You’ve promised the kids a fun weekend out, and the forecast has different plans. Bummer! If you’re still looking to get out of the house (or explore the city if you’re on vacation here in Philadelphia!) I’ve compiled a list of 5 fun rainy day activities in Philadelphia for kids to help you beat the rain and still have fun with your family.
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Please Touch Museum
If you’ve made it this far into your parenthood journey without going to the Please Touch Museum, I’m floored. It is – hands down – the best place for the under 10 crowd (and I’d argue that older kids would enjoy it just as much, too!). We spend countless days at the Please Touch Museum when my children were younger and they still ask to go back.
There are permanent exhibits, including a pretty amazing water play area with different tools to alter the flow of the water and create rainstorms, along with boats and ducks for the smallest children. My kids love the grocery store and the completely redesigned “town” on the lower level of the museum. If you’re looking for rainy day activities in Philadelphia for kids, this would be the first place I’d start with!
Pro tips: The Please Touch Museum opens early to members on select days of the month. You’ll also receive free parking in their attached lot, as well as unlimited carousel rides. And while you watch your kids play? There are really cool vintage and antique toy exhibits that line the play areas…see if you recognize any from your childhood!
Academy of Natural Sciences
Got a kid who loves dinosaurs? This is the place to go. Enjoy a very large dinosaur exhibit in the museum, along with digging activities and a hilarious experience where you can create a video of you running away from a dinosaur. Bring a sketchbook and colored pencils, and spend time drawing your favorite animals that line the museum’s halls. There are seasonal exhibits to accompany the permanent ones, so be sure to check out their website before you go to see what’s open. The Academy of Natural Sciences is one of the top activities in Philadelphia for kids so be sure to get tickets in advance especially on a rainy day.
Pro tip: The Free Library has a used book store across the Parkway that is a hit with my kids. Grab your umbrella and run across to dig through the stack and stacks of books. There’s a pretty extensive children’s section, and look for the kitty who lives in the store!
Arden Theater
We’ve yet to see bad show at the Arden Theater; while there are performances for both children and adults, their performances for children are really spectacular. Our last show – The BFG – was a truly imaginative take on Rhoal Dahl’s classic book. It’s a very intimate theater and the actors take questions from the audience at the end of the show…everything from “how did you make those masks?” and “how did you become an actor?”.
Pro tip: Check out the art galleries that line 2nd Street. Frequently you’ll see artists at work (like at Claudia Mills) and a plethora of custom furniture, paintings, and fiber arts.
Reading Terminal Market
There are so many options for fun activities at the Reading Terminal Market. Start the trip off with lunch at one of the market’s many food vendors; we love Kamals. Then stroll around the market and check out all of the interesting sights and sounds, along with cooking supplies and gourmet food offerings. Maybe stop by the produce stalls and choose several new fruits and veggies to try at home. Have older kids who like to cook? Research a recipe beforehand and let them shop the market for their supplies – or, find an interesting and new ingredient and bring it home for an exciting new meal!
Franklin Institute
I grew up going to the Franklin Institute (anyone else remember the elevated bicycle that you could ride from one side of the museum to the other?) and now it’s my turn to bring my own kiddos. Certain parts of the museum have remained the same – the giant heart might come to mind!) – and others have changed over the years. While the exhibits could fill up a whole day, there’s an IMAX theater that has a rotation of films to choose from. You can book tickets for the IMAX in advance and there are special packages when booking both general entry and IMAX tickets. Don’t forget the planetarium – it’s one of our favorite parts of the exhibit.
Pro tip: On select nights of the year, the Franklin Institute offers nighttime events at the museum to discuss a range of planetary topics. Tickets sell out quickly so be sure to book in advance!
5 Fun Rainy Day Activities in Philadelphia for kids
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