Two family-friendly day trip adventures from Chadds Ford
Sometimes the best summer days are the ones that take you just far enough from home to feel like a real adventure. This week, join me for the Summer Family Adventure Series, featuring ideas for local outings and day trips that make the most of these warm, school-free months.
First up on the agenda, I’ve got two tried-and-true adventures that are perfectly sized for a family with kids. Let’s check out these family-friendly day trip adventures from Chadds Ford.
Cherry Crest Adventure Farm | Ronks, PA
📍 150 Cherry Hill Rd, Ronks, PA, 17572, ~1 hour from Chadds Ford
Have you ever been to Cherry Crest Adventure Farm? If not, add it to your summer bucket list. Your kids will have a wholesome blast! 💥
Located in the heart of Amish country in Ronks, Pennsylvania — about an hour from Chadds Ford — Cherry Crest is a working farm that transforms into a full-scale family adventure destination. The crown jewel is The Amazing Maize Maze, a massive corn maze 🌽 that gets a new creative theme each year, complete with games, puzzles, and hidden activities woven throughout.
Fair warning: it’s a legit maze, not a quick little walk-through. There are three levels. Even if you choose the easiest level, it still takes some time to complete. Budget time accordingly, and if you visit on a steamy summer day, pack water and embrace the sweat. If you choose the hardest level, be forewarned. Whatever sweaty mess results from that questionable decision is on you! 🤣
Beyond the maze, the farm is packed with hands-on fun: giant air pillow trampolines, hay bale slides, slingshots, life-size Lincoln Logs, zip lines, barnyard animals (including chicks and baby goats), and more. Kids can roam and burn energy for hours without anyone looking at a screen.
I wrote about Cherry Crest Adventure Farm years ago on an old blog about eco-friendly living for families. You can stop by and check it out if you want to see some real-deal pictures of the place. We’ve visited since then, and there’s even more fun stuff to do there now!
On a weekday visit, the crowds are manageable, and the pace feels relaxed. Weekends are a bit more crowded if that’s the only time you’re available, but it’s still fun. End the day with a stop at the School House Sweet Shop for fudge or some classic candy, if you dare. You might have too many good options to choose from.
Cherry Crest is open seasonally (mostly summer and fall). Purchase tickets in advance, especially on weekends or during school breaks. The farm is located at 150 Cherry Hill Rd, Ronks, PA 17572. Visit cherrycrestfarm.com for current hours, ticket prices, and to plan your visit.
Herr’s Snack Factory Tour | Nottingham, PA
📍 271 Old Baltimore Pike, Nottingham, PA, 19362, ~30 minutes from Chadds Ford
Ready for a little salty soirée family adventure? Check out the Herr’s Snack Factory Tour in Nottingham, Pennsylvania, about 30 minutes from Chadds Ford. Herr Foods started making potato chips and snacks in southeastern Pennsylvania in 1946, so they kind of (totally) know a thing or two about making salty snacks. Unlike some factory tours, which feel a bit boring and disconnected from the real operations, the Herr’s tour offers a view into the real factory, with real employees operating real production lines.
When we visited, we even saw one of the chip packaging lines get backed up and automatically shut down (kind of like the I Love Lucy chocolate scene, only with sensors to stop the madness before things get out of hand). The line stopped until a factory worker cleaned up the piled-up bags of chips that had been trying to sneak their way into a packaging box, but to no avail.
The guided tour runs about 60 -90 minutes and takes you through different production areas, including pretzels, tortilla chips, popcorn, potato chips, and packaging. A short introductory video covers the company’s history before your guide leads you from building to building (note that parts of the tour are outdoors, so dress for the weather).
The salty pièce de résistance of the tour crunches and then melts in your mouth at the end, when they offer you a small basket of hot potato chips pulled directly from the production line. If you’ve never had a chip that’s still warm from the fryer, brace yourself. I’m more of a chocolate fiend than a “chip” person, but those were legendary. 😘
Factory tours are available Monday through Wednesday, from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and are limited to 15 people per group. They require reservations and slots fill up fast, especially during school breaks. We booked our tour a couple of weeks in advance.
You have to wear closed-toe shoes, so skip the strappy sandals, even in the summer. Stick around after the tour to browse Herr’s outlet store, and on your way home, consider a stop at Nottingham County Park just down the road, a lovely Chester County gem in its own right that’s just a four-minute drive from the factory.
More summer day trip adventures from Chadds Ford?
Both of these adventures are perfect for a summer day. The drives are manageable and well worth it once you arrive. My boys have sort of outgrown Cherry Crest (though at 12 and 14, I think they’d still have a decent time). It’s perfect for the elementary cohort!
Got any other ideas for family adventures over summer break that aren’t too far from Chadds Ford? Share them in the comments. I’d love to hear about them.
