Philly may be a motley mix of university students, hipsters and history buffs but it also happens to be an excellent place for kids. Even better? It’s only 95-ish miles away from midtown Manhattan and easily accessible by public transit.
Of course, nailing an itinerary for youngsters requires a little extra legwork. Thankfully, we ventured to the City of Brotherly Love this September to scope out the hot spots for the two-to-teenager set.
First up, take the toddlers to the aptly named Please Touch Museum ($24/ticket), where fans of the animated series “Paw Patrol” can enjoy “Paw Patrol: Adventure Play” from Oct. 7, 2026 through Jan. 3, 2027. There’s also a new 3,650-square foot “food and family exhibit,” an adventure camp space, fairytale garden, imagination playground, roadside attraction zone (a real hit for kids going through their wheels-wheels-wheels phase) and much more.
Or, for those traveling with older kids (12 and up is probably a good bet), you’ll actually want to set your sights just outside of Philly, in nearby King of Prussia.
There, Netflix House Philadelphia (from $39/person) will dazzle and delight with a “Stranger Things” immersive experience and the option to play the Top9 mini golf course (from $15/person). The Netflix Bites restaurant has everything from house popcorn (of course) and tater tots to “Bridgerton-”inspired “Featherington French Toast” and cauliflower tacos, so there’s something for everyone.
Next up, we’d steer groups with members of all ages to the Weitzman: Colors of Creation, a timed, interactive experience from the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History. This unique offering combines interactive projections, responsive sound, concert-style lighting and large-scale visuals for quite the display and makes for a nice segue to the Color Lab, a hands-on play and discovery space.
From now through Oct. 4, admission to the Lindy and Akman family gallery, which includes the Colors of Creation exhibit, the Color Lab, the Core Exhibition 1654-1945, and the Only in America® Gallery is free.
Then, carve out time for budding history buffs to visit The Declarations Journey at the Museum of the American Revolution open until Jan. 3, 2027. (Admission to the museum is free for children five and under, $14 for youth ages 6-17 and $25 per adult, when tickets are purchased online.) The special exhibit was created in honor of the semiquincentennial, and features kid-friendly interactive elements and opportunities for hands-on discovery, and stories to make this famous document come to life for young learners.
To round out your agenda, there’s also the Philadelphia Zoo (from $24 per child or $29 per adult; children two and under get free admission). At the zoo, you and your little bear(s) can scope out the new Francis J. Carey Bear Country exhibit, an expanded habitat for Andean and sloth bears, with these majestic creatures viewable through glass enclosures and even directly above you on the elevated Zoo360 trail.
To see more creatures, grab the 15-minute RiverLink ferry with service between Philly and Camden, New Jersey, and visit the Adventure Aquarium (tickets for 13+ start at $33 and children save 15% off adult prices). The “Fintastic Pumpkin Glow” makes for quite the underwater display, running September 18 through November 1.
If you’re craving additional autumnal delights and can time your visit accordingly, Sunday, October 25, will welcome the Fall Festival, a free bonanza with trick-or-treating, a scavenger hunt, story time, live music and other activities.
Or how about a walk down Sesame Street? Over at Sesame Place Philadelphia, which is located about 30 minutes outside of the city in Langhorne, Penn., ‘tis the season for the Count’s Halloween Spooktacular, included with admission on select dates September 19 through November 1, and featuring shows, dance parties and trick-or-treating, among other themed diversions. Naturally, there’s great age-appropriate dining here with options ranging from the “Dine with Elmo & Friends,” experience, where your favorite characters make cameos throughout your meal to Big Bird’s Burgers & Bites. P.S. Kids and kids at heart alike shouldn’t skip Dippin’ Dots for dessert, though Rita’s Italian Ice is a solid sweet tooth contender, too.
In general, Philly has family-friendly dining in spades. Our top vote for those with kids of all ages goes to the Queen & Rook Game Cafe, which boasts upwards of 2,500 games on-site from board games to arcade games, along with kid-approved fare like nachos, burgers, pizza, pretzels and chicken nuggets.
Two minutes away is the ever-fabulous Pizzeria Stella, where the wood-burning oven fires up unexpected hits like pistachio pies with red onion, rosemary and fontina and simple classics like margherita and pepperoni. Before you go, please your palate with homemade gelato crafted from a secret family recipe or get your dessert fix at the Franklin Fountain & Ice Cream Bar.
Over in the Historic District, this ice cream saloon and the Art Deco-inspired walk-up bar on the same block serve up otherworldly handmade ice cream scoops, splits, shakes, sundaes, fountain sodas and baked goods. Between the two venues, picture everything from a New York Egg Cream and hot soft pretzels to peach melba sundaes and milk shakes with malt powder and whipped cream. Then, for epicures-in-training, book a table at the lively Talula’s Garden, where the farm-to-table fare does not disappoint.
Last but not least, we’d be remiss if we didn’t point family towards the famed Reading Terminal Market, which stocks gourmet groceries as well as every kind of cuisine under the sun (think: Saami Somi for Georgian eats, Sang Kee Peking Duck for spare rib platters and Hershel’s East Side Deli for just-like-mom’s matzo ball soup.)
Adequately noshed, celebrate naptime at Canopy by Hilton Philadelphia Center City (from $210/night), which provides cribs/pack and plays free of charge for children up to two (subject to availability and requested in advance). Since the entry nook in its rooms feature sliding doors, parents can give babies a private dark space to snooze, and the hotel also offers refrigerated drawers in each room for milk or formula storage.
It’s walking distance to Love Park and Dilworth Park, historical attractions like the Liberty Bell and the National Constitution Center and Franklin Square with its carousel, Philly-themed mini golf course and playground.
Another great neighborhood for young families is University City. There, make your home away from home at Sheraton Philadelphia University City ($189/night), which has an outdoor terrace with cornhole and complimentary cribs and highchairs upon request, or Cornerstone Bed and Breakfast (from $250), a Select Registry property. The latter, a restored 1865 Victorian mansion, only allows children 10 and up but has a fire pit and s’mores package in the evenings and is brimming with historic B&B charm.
Both are close to The Philadelphia Zoo, Please Touch Museum and Schuylkill River Trail and Fairmount Park when you need some outdoor time. They’re also both about a mile from 30th Street Station for when it’s time to say goodbye — and wish you booked just one more day in The Quaker City.
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