5 Things to do in Philadelphia With Kids

I have been visiting family in Philadelphia for as long as I can remember, so whenever I bring my kids there now I am so excited about taking them to all the fun things the city has to offer! Philadelphia is a very kid-friendly vacation destination for a few reasons. One, it is very historic so there are tons of learning experiences for adults and kids of all ages. Two, it is easy to get around in, and there are plenty of hotels and Airbnb’s to choose from. Three, there are tons of cool, unexpected things there like Sesame Place, Crayola Factor and much more!

If you are visiting Philadelphia with kids (especially toddlers and elementary aged kids) here are my top five things to do:

  1. Please Touch Museum: We visited this place for the first time when we were there in November and LOVED it! I was very impressed with all the different areas kids could play and explore. It is a place we would definitely visit again.

  1. Franklin Institute: This museum is fun for all ages! Who doesn’t love a good science museum? From the giant heart kids can climb inside and run around in, to the pretend city they can explore, the Franklin Institute is a must when visiting Philadelphia with children. 

  2. Sesame Place: If your kids love Elmo and the Cookie Monster, this is the place for them! It is right outside of the city and small enough to spend an afternoon or the entire day. Depending on what time of year you are visiting they have holiday themed events and a water park!

  3. Spending the day walking around the historic part of town: From Independence Hall to the Liberty Bell, there are tons of things to do on a nice day in downtown Philly There are a number of different paid guided tours, or you can walk on your own. I especially enjoy walking down Elfreth's Alley in the fall! I also recall visiting The Betty Ross house when I was a kid and thinking it was so-o-o-o cool.

  4. Another great place to visit is Kids Castle, an eight story wooden playground in Doylestown, PA, just outside Philly. It’s 35 feet high with a huge twisty slide, a friendly dragon, a tree house, a barnyard, a rocket ship, a downtown promenade for toddlers, lots of slides and swings, and a children’s amphitheater. It is the perfect place for visiting on a day with good weather so the kiddos can burn off some energy. The site includes restrooms and picnic tables, so you can grab cheese steaks and have a picnic while the kids play on this epic playground.                                            

TravelLaurie MichaelsonPhiladelphiaComment