Please Touch Museum

This hands-on, kids-centric attraction is anything but museum-like. Exhibitions are 100% hands-on: Everything is made to be jumped upon, entered in, bent, splashed, ridden, and otherwise played with. Oh yes, and it's educationally and culturally enriching, too, especially for children ages 3 to 12. In 2008, the museum relocated to historic Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park where it's no longer within walking distance to Center City, but it does allow for supereasy parking (for a fee). Also, the new space is many times bigger -- and encompasses a 9,000-square-foot housing for a mint condition carousel (ca. 1824).

Enter between the Beaux Arts columns of Memorial Hall, site of the Centennial Exposition of 1876 (the first-ever World's Fair) -- and prepare to be impressed. A whopping $88 million went into the restoration of this grand structure. And, while it seems a bit disproportionate to have a bunch of kids getting somewhat soaked while playing with plastic boats floating around waist-high pools in the River Adventures, climbing into a mini-SEPTA bus, fake shopping at a low-shelved supermarket, or play-working on a construction zone amid such architectural grandeur, the children sure don't seem to mind. Some exhibits are obviously tailored to toddlers; others, like the magically rendered Alice in Wonderland maze, seem better for children of reading age.

The larger facility allows for a nice little cafe that serves pizza, sandwiches, salads, and fruit -- although if school's out, it's not quite large enough. It also offers an expanded space for daily activities such as storytelling and crafts. Grown-ups that grew up locally will likely appreciate the Philly-centric exhibits of an old monorail from John Wanamaker and the set of Captain Noah. But best of all is the staff: Everyone here is absolutely professional in the art of pleasing kids. During my last visit, I saw the carousel operator offer a free ride to a child without a ticket. The worker told the parent she didn't want to disappoint the child. They're pros, here, for sure, but they are definitely not day-care workers. Parents and guardians cannot simply drop the kids off and come back to pick them up in a couple of hours -- and adults wouldn't want to. It's an absolute joy watching kids have so much fun together. It's also a great place to celebrate a child's birthday if you plan ahead.

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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