Last summer, my family was lucky enough to be invited to Sesame Place‘s annual Media Day event. My then-2-year-old daughter Sadie was beside herself with excitement when she found out she would be visiting “Elmo’s House!” Needless to say, Sadie had a blast checking out the nation’s only theme park based entirely on the award-winning television show Sesame Street.
Located in Langhorne, Pennsylvania, which is a quick 90-minute drive from NYC and easily accessible from many East Coast cities, this gem of a theme park spans 14 acres and features more than three dozen interactive activities, including water attractions, whirling rides, an action-packed roller coaster, choreographed live stage shows and even a daily musical parade starring all the favorite Sesame characters.
Sesame Place is the perfect first theme park experience for your kids. It’s completely manageable in terms of size and, other than the roller coaster, there’s really no ride or attraction even the tiniest of toddlers can’t enjoy. Sadie loved her first inner tube water slide experience on Slimey’s Chutes, jumped like crazy on Ernie’s Bed Bounce, took the wheel of the fire engine at Engine House No. 1, danced around at the “Elmo Rocks!” show, splashed like crazy at the Count’s Splash Castle and of course, swooned over meeting Big Bird and Elmo at the “1-2-3 Smile with Me!” picture station. She even got to have lunch with the Count, whose charm is second to none!
I really cannot say enough good things about Sesame Place. The rides and water attractions were age-appropriate, the staff was friendly, the park was impressively clean and the entire experience was something our family won’t soon forget. If you’re looking for a quick family getaway, you really can’t go wrong with Sesame Place!
When planning your trip, you may want to consider staying overnight at one of the dozens of hotels located in the Langhorne area. Because we wanted to be able to make the most of our time at Sesame Place, we booked a room at the Residence Inn, located 5 minutes from the park. This place is perfect for families visiting the area! Each room is a suite complete with a fully stocked kitchen. Not only does the hotel offer a free shuttle to and from Sesame Place (thereby allowing you to avoid the park’s $15 parking charge), it also features a hot breakfast buffet and an indoor pool.
We were able to get a one-bedroom suite, which was fantastic because we placed the complimentary pack-n-play in the bedroom, where Sadie went to sleep, and my husband and I were able to watch tv and read in the living room with the lights on. It was an ideal setup, and I’d definitely recommend checking out the hotel if you’re planning a trip to the area. Happy travels!
