“Mom, there’s nothing to do!” If your youngsters have mumbled those words lately, perhaps it’s time to get out! Don’t fret, Philadelphia has a lot to offer to families and children. With over 322,000 kids ages 14 and younger in the Philadelphia area, there’s plenty to do. If you are searching for fun activities in the city of Brotherly Love, here are some great ideas.
Visit the Please Touch Museum
www.pleasetouchmuseum.org
210 North 21st Street
(215) 963-0667
Cost: $10.95 per person (Free for kids under 1)
The name says it all! The Please Touch Museum is one of Philadelphia’s best spots for children. It is an enriching children’s museum full of interactive exhibits. Your children will be able to create art in the kids creations area, “shop” in the kid-friendly supermarket, explore an interactive Alice’s wonderland, and much more. They also offer entertaining children’s plays. A trip to the Please Touch Museum would be a fun outing for all.
See the Animals at the Philadelphia Zoo
http://www2.philadelphiazoo.org
3400 West Girard Avenue
(215) 243-1100
Cost: $14.95/child, $17.95/adult, $12.00/parking
The Philadelphia Zoo is America’s first zoo and is one of the highlights of Philadelphia. It is home to more than 1300 animals. Your youngsters will enjoy seeing giraffes, hippos, zebras, snakes, birds, and many other animals. The zoo even offers rides such as “Swan Boats” where you can paddle around a lake. They also provide some educational shows. If you live in Philly, or will be visiting there soon, this is a spot you can’t miss!
Participate in Sports/Classes at a Recreation Center
http://www.phila.gov/cgi-bin/recreation/phillarec/index.cgi
Various Locations
(215) 683 – 3600
Cost: Varies
Philadelphia has numerous recreation centers to meet your child’s needs for exercise and socialization. Your youngster can enroll in fun classes such as dance, ceramics, and sewing. Or, he or she can play sports such as basketball, dodgeball, and lacrosse. Your taxes help support these centers – take advantage of them! There are dozens of recreation centers in Philadelphia – search the site today to find one in your area.
Tour the United States Mint
http://www.usmint.gov/mint_tours/
151North Independence Mall East
1-800-872-6468
Cost: Free
If your child has ever asked where money comes from, or even if they haven’t, this is a terrific outing. It is free and educational. The United States Mint is available for tours (self-guided) Monday through Friday from 9 -3. Your youngsters will be able to see coins being made. In addition you can view exhibits that teach about the history of American money. This is an activity you can’t miss in Philadelphia. It is highly recommended for school age children.
Paint Pottery at the Expressive Hand
www.expressivehand.com
622 South 9th Street
(267) 519-2626
Cost: Varies according to what they paint, Plan for $20/child
If you’ve got a little artist on your hands, or just a child that loves to be creative and express him/herself, then an outing to The Expressive Hand would be a great trip. It is a paint-your-own pottery studio. Children will enjoy painting items such as plates, bowls, cups, mugs, ornaments and more. They’ll have a nice memento to cherish or to give as a gift. (It makes a fabulous present for the grandparents!) They also offer day camps and kid’s classes. The Expressive Hand is a wonderful resource for children in Philadelphia.
Ride the Ducks
www.phillyducks.com
111 S. Independence Mall East
(877) 88-QUACK
Cost: $25/adults, $15/children (Kids under 2 are free.)
This is a big tourist activity in Philadelphia, but it’s something all locals should do at least once. It’s a fun sightseeing tour of the city aboard a “duck” – a vehicle that is both a boat and van. Children (and parents too) will enjoy learning random facts of the city. You’ll have a chance to see hot spots such as the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Betsy Ross’ House, Ben Franklin’s grave and more. It’s a unique way to become familiar with the city of Brotherly Love. Your youngsters will be educated on the city’s history and it’s role in song, sports and film. Kids will receive a souvenir duck whistle for some added fun, although parents might want to confiscate it or use earplugs. This is an activity all families can’t miss in Philadelphia.
Visit the Crayola Factory
http://www.crayola.com/factory/
30 Centre Square (Easton)
(610) 515-8000
Cost: $9.50 for adults and children; Free for Infants under 2
If your youngster has ever colored, then this museum would be a terrific outing. Although it is not an actual manufacturing plant. children will learn how crayons and markers are made. They will also have a chance to visit fun Crayola-themed exhibits. One neat spot is the “super sculptures” exhibit where little hands can mold together artwork using Model Magic clay. A visit to the Crayola Factory would be a very memorable experience for your little one. It is located outside of Philadelphia in Easton, but it is worth the drive.
Enjoy a Play at Philadelphia Children’s Theater
www.pctheatre.org
2030 Sansom Street
(866) 811 -4111
Cost: Approx. $13/child, $15/adult
A family night to a children’s play would be an entertaining event for everyone. The Philadelphia Children’s theater has an excellent reputation for providing quality kid-friendly entertainment. Check out their website to learn more about their productions. In addition, if you child is feeling dramatic, you can enroll him/her in one of their enriching workshops. This children’s theater is a great resource for children and young teens in Philadelphia.
Take a Yoga Class at Yoga Child
www.yogachild.net
903 South Street
(215) 238-0989
Cost: Varies, See Site for Details
This is definitely something a little different, but will be an enriching experience for your youngster. Yoga Child, a Yoga studio in Philadelphia, offers a variety of classes and camps for children and families. Your child will receive health benefits and participate in non-competitive entertainment. And, when their small town cousins ask what they did over the summer, they will have an impressive answer. It was voted Best of Philly in 2005. This is definitely a unique resource for Philadelphia families.
Stop by the Franklin (Science Museum)
www2.fi.edu
222 North 20th Street
(215) 448-1200
Cost: $11.50/children, $14.25 for adults
The Franklin, formerly known as the Franklin Institute Science Museum, is a fabulous place to take children in Philadelphia. It offers a variety of educational and fun exhibits. Some include a giant heart, which teachhes children about the anatomy of the heart, the “train factory” which will allow children to be an engineer, and “Space Command”, which will expose your child to telescopes and space discovery. For an extra fee, you can enjoy an IMAX film – an amazing theater experience. In addition, the museum offers fun summer camps, “camp ins” and more. You will not be disapointed in a visit to Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute Science Museum!
These are just a few of the fun kid-friendly activities that Philadelphia has to offer. Bored, but don’t want to leave the house? Read this article for some ideas.
Happy Parenting! Enjoy!
