The 12 Best Things To Do In Philadelphia With Young Kids

Traveling to Philadelphia with young kids can be such a fun time. Whether you’re planning a day trip or a weekend get-away, these 12 best things to do with young kids will surely help you plan your day.

Please Touch Museum

With exhibits aimed at children seven years and younger, Please Touch Museum offers a chance for children learn through play. There are many hands on exhibits that encourage creativity and collaboration for young kids and their family to enjoy while in Philadelphia.

The Please Touch Museum is considered one of the best Children’s Museums in the country and you can easily spend the entire day just here.

Know Before you Go:

Location: 4231 Avenue of the Republic, Philadelphia, PA 19131: This location is open Sunday through Saturday with slightly varying hours, so be sure to check their website before venturing to spend time here.
Parking is available and costs $12 per car.
Admission: Adults and children 1 and older: $19. Carousel Rides: $3. Unlimited Carousel Rides: $5. Children under age 1: Free.

Philadelphia Zoo

There is so much to enjoy when you visit this zoo with young kids. Your family can see a wide range of animals such as tigers, blue-eyed black lemur, African bullfrog, and so many more as you learn more about each of these animals. Our favorites were the gorillas and orangutans!

Know Before you Go:

Location: 3400 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104
If you really want to save some money, consider purchasing the Philadelphia CityPASS to get a steep discount on admission to many Philadelphia locations for families with young kids.
Admission Costs and Parking: Adults (ages 12+): $24.00. Children (ages 2-11) : $19.00. Children (under 2): Free
Pre-paid parking (per vehicle) : $16.00

Franklin Institute

From escape rooms to virtual reality and everything in between the Franklin Institute provides your family with young kids education in both science and technology. This fun science museum offers the entire family something fun to do. Even better, this museum is awesome for older kids too!

Know Before you Go:

Location: 222 N 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
The Franklin Institute had its own parking garage, but spaces are limited so be sure to make note of the nearby parking garages so you don’t end up driving around town forever.
Pricing for general admission is $23 per adult and $19 per child ages 3-11. There are other options, so it’s best to order online for the attractions you’ll want tickets for when you go to the Franklin Institute.

Museum of Natural History

Now named The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, this location offers families with young kids lots to do while in Philadelphia. Enjoy animal superheroes on the weekend and so many other amazing exhibits.

Know Before you Go:

Location: 1900 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Admission pricing varies from weekends to week days and you can save $2 per ticket when ordering
online.
There are some parking garages near this location, but most parking is metered parking with the
exception of some meters being off on Sundays.

Adventure Aquarium (in Camden, NJ– right across the river)

The Adventure Aquarium in Camden is totally worth the drive across the river. We have visited many aquariums but this is one of our favorites. You can walk across a shark tank, get up close with hippos, and see a school of giant Manta Rays swimming and chasing each other. There are really tons of hands on experiences at this amazing aquarium!

Know Before you Go:

Location: 1 Riverside Dr, Camden, NJ 08103
Admission pricing varies based on what shows you may want to add to your visit to Adventure Aquarium and as with most attractions, you may find a better deal online when you purchase tickets in advance.
As for parking, there is a secure parking lot right across from Adventure Aquarium and the cost is $10.

Longwood Gardens (about 1/2 hour away)

If your family enjoys the beauty of flowers, then this ginormous garden is a must-visit while in Philadelphia with young kids. Walk around the 1,077 acres of meadows, flower gardens and woodlands to take in this beautiful garden area. There are multiple tree houses your kids will love plus tons of fountains and wildlife. Don’t miss the Conservatory, where a super amazing Children’s Garden will absolutely delight your kids!

Know before you Go:

Location: 1001 Longwood Rd, Kennett Square, PA 19348
Children ages 4 and under can get in for free, adults cost $23 each, seniors are $20 each, Youth ages 5-18 are $12 each. College students with a proper ID can get in for $20 each.
Parking is free and available on site.

Magic Garden

This garden might not be on your radar but it should be… because it is awesomely cool. your kids will love the novelty of the funky walls and staircases. You will get a kick out of it too.. it is very Instagram-worthy.

Know Before you Go:

Location: 1020 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
This location is closed on Tuesdays, but has hours 11am to 6pm Wednesday through Monday.
Admission is best purchased online before your visit.
Metered and two-hour parking in the immediate vicinity is available along South and Bainbridge Streets, and along numbered streets.
Free un-timed parking is available on streets farther south.

Smith Playground

Enjoy unstructured free play with your young kids while in Philadelphia at Smith Playground. There are many structures to play on and other areas for your young kids to get their wiggles out while you’re in Philadelphia. This is a fantastic playground and a can’t miss destination for young kids!

Know Before You Go:

Location: 3500 Reservoir Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19121
Smith Playground is closed on Mondays as well as other National Holidays.
Be sure to visit their website for hours of operation before you head off for family fun here.

Reading Terminal Market

Enjoy some local grown meat and other farm fresh vegetables at Reading Terminal Market. The whole family can walk around this market that’s been open to the public since 1893. There are some amazing kid-friendly treats at this indoor food market. Those donuts are amazing…. just saying.

Know Before you Go:

Location: 51 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107
The Market is open Monday – Sunday from 8 am to 6 pm, but is closed for some National Holidays.
You can sign up for a market tour to get the full view of this long standing market in Philadelphia.

Big Bus Tours

If your family is looking to sight see and enjoy an entertaining trip around Philadelphia then you should check out Big Bus Tours. This tour bus will take you around Philadelphia showing you the city like never before. You can hop on and hop off the bus to sight see, making this the perfect option for families with young kids in Philadelphia who may not want to walk as far as their parents desire to walk.

Know Before you Go:

There are different Big Bus Tours packages, so be sure to check their website for full details before planning to use this tour bus to see Philadelphia. Pricing varies, but you can easily order your tickets online and it will show you how much before you check out.

Franklin Square

Franklin Square is one of five original squares in Philadelphia that offers so much entertainment, a huge fountain, mini-golf and much more for families with young kids to enjoy.

Know Before you Go:

Location: 200 N 6th St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
March: Open Daily, 10 am – 5 pm. April: Open Daily, 10 am – 7 pm (Closed at 5 pm on April 30). May: Open Daily, 10 am – 5 pm.
Pricing varies depending on which attractions you would like to do with your young kids while visiting Philadelphia’s Franklin Square.

Legoland Discovery Center

Enjoy Legoland Discovery Center in Philadelphia with young kids when you venture to this beautiful city. You’ll feel like a big kid again as you walk through the entrance and enjoy a fun-filled day with the entire theme being LEGOS.

Know Before you Go:

Location: 500 W Germantown Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462
There are many different ticket pricing options, so check their website to order tickets in advance online before you pack up the kids to go.

As you can see, Philadelphia is such a cool place to visit. I hope that my list of the 12 best things to do in Philadelphia with young kids will inspire you to plan a trip to this lovely state in the near future.

The 12 Best Things To Do In Philadelphia With Young Kids