Kids on the Go! Itineraries

Cranbury
Take a historic walk, enjoy a picnic, fly a kite and much more in the Historic Village of Cranbury, New Jersey.

Believed to have been settled as early as 1680, Cranbury is one of the oldest towns in New Jersey. As you drive down Main Street, stop by the Cranbury History Center (located at 6 South Main Street next to the fire house) to pick up your free printed copy of a Walking Tour of Historic Cranbury. The self-guided walking tour will take you to 30 notable historic sites in this National Historic District. Visit CranburyHistory.org for more information.

While on Main Street stop in for delicious artisan breads at The Blue Rooster Bakery & Café located at 17 North Main Street. The Blue Rooster serves breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, all with the same attention to traditional methods, fresh ingredients and a passion for simple, wholesome food. Don’t miss the sunny playroom upstairs filled with toys from Discovery Toys. The Blue Rooster also invites families in for story hour at least once a month on a Friday morning. Call ahead to pre-register for their 10:00 am story hour designed for children ages 2-5 which includes a healthy snack. (cost is $3 per child). (BlueRoosterBakery.com)

Located at 54 North Main Street you will find the Cranbury Bookworm. This quaint book store houses an Antique Book Room filled with first editions, signed, rare and out-of-print books, including a large selection of children’s literature. (CranburyBookworm.com)

Next, stop by Gil & Bert’s Ice Cream, located at 69 North Main Street. Place your order at the window and enjoy your cone while relaxing on their outside seating. (GilAndBertsIceCream.com)

Just east of Main Street you’ll find Village Park, a charming public park with something for everyone. Visit the Cranbury Bicentennial Gazebo by Brainerd Lake. The perfect picnic spot awaits you on the waterfront. Fill your picnic basket at The Blue Rooster and don’t forget to bring your kite. You will be all set for a wonderful afternoon.

New Hope, Pennsylvania
All Aboard! Train, Boat, and Merry-Go-Round rides will fill your day in New Hope, Pennsylvania.

Located along the Delaware Canal, you will discover New Hope, Pennsylvania. This lively town offers something for everyone. First, head to the station house of the New Hope & Ivyland Railroad, located at 32 West Bridge Street. Here you can purchase your tickets for a scenic trip through the beautiful hills and valleys of historic Bucks County. Special event trips such as the Easter Bunny Express, Song & Story Hour Trains and the North Pole Express are available throughout the year. Visit NewHopeRail.com for more information.

Spend a day relaxing on the Delaware River aboard Coryell’s Ferry River Boat Rides while learning the history of the region and enjoying the scenery. Trips depart from Gerenser’s Exotic Ice Cream, located at 22 South Main Street, every 45 minutes. Be sure to call ahead for the daily schedule. (215) 862-2050

After your boat ride, take in the view on the riverside terrace of The Landing Restaurant. This restaurant offers a variety of kids meals, including our favorite “just fries please…” LandingRestaurant.com

If you are looking for one-of-a-kind, hand painted children’s furniture look no further than Painted Ponies. For over 20 years Nancy Edwards has hand painted keepsake treasures for families such as her custom order rocking horses designed to match the décor of your child’s room. You are welcome to visit her studio by appointment. Painted-Ponies.com

End your day on a Merry-Go-Round and stroll through Peddlar’s Village. Just a short drive outside of town in Lahaska, Pennsylvania you will be surprised to discover Giggleberry Fair, Peddler’s Village’s own indoor theme park. Once inside you will find Giggleberry Mountain, Discovery Land, a Game Room and the Grand Carousel, a fully restored 1922 Philadelphia Toboggan Company (P.T.C.) carousel. Enjoy window shopping as you stroll through Peddlar’s Village’s winding brick pathways featuring seventy shops and six restaurants. Visit PeddlersVillage.com for more information.

Princeton
From canoeing to craft making your visit to Princeton, New Jersey will keep you on the move.

The towpath of the Delaware & Raritan Canal and Lake Carnegie is the perfect location to enjoy a family walk or bike ride. In the Spring and Fall you might catch a glimpse of the Princeton University rowing teams gliding down the canal. Give it a try yourself and rent a canoe at Princeton Canoe & Kayak Rental located in Turning Basin Park. You can paddle your way directly to the D & R Canal from their dock. For rental information go to CanoeNJ.com.

Touring Princeton can be fun and exciting for the whole family with Princeton Tour Company, located at 98 Nassau Street. Their walking and bike tours provide you with an insiders glimpse to the town of Princeton. Check out our favorites – the Little Einstein Stroller Tour and Princeton Ghost Tours. Visit PrincetonTourCompany.com for tour schedules and reservations.

Take a cool break at Thomas Sweet’s ice cream shop, located at 179 Nassau Street, and enjoy one of their famous (and delicious) Blend-ins. Our favorite is the Chocolate Oreo Cookie blend-in. ThomasSweet.com

Artistic little hands will love to participate in an arts and crafts project at Red Green Blue located at 4 Hullfish Street. Here you can create what inspires you, including your own colorful glass mosaics or personalized puzzles. RedGreenBlueOnline.com

Beads anyone? Stop into The Place to Bead at 41 Witherspoon Street. Search among the store’s thousands of beads to find your perfect combination, then sit down at their craft table and start your project. BeadNow.com

Skip over to Tippy Toes, at 20 Nassau Street, to shop for unique urban style clothing for kids and babies. Stock up on fashionable and brightly colored shoes perfect for running and jumping or dancing.

Doylestown
Experience a fairytale of a day by visiting the castles of Doylestown, Pennsylvania.

Less than an hour’s drive from Princeton you will find charming Doylestown, Pennsylvania. Start your day at Central Park, a 108-acre public park located just outside of town (on Wells Road). In the heart of the park sits Kids’ Castle, an 8 story tall focal point of this amazing children’s wonderland. As you cross over a drawbridge, you enter a magical world that includes a huge castle with a really big twisty slide, a very friendly dragon, a tree house, a rocket ship, swings and much more. Kids’ Castle is open 7 days a week until the first frost of the year, best of all, it’s free!

After playing at Kids’ Castle, drive into town to visit two real castles at the Mercer & Fonthill Museums (84 South Pine Street). The Mercer Museum’s towering castle houses dramatic displays of everyday life in America during the 18th and 19th centuries. There are family & youth programs offered throughout the year and children under 5 are admitted free of charge. The Fonthill Museum, located just a few miles away, is a 44 room concrete castle showcasing tiles from the nearby Moravian Pottery & Tile Works. For more information go to MercerMuseum.org

Wander through the heart of town and enjoy a day of shopping and delightful treats. Stop in Booktender’s Secret Garden Children’s Bookstore and Gallery if you are looking for a special children’s book. Located at 20B Donaldson Street, this is the oldest children’s-only bookstore in the tri-state area. You are sure to find a wonderful selection of Fairy Tales featuring knights, princesses and castles within this store. All are welcome to stop in and visit the store’s gallery specializing in original artwork and prints by children’s illustrators.

Dress your little ones to impress at Circles Children’s Boutique, located at 5 South Main St. This is a wonderful place to buy elegant children’s clothing and unique baby gifts. Or stop by Monkey Business, at 41 E State Street, to find the latest in global designer children’s clothing that’s as individual as your little ones. MonkeyBusinessKids.com

Find the perfect toy at Busy Bee Toys, a European-inspired toy store, right in the heart of Doylestown, specializing in high quality, wooden toys from abroad. One of their favorites is Knuckling Knights by Haba, a dice game where players help their knights invade a castle. Busy Bee Toys can be found at 58 East State Street or on the web at BusybeeToys.net

For the perfect cool treat stop in at Rita’s on South Main Street. You can’t go wrong with a delicious water ice or frozen custard. Just around the corner on East Oakland Avenue enjoy more sweet treats at Let them Eat Cupcakes and Raymer’s Homemade Candies. Let them Eat Cupcakes is every child’s dream with beautifully iced cakes on display under a crystal chandelier. At Raymer’s you can watch while mouthwatering candies are being made behind glass.