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Philadelphia Family-friendly activities

Our most recommended Philadelphia Family-friendly activities

Philadelphia: Museum of Illusions Timed Entrance Ticket

1. Philadelphia: Museum of Illusions Timed Entrance Ticket

Experience the impossible with an entry ticket to the Museum of Illusions Philadelphia. Immerse yourself in a world where your eyes will be in a constant battle with your brain. Located in the heart of Philadelphia, this brain-boggling museum is a one-of-a-kind destination for optical illusions.  Challenge yourself in more than 60 visual and educational exhibits featuring holograms, stereograms, optical illusions, and immersive rooms designed to tease the senses and trick the mind. Defy gravity, grow and shrink, walk on the ceiling, experience infinite space, and much more. Spend some time in the Smart Playroom with games that will stimulate and challenge your mind. Enjoy some friendly competition with friends and family while simultaneously improving your cognition, problem-solving skills, and memory.  Have fun while learning the mechanics behind each and every illusion you experience. And don't forget your camera or smartphone when you visit as there are eye-fooling photo-ops around every corner.

Washington, DC: Full-Day Tour with a Scenic River Cruise

2. Washington, DC: Full-Day Tour with a Scenic River Cruise

Discover all the delights of Washington DC with this day-tour around the city, hitting hotspots such as the White House, the U.S. Capitol Building, and the Thomas Jefferson Memorial. Board your glamourous, climate-controlled, panoramic bus at the U.S. Navy Memorial. Head to all the major highlights of regular sightseeing tours and enjoy a lunch break and an opportunity to travel through the Tidal Basin. Learn about some of the most fascinating landmarks in the USA, including the White House, U.S. Capitol Building, and National Archives, plus breathtaking memorials of Thomas Jefferson and Franklin Roosevelt. After lunch, summer brings the opportunity for a boat ride through Georgetown and the DC Waterfront. In winter, this Washington bus tour culminates with a visit to the Pentagon and several more fascinating war memorials. During your tour learn from your live tour guide who hops off the bus with you to ensure you receive an intimate and personalized experience of each attraction.  Your guide will educate you on the important details of each monument. From April through October, take in the fresh air on a scenic 1-hour cruise along the Potomac River. The full itinerary of this tour includes: • Jefferson Memorial • U.S. Capitol Building • FDR Memorial • World War II Memorial • Iwo Jima Memorial • Vietnam Memorial • Martin Luther King Memorial • Lincoln Memorial • White House • Korean War Memorial

Philadelphia: Official Sesame Place Entry Ticket

3. Philadelphia: Official Sesame Place Entry Ticket

Enjoy access to all of the Sesame Place rides with an official entrance ticket. Spend a day or 2 with your family at the only theme park in the U.S. dedicated to the award-winning television show Sesame Street. Ride attractions, enjoy live entertainment and take photos with your favorite characters. Show your ticket at the entrance and head into the park to start having fun with your kids. Explore the Sesame Street Neighborhood, take in 3 live shows, and attend the daily parade to see all your favorite Sesame Street friends. When you get hungry, visit one of the many on-site restaurants. Ride 15 attractions (3 of which are seasonal). Reach for the sky on Elmo's Cloud Chaser, fly through the air on the Flyin' Fish, and feel the wind in your hair on the Vapor Trail coaster. Get wet on the park's 9 water attractions, including Big Bird's Rambling River and Elmo's Silly Splashy Slides. Choose between a 1-day ticket or visit Seasame Place for 2 days within 60 days and enjoy a meal included in the 2-day ticket option.

Philadelphia: Museum of the American Revolution Entry

4. Philadelphia: Museum of the American Revolution Entry

Discover the dramatic story of the American Revolution at one of Philadelphia’s lead attractions. Step into the Museum of the American Revolution, then watch an introductory movie before making your own way through the exhibitions. Marvel at the museum’s vast collection of Revolutionary-era weapons, personal items, documents, and works of art that bring history back to life. Learn about this fascinating period of time as you explore immersive galleries, engage in powerful theater experiences, and take part in interactive features. Located just steps from the famous Independence Hall, the museum serves as a portal to the region’s Revolutionary history, which sparks interest, provides context, and encourages exploration. Printed museum guides are available in English, Spanish, French, German, Mandarin and Japanese, to elevate your learning experience.

Philadelphia: Segway Adventure Tour

5. Philadelphia: Segway Adventure Tour

Take a Segway tour of Philadelphia to see the main city sights and get an informative commentary on the history of the city at the forefront of the American Revolution and Declaration of Independence. Your guide will give you a 30-minute training session before you set off on the self-balancing vehicles. Then, traveling in groups of up to 6 people, head down to Penn's Landing for views across to New Jersey and the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Glide through the Historic District, passing Elfreth's Alley and the Betsy Ross House. Admire Independence Hall en route to Society Hill, where you can marvel at the stately homes while catching the aroma of fresh coffee at quaint cafés. Pass over Avenue of the Arts to Rittenhouse Square, before winding through the Fitler Square neighborhood to Schuylkill River. The scenery changes here, as you work your way along the paths of the Schuylkill Banks, joined by runners and bikers en route to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Admire the statue of Rocky Balboa at the bottom of the famous steps he ran up in the 1976 blockbuster movie, before moving on to Benjamin Franklin Parkway to see Rodin’s “Thinker” statue in the outdoor sculpture garden.  Take back streets that will lead you to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, from where you can loop through Chinatown and the end of your tour.

From New York City: 4-Day Tour w/Niagara Falls & US Capitol

6. From New York City: 4-Day Tour w/Niagara Falls & US Capitol

Visit the American and Canadian sides of Niagara Falls. Stop at an outlet mall for shopping, continue to the historic city of Brotherly love in Philadelphia and see the famous Liberty Bell and Independence Hall Square. You will also visit Washington DC, the US Capitol and visit the US Mint. Continue to Lancaster to learn about the Amish community. Day 1: New York - Finger Lakes - Niagara Falls Your morning departure from the Big Apple takes you north where you will pass the beautiful Delaware Gap to Watkins Glen State Park in the heart of the Finger Lakes region. Walk through Watkins Glen Canyon to visit the beautiful waterfalls and then continue to Niagara Falls passing Seneca Lake, arriving in the late afternoon (Winter itinerary goes to Montour Falls instead of Watkins Glen State Park). Tour the American and Canadian sides of the Falls including the American Falls, Horseshoe Falls, Goat Island, and Sister Island. At night tour Niagara Falls where you will marvel at the colorful lighting of the waters. Overnight: Niagara Falls - Wyndham Super 8 Day 2: Niagara Falls - New Jersey As you depart the hotel, hear the thundering water of Niagara Falls. See the falls up close from Horseshoe Falls and experience the power of the current aboard the Maid of the Mist (May-October). From November through April you will tour the Power Vista Hydro-electric Station, and the Cave of the Winds. At noon depart south to New York State. On the way to New York, enjoy a shopping excursion at one of the large outlet malls along the way, where you can hunt for bargains at their brand name stores. Overnight New Jersey - La Quinta Inns & Suites  Day 3: New Jersey - Philadelphia - Washington DC Depart New Jersey to Pennsylvania and to the city of brotherly love Philadelphia. Arriving in the Historic area of Philadelphia you will visit the famous Liberty Bell, and Constitution square and Constitution Hall, one of the symbols of freedom in America. Stroll Elfreth’s Alley (the oldest inhabited street in America) then continue on a panoramic tour of Philadelphia that includes the financial district, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Historic Philadelphia and more. Departing Philadelphia, see the famous “Rocky Steps” and then continue north to Lancaster county home of the Amish people. Ride on an authentic Amish Buggy, visit an Amish market place of handmade arts and crafts and learn what it's like to live without the benefit of modern technology, electricity, running water or telephone service. Overnight at: Wyndham Garden, Washington DC. Day 4: Washington DC - New York  Start the day with a visit to Thomas Jefferson Memorial, by the Tidal Basin, surrounded with famous Japanese cherry blossom trees. Visit the Arlington National Cemetery, the changing of the guards and the Kennedy family gravesite.  Next stop is Capitol Hill. See the US Capitol and the White House to understand the core of the US government. Continue to the Air and Space Museum before visiting the Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Korea and Vietnam Memorials.  In the late afternoon, depart north for an evening arrival in New York.

LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Philadelphia

7. LEGOLAND® Discovery Center Philadelphia

Explore the many LEGO attractions at LEGOLAND Discovery Center Philadelphia. Go on the Imagination Express ride where you hop aboard an interactive train ride to collect points for the top score. Discover insider tips and super tricks from an expert LEGO builder in the Creative Workshop. See famous LEGO characters on the big screen, like The LEGO Movie™: A New Adventure, at the 4D LEGO Cinema. Explore MINILAND, a Philadelphia cityscape made entirely out of LEGO Bricks – over 1.5 million to be exact. Build friendship in LEGO Friends Heartlake City and create new colorful additions to add to their growing town. Get a selfie with a LEGO Friend during the visit too. Create a LEGO racing car at the LEGO Build & Test and race vehicles on the test track for the quickest time. Put your ninja skills to the test at the LEGO Ninjago Training Camp. Become a true LEGO ninja and defeat the bad guys in this action-packed play-zone. Test your agility in the laser maze and master your building skills at the Ninjago build table.

From NYC: Philadelphia and Washington DC 2-Day Tour

8. From NYC: Philadelphia and Washington DC 2-Day Tour

Day 1: NEW YORK – PHILADELPHIA – WASHINGTON DC Depart New York through New Jersey and Pennsylvania and to the city of brotherly love Philadelphia. Arriving in the historic area of Philadelphia, visit the famous Liberty Bell, one of the symbols of freedom in America, Constitution square, and Congress Hall. Stroll Elfreth’s alley, the oldest continuously inhabited street in America. Continue on a panoramic tour of Philadelphia that includes the financial district, Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Historic Philadelphia, and more. Depart Philadelphia and see the famous “Rocky Steps” and then continue east to Lancaster county home of the Amish people. Enjoy an authentic Amish Buggy ride through the Amish farm country. Learn how Amish culture survived centuries without the benefits of technology, to this day their towns survive without the central power and sewage systems, that modern civilization take for granted. Learn how the Amish adapted, incorporating technology to create farms that are self-sufficient and make use of renewable sources of energy. After the ride, visit the marketplace where you can shop for handmade arts crafts and products. In the late afternoon, depart east for an evening arrival in Washington DC. Day 2: WASHINGTON DC – NEW YORK Start the day with a visit of Thomas Jefferson Memorial, by the Tidal Basin, surrounded by famous Japanese cherry blossom trees. Visit the Arlington National Cemetery, the Changing of the Guard, and the Kennedy family gravesite. The next stop is Capitol Hill. See the US Capitol and the White House to understand the core of the US government. Continue to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History (while Air and Space Museum is closed due to renovations) before visiting the Lincoln, Korea, and Vietnam Memorials. In the late afternoon, depart north for an evening arrival in New York.

Philadelphia: Escape Room Adventure

9. Philadelphia: Escape Room Adventure

See if you and your group have what it takes to escape the room during this King of Prussia escape room experience. Enter 1 of 3 thrilling adventures, including heist, gold rush, and prison break themes. No matter your choice, keep your wits and focus: you’ve only got one hour to escape. During an adrenaline-packed adventure, you’ll enter a series of elaborately designed escape rooms and break your way out to freedom. Think fast: you and your group must work together to find clues and crack codes to complete your mission. You may find yourself as a prospector hunting for a lost cache of gold, a spy sent to recover a stolen painting, or a falsely accused prisoner determined to break out of jail. After you’ve emerged victorious, you’ll be conveniently located at the King of Prussia Mall to celebrate your achievement. The Heist Escape RoomIt’s up to you to recover a priceless painting. Your espionage outfit has placed you inside a prestigious art museum, where a recently stolen masterpiece is presumed to be hidden. Your mission is to recover the painting unnoticed. (Difficulty: 8/10) Gold Rush Escape RoomReady to search for gold? For nearly two centuries, the hope of gold has lured people to the hills of Northern California. You’ve been tipped off to where an old gold prospector stashed his gold, but so has the mob. (Difficulty: 7/10) Prison Break Escape RoomThe plans are in place and it's time for your daring escape. The year is 1955. You’ve been wrongfully accused of a crime and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Can you escape while the cruel warden is in a meeting? (Difficulty: 9/10)

Philadelphia: Old Town Exploration Game

10. Philadelphia: Old Town Exploration Game

Play an exploration game on your phone that takes you on a self-guided tour of Philadelphia. Stop at the most iconic spots of the city and learn their history while using clues, solving problems, and unlocking stories. Enjoy the flexibility of a tour taken entirely on an app. The game begins with you following the trail of a missing son. Start your pursuit at Spruce Street Harbor Park. From there, simply follow the route and instructions on the app. Explore at your own pace: pause the game and resume anytime from any location where you paused it. As you solve challenges, the story unfolds and exact directions on your phone will guide you to the next location. See Penn's Landing, the Liberty Bell, Benjamin Franklin's Grave, and more. Discover Philadelphia’s cobblestoned streets, photo-worthy Independence Mall, and old town. Choose to play on your own, in a large group, or in several smaller groups to compete against each other and race to the final stop of the game. Try a new type of experience that’s the perfect mix between a tour, outdoor escape game, and treasure hunt.

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What people are saying about Philadelphia

This place was so much fun. The pictures alone are worth it. Since I got back I've shared those pictures with others so many times. I went by myself and the staff were so helpful in taking my picture and helping me to get the best shots!

Sargeant very knowledgeable and certainly made our Philadelphia historic experience very positive.

Nick was Great! He knows his History! Wonderful Job.. keep up the great work

The entire museum was fun and unbelievable we can’t wait to go back.

It was great, everyone should definitely give a try