• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • TravelingDad

Traveling Mom

Traveling tips, deals, info from moms and families

  • COVID-19
  • Road Trips
    • ROAD TRIPS ACROSS THE USA
    • ROAD TRIP PLANNER
    • ILLINOIS ROAD TRIPS
    • TEXAS ROAD TRIPS
    • GEORGIA ROAD TRIPS
    • CALIFORNIA ROAD TRIPS
    • NORTHEAST ROAD TRIPS
    • MIDWEST ROAD TRIPS
  • Destinations
    • Northeast
    • Southeast
    • East Coast
    • Midwest
    • South
    • Southwest
    • Northwest
    • West
    • US Cities
      • New York City
      • Chicago
      • Los Angeles
      • Orlando
      • San Diego
      • San Francisco
  • Disney
    • Disneyland
    • Walt Disney World
    • Disney Worldwide
    • Disney Cruise
    • Discount Disney World Tickets
  • Outdoors
    • Skiing
    • National Parks
    • RV/Camping
    • Beaches
  • Travel Resources
    • Babies and Toddlers
    • Free Things to Do
    • Packing
    • Discount Attractions Tickets
    • Discount Disney World Ticket
    • Discount Universal Tickets
    • Grandparents
    • Cruising
    • TravelingDad
  • Search
  • COVID-19
  • Road Trips
    • Road Trips Across the USA
    • Road Trip Planner
    • Illinois Road Trips
    • Texas Road Trips
    • Georgia Road Trips
    • California Road Trips
    • Northeast Road Trips
    • Midwest Road Trips
  • US National Parks
  • RV and Camping
  • Beaches
  • Disney
    • Disneyland
    • Walt Disney World
    • Disney Worldwide
    • Disney Cruise
    • Discount Disney World Tickets
  • Cruises
  • Skiing
  • Free Things to Do
  • Traveling with Babies and Toddlers
  • Traveling Grandparents
  • TravelingDad
  • US Destinations
    • Northeast
    • Southeast
    • East Coast
    • Midwest
    • South
    • Southwest
    • Northwest
    • West
  • US Cities
    • NYC
    • Chicago
    • Los Angeles
    • Orlando
    • San Diego
    • San Francisco
  • International
  • Travel Resources
    • Book A Trip
    • Discount Attractions Tickets
    • Discount Disney World Tickets
    • Discount Universal Tickets
    • Packing
  • Contact Us
  • About Us

Mobile Menu

  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
You are here: Home / Family Vacation Ideas / Family Vacations Along the East Coast USA / Creative & Active Fun at Crayola Experience
Crayola Expereince
Photo credit: Anuja De Silva/Cosmopolitan with Kids TravelingMom

Creative & Active Fun at Crayola Experience

September 2, 2015 //  by Anuja De Silva//  Leave a Comment

FacebookTweetPinLinkedIn

Want to see the largest crayon in the world? Make a trip to the Crayola Experience in Easton, PA, where even non artsy kids will have lots of fun. With a mix of a factory tour and amusement park feel, it will draw in visitors of all ages. With a similar new attraction in Orlando, Florida as of spring 2015 and another scheduled to open in Minneapolis in Summer 2016,  who can resist the urge to melt and mold crayons, create your own crayon label and explore a colorful space?

Crayola Expereince
Photo credit: Anuja De Silva/Cosmopolitan with Kids TravelingMom
Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and buy, TravelingMom may receive a small commission at no additional charge to you.

The idea for visiting a crayon factory started with an episode on “ Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood, one of my son’s favorite TV shows. Seeing his favorite fictional characters learn how crayons are made from melting wax led to my son’s persistent requests for his own visit to a crayon factory.TMOM Travel Disclosure

With a little research I leaned that Crayola, the leading manufacturer of crayons does have facilities you can visit. Instead of being a typical factory visit, it is termed as the “Crayola Experience” where it is more than just learning about the crayon making process.

Built around the crayon theme, The Crayola Experience showcases several educational and entertainment exhibits that appeal to a multi-generational family. Having visited with my three year old son, infant daughter and my mother, here are my tips for making the most of your time at the “Crayola Experience”

1.Take Your Kids When They Are Between 3-5 Years Old

Crayola Experience
Making his personalized crayon
Photo credit: Anuja De Silva/Cosmopolitan with Kids TravelingMom

Though kids from babies to tweens can be seeing having fun with all the colorful exhibits, the optimal ages for this experience is between 3-5 years of age. At 3 and ½ years old, my son was able to have fun at the jungle gym, engage in water play and take part in all the interactive activities.

The elevators and floor space is conducive for strollers so we had no issue bringing my baby daughter along. There was a great toddler play area restricted ages 2-4 years which was great for kids not yet old enough for the general exhibits.

Since the price of admission is the same for both adults and kids at $18.99, you want to make sure the child can access a large part of the attractions.

2.Get There as Early as Possible

We were there about ten minutes past the opening time (10am) on a summer Friday morning and there was a line formed at the admissions counter already. Parking garage is right opposite the entrance made it easy for our drive in.

Photo credit: Anuja De Silva/Cosmoplitan TravelingMom
Photo credit: Anuja De Silva/Cosmoplitan TravelingMom

I would recommend trying to visit on a week day and start your day as early as possible. Three hours will be enough time to go through each of the four floors and engage multiple times in some of the favorite activities. I would avoid getting there early afternoon when most children including my own were not in the best mood as they were getting tired and hungry.

Since all the attractions are inside this can also be ideal for days when outdoor fun is not an option.

3.Check the Floor Plan Before You Go

Though the floor plan can look a bit daunting, the “Crayola Experience” was much smaller than we expected, especially when compared to most children’s museums. Yet we used our starting from the top and making our way down strategy as not to miss any of the highlights.

I had a print out of the floor plan to share with my son the day before, so we could chart our course. It was fun to watch him learn how to plan and prioritize and feel empowered.

This also gives the parents a guideline about the number of activities that come includes with the entrance as well as the extra perks for an addiotnal fee. There were several here that included body art, photos etc but nothing outstanding that was worth our consideration.

4. Mix Creative and Athletic Activities to Spend Time with the Whole Family

Even if you’re not a good artist, you won’t be able to resist the melted wax on the fourth floor or bins filled with crayons on the second floor. We seized our son’s interest with unique colors and got some one on one time with him in between the more physically active adventures to create art as a family.

Water Works area with a lock & canal system Photo credit: Anuja De Silva/Cosmopolitan with Kids TravelingMom
Water Works area with a lock & canal system
Photo credit: Anuja De Silva/Cosmopolitan with Kids TravelingMom

The Café Stage also provides an opportunity for another group activity. You can learn about the history and science of the crayon industry through a short movie about Crayola factories

These elements made this visit worth it for our group to spend about three hours. With the relatively expensive entrance fee, you would want to consider cost vs entertainment before planning your trip.

5.Keep Track of Your Tokens and Use Them for Souvenirs

The entire first floor where you exit is the colorful Crayola gift store filled with everything you can imagine related to crayon products. Any kid walking through this is going to at least try to ask for some overpriced item. Knowing this drill from our previous visits to similar attractions we devised a plan to keep our cost down and crying to a minimum by making the most of the “free” tokens we are given at admission.

Each family will get about ten tokens at entrance which you can use for getting crayons and markers from the dispensers. You can make it even more special by making a personalized cover for them. We kept a few of those crayons and markers to handout at the end of the visit so we could get through the gift shop without being coerced to purchase anything.

At the Color Playground Photo credit: Anuja De Silva/Cosmopolitan with Kids TravelingMom
At the Color Playground
Photo credit: Anuja De Silva/Cosmopolitan with Kids TravelingMom

The colorful crayon soft toys also make a great photo op so I definitely enjoyed browsing the fun items but got away without having to buy anything.

Having had his fictional experience come to life was definitely a memorable for my son. Seeing his excitement made it more special for us. We made sure to make the most of the visit by arriving early, bringing our own snacks and making memories together. Buying tickets online can also help you save a few dollars as well as skip the line at admission.

Here are a few more of other top attractions in the heart of Pennsylvania that have made it to my family travel list.

TravelingMom Tip: Protect yourself while traveling with Medjet. 2020 Medjet Members hospitalized with active COVID-19 infections are now eligible for Air Medical Transport within the U.S., Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. Learn more about how to become a Member here.
FacebookTweetPinLinkedIn

Category: Family Vacations Along the East Coast USATag: Pennsylvania, toddlers

You May Also Like

  • A look at the new Sports Legends Experience at the Children's Museum of Indianapolis.
    The new Sports Legends Experience, plus 6 More Fun Things to do in Indianapolis with Kids Who Love Sports
  • Florida Fun Bikes with Southern TravelingMom and daughter.
    Florida Fun Bikes in Gainesville: A Fun Mother/Daughter Activity
  • fall at the poconos
    Fall Family Fun at The Pocono Mountains
  • Where To Find Rainy Day Fun In The Palm Beaches
  • The North Pole Experience in Flagstaff, Arizona
  • Midwest road trip idea: Visit Indiana Dunes National Park
    Midwest Road Trip Ideas: 30+ Fun Midwest Vacations Spots to Consider
Previous Post: «Check out the Dhow Harbour in Doha How to do a Doha Stopover Right
Next Post: Terminally Ill Loved One – Should You Stay or Should You Go? »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

  • Contact Us
  • About Us
  • Ask Us!
  • Privacy & Terms
  • Manage Push Notifications
  • Site Admin

Copyright © 2021 Traveling Mom ยท All Rights Reserved