Kid Friendly Things To Do In Philadelphia
Philadelphia is a history nerd's dream. But guess what? Kids love it too. This city is packed with weird, wonderful, and hands-on fun. Forget boring museums where you can't to...
Philadelphia is a history nerd's dream. But guess what? Kids love it too. This city is packed with weird, wonderful, and hands-on fun.
Forget boring museums where you can't touch anything. Here, you can climb a giant heart. You can run up steps like a movie star or stare at a cracked bell.
So grab your kiddos. Put on your walking shoes. Let's explore the kid-friendly side of Philly.
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History That Doesn't Feel Like Homework
The Liberty Bell is famous for being broken. Kids think that's hilarious. It's a giant bell that doesn't ring.
Independence Hall is where the Declaration of Independence was signed. You can stand in the same room. Look for the chair with the rising sun carved on it.
The Betsy Ross House is tiny and charming. Sometimes a real Betsy reenactor is there. She'll tell you about sewing flags and having seven kids.
Museums Where You Can Touch Everything
The Please Touch Museum is literally built for kids. It's inside a building from the 1876 World's Fair. There's a kid-sized city with a working carousel.
The Franklin Institute has a two-story heart you can walk through. Yes, a giant heart. It's been beating since 1954.
The Academy of Natural Sciences has dinosaurs. Real skeletons, including a T. rex named Thomas. Kids can dig for fossils.
Animals, Slides, and Weird Mosaics
The Philadelphia Zoo is America's first zoo. It has a cool trail called Zoo360. Animals walk on bridges above your head.
The Best Things to Do with Kids in Philadelphia | Visit Philadelphia
Smith Memorial Playground has a 40-foot wooden slide. It's been there since 1905. Kids fly down on burlap sacks.
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens is a maze of mosaics. Tiles, bottles, and bicycle wheels cover every inch. Artist Isaiah Zagar built it.
Snacks, Steps, and Secret Alleys
Reading Terminal Market is a food wonderland. Get a whoopie pie or a soft pretzel. Your kid can eat a pretzel bigger than their head.
The Rocky Steps at the Art Museum are a must. Run up them like Rocky. Then pose with the bronze statue and do the fist pump.
Elfreth's Alley is the oldest continuously inhabited street in the country. It's tiny and cobblestoned. Kids can imagine horse-drawn carriages.
The Franklin Fountain serves old-fashioned ice cream. The scooper wears vintage uniforms. Order the Mt. Vesuvius sundae for a volcanic mess.
Free and Easy Fun
The Once Upon A Nation storytelling benches are scattered around Historic Philadelphia. A storyteller tells you a true tale. It's free and super engaging for kids.
The Best Things to Do with Kids in Philadelphia - Visit Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Museum of Art has a pay-what-you-wish policy on the first Sunday of the month. But the steps outside are always free. That's where the real fun happens.
Spruce Street Harbor Park is a summer pop-up. It has hammocks, lights, and a boardwalk. Kids can run around while you relax.
Bonus Quirky Spots for Brave Kids
The Mutter Museum: Gross and Great
The Mutter Museum is full of medical oddities. A megacolon, a skull collection. Not for the squeamish, but older kids love the gross stuff.
The Battleship New Jersey is across the river in Camden. It's a short ferry ride. You can sleep on it, which makes it a floating hotel with guns.
Don't forget the Please Touch Museum's carousel. It's a rare Dentzel carousel. Hand-carved animals, some over 100 years old.
Philadelphia is a city that loves its quirks. It's a place where history is tactile. Where a cracked bell is a celebrity.
So pack a snack and bring your curiosity. Get ready to explore. Your kids will thank you, probably with a pretzel in hand.
