Things to Do With Kids in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Families with children won’t lack ideas for fun activities in Philadelphia, with many options that parents can enjoy too.
A city steeped in American history, Philadelphia has plenty for kids to delight in. If your youngster is a little more on the energetic side, there is a variety of outdoor parks and squares with structures for them to run and climb on – from jungle gyms and a giant slide to water fountains and carousels. For the more animal-minded, there are a bunch of choices for interactions with fauna and sea creatures at the zoo or Adventure Aquarium. On the other hand, little bookworms will enjoy nursery rhymes and stories in the Fairytale Garden Toddler Area at the Please Touch Museum.
1. Smith Memorial Playground and Playhouse
Park
Located in Fairmount Park, amid a 6.5-acre (2.5ha) playground, lies a 39ft-long (12m-long) wooden slide. Kids can grasp their cloth sack and whizz down the wide slope screaming with glee. The Smith Memorial Playhouse is three stories tall, and youngsters five and under will adore exploring the recreation areas, playing with building toys and craft projects. Older kids can enjoy clambering on rope mountains and jungle gyms. Smith is for children 12 and younger, and while entry is free, donations are accepted. To get there, drive 12 minutes from the city center or take public transport.
2. Philadelphia Zoo
Zoo
4. Please Touch Museum
Museum
5. Adventure Aquarium
Aquarium
6. One Liberty Observation Deck
Architectural Landmark
Escape from the bustling city 57 floors up on Philly’s tallest attraction, located in the city center. Appreciate the 360-degree views from within the enclosed viewing deck. Once the kids have exhausted themselves from snapping pics of the panoramas or the Ben Franklin Statue, they can use the interactive installations. A firm favorite is the touchscreens that zoom in on a single point hundreds of feet down below. Tickets are available online or in-person, and the hours vary by season. It’s open 365 days a year.
Since you are here, we would like to share our vision for the future of travel - and the direction Culture Trip is moving in.
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