Kid Friendly Places for Spring & Summer Flowers | Beautiful Spots to See Spring & Summer Flowers in the Greater Philadelphia Area
These 5 kid friendly places for spring & summer flowers always bring me life after a long and cold winter! Moms with young kids need fun adventures with their little ones to let them explore and create beautiful memories together. And there’s nothing more inspiring than beautiful flowers in the warm spring and summer sunshine. Before Lucy started elementary school, I helped run a local moms group. So I spent Lucy’s early years learning all the best kid friendly spots in our area. Anyone who knows me is already aware that I LOVE FLOWERS! So of course I love exploring the flowers with Lucy every spring & summer. If you’re looking for beautiful, kid friendly places for spring & summer flowers to explore with your kids, here are some of our favorites spots in the Greater Philadelphia Area.
1. Longwood Gardens (Kennett Square, PA)
Why I Love It
Of all the places Lucy and I have visited together since she was born, Longwood Gardens is far and away our favorite. Here she is as a toddler, soaking in the gorgeous tulips and strutting her stuff on the flower garden walk with the confidence only a 1 year old can command. Every time I look back at this memories, I can’t wipe the huge smile off my face.
Longwood really is like a magical place like no other. And while the flowers are spectacular, there’s so much more that makes this my favorite place to visit with little kids. They have 3 treehouses for little ones to explore. There’s also both and an indoor and outdoor children’s garden with fountains for kids to splash and play in. And the huge fountain show set to music that plays at certain times throughout the day is always a big hit. We visit multiple times every year, and it’s such a huge place that I’m sure there are still some hidden corners we have yet to discover. We always bring along a full change of clothes to splash in the fountains and leave with full hearts!
Planning Your Visit
Longwood Gardens is gorgeous all year round, but my favorite time of year to visit is in late April or early May when the spring flowers burst into bloom after the long winter. Late April is when the tulips typically bloom. And the Wisteria usually blooms in early-mid May right around Mother’s Day.
If you decide to visit in the summertime, they also offer special fountain shows with fireworks to end the night. There is an admission fee to enter the gardens, but kids 4 & under can enjoy the gardens for free. You can check out the Longwood Gardens website for current admission rates as well as special events for kids and families.
2. Chanticleer Garden (Wayne, PA)
Why I Love It
As a family photographer, I’ve had numerous requests to do photos at Chanticleer Gardens over the years. Sadly, I’ve never done a photo session here because professional photo sessions aren’t allowed at Chanticleer. But I have been lucky enough to explore this gorgeous 48 acre garden with my daughter Lucy. The pathway around the garden has a few little offshoots that Lucy loves to explore. And she also loves splashing in the reflection pool near the center of the gardens. Her smile says it all!
Planning Your Visit
Chanticleer Gardens is beautiful throughout the spring and summer, but our favorite time to visit is in May or June when the spring flowers are in full bloom and the weather is warm but not too hot yet. They also have a picnic area, so you can pack a lunch and enjoy a picnic when your little one needs to refuel. A parking reservation and admission fee are required to ensure the gardens don’t become too crowded. You can be make your reservation up to 4 weeks in advance at the Chanticleer Gardens website.
3. Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens (Devon, PA)
Why I Love It
Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens was one of the places I found when Lucy was just a baby, still in the stroller. There’s no admission fee, so it’s free for anyone to visit the gardens. I just love this spot for a stroller walk in the springtime. Throughout this 48 acre garden, there’s a fully paved 1.2 mile trail that’s stroller friendly. It’s also worth noting that Jenkins Arboretum is very hilly. But I actually found this to be a bonus as I felt motivated to get in some good exercise every day after having a baby. Pushing a stroller up a hill through these beautiful gardens is my kind of exercise, for sure!
As Lucy got a little bigger, we returned when she was a toddler and the trail was the perfect length for her to walk all by herself. We pause to explore quite a bit along the trail, of course. And one of the magical things she discovered was a hidden fairy garden for kids near the visitor’s center/garden shop.
Planning Your Visit
I recommend visiting Jenkins Arboretum in late May when the azaleas and rhododendrons are in bloom. They have plenty of other flowers and plants throughout the gardens that are beautiful all throughout the spring and summer. But their substantial collection of azaleas and rhododendrons from all around the world are absolutely worth planning your trip around!
4. Maple Acres Farm Market (Plymouth Meeting, PA)
Why I Love It
Watching my daughter run through fields of colorful flowers with a huge smile on her face always makes my heart full. But at Maple Acres Farm Market your kids can have a more interactive experience with the flowers. For a small fee, they have scissors and containers so your kids can cut their favorite flowers to take home. They also have some animals around the farm that your little ones can visit. And there’s even an antique red tractor that kids are allowed to climb on. My daughter’s favorite thing is climbing, and her second word after “daddy” was “tractor.” So this is obviously a favorite for us! And we love taking the flowers home to remember our visit!
Planning Your Visit
My favorite time to visit Maple Acres Farm Market is in the summer when all the flowers are in full bloom. Fields full of colorful zinnias, coxcomb, and many other types of flowers are blooming by July, and you may even catch the sunflowers if you visit in August or early Sept before the first overnight frost. It’s easy to see why Maple Acres is one of my top 5 kid friendly places for spring & summer flowers!
5. Renninger’s Farm (Royersford, PA)
Why I Love It
Renninger’s Farm in Royersford is another local spot where Lucy and I love to go and cut flowers every summer. You check in at the farmer’s market to pay and get a container and scissors. Then you can let your little one lead the way and choose which flowers to cut and bring home.
Once you’ve filled up your bucket with beautiful flowers, be sure to stop and visit the animals before you head home. They have cows, goats, & chickens who love visitors. And you’re allowed to feed them too. Just ask one of the employees for some crackers so your little ones can give the animals a treat.
Planning Your Visit
Summer is the best time to visit if you want to cut your own flowers. By late June, they have the full selection of flowers in bloom to choose from. But the farmer’s market is open for the entire spring as well if you just want to see the flowers, visit the animals, and purchase some fresh produce for your family.
Did You Love My 5 Kid Friendly Places for Spring & Summer Flowers?
You can also click HERE to check out my 5 Free Farms to Visit With Your Kids to learn more about some of my favorite places to visit the animals with my daughter Lucy in the Greater Philadelphia area.
Kristin Brockman Photography is a natural light family photographer based in Pottstown, Pennsylvania who serves clients in the Greater Philadelphia area. She specializes in natural, family-centered photos focused on capturing genuine and authentic moments.
kristinbrockmanphotography@gmail.com
