Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den

Electric City Aquarium & Reptile Den in Scranton is one of those double-threat family venues that works because the combination of fish and reptiles under one roof guarantees there's something for every kid. The aquarium tanks cover tropical fish, rays, and marine invertebrates. The reptile den adds snakes, lizards, tortoises, and alligators — animals that kids who are lukewarm on fish often find fascinating.

The aquarium is located inside Steamtown Mall in downtown Scranton, which means free parking and mall-level food options nearby. With 2,540 Google reviews and a 4.5 rating, it's clearly a reliable family experience for the Scranton/Northeast Pennsylvania region. It's open 7 days a week, 11AM-6PM, which is convenient.

Admission runs approximately $12-15 per person. A family of 4 should budget $50-70. The visit typically takes 1.5-2.5 hours.

Scranton is about 2 hours from Philadelphia, which makes this a day-trip destination rather than a quick excursion. The smart play is to combine it with the Steamtown National Historic Site (a National Park Service site with a spectacular collection of steam locomotives, free with America the Beautiful passes) just blocks away. Train-obsessed kids get the aquarium AND a full-scale working roundhouse and steam engines.

That combination makes for an excellent full day in Scranton.

If you're visiting the Poconos, Scranton is a logical stop on the way.