There are several family-friendly race events in my own backyard in the Lehigh Valley, including one (more on that below) in my city. That got me thinking: Where can my family travel to run and play?<\/p>\n
It turns out, there are so many race weekends in must-visit locations<\/a> with an event for everyone. Read on for the ones I\u2019m itching for my family\u2014ages 4, 6.5, 9, and good-sport husband\u2014to try.<\/p>\n October 16 \u2013 18, 2026 The race events include a Friday trail run<\/a> and kids\u2019 run\u2014varying distances in front of the Bethlehem Steel stacks\u2014Saturday\u2019s 5K and 10K (the 10K starts an hour after the 5K, designed so runners can do multiple events), and Sunday\u2019s title event: the incredibly hilly<\/a> half marathon.<\/p>\n The kids\u2019 race is a spectacle in the best way, with little arms and legs all over the place, sprinting way too fast for quarter, half, and mile distances. At the finish line, Ferrous, Lehigh Valley\u2019s Iron Pigs farm league baseball team\u2019s mascot, greets the runners with comical gestures and hugs. Kids walk away with a hefty finisher\u2019s medal and baseball tickets for top finishers (but the event is not timed).<\/p>\n What to Do When You\u2019re Not Racing<\/p>\n National Museum of Industrial History, Bethlehem<\/p>\n Lean into the city\u2019s history as a steel empire with a visit to this small museum a stone\u2019s throw from the race finish lines. You\u2019ll move through the entire museum in maybe 90 minutes and learn about the city\u2019s role in World War II.<\/p>\n Crayola Experience, Easton<\/p>\n Kids of all ages (and parents who have been mercifully desensitized to sound) will love this crayon-themed attraction. Its three floors feature activities like making your own crayon labels, creating your own melted wax art, learning how crayons are made, and scaling a massive indoor playground.<\/p>\n Da Vinci Science Center, Allentown\u00a0<\/p>\n The newly constructed science center is a kid\u2019s dream, with hands-on activities and a permanent watershed exhibit featuring otters. Visitors will learn about static electricity, instrumental sounds (thanks to the local Martin guitar exhibit), and everything the human body can do with interactive experiences.<\/p>\n Social Still Distillery, Bethlehem\u00a0<\/p>\n Don\u2019t miss a dining and libations experience at this distillery on Bethlehem\u2019s South Side, close to the race activities. (You\u2019ll need reservations, especially during race weekend.) Adults, try a seasonal cocktail with the distilled-on-site spirits, with a fan favorite burger or pierogi.<\/p>\n November 7 -8, 2027 What to Do When You\u2019re Not Racing<\/p>\n The Monterey Bay Aquarium<\/p>\n The world-famous Monterey Bay Aquarium is a must-see for kids and adults alike. The aquarium\u2019s \u201clife on the bay\u201d dock looks out onto the Pacific Ocean, where you may spot a glimpse of dolphins and humpback whales. Inside, check out a two-story kelp forest and an open sea exhibit with 90-foot windows.<\/p>\n Dennis the Menace Playground<\/p>\n Designed by the Dennis the Menace comic creator, Hank Ketcham, this municipal playground features giant climbing structures, slides built into hillsides, and a maze, all with a scenic view of the water. Be sure to snap a picture with Dennis the Menace himself (in bronze form).<\/p>\n Point Lobos State Natural Reserve<\/p>\n Head south just 15 minutes for stunning, easy walking trails along the ocean cliffs. Keep your eye on the ocean for harbor seals, sea lions, and sea otters. Pack a picnic and take in the ocean air ahead of Sunday\u2019s half marathon.<\/p>\n May 29 \u2013 30, 2027 But Saturday is the day for families to shine: Joggers with an environmental mind can attend the plogging event; kids ages 8 and under can run the Mini Marathon and toddlers ages 2 and under can test their mettle in the Diaper Dash. Have a pup<\/a>? Saturday also hosts the Ruffalo Stampede, a 1K event for your four-legged running buddies.<\/p>\n Every finisher, including those diapered, will receive a medal. Furry finishers receive a dog tag. And ploggers receive a T-shirt.<\/p>\n What to Do When You\u2019re Not Racing<\/p>\n Delaware Park<\/p>\n Designed by the famed Frederick Olmsted, perhaps best known for designing Central Park in New York City, Delaware Park is 350 acres of \u201ccountry\u201d park in Buffalo. The park features a public golf course, a Japanese Garden, a casino, a lake for boating, and a playground. It also has a zoo, with, of course, bison. Marathoners will enter the park around mile 20 on Sunday.<\/p>\n Buffalo Harbor State Park\u00a0<\/p>\n Situated along the water is the state park, which offers biking and hiking trails, making it a fun way to see the waterfront. It also has a playground and splash pad. Marathoners and half marathoners run a portion of the park during their outer harbor loop.<\/p>\n Chef\u2019s Restaurant<\/p>\n Restaurants in downtown Buffalo, particularly those near the race finish line, usually have special discounts or fixed rate meals for runners over race weekend. Race volunteers have recommended Chef\u2019s Restaurant, but plan ahead: Race weekend is packed and most places have a wait if you don\u2019t make a reservation. Chef\u2019s is known for its traditional spaghetti parm and homestyle Italian cooking.<\/p>\n April 30 \u2013 May 2, 2027 When you\u2019re not racing, take advantage of Cincinnati\u2019s unique prehistoric past: The city and surrounding area are home to some of the Earth\u2019s oldest fossils and a hub for fossil enthusiasts and paleontologists. It has some of the world\u2019s best-preserved marine fossils that go back nearly half a billion years.<\/p>\n What to Do When You\u2019re Not Racing<\/p>\n Cincinnati Museum Center\u00a0<\/p>\n Home to the Children\u2019s Museum, Museum of Natural History and Science, and the Cincinnati History Museum, the Cincinnati Museum Center might be best known for its dinosaur hall and special exhibits. Let the kids get up close and personal to T-rex bones and immerse themselves in pre-dinosaur periods.<\/p>\n Smale Riverfront Park\u00a0<\/p>\n You\u2019ll find yourself at Smale Riverfront Park, which is home to the race festival, so be sure to check out the various playgrounds, a flying pig ride, and an extra-large piano. The splashpark opens May 1, 2027, during race weekend, as a fun way to cool off. Parents and kids will love Carol Ann\u2019s Carousel, which features Cincinnati staples like the Cincinnati bengal and a flying pig.<\/p>\n Loveland Castle\u00a0<\/p>\n Spend an afternoon at this breathtaking castle<\/a>, whose creator, Harry Delos Andrews, has a wild <\/a>backstory. Kids can explore the grounds, including the gardens, and try their hand at Chess or checkers and various puzzles. The castle has an extensive sword collection on display, and you can book private ghost tours.<\/p>\n Sugar \u2018n Spice Diner\u00a0<\/p>\n If your race medals aren\u2019t enough of a Cincinnati souvenir, kids love the Sugar \u2018n Spice diner rubber ducks. The Reading Road location has been in operation since 1941, serving its signature \u201cwhispy thin\u201d pancakes. Race weekend promises to be busy, so call ahead or check out its other two locations.<\/p>\n May 2, 2027 What to Do When You\u2019re Not Racing<\/p>\n The Toronto Islands\u00a0<\/p>\n Hop onto the ferry for a short ride to several car-free islands, including Centre Island, which features an amusement park kids will love. Depending on how everyone\u2019s legs are feeling, rent bikes on Centre Island or Ward\u2019s Island and ride along the coast.<\/p>\n Ripley\u2019s Aquarium of Canada\u00a0<\/p>\n Surround yourself with underwater wildlife with Ripley\u2019s underwater tunnel where sharks, sea turtles, and sawfish swim directly overhead. There\u2019s something for everyone at this Toronto must-see locale: octopus and other Canadian locals, a hands-on experience with rays, and a behind-the-scenes look at how the aquarium operates.<\/p>\n Waterworks Food Hall<\/p>\n Refuel at this massive food hall with options for everyone, including sushi, Indian, German, Vietnamese, and Jamaican cuisines, to name a few. And, of course, there\u2019s coffee, ice cream, and beer.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Published September 3, 2026 10:00AM You\u2019ve seen the memes about people realizing they\u2019ve married into a Turkey Trot…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":278551,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[153,155,154,114702,116610,116611,116612,116613,86016],"class_list":["post-278550","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem","tag-bethlehem-headlines","tag-bethlehem-news","tag-parent_category-road","tag-tag-5k","tag-tag-best-races","tag-tag-kids-running","tag-tag-race-travel","tag-type-article"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/278550","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=278550"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/278550\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/278551"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=278550"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=278550"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=278550"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"kids](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/bethlehem-festival.png\"\/)
(Photo: Courtesy Jefferson Bethlehem Running Festival)<\/p>\n
For years, this was the Runner\u2019s World Half and Festival. I ran my first sub-20 5K here when I moved to Pennsylvania, so the event has a special place in my heart. This year will be the fourth iteration of the Bethlehem Running Festival, which (slightly) reimagines the weekend\u2019s events in the steel city of Bethlehem.<\/p>\n![\"kids](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/monterey-3k.png\"\/)
(Photo: Courtesy Monterey Bay Half Marathon \/ Big Sur Marathon Foundation)<\/p>\n
There are fewer race locales with better scenery than along the northern coast of California, known for its cliffside view of the Pacific Ocean. Kick off the half marathon<\/a> weekend with Saturday\u2019s By the Bay 3K, a fun run open to participants ages 4 and older. (The race organizers also host April\u2019s famed Big Sur Marathon.)<\/p>\n![\"kids](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/buffalo-kids.png\"\/)
(Photo: Courtesy Buffalo Marathon)<\/p>\n
Held over Memorial Day weekend, the city of Buffalo hosts something for everyone. Its marathon and half marathon are held Sunday, with the half runners moving alongside the marathoners until they veer off to their own finish line.<\/p>\n![\"toddler](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/flying-pig.png\"\/)
(Photo: Courtesy Flying Pig Marathon)<\/p>\n
The name of this weekend-long event and all the puns that come with it (Finish Swine! Pig Pen corrals!) might be reason alone to check out this storied race in the Midwest. No matter your distance preference, there\u2019s a race: marathon, half marathon, 10K, 5K, mile, dog mile, and the Flying Piglet, with varying distances for ages 1 and under through age 7.<\/p>\n![\"aerial](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/downtown-toronto.png\"\/)
(Photo: Courtesy \u00a9 Destination Toronto)<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve got an international race on your bucket list, hop over the border to our northern friends for a memorable weekend on the waterfront. Although there isn\u2019t a specific kids\u2019 event, young runners ages 8 and older can participate in the 5K, which runs along the shoreline of Lake Ontario and finishes in downtown Toronto. Can\u2019t get enough Toronto waterfront? The Toronto Waterfront Marathon is held in October (and is currently sold out for 2026).<\/p>\n