PA road trip - where to break the journey?

OK, next week we are driving 7 hrs from Rochester NY to Washington DC with 3 young kids in tow.  Any recommendations on where to break the journey for a good run around, fresh air and nice spot for lunch?  Mapquest is sending us on Rt. 15 via Williamsport and Harrisburg.  We don't have time to spend the night anywhere.  Any suggestions appreciated!

You could stop at City Island in Harrisburg and have a picnic/run around. There are playgrounds and such there, and it shouldn't be too difficult to get to from Rt. 15.

http://www.harrisburgevents.com/Common/City_Island.html

Or, you could go further down 15 (about 45 minutes from Harrisburg) and stop in Gettysburg. Depending on where you're going in DC, it's probably another 1.5 hours to DC, give or take.

I'm trying to think what's on Rt 15 before you get to Harrisburg and there's not much!

Oh, and if you decide to go to City Island...from Rt 15 in Camp Hill you make a left onto Market Street and basically follow this all the way until you see signs for the Market Street Bridge and City Island (maybe 10 minutes). There's lots of parking as long as there isn't a Senator's game on at the same time!

I'm trying to think what's on Rt 15 before you get to Harrisburg and there's not much!

Selinsgrove?  (Sus-Q U).  Not that it's a great place to stop or anything, but it's north of Harrisburg.

Williamsport is the home of Little League, so if your little ones play it might be a nice place to stop. I believe they have a Little League Hall of Fame there.  Honestly, Williamsport would be a better "halfway" spot over HBG, simply because HBG is more to the south in PA, and only about an hour and a half to two away from DC.

Ah, here we go - http://www.littleleague.org/Learn_More/museum.htm  and it's off Rt 15, so you'll drive right past it.

Thank you.  City Island looks like just the spot!

Don't forget that you can also take the kids on a boat ride at City Island - the Pride of the Susquehannah is a Dixie-style paddleboat that will take you around the river on a short tour of the city and would be a great chance to stretch those little legs!

(former Perry County born'n'bred, now escapee thankfully!)

(former Perry County born'n'bred, now escapee thankfully!)

Ha! My friend was looking for property in PA and the realtor told them how she grew up in Perry County, but she has since moved from the middle of nowhere to a much more cosmopolitan area...Mechanicsburg. And no, she wasn't joking! I never realized I grew up in such a sought after destination!

Is Perry Co. still the only county in the state to not have traffic lights? I remember in 2002 it was a big deal when they wanted to put a traffic light up at the new wal-mart and everyone complained about it.

I would completely agree with city island it is a great place for the kids.

Perry county......my old neighbour....I was in Juniata county.

I would completely agree with city island it is a great place for the kids.

Perry county......my old neighbour....I was in Juniata county.

Cool! My grandparents lived in Williamsburg, so we were always going up the Juniata River! 

Is Perry Co. still the only county in the state to not have traffic lights?

No traffic lights and no parking meters, it's the claim to fame...

I basically describe where I grew up to English friends by starting off with "You know the Jerry Springer Show? I know where they get the guests..."