The best things to do in Philadelphia with kids

Fly, swing, and leap over to America’s longest-standing zoo for an afternoon of animal adventures to remember. First, dive into the newest addition, KidZooU, for a few furry up-and-close encounters, interactive exhibits, and climbing structures. Then pay a visit to nearly 1,300 animals, from the rare black and white ruffed lemur and the Chinese alligator to zoo favorites like the jaguars, hippos, bears, rhinos, and more. Finally, unwind in a sail aboard a swan boat or choo-choo on the kiddie train express.

With rope mountains to climb and slides to zoom down galore, this 16,000-square-foot playhouse is every child’s dream come to life. Younger tots will love roaming and hiding in the three-storied playhouse while older kids eagerly explore nearly seven acres of jungle gym fantasies. But beware, adventurers of all ages will quickly become addicted to the famous 39-foot-long slide with a daring (but kid-friendly!) 13-foot wide slope. Prepare to hear one too many “Just 5 more minutes?”

Break the rules at this museum, where curious minds of all ages are encouraged to play on two fun-filled exhibit floors. Kids can navigate an indoor hedge maze, sail across a tabletop river, launch a rocket, or stargaze while learning about creatures of the forest. The museum’s super cool “Cents and Sensibility” is a definite highlight and explores the concept of money in a playful way. Kids will be captivated by the Dollar and Cents Scale, which teaches you how to add combinations of coins to make a dollar, and the Money Maze, which asks you to direct a “money ball” through a labyrinth while learning about spending, saving, and sharing.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Hike+Heal Wellness LLC 🥾🐝🍯 (@hikeandheal)

Take the kiddos on a nature-rich field trip to the Wissahickon. With 2,000 acres of open meadows, creeks, and dense forests and 50 miles of trails, there’s adventure everywhere. Walking, hiking, biking, fishing, and even horseback riding are popular activities beloved by all ages. Plan your route through geological sites for a fun science lesson come to life.

Escape rooms, VR, and giant hearts—oh my! Inquisitive minds of all kinds will love spending the day at this science emporium. Find out how your body can help power a lightbulb or test Newton’s Laws of Motion with a playground of pulleys and pendulums. Then, gear up to operate a massive crane before finding out who will crack the code first in a puzzle-packed escape room challenge. And don’t forget to get lost in the museum’s AR experience.

Little ones will love wandering through this whimsical space, its winding walls filled with colorful glass and tiled mosaics. First, stop by the front desk to snag your scavenger hunt card, then explore interactive corners where kids can touch tiles and tools and hear stories about the space. Drop in for free daily tours that will teach all about the garden’s muralist, Isaiah Zagar, and check the website for monthly special events, like family-friendly crafternoons and live musical performances after hours.

This one’s great for older kids (ages 7 and up)! The former penitentiary, abandoned for more than 20 years before becoming a museum, offers a vast history of fascinating inmates—such as Al Capone—and prison culture. You can take guided or audio tours through the space (stops with adult content are marked accordingly). Be sure to pick up a scavenger hunt booklet (free with admission), so your kids can find all of the items on the list.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Flip Out Productions | Gymnastics Classes for All Ages 🤸🏻‍♀️ (@flipoutproductions)

Want to burn off excess youthful energy? Sign up the kids for a gymnastics class at this multi-level 7,200 square-foot gymnastics center in Kensington. Classes, parties, and camp sessions are open to all ages and offer spring floors, a trampoline, a 36-foot Tumbl Trak, Olympic-size balance beams, and a 30-foot by 42-foot tumbling area. Watch all the action inside the room or from a child-friendly private courtyard.

Come one, come all, and marvel at some of the world’s medical mysteries. From over 2,000 of the oddest objects ever ingested by the human body to the many intricacies of the Soap Lady, this museum, run by The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, is one of only two places worldwide where Albert Einstein’s brain resides—literally. Examine it up close, or peruse a collection of 139 human skulls and learn about the study they helped...er...head.

If you’ve got a kid who loves fire trucks, this is a great way to spend an afternoon. Just outside of Old City, this restored firehouse offers close-up looks at antique firetrucks, along with artifacts rescued from well-known fire-related events. Upstairs, kids can try on firefighter gear, sit and read books, and make 911 calls on a pretend phone. The tiny gift counter offers fun take-home items, including stickers, patches, and model firetrucks.

Once the tallest habitable building in the world, City Hall sits right in the middle of Broad Street. Until 1987, it was the highest structure in the city. Kids will love the winding walk through the building, and the thrill of standing right at the feet of the giant statue of William Penn is unmatched. Reserve a tour of the observation deck or enjoy the sprinklers out in Dilworth Park for warm-weather relief.

Kids who can’t keep from constructing will love this unique amusement park made just for them. Just across the bridge from Philadelphia proper in West Berlin, New Jersey, you’ll find an amusement park populated with authentic digging machines of all kinds. Want to drive a tractor across tons of dirt? Your kids can do that. Want to use an excavator to dig holes? Your kids can do that, too. And if the petite parties involved would prefer to take a backseat, parents can certainly participate.

Come for the scenic hayrides and stay for the legendary apple cider donuts. Whatever you choose (did we mention you can pick your own produce?), this 300-acre family-owned farm is worth visiting. Just a half-hour drive south of Philadelphia, the farm also features a giant wooden playland with tractors, a furry friend-filled barnyard, and a market stocked with freshly baked pies, canned jams, and homemade fudge. If you’re visiting from early spring to late fall, you can fish in Orchard Lake or sign up for different seasonal classes, from terrarium-building to cooking with peaches.

There are lots of history-related things to do in Philly, but the Betsy Ross House is one of the ones that really make an impression. Kids can tour the house, looking at all the rooms, and chat with “Betsy” as she explains her role as a flag seamstress. Be sure to stop and peek at her final resting place, which is right on the property.

Delighting dessert connoisseurs since 2004, this local ice cream shop is so much more than a simple, old-fashioned scoopery. Sink your spoons into epic sundaes like a rocky-road-ridden Stock Market Crunch, slurp up a creamy milkshake (named one of the best in America!), or sip on a classic hand-drawn soda. Kids will quickly begin drooling over two dozen house-made ice cream flavors, from chocolate and cotton candy to teaberry gum and caramelized banana—and don’t even get us started on the topping list.

Ever heard of a Chocolate Chip Sea Star? Come see what they’re all about in this medley of marine life. Home to several interactive exhibits, over 45 different sea creatures, and just a 15-minute drive from the city, the aquarium invites little ones to pet a friendly stingray, chat with shark experts, and awe at the panoramic view of sea turtles. They’ll also love watching the daily feeding with penguins and hippos, deep-diving into a show at the 3-D theater, and sailing away to the KidZone, where plenty of hands-on activities await.

Philadelphia’s Mint does not print paper money, but it stamps coins by the tens of millions per day. This self-guided tour explains what the process entails from start to finish and explores the history of making money. Along the way, kids will get to design their own virtual coins, try to lift a sack of nickels, and see what happens to all the money that falls off the conveyor belts.

Philadelphia is famous for more than just its cheesesteaks, though we can’t deny that it’s worth the trip just for a bite at Joe’s Steaks + Soda Shop. Locations in Fishtown and Torresdale offer traditional cheesesteaks, Chazarama (cheesesteak with hot sausage), and other filling sandwiches, plus super delicious sundaes, sodas, egg creams, and milkshakes in a variety of flavors. For pint-size folks, there is a kids’ menu with hot dogs, cheeseburgers, grilled cheese, and chicken tenders.

This museum along the Delaware River gives a comprehensive maritime history of the Delaware Valley. Kids can learn about the Delaware River and some of the catastrophes from over the years through an interactive exhibit or peek at tattoo artwork that has been a staple among sailors and pirates. Be sure to check out the boat workshop, where kids can watch boats being built from scratch.

From the 42-foot-long Tyrannosaurus in the Dinosaur Hall to over 35 dioramas depicting wildlife from all over the world, this leading natural history museum invites you to get lost in some of the world’s most fascinating wonders. Spot up to 150 butterflies in the tropical garden or fill in as an academy paleontologist in The Big Dig, where kids can dig for fossils. Then, meet some live birds, snakes, insects, and other animals up close and enjoy a show. 

It’s always a festival of flowers in this garden. From seasonal foliage, like a field of floating water lilies, to breathtaking blooms like the stellar dahlia, the garden’s 1,077 acres of greenery will enchant everyone in the family. Kids will adore exploring the indoor children’s garden and spotting treehouses throughout the grounds offering them the perfect bird’s eye view. Before visiting, check the site for upcoming seasonal events, from gardening workshops and wildlife tours to live musical performances and—a fan favorite—the majestic Fireworks & Fountains Show. 

Celebrate everyone’s favorite neighborly Big Bird (and all of his pals) at this fabulous theme park for kids. It features more than 20 action-packed rides, exciting musical shows such as “Our Street is Sesame Street” and a daily street parade, to name a few perks. We especially love Oscar’s Wacky Taxi Roller Coaster, Monster Mix-Up, and Sunny Day Carousel. Oh, and did we mention it’s also a water park? It opens in May every year and offers slides, a lazy river, a wave pool, and other fun features.

At this educational cultural hub, there’s something for curious creators of all ages. Stop by for free Family Days on the first Sunday of every month to explore the collection while enjoying plenty of kid-friendly art activities and hands-on workshops. For the younger set, there are monthly Toddler Time events filled with storytelling, music and movement games.