The Lands at Hillside Farms

The Lands at Hillside Farms in Shavertown, Pennsylvania is the kind of farm experience that reminds parents why farm visits are worth doing properly. A working dairy farm with a genuine herd, on-site dairy production, and some of the best homemade ice cream in northeastern Pennsylvania, Hillside Farms earns its exceptional 4. 8 Google rating with nearly 3,000 reviews by delivering a consistently excellent, authentic experience.

Kids can see the cows up close — some of the best farm visits let children understand the whole chain from animal to product, and Hillside Farms does this well. The dairy products (milk, cheese, butter) and ice cream are made from the farm's own herd, so there's a genuine connection between what you see and what you eat. The ice cream, by most accounts, is exceptional.

This listing is in the Philadelphia batch, but Hillside Farms is located near Shavertown/Wilkes-Barre — about 2 hours north of Philadelphia. It's most relevant for families visiting the Wyoming Valley, road-tripping through northeastern Pennsylvania, or staying in the Pocono Mountains region.

Admission is low-cost or free; the main spend is on dairy products and ice cream ($5-10 per person is a reasonable food budget). Open 7 days a week from 8AM-8PM — one of the most generous farm hours you'll find. Spring and summer are the best seasons for farm visits with young children.