If you are planning a trip to the Philadelphia area in the near future, you may not know about all of the wonderful kid-friendly stops along the way. Philadelphia is best known for its historical sites such as the Liberty Bell and the National Constitution Center, but there is a whole lot more to entertain your little ones. Here are some great stops to make next time you're in the Philly area:
Philadelphia Zoo (234900 W. Girard Avenue, Philadelphia). Home of the nations oldest zoo, the Philadelphia Zoo is a great place to visit. Your children will love seeing the zoo's 1600 animals-- and there are some special stops just for kids. The smaller-scale Children's Zoo features a petting zoo and pony rides. And don't forget to stop at the Channel 6 Zoo balloon, to get a birds eye view of the entire zoo. There is also the Amoroso's PZ Express, which features train rides-- and your kids can even opt for a ride on a camel! If you're craving a Philly favorite, make sure to stop by the Tastykake shop for some cupcakes and other treats. Before your visit, make sure to call ahead or check the Philadelphia Zoo website for details about featured attractions-- some attractions (like the pony and camel rides) are only open from April through October.
Don't miss: The Children's Zoo, especially if you have preschool aged children.
Sesame Place (100 Sesame Place, Langhorne PA). If your kids are fans of the classic PBS children's series, "Sesame Street", then they will love Sesame Place! Sesame Place is an amusement park created especially for kids. Located just north of Philly in nearby Langhorne, Sesame Place features shows and appearances by Sesame Streets characters-- from Ernie and Bert to Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch. There are tons of toddler-friendly rides, as well as rides for older kids. Some favorites include the The Big Slipper and The Sky Splash (for older kids) and Little Birds Rapids (for younger kids). A large portion of the park is devoted to water attractions, so be sure to plan to visit on a warm, sunny day and wear bathing suits and pack plenty of sunscreen. Another tip? Check ahead for show times if you want to catch a show-- the shows get crowded and you'll want to be there ahead of time if possible. There are also daily parades, which will give you the chance to see many of the characters at one time or you can get there early to dine at a buffet breakfast with Big Bird and some of the other characters (an extra charge applies for the breakfast). Sesame Place features a replica of the famous Sesame Street-- great for photo ops. Your family will have a blast at this awesome park! Because it is an outdoor water park, Sesame Place is only open from May through October, although there are some openings during the holidays for souvenir shopping and breakfast with some of the characters.
Don't miss: Rock Around the Block Parade
Please Touch Museum (201 N. 21st Street, Philadelphia). Most museums are boring for kids, but not this one! The Please Touch Museum was created just for kids- -and it features attractions like Alice in Wonderland and life-size replicas of children's author Maurice Sendak ("Where the Wild Things Are") classic book illustrations. There are tons of gadgets for your kids to play with (kids are allowed to touch everything), and they can pretend to drive a real Septa bus or play in a pretend petting zoo (Barnyard Babies). Step into a Maurice Sendak storybook or into Alice's wonderland, and don't forget to stop in the pretend grocery store, where everything is scaled down to kids' size! Your kids can "shop" for groceries (using kids size grocery carts), then scan them at the registers.
Don't miss: The Sendak Exhibit
Franklin Institute (222 N. 20tyh Street, Philadelphia). The Franklin Institute is an educational place-- but its so much fun you're kids won't even realize it! Featuring attractions like Sir Isaac's Loft, Electricity and Electronics and The Train Factory, your kids can explore and learn to their hearts content. The Franklin Institute is one of Philadelphia's most popular places for kids-- try visiting in the summer to avoid crowded school field trip groups.
Don't miss: The Franklin Air Show, especially if your kids like planes.
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