The Perfect Kid Friendly Weekend Getaway from Pittsburgh: a FARM stay!

I am always looking for unique adventures to take my kids on, not just because I know they will enjoy them- but also because I NEED TO GET OUT OF THE HOUSE and a long weekend getaway is just the perfect amount of time before my kids start driving me crazy in a new place! ?

Some of the best getaways from Pittsburgh are in the country, and I have my eye on a few airbnb options in particular that allow for us to get an authentic farm experience but with (mostly) the comforts of home. When traveling with kids I always am looking for unique activities to keep them entertained, preferably with exposure to animals and bonus points if there is water around (especially in the summer!). Both of these are easily accomplished by staying on a farm, but I have found that there are lots of other creative options for short getaways close to Pittsburgh, and most of them are kid friendly!

Earlier this month we did stay on a farm less than 2 hours from Pittsburgh, and it was SO PERFECT I feel a personal obligation to spread the word to every Pittsburgh parent I know! Located just over the border in Hartville OH, it was a short drive through beautiful countryside to the camp cabin at The Darst-Myers Hallstead.

The cabin is located on a working farm run by a family in the northeast Ohio countryside, between the Canton and Cleveland areas, and has SO MANY great features: a backyard pond with working fountain and kayaks/canoes, in-ground trampoline, and kids swingset and playground area. The barn has an indoor basketball court, air hockey, and two-story swings that kids can use. Kids can pump water from the well, chase chickens in the yard, or feed the goats by hand.

We seriously didn’t have to leave the farm for days- there was so much to entertain! I think holding the chicks and pullets was my daughter’s favorite part of the trip, though the boys seemed much more enamored by the trampoline and goats.

(Bonus if you come in the summer/fall: you get to pick fruit!)

Here are a handful of my favorite photos from our couple of days on the farm…

We were in the Canton area for 4 days, and so we did spend some time at the Jackson Bog Nature Preserve nearby, and once the kids’ daddy joined us Saturday we attempted a 2 mile hike at the Quail Hollow Park (only 5 minutes from the farm!)… We did the green trail with a little detour. I’ve included pictures from that hike below, so you can see how poorly behaved my little guy was that day. ?

But for the most part we stuck to the farm’s property, walking the fields and playing in the yard. It was a perfect unplugged weekend. And with farm fresh eggs and s’mores around the campfire, we fell in love!

For the record, the cabin is intended as a relaxing getaway and as such does not have TV/cable. Wifi is weak and the bathroom/shower is a short walk from the cabin. These things did not phase us at all (I LOVED having no TV!), and the owners are extremely accommodating… but if you’re perhaps less adventurous then you might consider different accommodations.

As for us, WE WILL BE BACK!