What to Do in Philadelphia with Kids Right Now

Housed inside Fairmount Park’s Memorial Hall (constructed for the 1876 Centennial), the Please Touch Museum (opened during the 1976 Bicentennial) offers kids two floors of interactive zones (like Fairytale Garden and River Adventures) among two dozen permanent and rotating exhibitions where kids are invited to touch everything. 

Looking for a great place to celebrate holidays? The museum — voted one of the best children’s museums in the U.S. — has events for everything from Earth Day to Pride to Halloween.

Know before you go: Check the site’s daily calendar to see what’s happening on the day of your visit. 

One of the leading science museums in the nation — and one of the oldest, dating back to 1824 — The Franklin Institute specializes in how science affects every aspect of daily life. 

Regular rotating special exhibitions add to the museum’s appeal, in addition to beloved hands-on permanent exhibits like Your Brain, Sir Isaac’s Loft, Amazing Machine, Franklin Air Show, Wondrous Space, the Baldwin 60000 steam locomotive, the iconic Giant Heart, the Fels Planetarium and the mesmerizing four-story Foucault’s Pendulum. 

Don’t miss: Snapping a photo with the museum’s namesake at the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial 

America’s first zoological garden and a foremost conservation organization, the Philadelphia Zoo is home to nearly 1,300 animals, from African lions to Western gorillas to golden tamarins, including many rare and endangered species. 

Highlights across the dozen exciting exhibits are Big Cat Falls, Penguin Point, Outback Outpost, Water is Life and the newly renovated Francis J. Carey Bear Country. Plus, grab a bite at the many on-site eateries and add on a guided tour or behind-the-scenes experience.  

Know before you go: Heads up! Don’t be surprised to see a big cat, primate or bear walking overhead through Zoo360’s mesh-enclosed pathways, the world’s first animal travel and exploration trail system.

One of founder William Penn’s original squares, Franklin Square offers a bevy of modern outdoor fun. Take a mini-tour of Philadelphia as you putt-putt through scale models of iconic landmarks at Philly Mini Golf or enjoy a nostalgic ride on Parx Liberty Carousel — a tribute to Philadelphia’s carousel-making heritage. 

The site also hosts regular programs with make-and-take crafting and kid-approved activities. When hunger sets in, seasonal SquareBurger delivers with burgers, snacks and the famous Cake Shake. 

Know before you go: Summer visitors shouldn’t miss the annual Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival, while winter wanderers should earmark a visit to explore the Winter in Franklin Square programming, including the Electrical Spectacle Light Show.

Two million gallons of water and thousands of aquatic animals — including hippos Button and Genny and the largest collection of sharks in the Northeast — lie just across the Delaware River at Adventure Aquarium, one of the top aquariums in the U.S. 

Feel like you are one with the sea creatures at the Ocean Realm exhibit, a 760,000-gallon tank of sharks, sea turtles, stingrays and schooling fish with viewing windows the size of movie screens. 

Know before you go: The daily schedule of events — like hippo feeding time — is posted at the ticket check-in. 

We’ll tell you how to get, how to get to Sesame Place — the only Sesame Street-themed amusement park in the world outside California. Come meet stars like Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Elmo and Abby Cadabby while enjoying sunny-day fun and kid-level thrills at the 16-acre park.

Enjoy 25 rides and attractions, interactive and educational games, daily parades, fireworks, character shows, a water park and special celebrations like the popular seven-week-long A Very Furry Christmas.

Know before you go: The park opens seasonally from spring to fall (with the water park open in the summer), along with special Halloween and December holiday programming.

Explore your inner Legomaniac at the 33,000-square-foot Legoland Discovery Center at Montgomery County’s Plymouth Meeting Mall. 

Designed for kids ages 3 to 10, the indoor playground offers a dozen Lego-themed activities and attractions (including Imagination Express and the Great Lego Race VR Experience), a 4D cinema, build stations, workshops with master builders, and the Lego Ninjago Training Camp — plus toddler-friendly Duplo Park, a themed cafe and a Lego store. 

Don’t miss: Miniland, with huge miniature recreations of Philly’s most iconic buildings and landmarks created from over 1 million Lego bricks

At The Bucks County Children’s Museum, kids can play their way through ten explorable exhibits that offer insight into the county’s long history.

Kids here can: become doctors through play at The Hospital (including a super-sized Operation game), pretend to shop at The Weis Grocery Store, look under the hood and fix kid-sized cars at the Big Oak Service Station, learn about systems (and get a little wet) at Airways and Waterways, and so much more.  

Know before you go: Buy your tickets ahead of your visit to ensure entry, and check the site’s calendar for the latest info. 

Located across the street from the iconic Smith Memorial Playground (see below), The Discovery Center offers free, family-friendly nature programming and exploration centered around a revitalized reservoir in East Fairmount Park.

Visitors can borrow binoculars to go birdwatching, explore indoor exhibits, or just enjoy relaxing in the outdoor green space, which the Mid-Atlantic chapter of Audubon uses for research and conservation. On-site programs include activities like nature journaling and evening nighthawk watches. 

Don’t miss: The center also serves as the home base for the Philadelphia Outward Bound School, which hosts regular Discovery Days with opportunities to try things like rock climbing.

Recently celebrating its 100th anniversary, Elmwood Park Zoo is a 16-acre Montgomery County attraction housing over 100 animal species. 

Guests can check out bison, zebras, jaguars, red pandas and otters, plus zoo stars Noah and Reggie, bald eagles who serve as live mascots of the Philadelphia Eagles. 

Families can feed giant giraffes, ride the zoo-themed carousel, and pet goats, sheep, and donkeys in the barn. Grownups can grab a craft beer at the Zoo Brew Bar & Beer Garden.

Know before you go: Bring your pampered pooch along during Dog Days

Named the nation’s best botanical garden by Fodor’s and repeatedly earning top rankings in USA Today’s 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards, Pierre du Pont’s tranquil horticultural oasis showcases nearly 10,000 varieties of plants among its indoor and outdoor grounds. 

Along with amazing fountain shows and vast floral vistas, the site includes the Indoor Children’s Garden with hands-on water features, handcrafted sculptures and secret stairways. Even more strolls, activities and events for children are available throughout the year.

Don’t miss: Spectacular Illuminated Fountain Performances, the recently transformed Longwood Reimagined and elaborate seasonal experiences like A Longwood Christmas

Across 166 acres of gardens and natural areas, Morris Arboretum & Gardens combines education and imagination to connect children and families to the natural world through playful, lively exhibits. 

Kids love the 50-foot-high, bird’s-eye view from the Tree Adventure and Treetop Canopy Walk, which includes a larger-than-life Bird’s Nest and a netted Squirrel Scramble to scamper across. 

The Fairy Woods encourages kids to make magical creatures using found objects, while the Garden Railway’s miniature world of trains, bridges and small-scale buildings elicits wonder.

Know before you go: Tickets are required, with free admission for children 2 and under. 

Bring your own hammer (no joke!) to Ringing Rocks Park, a seven-acre field of hulking boulders that respond to whacks and thumps with the sound of ringing bells. 

Climb the field and start banging away on the primordial igneous diabase boulders to experience a most unexpected melodic geological sound created by a combination of melting permafrost, weathering and rock shape.

Once through the boulder field, visitors can continue on into the 123-acre park, a dense forest for hikers, bikers and picnickers.

Don’t miss: High Falls, Bucks County’s highest waterfall, located within the park

The Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education is a 365-acre preserve in Roxborough offering environmental education programs alongside the region’s only wildlife clinic.

Kids can enjoy hours of free, outdoor exploration and play throughout the site’s forests, gardens, ponds and wooded hiking trails — including the ADA-accessible Widener Trail. The Visitors Center includes the interactive kids’ Discovery Center, environmental art and a gift shop.

Plus, the newly renovated, ADA-accessible Tall Trees Nature Playscape opens to the public from dawn to dusk each weekend. 

Know before you go: The site hosts a preschool onsite that uses the playscape during weekdays. All trails are open to the public daily from dawn to dusk 

Open spring, summer and fall

Kids of all ages can live out their backyard tree-fort dreams at Treehouse World Adventure Park in West Chester. The 14-acre compound features three zipline experiences, plus 15 massive themed treehouses, including a pirate ship, a giant shoe, an enchanted village and an oversized birthday cake. Plus, visitors can feel the exhilarating pull of gravity as they take the Toxic Plunge.

At ground level, non-arboreal activities include rock climbing, axe throwing, archery and bungee jumping. The small animal farm on-site provides for quieter moments.

Know before you go: The attraction strongly recommends purchasing tickets ahead of time for guaranteed access to the outdoor wonderland.

Open spring, summer and fall

Soar through the trees at aerial adventure park TreeTop Quest Philly, which features nearly 20 ziplines ranging from 30 to 200 feet in length, anchored up to 60 feet above ground.

The park’s zip courses also feature 60 challenging obstacles like swings, jumps and tightropes. Choose from four difficulty levels at the Fairmount Park attraction — from kid-friendly to adventure extremists only. 

Wear closed-toe shoes (sneakers are best) and expect to climb trees, traverse narrow walkways and glide on ziplines.

Know before you go: Tickets vary by age and group and include unlimited runs for two-and-a-half-hour slots.

Adventure-seeking families can glide through the tree canopy at TreeTrails Adventures in Bucks County, which offers six aerial trails featuring dozens of elements, like bridges, netted tunnels and elevated swings.

Each group’s experience can be tailored to meet ages and activity levels: the KidsTrails course is perfect for children 4 to 7, with lines just two to three feet high; those 7 and up can glide through the ZipTrails or zoom side-by-side on a 1,000-foot-long zipline racetrack. Wear comfy clothes and closed-toed shoes. 

Know before you go: Although the site accepts walk-ins, it recommends buying tickets in advance for guaranteed entry.

Indoor-outdoor open-concept Craft Hall food and beer hall features stellar barbecue and pub grub, a full playground for the little ones and craft brews for the grownups from Mainstay Independent Brewing located within. 

The venue is explicitly family-friendly until 9 p.m. each day. While adults sip and mingle, kids can play in an indoor pirate-themed playground or The Den game room with Nintendo, billiards, air hockey and more. 

Know before you go: You can even bring your furry kiddos to the site’s Unleashed Bark & Beer combo beer garden and dog park.

Dilworth Park — City Hall’s fantastic front porch — features a plethora of year-round family fun on the west apron, highlighted by tree-lined, in-ground fountains (splashing encouraged in warm weather) and the all-ages Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink with a ski-chalet vibe in winter.

The centerpiece public space also offers all-season pop-up concerts, fitness classes, festivals, and kid-focused events and programs — along with a cozy cafe and on-site access to public transit — in an inviting space for families in the heart of Center City.

Know before you go: Check the official site for current happenings and events. 

Open seasonally (typically summer and winter)

Whether summer or wintertime, lace up at Independence Blue Cross RiverRink, a seasonal park along the Delaware River waterfront offering beachy vibes and roller skating during Summerfest and holiday festivities and ice skating at Winterfest. 

The riverside space also features a double-decker carousel, a 60-foot Ferris wheel (with soaring views of the river and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge), mini-golf, a bustling midway with boardwalk games, and plenty of fair treats like fried Tastykakes, cheesesteaks and Crab Fries, plus a cocktail bar for grown-ups.

Know before you go: It’s free to visit the RiverRink, with pay-as-you-go activities and concessions. 

A land of enchantment for kids of all ages and abilities awaits in Doylestown at the always-free playspace known as Kids Castle, open daily from dawn to dusk. The park’s signature wooden castle rises eight stories above the trees, with labyrinthine passages, twisty tube slides, drawbridges and overlooks — all protected by a giant dragon.

Located in the town’s 108-acre Central Park, the playspace spreads out across four “kingdoms” with treehouses, swings, interactive games, plastic rock walls, a pirate ship and more. 

Know before you go: Recent upgrades provide greater access for children of all abilities. 

Looking for a playground? A tennis court? Maybe a spray park or pool? The athletic facilities and green spaces of Philadelphia’s Department of Parks & Recreation offer all of those things — and more! — in neighborhoods across the city.

Use the department’s Activity Finder tool to find fields, courts, pitches, diamonds, playgrounds, pools and more, all available to visitors and locals alike. 

Plus, the city’s 2,050-acre Fairmount Park system provides ample opportunity to hit the trails, enjoy a relaxing family picnic and explore freely.

Don’t miss: Rent some bikes or take a stroll along Boathouse Row and Kelly Drive for exercise with great riverside views. 

Water-loving kiddos and their families frequent Sister Cities Park, a refreshing paradise at the midpoint of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with a pebble-bottom wading pool sheltered by a landscaped hill and 11 spouting fountains (representing Philadelphia’s 11 sister cities) to run through and cool off on hot summer days.

The park also boasts the nature-in-the-city Children’s Discovery Garden, a pollinator garden, a cafe, and a kiosk selling plastic boats and summer essentials, as well as rotating kid-friendly programming from top museums and attractions.

Know before you go: The water features at the park typically operate from April through October.

One of the oldest playgrounds in America, the always-free Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse is best known for its circa-1905 Ann Newman Giant Wooden Slide, which — at 60 feet in length and 12 feet in width — can accommodate numerous kids at a time. The attraction’s massive outdoor playground also features over 50 pieces of equipment, plus the tiny tyke-driven Tot-Lot.

Indoors, kids love the Stephen Starr Indoor Playground, Play-stallations in the Bodek Den, the Playbrary Imaginative Playspace and the children’s book-filled Marion Stokes Library. 

Know before you go: The site closes on Mondays and has shorter open hours during the colder months. 

Open spring, summer and fall

Warm-weather waterfront oasis Spruce Street Harbor Park offers seasonal fun for the whole family on the Delaware River.

Relax with the fam in waterside Adirondack chairs, flat-bottomed net lounges above the river or cozy hammocks under thousands of LED lights in the tree-filled grove.

The buzzy park also offers a boardwalk with concessions and food trucks, giant board games, a stage with a 16-foot video wall, cargo container arcades, craft markets and The Trading Post bodega featuring ice cream and snacks. 

Know before you go: Spruce Street Harbor Park is free to visit, with pay-as-you-go activities and concessions.

The American Treasure Tour Museum in Oaks is assuredly the region’s kitschiest museum. 

The 100,000-square-foot collection features over 1 million pieces of pop culture memorabilia, including neon road signs, self-playing orchestras, life-sized cartoon characters, herds of stuffed animals and fleets of antique autos — all accessed via a 45-minute indoor tram ride.

More fun awaits at nearby Arnold’s Family Fun Center (think go-karts, laser tag, bowling, bumper cars and more), Sky Zone trampoline park and PRG rock climbing gym.

Know before you go: The complex is located behind the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center and is officially called the 422 Business Center. 

Visit the country’s most decorated combat vessel — the Battleship New Jersey — docked just across the Delaware River in Camden, now serving as a floating museum ship.

Take the self-guided tour to see 16-inch gun turrets, Admiral’s and Captain’s Cabins, the Navigational Bridge and more. 

Preschoolers can visit Jason’s Kids Kompartment, a safe play area with a kid-sized boat to captain, a play galley and coloring books. Overnight groups can stay aboard with an opportunity to fire saluting guns and sleep in sailors’ bunks. 

Don’t miss: The attraction offers numerous ways to experience the site, with the Small Sailors tour perfect for children 12 and under.

America’s most famous flag maker greets guests at her 18th-century upholstery shop, part of the diminutive dwelling which today is the Betsy Ross House museum, where visitors can explore the house, hear stories from reenactors and ask probing questions.

Visit the seamstress’ bedroom, kitchen, courtyard, fabrication studio and display-filled basement. Self-guided or audio tours are available, including a special version just for kids to learn about life in 18th-century Philadelphia while also solving a number of “history mysteries.”

Know before you go: Typically from Memorial Day through Labor Day, kids can help raise the American flag during a daily hoisting of Old Glory.

Historic Fort Mifflin played an important role in the Revolutionary War and still stands today as the oldest fortification continually used in the United States. The site’s location in the Delaware River at the mouth of the Schuylkill River allowed the British forces to bombard American troops with 10,000 cannonballs in 1777, killing nearly 350 American soldiers.

Displays on-site feature artifacts from its revolutionary history, along with a store stocked with replicas to purchase.

Don’t miss: Plane-loving kids can watch airliners fly low right over the military park on approach to Philadelphia International Airport.

Bucks County’s all-in-one play-shop-and-dine destination Peddler’s Village is a wondrous place for folks of any age. But the carnival-style indoor family fun center Giggleberry Fair is what draws kids from across the region.

The playscape features a six-level Giggleberry Mountain indoor obstacle course maze, the interactive exploration environment Giggles Discovers for toddlers and preschoolers, a high-tech Game Room (with more than 40 of the newest games), and treats in the Painted Pony Cafe. 

Know before you go: Buy tickets to individual activities or a combined activity pass. 

The Liberty Bell and Independence Hall are two of the 25-plus attractions that make up Independence National Historical Park (INHP), inside America’s most historic square mile. And while there, kids can earn an official National Park Service Junior Ranger badge.

Grab a booklet from the Independence Visitor Center, complete at least one ranger program and five activities in the Junior Ranger Activity Booklet, then return to the center for your sticker and certification. 

Don’t miss: Ask a park ranger at the visitor center about how and where to collect history trading cards throughout your visit. 

An abandoned 19th-century bank in Old City has been transformed into an immersive, six-story work of art called Ministry of Awe, featuring interactive installations, immersive soundscapes and more. 

Inside, visitors can try their hand at a forgery, feel a super-sized exhale while standing below a ginormous nose or chase stars across a room-wide mural that responds to human interactions. Global artist and creative mind behind the transformative art experience, Meg Saligman, collaborated with more than 100 artists to create the massive work.

Know before you go: Hidden rooms and secret spots abound.

Offering a lighthearted break from the historical sites nearby, the Museum of Illusions Philadelphia in Old City features a warehouse full of unusual and confounding tricks of the eye sure to dazzle children of any age.

Explore mind-bending Illusion Rooms like the reverse room, the vortex tunnel and the tilted room. Interact with installations to shrink in size or envision someone’s head on a platter. Or gaze at optical illusions, holograms, stereograms and more while learning about vision, perception and the human brain. 

Good for: Challenging your perception of reality

Older kids can see all their favorite Netflix shows spring to life at one of only two Netflix House experiences in the nation, now open at King of Prussia, a Simon Property Mall.

The 100,000-square-foot attraction features a 250-seat screening theater, four immersive experience rooms, set replicas, merch shops and Netflix-themed games and campus-wide quests. 

Admission is free, with pay-as-you-go food, drink and experiences. Check the official site before a visit, as the attraction adds and changes the experiences regularly. 

Good for: Binge watchers who want to become their favorite characters

Families can enjoy narrated train tours of scenic Bucks County aboard the New Hope Railroad’s classic rail cars, like a 1925 steam locomotive or diesel engines dating back to the early 1960s.

The railroad also offers a new, human-powered rail bike experience where riders can pedal their way through the countryside in a 2-person or 4-person tandem rail bike (with an electric boost if needed!). Children 3 and up can ride, but need to be more than 3 feet tall to pedal. 

Good for: Stellar views through hills and valleys, passing by sprawling farms and historic bridges

Running select days in summer

Family-friendly Once Upon A Nation Storytelling Benches feature free tales performed by specially trained, uniformed historians at key locations around Philadelphia’s Historic District, from Independence Visitor Center and National Constitution Center to the Betsy Ross House and Carpenters’ Hall.

Told in three- to five-minute summaries, the stories recount details about some of our nation’s earliest citizens — both well-known and not-so-well-known — who shaped America’s history. 

Once Upon A Nation benches occur on select days from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

Know before you go: Visit all the benches and receive a certificate and a special surprise in Franklin Square.

Mosaicked from floor to ceiling in handmade tiles, international folk art, reclaimed bicycle tires and more by late artist Isaiah Zagar, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens Museum and Magic Gardens Studio glisten with limitless creativity.

One of Philly’s most popular urban public art installations, the museum spans half a city block along famous South Street and features two indoor galleries and an unforgettable sculpture garden. One mile away, Zagar’s former workspace represents his largest masterpiece, three times the size of the flagship museum.

Know before you go:  The museum hosts regular PECO Family Jams dedicated to family-oriented programming and craft-making.

Founded in 1976, the groundbreaking African American Museum in Philadelphia was the first institution built by a major U.S. city to preserve, interpret and exhibit the heritage and culture of people of African descent in America. 

Special programs, workshops, tours and events designed specifically for younger audiences include Family Fun Days (hands-on activities and more every second Saturday) and family-friendly celebrations around Martin Luther King Jr. Day and Juneteenth.

Know before you go: The museum rotates exhibits and programming regularly, so check the website to see what’s on. 

Nearly three-dozen helicopters, autogiros, convertiplanes and other spiral wing aircraft are on display at West Chester’s American Helicopter Museum & Education Center. 

The nation’s premier rotary flight aviation museum features displays including a model helicopter room with over 400 pieces and an exhibit dedicated to the Whirly-Girls, a pioneering group of women pilots. 

Youngsters seeking scouting merit badges can attend regular workshops or even stay over during Flight Night!, which includes a flight show, a build-your-own helicopter activity and more. 

Know before you go: Several times a year, guests can get a chance to ride in a working helicopter. 

Located in the renovated 1902 firehouse of Engine Company Number Eight — a descendant of Benjamin Franklin’s 1736 Union Fire Company — the Fireman’s Hall Museum offers lessons in the history, art and science of firefighting through exhibits featuring historic fire trucks dating back to the 1800s.

Kids can try on firefighting gear like coats and boots, take an interactive when-to-call-911 quiz and learn about pieces of history, like the nation’s earliest hand- and horse-drawn firefighting equipment and Philadelphia’s early “Franklin’s Volunteers.”

Know before you go: The venue is free to visit, but donations are welcome.

Little landlubbers can get their fill of everything to know and love about Philadelphia’s extensive boating and shipping history at Penn’s Landing’s Independence Seaport Museum.

Start indoors with exhibits where kids can get wet learning about local waterways, climb aboard a 1797 replica schooner, see 50 rarely seen miniature ships and watch live shipbuilding at the Seaport Boat Shop. 

Outside, kids can explore the massive Spanish-American War-era Cruiser USS Olympia and World War II Submarine USS Becuna (additional fee). 

Know before you go: Rent a watercraft and enjoy a paddle on the Delaware River.

Offering free admission to children 5 and under and discounts to older kids, the Museum of the American Revolution delves into the conflict that created the United States through permanent and rotating exhibits and kid-friendly activities.

Kids can board the deck of an 855-square-foot privateer ship in A Revolutionary War gallery, explore the interactive Revolution Place that recreates 18th-century Old City, listen to Oneida Nation leaders discussing the revolution, and actively explore with scavenger hunts and family guides.

Know before you go: Check the official site for discounted tickets, special programming and an extensive guide to visiting the museum with children. 

America’s first and only museum dedicated to the U.S. Constitution, the National Constitution Center includes interactive exhibits forwarding the message of “We the People” along with family-friendly programs celebrating holidays throughout the year.

Start with the museum’s signature Freedom Rising daily multimedia performance, and then head to exhibits on the First and 19th Amendments and the newly opened America’s Founding and Governing the Nation galleries. 

Check the Today’s Programs listing on the attraction’s website to see what’s happening on the day of your visit.

Don’t miss: A stroll through Signers’ Hall with life-sized statues of the signers of the Constitution

Youth ages 18 and under can enjoy free admission to the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA), which offers a robust calendar of kid-friendly programming, including Art Kids and teen-specific summer and school-year programming. 

Explore the museum on your own, take a guided tour or sign up for an activity or event. Grownups can save by timing a visit with the museum’s regular pay-what-you-wish Sundays, typically offered the first Sunday of the month.

PMA’s campus also includes an outdoor sculpture garden and the nearby Rodin Museum. 

Know before you go: Even though kids visit for free, they must register for a ticket online in advance or on-site at admissions. 

Car-loving kids (and adults!) enjoy exploring Dr. Fred Simeone’s impressive collection of racing cars like Ferraris, Alfa Romeos, Bugattis, Porsches, Aston Martins, and muscle cars like Corvettes and Mustangs. 

Showcasing one of the world’s greatest collections of historic racing cars from the last century, Southwest Philadelphia’s Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum features over 75 historic (and just plain cool) rides, along with rotating exhibits showcasing the history of sports cars and racing machines. 

Don’t miss: Returning to the museum on a Demo Day

Take a journey through 360 years of Jewish history in the U.S. at the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, which is filled with more than 1,200 artifacts and documents, 2,500 images, 30 original films and 13 interactive media displays — all free to visit (with suggested donation). 

Add on a ticket to the site’s new, permanent “Colors of Creation” family gallery, which immerses visitors in sound, light and color with hands-on features. 

Don’t miss: Snapping a selfie with Deborah Kass’ OY/YO sculpture installed outside of the museum entrance

Ensemble Arts Philly encompasses four venues — the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, the Academy of Music, the Miller Theater and the Forrest Theatre — featuring Broadway’s best musicals and performances from The Philadelphia Orchestra, the Philadelphia Ballet and more. 

To help families see more shows and save, Ensemble Arts has created the Family Discovery Series where theatergoers can create a package deal for two or more shows with up to 24% off the ticket price.

Know before you go: Choose the shows you’d like to see and preferred dates, and Ensemble Arts finds you the best seats available. 

Noted for both world premieres and popular works, prominent regional Arden Theatre (and its eponymous theater company) presents diverse works on its main stage series for adults, as well as captivating productions for children at Arden Children’s Theater. 

The troupe, established in 1988, has garnered much acclaim, including dozens of Barrymore Awards. In addition to the main theater, the Arden offers educational camps and programming nearby at the Hamilton Family Arts Center.  

Know before you go: The theater offers group ticket options and hosts regular “teen night” performances. 

Dating back to 1809, Philly’s Walnut Street Theatre is the oldest continuously operating theater in the entire English-speaking world. During its first years, the theater hosted a horse circus and horse dramas, with its first traditional performance in 1812. 

Each year, the theater curates several productions just for young theatergoers, offering traditional holiday classics like A Christmas Carol or faves from Disney. Plus, the site often hosts family-friendly main-stage performances.

Know before you go: Walnut Street offers day-of discounts and a long list of accommodations for theatergoers with disabilities.  

The 440-seat Media Theatre opened in 1927 as Media’s largest movie theater and vaudeville house. Fast forward 100 years, and the theater now produces musicals, comedy shows and kid-friendly performances as the largest professional regional theater employing equity actors in Delaware County.

The theater hosts three productions each year in its Youth Ensemble Series and offers performance summer camps and year-round classes. Family-friendly Broadway shows round out a robust youth performing arts calendar. 

Know before you go: Bonus! The theater also offers ongoing movie nights showcasing family-friendly flicks and cult classics. 

Adventure awaits children of all ages at Hellerick’s Adventure Farm in Bucks County, one of the region’s oldest operating farms dating back to 1794.

Seasonal attractions include Aerial Adventure’s nine zip lines, barnyard mini-golf, a climbing wall, a goat experience and goat yoga and, of course, pick-your-own produce opportunities and a farm-fresh market. 

The centerpiece 18-acre Adventure Farm features hayrides, a five-acre corn maze, slides, a playground and pet-able farm animals.

Know before you go: Some activities have age requirements. Curate your visit with package deals that meet your family’s needs.

Fresh produce and farm adventure fill 200 acres at Highland Orchards, a working family farm in West Chester founded in 1941. Bring the family (and your appetite) and experience a Chester County afternoon of pick-your-own produce (May to October), including strawberries, blueberries, peaches, pumpkins, rhubarb, cherries, nectarines, pears, raspberries and more.

The farm also features a playground, goats to feed and pet, one- or two-hour hayrides, and a seasonal corn maze and apple cannons. 

Know before you go: Check the official site for info about what’s available to pick and dates for seasonal activities.

One of Delaware County’s last working farms, Linvilla Orchards is a 300-acre year-round family farmstead where visitors can pick-your-own seasonal fruits and vegetables; meet barnyard animals; cast a line into Orchard Lake; play a round of mini-golf; enjoy a hay, pony or train ride; and even buy fresh-baked pies.

Stop by the daily farmers market, or enjoy seasonal events like fall’s Pumpkinland and Christmas Around the Farm’s holiday gift market. 

Know before you go: Visiting the attraction is free, with pay-as-you-go activities and concessions. 

Montgomery County’s Merrymead Farm is a working dairy farm that doubles as an ice creamery and market. It’s a different flavor of pick-your-own when you “pick” from nearly three-dozen flavors of farm-made ice cream, including options like lemon cookie, coconut, sweet cream and honey, blueberry cheesecake, peach melba and pumpkin.

Visit the dairy cows — along with sheep, bunnies, peacocks and Arnold the Pig — and observe daily cow-milking sessions from 3 to 6 p.m. 

Know before you go: Explore Merrymead Farm for free most months, with visits in autumn requiring ticketed admission to fall events and activities.

Hundred-year-old Shady Brook Farm in Bucks County is a real working farm open year-round with a fresh market, garden center and plenty of pick-your-own opportunities. 

Things ramp up during Halloween season’s FallFest, featuring pick-your-own pumpkins, hayrides and wagon rides. In winter, the Holiday Light Show Drive-Through Experience’s millions of lights illuminate acres of farmland, with firepits aglow and hot cocoa and s’mores for purchase. 

Other seasonal highlights include visits with the Easter Bunny in spring and Lil’ Sprouts activities in summer. 

Know before you go: Check the site’s calendar to plan your farm adventures. 

While many museums and attractions across Greater Philadelphia and the Countryside are family-friendly, there are a few top museums where the experience is completely dedicated to children. 

In Philadelphia, the Please Touch Museum invites kids to literally touch everything,  America’s first zoo offers close-up views of exotic animals and the Franklin Institute gives budding scientists interactive ways to play and learn. 

In the countryside, don’t miss Sesame Place, one of only two Sesame Street-themed parks in the nation. 

One of the best things about visiting Philly is the abundance of free activities available to residents and visitors alike. 

Independence National Historical Park features free access to historic sites like the Liberty Bell Center and Independence Hall (with a $1 advanced ticket purchase during select times). 

Outdoor fun abounds across Philly’s parks and spraygrounds, like Sister Cities Park and Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse, while many museums offer pay-what-you-wish and free days. 

Numerous museums, attractions and performing arts venues offer accommodations and programming to support visitors with sensory sensitivities. 

The Please Touch Museum offers regular “Play Without Boundaries” events where the museum closes to the general public for a few hours, offering dimmer lights and quieter sounds. 

As a Certified Autism Center, Sesame Place offers low sensory spots and an accessibility guide to the entire park.

The National Constitution Center offers monthly sensory-friendly days, while the Museum of the American Revolution offers monthly sensory-friendly mornings. 

The Philadelphia Zoo provides a “quiet areas” map for those who need a few moments to pause, plus guests can borrow sensory bags with noise-cancelling headphones, sunglasses and fidget toys.   

Parents with infants and toddlers rejoice when they can find a stroller-friendly day out with the kids. 

Looking to get in some exercise with the littles in tow or tucker them out? Check out  Philly’s vast Fairmount Park system — which includes a stunning waterfront trail along Boathouse Row and Kelly Drive — and other outdoor attractions like Morris Arboretum, Longwood Gardens and the Philadelphia Zoo.

The Please Touch Museum and the Franklin Institute both welcome strollers, as does the Museum of the Revolution, although some museums have limits regarding stroller size. Check ahead to make sure your stroller meets requirements or inquire about renting or borrowing strollers on site. 

If you’ve got a toddler, then you know that finding spots that keep small tykes engaged for long periods of time is golden. 

In Philly, top spots that keep the littles going until naptime include: Please Touch, Smith Memorial Playground and the Philadelphia Zoo. 

Bucks County’s Sesame Place offers endless hours of fun, as do the Bucks County Children’s Museum, Giggleberry Fair at Peddler’s Village and Legoland Discovery Center in Montgomery County.

Philadelphia teems with attractions tweens and teens won’t roll their eyes at. Older children can see history come alive at the Museum of the American Revolution and beef up their civic knowledge at the National Constitution Center. 

Budding artists might enjoy checking out Philly’s world-renowned Philadelphia Museum of Art or the quirkier and more interactive Ministry of Awe. 

Lovers of Netflix shows and games can enjoy interactive fun at the new Netflix House at King of Prussia, a Simon Property Mall.

Finding the right spot that keeps teens and tweens interested while toddlers and small fries stay engaged can be a challenge, but Philly’s got you covered.

Kids of all ages love meeting the animals at the Philadelphia Zoo, while green spaces like the city’s vast parks system offer spots to play, explore and burn off some energy.

Spots like Ministry of Awe and the Museum of Illusions have interactive activities attractive to young and old, while taking in a family-friendly show at a theater might just keep the whole group happy. 

The Please Touch Museum offers occasional “community days” with free admission. Check the site’s event listings for the latest schedule. 

Museum of the American Revolution celebrates long holiday weekends like Labor Day with free admission for kids age 12 and under, and admission is free for all at the National Constitution Center on civic holidays like Martin Luther King, Jr. Day,

Rainy days need not mean frowny faces in Philadelphia, due to the city’s abundance of science, history and art museums and special-interest indoor attractions. 

For something quirky and different, head to Oaks to take a tram tour through pop culture history and memorabilia at American Treasure Tour, and then hit nearby Arnold’s Family Fun Center or Sky Zone trampoline park.

Philly’s fun for kids year-round, but each season brings a variety of different places to explore. 

Winter means seeing twinkling lights while ice skating or curling, sipping hot cocoa and enjoying winter wonderlands at Franklin Square, Independence Blue Cross Riverrink Winterfest and Winter at Dilworth Park.

Fairmount Park and spots across the city burst to life with pink, purple and white flowering cherry trees each spring, as the winter-weary seek warm-weather outdoor fun at parks and playgrounds.

Summer means riverside roller skating and relaxing at Independence Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest and Spruce Street Harbor Park. Plus, the annual Wawa Welcome America Festival celebrates freedom with more than two weeks of free museums, concerts and events. 

Autumn in Greater Philadelphia means old-fashioned farm fun with pick-your-own pumpkins and apples, spooky-season events and scarecrows aplenty. 

Heck, we’d love it if you stayed for weeks, but we know it’s hard to escape for that long. We’re pretty sure once you get a taste of all Philly has to offer, you’ll be planning your return trip, so here’s a loose three-day itinerary to get you hooked on family-friendly Philly. 

Families with tots and younger children can spend a day exploring attractions in West Philadelphia. Start with the Please Touch Museum or Smith Memorial Playground and then head to the Philadelphia Zoo. 

Or make it a STEAM-filled day along Philly’s Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the location of the Franklin Institute, with the iconic Philadelphia Museum of Art a stone’s throw away.

Spend a day in Philly’s Historic District discovering must-visit spots like Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, the Betsy Ross House, the Weitzman or the Independence Seaport Museum. 

Want more specifics? Here’s a detailed three-day itinerary from our partners at the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau. Or, try out our new AI-powered itinerary builder to customize your perfect family getaway to Philly. 

As a foodie paradise, Philadelphia has tons of restaurants and eateries that offer fantastic food and are easy to navigate with the kiddos. Here’s a quick list of places to start.  

Craft Hall in Northern Liberties offers beers, barbecue and pub grub alongside a kid-approved playground. Queen & Rook on South Street offers vegan fare, an enormous variety of board games to play while you dine and a handful of retro arcade games.  

Centrally located, Reading Terminal Market has an array of cuisines to satisfy all tastes, with plenty of dessert options. Or, if you’re looking for something more sophisticated, Parc in Rittenhouse Square offers French cuisine, plenty of outdoor seating and a kid-friendly vibe. 

If hangriness erupts near the Historic District, grab some burgers and fries at Squareburger in Franklin Square. Then, treat the kids to some artisanal ice cream at nearby Franklin Fountain’s old-timey shop.

Plus, cheesesteaks, water ice and soft pretzels are always on the menu in Philly as easy grab-and-go fare.