sam

I've done much research, added a day at each end and have a preliminary itinerary - any input would be helpful:

Sat.- Drive from Boston are to Hershey (staying @ Holiday Inn Harrisburg East).
Sun.- HersheyPark, ZooAmerica, Chocolate World
Mon.- finish sights in Hershey and drive to Gettysburg, see sights there (Battlefield by double decker tour bus or buy a tape and do self-guided tour?), staying @ Holiday Inn Express, Gettysburg
Tues.- finish sights in Gettysburg, drive to Lancaster area, see sights there (buggy tour, Amish sights, can anyone give me a recommendation of a good place to buy an authentic Amish-made quilt for about $300?), staying @ Holiday Inn Visitors Center in Lancaster.
Wed.- finish sights in Lancaster area and drive to Allentown, go to Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom, staying @ Four Points Sheraton Jetport
Thur.- Dorney Park/Wildwater Kingdom
Fri. - drive home
It's sort of a loop and has amusement parks on either end to keep the kids from getting too bummed about the educational part. Any thoughts or suggestions, restaurants, what about the Crayola factory, is it worth looking into? Thanks everyone - you're priceless!

placeu2

Gettysburg is a must do on this trip. My kids were about the same age when we did Hershey. I highly recommend the tape that you play in your car. Easy to follow, go at your own pace.

They won't even know it's educational!

Stephanie

I'd suggest the Hershey/Lancaster area highly. If you go why not stay in the Lancaster area too? You may want to stay at the Red Caboose Motel in Stratsburg. You can rent out the whole train car (14 train cars in parking lot). There is supposedly a hoedown in the barn in the evenings in the summer, a nice miniature railroad museum right next door, along with a small petting area of farm animals. There is also a Red Caboose Diner and Store on the same property. There is the Stratsburg Railroad you can take and they have theme rides (don't know what goes on in August). When I visited the first time I was surprised at how many horses and buggies that do use the roads and it made the experience more countrylike. The boys might like Gettysburg as they are older, but the 7 yr old might get bored.

wagonwheel

I realize you have made your decision, but I had to correct your impression of Montreal weather in August...it is not cold...it is hot, and yes we do wear shorts here in Canada sometimes right up to the end of September...