Best Kid-Friendly Activities in Philadelphia

Philadelphia has many enjoyable things to do for children, including visits to well-known establishments like Sesame Place, Philadelphia Zoo, and The Franklin Institute. These organizations offer family-friendly exhibits, educational programs focused on animals, and a children's theme park inspired by Sesame Street. Book DTW flights to Philadelphia and explore the museums, historical sites, parks, and playgrounds in Greater Philadelphia, and reestablish a connection with the natural world and animals. The whole family is expected to have an enjoyable and involved time at these locations.

Please Touch Museum

Kids can pretend to be in heaven at the Please Touch Museum, which is housed in the Memorial Hall of Fairmount Park. It has two levels of interactive exhibit zones and a refurbished century-old carousel.

The Franklin Institute

Kids may enjoy a city block full of kid-friendly exhibitions at the popular scientific museum The Franklin Institute, which includes The Giant Heart, Space, SportsZone, Sir Isaac's Loft, Amazing Machine, Electricity, Train Factory, and Changing Earth. Your Brain and the Fels Planetarium is located in the 53,000-square-foot Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion.

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Philadelphia Zoo

At the Philadelphia Zoo, home to approximately 1,300 rare and endangered animals, Zoo360, a state-of-the-art animal travel and exploration trail system, enables monkeys and large cats to roam above and across the main visitor pathway. Big Cat Falls, the McNeil Avian Centre, the PECO Primate Reserve, and KidZooU—an interactive wildlife academy—are among the exhibits.

Adventure Aquarium

In Camden, New Jersey, Ocean Realm is a 760,000-gallon aquarium that displays 15,000 aquatic creatures, such as sharks, stingrays, schooling fish, and sea turtles. A Shark Bridge, hippos, penguins, stingrays, horseshoe crabs, starfish, and sharks—including the magnificent seven-foot Great Hammerhead—are among the aquarium's attractions.

Drexel University's Academy of Natural Sciences

Drexel University's Academy of Natural Sciences is the oldest natural history museum in America. It has a fossil preparation lab called Dinosaur Hall, a children's section called Outside In with live animal ambassadors, historical dioramas, and rotating exhibits.

Sesame Place

Among the characters at Sesame Place, a park inspired by the children's television program Sesame Street, are Big Bird, Elmo, Abby, Julia, and others. The park has interactive games, parades, pyrotechnics, character displays, and amusement rides. Bert & Ernie's Splashy Shores and Big Bird's Beach, a water park with additional activities, will open in 2023. Seasonal in nature, the park is open from Memorial Day to Labour Day and offers special Halloween and Christmas activities.

Elmwood Park Zoo

African fruit bats and Asian red pandas are among the more than 100 American species that are housed in the Elmwood Park Zoo, which opened its doors in 1924. Along with notable wildlife conservation success stories and exhibits like the American bison, peregrine falcon, bald eagle, and American alligator, the zoo also has a large playground with interactive animal sculptures.

Longwood Gardens

A kid-sized garden with interactive water elements, artisan sculptures, and hidden stairways can be found at Longwood Gardens, a horticultural destination in the Conservatory District. There are water elements in the inside children's garden, plus adult seating and a splashy flower fountain in the outdoor children's garden.

Morris Arboretum & Gardens

With its Garden Railway—a tiny world of trains, bridges, and scale models of natural materials—Morris Arboretum & Gardens provides a memorable experience for the whole family. The Treetop Canopy Walk exhibit, which offers a Bird's Nest and a Squirrel Scramble—a large, hammock-like net for kids to scramble through—allows visitors to see the forest from 50 feet up in the trees.

Shady Brook Farm

Shady Brook Farm, a century-old operating farm in Bucks County, has a fresh market, a garden center, and pick-your-own options. Seasonal festivals highlight the latest harvest, and parents may enjoy live entertainment at Stone's Throw bar. Millions of lights illuminate the farms during the winter months, and the Holiday Light Show Drive-Through Experience features millions of lights and a bonfire.

Independence Blue Cross RiverRink

Independence Blue Cross's Winterfest On the Delaware River shore, RiverRink offers roller skating and ice skating. While Summerfest offers air conditioning, rocking chairs, cool drinks, carnival rides, and family-friendly games, Winterfest offers indoor games, warm couches, and hot beverages.

Craft Hall

In Philadelphia, the Craft Hall provides a fun environment for families with a menu of pub fare and barbecue, adult craft brews, and a children's pirate-themed playground. Open every day until 9 p.m., this Best of Philly Bar for Parents venue requires guests to be 21 years of age or older. For the kids, there's a dog park and beer garden as well. Inside is Mainstay Independent Brewing Company.

Dilworth Park

When the weather is nice, the front yard of City Hall has an ice skating rink with a ski lodge feel, as well as a roller rink with a retro motif and tree-lined fountains. Centre City is brought to life all year round with Dilworth Park's pop-up concerts, fitness classes, festivals, cafes, and public transport. Reserve a flight from Detroit to Philadelphia to begin organizing your vacation to Philadelphia and making treasured experiences.