Please Touch Museum
• Franklin Square
• Morris Arboretum
• Simeone Museum
• Philadelphia Zoo

Pottstown, PA

• Arnold's Family Fun Center
• Monkey Joe's

Ronks, PA

• Railroad Museum of PA
• Strasburg Railroad

West Chester, PA

• Highland Orchards
• West Chester University Planetarium
• American Helicopter Museum**
• Brandywine Picnic Park
• Myrick Conservation Center
• Stroud Preserve
• Ice Line Quad Rinks
• West Chester Railroad

Wilmington, DE

• Delaware Children's Museum
• Winterthur Museum
• Brandywine Zoo

*****

WEST CHESTER

American Helicopter Museum

1220 American Blvd. West Chester, PA

Access: On American Blvd. accessed from Airport Road in West Goshen – as you turn onto American the museum is all the way down at the end of the road on your left.

Parking: Ample parking if there is nothing going on – if you are there for an event I would imagine that it may be cramped. The parking area is located at the front door of the museum, which is on your left (just after the large helicopters on the grass). Don’t make my mistake and pull into the parking area BEFORE the helicopters- that’s a delivery area.


Features: Indoor and outdoor helicopter displays that are AWESOME. Many of the helicopters are accessible so that you can sit inside, crawl around, wander through, etc. There is also a toddler play area as well that has games, a mock control tower and a kiddie size copter that moves around (its cute).  During warmer temps you can wander outside to check out the helicopters at the entrance as well as hang out and watch planes take off and land at the Brandywine airstrip which is literally out the back door of the Museum.

Website: American Helicopter Museum http://www.americanhelicopter.museum

Age Range: I have seen very small tykes and new walkers here but it is probably best for sturdy walkers and up as there is a lot of potential for climbing into and around aircraft. Plus the “cool factor” will not be lost as your kids start to get into the do-play-learn stage of being a kid.

Cleanliness: I have never seen this museum be anything other than immaculate. I am pretty sure that their floors might be cleaner than mine – and it’s an airplane hanger.

       

Potties: Located in easy proximity to the main hanger area so you don’t have to go far at all which is great. Added bonus is that the women’s room (haven’t seen the men’s obviously) is very large (think enough space for a stroller / gear/ diaper change / breast feeding, etc.).

Potty cleanliness: Every time I have been the potties have been immaculate (love that)!

Crowds: We have been a number of times and have never truly been overwhelmed by too many people in the Museum. There was once a birthday party going on and that was a little crazy as each child had at least one – two parents in tow but still there is ample space to move along to the next exhibit or display so you never have to feel boxed in. That said, if there is an event going on this review would probably go out the window.

If you go: 

Cost: 

Adults : $10.00
Seniors : $8.00
Children* and Students with ID : $8.00
Children under 2 with parent : Free

** If you live close by and wind up loving this place it is worth it to check into the Family Membership. We paid $60 for a family of 4 membership that allows us access anytime they are open plus gives us 2 comp passes - given that we have already been a number of times it pays for itself. **

Hours: 

Wednesday through Saturday, 10:00am to 5:00 pm (Last Admission at 4:00pm)

Sunday from 12:00pm  to 5:00 pm (Last Admission at 4:00pm)

Closed Mondays and Tuesdays for large group reservations only

Closed on the following holidays:

• New Year’s Day
• President’s Day
• Easter Monday
• Independence Day
• Labor Day
• Thanksgiving Day
• Christmas Eve & Christmas Day

BONUS #1: This is a great space to go if you have children in a span of ages as there is something enticing and fun for each age level. Older kids may enjoy the flight simulator (if you can figure out how to work it) while the younger ones will be happy just running around like crazy people.

BONUS #2: This is a great place for a birthday party- they have a snack / kitchen area room that can easily accommodate about 20 kids or so plus parents.

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GLENMOORE

Springton Farm 
& Park

Wallace Township / 
Glenmoore, PA

Access: Entrance is on Springton Road which is located less than 2 miles off of Route 322. It is kind of a funky turn off from 322 as it is a 5 point intersection but there are signs. The farm is approx. 5 miles west of Downingtown in East Brandywine Township.

Parking: 2 Large lots located in different proximities to the actual farm/barn area. The first lot (on your right as you drive in) is the main lot for the Manor House and offices but if you go further down the driveway you will get to the second lot which is a short walk from the farm buildings, etc.

Features: ANIMALS! TRACTORS! FREE!!! This is a working farm so you will see goats, pigs, sheep, horses, chickens, a donkey, cows, and a very loud peacock. In the semi-attached barn next to the Goat Barn there is a John Deere tractor that (while there is no sign telling me otherwise) I let our kids climb up on – great photo op. There are a number of trails and paths that meander through the meadows and around the park / farm but I haven’t checked them out yet. (see below for more)

Age Ranges: Walkers and up

Website:  Chester County Parks Dept. has a dedicated page on their website for the Farm (CLICK HERE) and there is also a Facebook Fan Page that has great pics and is updated often with what is happening (CLICK HERE)

Park Map: CLICK HERE

Cleanliness: This place is immaculate and well cared for by the dedicated staff and friends of the Farm and Park. Even the Great Barn, which is home for most of the animals, is impressively clean. They also have hand sanitizer stations throughout the farm/

Crowds: Truth be told we have only been here once so far but have big plans for regular visits. We were there on a Sunday mid morning of a holiday weekend and barely saw a soul for the first 45 minutes. Even around midday when the visitor traffic seemed to be picking up it was quiet by my standards.

Potties: Separate men’s / women’s facilities located on the second floor of the Great Barn and accessed from the backside of the Barn. The Great Barn is the main barn in the first grouping of buildings so you wont have to walk far to find it. Multiple stalls, and a pull down changing table in the ladies.

Potty Cleanliness: Incredible – very impressed and completely different than I was expecting – this is what public potties SHOULD be like.

Playground Material: N/A

Review / If you go: 

I am in love with this place – there I have said it. It is FREE – yes, FREE PEOPLE! These days that is a rarity- I didn’t even see a donation box because if there was one I probably would have thrown a few bucks in just because I was so impressed with how clean this place was.

There are not a huge number of animals- and it is not a petting zoo/farm FYI. But the animals that they do have run the usual farm gamut and are fun to see. The animals are spread throughout multiple barns, which makes it fun to wander and pop into each building to see who lives inside.

They also have a cute “Springton Manor Passport” with stamps in the Great Barn that is a fun added activity. The only bummer is that with the animals located all over the place you sort of have to go back to the Barn at the end and stamp everyone at once- the stamp sites are not located at each barn- they are all in the Great Barn.

Most of the paths right near the parking areas are handicap/stroller accessible but they are not long so you may be doing loops if you are looking for some exercise.

There is a Heritage exhibit in the Great Barn, which has some cool vintage farm tools to see.

You can also make arrangements for guided tours of the farm for groups of 10 or more people.

Judging by their Facebook pagehttp://www.blogger.com/ there are a lot of fun things happening throughout the year here so it is a good place to keep on the radar and pop back into frequently.

They do group visits too which would be fun to keep in mind for a birthday party or a mom’s club / playgroup outing.

I have big plans of bringing a picnic blanket and finding a shady tree somewhere in the park area for lunch one time but they also have a few picnic tables scattered here and there in the main farm area for snacking and lunching.

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