Eastern Pen, Barnes Foundation and there’s a car museum outside Philly which is fun and that’s your thing.

Anonymous wrote:If they like weird, Mutter Museum is great. But research it first, it’s not for everyone.

It's not great. We took two 12 year old boys so of course it was a hit, but it's very small and there are a lot of boring things too. It's like 3 "wow gross" things and then you're done.

Seconding the Mutter Museum and Seaport Museum.

Philadelphia Zoo

Will you have a car? If the weather’s nice, consider Morris Arboretum. It’s in Chestnut Hill, a cute neighborhood outside center city, and it has a lot of walking paths through formal gardens and interesting things to see (log cabin, sculptures, garden railway, fernery). We used to go often when my kids were younger. It’s part of Penn but not near Penn’s campus. You could combine it with lunch nearby.

If they like weird, Mutter Museum is great. But research it first, it’s not for everyone.

The Penn Museum is really cool. Liberty Bell, Seaport Museum, US Mint.

Anonymous wrote:Museum of the American Revolution is cool if they have any interest in history. The art museum is great and has lots of exhibits that aren’t just paintings. Magic Gardens. There are great restaurants so make some reservations to experience those instead of tourist traps.

Was just there this weekend and want to highlight this part. Make reservations NOW. Even looking to book 4 weeks out for a party of 4 was difficult. There was nothing available until after 9pm and every restauarant was packed to the gils on Friday and Saturday night. I'm from NYC where it's like this for the most hot places but you can still find somewhere last minute. Didn't seem to be the case for Philly, so plan in advance!

We moved to Philly from DC ten years ago, and these are the hits (besides Franklin Institute) from tween visitors:

-Independence Seaport Museum
-Museum of the American Revolution
-Eastern State Penitentiary (always a hit across age groups)
-USS New Jersey (just across the river in Camden)

Museum of the American Revolution is cool if they have any interest in history. The art museum is great and has lots of exhibits that aren’t just paintings. Magic Gardens. There are great restaurants so make some reservations to experience those instead of tourist traps.

FDR park has a huge new playground, the Varna Playground

There is an amazing market in the park on sat/suns starting in april: https://www.fdrseamarket.com/

Philly Art Museum has an art studio for kids on weekends https://philamuseum.org/calendar/event-series/art-kids

And remember it is never too early to start college tours! Lol jk but the Penn Museum has some interesting exhibits if your kid likes ancient Rome/Egypt/ Greece etc

Phillies opening day

Reading Terminal Market, Art museum, tour of the Eastern State Penitentiary

The Magic Gardens are really cool. Buy tickets for a tour.

https://www.phillymagicgardens.org/

Playing to drive up for a couple of days. Whats interesting apart from an independence walk and the Franklin institute?