Philadelphia with little kids works best around Center City and Fairmount Park.
The places we go back to all year. Where to eat with a toddler, where to burn off energy when it rains, where to splash, what’s worth the admission, and where to spend a night without going far.
Places where a dropped fork is no big deal and nobody minds a little noise.
A big indoor food market where everyone in the family can pick something different. It’s about a mile from the Franklin Institute and close to Franklin Square.
An old-fashioned ice cream parlor and soda fountain in Old City.
For rainy mornings, cold afternoons and anyone who needs to run in circles for an hour. For toddler classes and every indoor playground we’ve checked, with prices and sock rules, see indoor play in Philadelphia.
Member libraries across the county with baby, toddler and preschool story times nearly every weekday, from Swarthmore to Radnor.
Free story times and family events at branches in Voorhees, Bellmawr, Westmont and more.
Story times and play programs at libraries from Paoli to West Chester and Phoenixville.
Pools, fountains, zoos and theme parks: the big all-day outings.
A free playground and three-floor playhouse built for kids 10 and under, home of the Giant Wooden Slide. There’s a free lot out front.
A small park with playgrounds, the Parx Liberty Carousel, mini golf and SquareBurger, a few blocks from Independence Hall. It dresses up for Halloween in October and for the holidays from Nov 19.
Museums, animals and farm days that hold a little one’s attention.
A big hands-on science museum on the Parkway. Weekday mornings fill with school groups, so the museum suggests coming after 2pm.
America’s first zoo. Buy tickets online ahead; prices change by date.
A smaller zoo in Norristown that suits short legs. It runs sensory-friendly events like Quiet Mornings.
A night away without a long drive.
A huge garden about 50 minutes from Center City, with seasonal displays and fountains. A Longwood Christmas runs Nov 20 to Jan 10 with lights until 11pm.
A 120,000-square-foot indoor water park kept at 84 degrees, included with your room.
More than 250,000 square feet of water parks, with a sensory-friendly calming room for breaks.
7,730 acres with camping and swimming, the largest block of forest between Washington and New York City.
These don’t change week to week. Last checked . Hours and prices change, so check the place’s own site before you go. Know a spot we missed? Tell us at hello@littlesweekly.com.
Where a family can go in Philadelphia without paying for admission. For free days, free events and this week’s free outings, see every free thing to do in Philadelphia. For regular free days, Museums on Us and EBT discounts in 2027, see free museum days in Philadelphia.
Delaware CountyDelaware County LibrariesMember libraries across the county with baby, toddler and preschool story times nearly every weekday, from Swarthmore to Radnor.FreeIndoor
Camden County, NJCamden County Library SystemFree story times and family events at branches in Voorhees, Bellmawr, Westmont and more.FreeIndoorChester CountyChester County Library SystemStory times and play programs at libraries from Paoli to West Chester and Phoenixville.FreeIndoor
East Fairmount Park, 3500 Reservoir DriveSmith Memorial Playground & PlayhouseA free playground and three-floor playhouse built for kids 10 and under, home of the Giant Wooden Slide.FreeFree or cheap for babies and toddlers, and easy with a stroller.
Fairmount Park, 3400 W. Girard Ave.Philadelphia ZooEasy paths for strollers.East Fairmount Park, 3500 Reservoir DriveSmith Memorial Playground & PlayhouseBuilt for kids 10 and under.FreeIndoorOld City, 200 N. 6th St.Franklin SquarePlaygrounds and a gentle carousel.Delaware CountyDelaware County LibrariesBaby and toddler story times.FreeIndoorCamden County, NJCamden County Library SystemFree story times.FreeIndoorChester CountyChester County Library SystemStory times and play programs.FreeIndoorNorristown, 1661 Harding Blvd.Elmwood Park Zoo2 and under free.Kids $15.95 online, $16.95 at the gateAdults $18.95 online, $19.95 at the gate0–2
Kennett Square, 1001 Longwood RoadLongwood Gardens4 and under free.Kids $20 youth on general admission daysAdults $354 and underRecurring and free. Times change by branch, so check the calendar. For every weekly storytime by day and branch, see library storytimes in Philadelphia.
Most weekdaysFree baby, toddler and preschool story times at libraries across the county.
Schedule ↗Weekday morningsFree story times and play programs in Paoli, West Chester, Phoenixville and more.
Schedule ↗Weekday morningsFree story times at branches in South Jersey.
Schedule ↗Baby storytimes, places where babies get in free, and where to change and feed. For rainy days, see indoor play places; for zero-cost ideas, see free things to do.
Mondays at 10am and 11am · Ridley Township Public LibraryFor ages 2 and under; siblings welcome.
Storytime calendar ↗Tuesdays and Wednesdays at 10:15am and 11am · Media-Upper Providence Free LibraryStories, songs, movement and puppets.
Storytime calendar ↗Tuesdays at 1pm · Penn Wynne LibraryFor babies 12 months and under.
Storytime calendar ↗Mondays at 10am · Easttown LibraryFor birth to 2 years.
Storytime calendar ↗Thursdays at 10am · YardleyBooks, music, rhymes and lap bounces.
Storytime calendar ↗Mondays at 10:30am · WarminsterStories, songs and fingerplays for the littlest kids.
Storytime calendar ↗
2 and under
Admission page ↗Santa visits and Christmas lights only run part of the year, so they have their own pages with this season’s dates and prices. For holiday and indoor rinks with season dates, prices and skate aids, see ice skating with kids in Philadelphia.
The guide is the evergreen list. Here’s what’s happening in Philadelphia right now.
Yes. Smith Memorial Playground is free and built for small kids, and the zoo and the Franklin Institute are easy full mornings.
Smith Memorial Playground and suburban library story times are free, and most weeks have plenty of library events.
Yes. It’s smaller than the Philadelphia Zoo, kids 2 and under get in free, and it runs sensory-friendly Quiet Mornings.
Go indoors: Delaware County Libraries, Camden County Library System and Chester County Library System. They’re all under one roof, and most work for a short visit around nap time.
Philadelphia Zoo: Easy paths for strollers. Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse: Built for kids 10 and under. Franklin Square, Delaware County Libraries and Camden County Library System are also easy with a baby or toddler. Free for the littlest: The Franklin Institute (2 and under). See best for under 3s.
Delaware County Libraries: Most weekdays. Chester County Library System: Weekday mornings. Camden County Library System: Weekday mornings. Library storytimes don’t need a ticket, but times change by branch, so check the calendar first. See library storytimes, and this week’s dated sessions are on the Philadelphia weekly list.
Every one of the 14 places is somewhere we’d take a baby, toddler or preschooler, with a note on who it suits and when to skip it. Prices, hours and menus come from each place’s own site, and 4 of them have checked admission or menu prices. The guide was last checked Oct 26, 2026. How we choose and check.
0–2; kids 3–12: $15.95 online, $16.95 at the gate; adults: $18.95 online, $19.95 at the gate. We checked this on its official site on Oct 26, 2026. Prices change, so confirm before you go.
One short email every Thursday evening with the five things we’d leave the house for in Philadelphia.
