Philadelphia proves that museums do not have to be boring. Under-sevens will love the Please Touch Museum (pleasetouchmuseum.org), which is open daily, year-round. The museum contains six themed areas with interactive exhibits that teach children about the world in a entertaining way. Zones include Flight Fantasy, where kids can explore distant planets or play hopscotch in the clouds, and River Adventure which offers the chance to fool around with rainbows and bubbles. The Franklin Institute (fi.edu) offers a similar type of experience for older children, with simulator rides, a walk-through human heart, a journey to the center of the Earth and planetarium. The most exciting attraction is a high-wire bicycle that you can pedal across the atrium, high above the ground. The Insectarium (myinsectarium.com) is an all-bug museum with movies, interactive displays and lots of real insects, including a working bee-hive, termite mound and Arachnid Alley.
Sesame Place (sesameplace.com), in nearby Langston, is a Sesame Street-themed amusement park. Greet all your favorite characters and see them perform live on stage or march during the daily parade. All rides and attractions are child-friendly and include Ernie's Bed Bounce and the Vapor Trail mini-coaster, as well as wet rides such as Big Bird's Rambling River and Sky Splash Slides, so be sure to bring your swimsuit. The park offers character dining and stores selling Sesame Street apparel, gifts and collectibles. Sesame Place is open daily through summertime, and the park offers a Sunny Day guarantee, which means that if it rains for more than an hour during your visit, you can come back for free another day.
Ride the Ducks (philadelphia.ridetheducks.com) offers an entertaining way of exploring Philly's historic city center. Ride the streets in a boat-shaped bus, while your guide entertains you with yarns about Philadelphia's past and its famous inhabitants, along with a few cheesy jokes. Splash into the Delaware River for a sightseeing cruise that includes the battleship New Jersey. Buy tickets from the Independence Visitor Center.
Philadelphia Zoo (philadelphiazoo.org) is the oldest zoo in the U.S., laid out inside a Victorian garden. It contains more than 1,300 species, including rare and endangered animals from around the world, displayed in habitats such as Carnivore Kingdom, Monkey Junction and Bear Country. The zoo also contains rides like the Amazon Rainforest Carousel, swan paddle boats and the Channel 6 Zooballoon, which offers a bird's eye view of the animals. Other activities include camel safaris across the African Plains, pony rides and panning for gemstones. The Adventure Aquarium (adventureaquarium.com) on Philadelphia's waterfront, offers exciting exhibits such as West African River Experience with real hippos, a shark tunnel, Penguin Island and Caribbean Currents -- a recreation of a coral reef. Kids can touch a starfish, stroke a shark or help feed the animals.
