What to do in Philadelphia with a 5 yr old?

[Anonymous]

We know about the Please Touch museum; can you recommend other young kid activities in the city itself? ie, not Lancaster.

I fear that the bountiful historical offerings won't be of much interest (direct quote: "so why didn't they just get a new bell if the 1st one was cracked?").

[Anonymous]

they have a great zoo - my kids love it.

[Anonymous]

we did that please touch museum. expensive, did not like it. kids liked it though. crowded. not a place where they learn anything.

[Anonymous]

Franklin Institute (Science museum) is great. We liked both Please Touch and the Zoo.

[Anonymous]

The Zoo
The Franklin Institutue ($$, but fun for kids and adults) - http://www2.fi.edu/
Academy of Natural Sciences
Franklin Square Carousel (near the historical stuff in Old City with a good playground, not sure if it's open for the season yet)
Smith Memorial Playground (awesome playground out in Fairmount Park)

I used to live in Philly and frequented these places, along with the Please Touch of course.

[Anonymous]

We take our kids a lot. Highly recommend the Franklin Museum. Also, if you have a son, there is a great submarine docked together with a war ship that is a blast to tour. Also, take a carriage ride from in front of Independence Hall. Jim's on South Street for Philly Cheese Steak. My five year olds also loved the Betsy Ross house because they have actors playing Betsy Ross and other revolutionary figures that they can talk to.

Here's a link for the sub:
http://www.phillyseaport.org/historicships/becuna.html

[Anonymous]

The New Jersey Aquarium right over in Camden, you can either drive across the bridge or take the water taxi from Philly.

[Anonymous]

franklin museum - they had this pirate exhibit / show that was great. not sure if it is still there. also the reading terminal is great for fun food, cheap and very good. betsy ross house is small and manageable and very interesting for all. the phillie duck tour was a lot of fun. there is a great playground downtown (new with mingolf, carousel) - perhaps the other poster had the correct name.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:we did that please touch museum. expensive, did not like it. kids liked it though. crowded. not a place where they learn anything.

Really curious here-you didn't like the new Please Touch Museum in Fairmount Park? How crowded was it? Did you feel it cost too much? You said the kids liked it but you didn't-you didn't feel they learned anything (about water flow, grocery shopping, Philadelphia history, etc.)??? Would Vegas be more your style for a kids vacation? Maybe the boardwalk in Atlantic City? Sounds like you were more interested in you being entertained than your children being entertained. Too many trips on the Big Red Boat ? Might be time for a mom and dad no kids type of vacation.

[Anonymous]

I have to agree with the PP, the Philly Please Touch Museum is amazing!!! We live in the DC area and have a family pass. My son was just there this week with my parents. The new space at Centennial Hall is gorgeous and huge. My son could spend hours and hours there. The staff is kind and helpful. I was just thinking how sad it is that DC doesn't have a PT Museum. During the week there are a lot of class field trips so get there either right when it opens or around lunch time when the kids head back to school.

We were up there about a month ago and took my kids on a Saturday and got there when it opened. It got busier as the day went on but the building is so gigantic, you don't feel overwhelmed. At least in comparison to how I feel when we go to the DC Natural Science museum on a Saturday.

You have been given a lot of good suggestions but here are a few more:

If you are interested in doing The Zoo, The Franklin, etc. get a city pass. It is much more economical. http://www.citypass.com/city/philadelphia

In Old City on 2nd Street near Arch there is a Fireman's Museum. It is on the smaller side but they have a lot of cool stuff and is staffed by Philly firefighters (retired???). There is no admission fee just boxes asking for a donation.

While in Old City there is a old fashioned ice cream parlor on Market between Front and 2nd.

The first post office founded by Ben Franklin is on Market between 3rd and 4th. Have your child mail a family member a postcard. They handstamp all mail with Ben Franklin's signature.

Philly had a lot of "living history" with actors in historical garb walking at the various historical sites. A lot of these are storytellers targeted for kids. You can find them in the visitor's center, Franklin Square, Independence Hall, etc.

Don't know if your child is boy/girl or into skateboarding but we always sit on a bench at Love Park (JFK/Parkway/15th) on a Saturday afternoon and watch the skateboarders. Love Park is a skateboarding mecca. The previous administration cracked down on the skateboarder by Mayor Nutter doesn't police it and you can see some great skateboarding.

Run the steps at Art Museum and pretend you are Rocky. Walk by Boathouse Row and see the crew teams on the river and play in Fairmount Park. You can rent bikes.

If you are looking for a family friendly place to eat, Pietro's on Walnut near 18th in Rittenhouse Square is a great pizza/pasta place.

I'm sure I will think of more things and will write back. I didn't grow up there but lived there for a few years and love Philly.

[Anonymous]

We are considering a weekend trip to the area with two three year olds. One day we plan to spend at Sesame Place, but the other in the city. We are not familiar with Philly at all. Are any of the places mentioned above, other than the zoo of course, appropriate for this age? TIA.

[Anonymous]

In defense of the person whose kids didn't like the Please Touch museum my kids didn't like it either - it seemed very commercial.