16 Top Educational Family Trips around Philadelphia

In this crazy hectic time, family time is precious. But it can be challenging to find activities that are both fun and educational and won’t hurt your wallet too much. Luckily in the Philadelphia area there are lots of options that fit the bill.

Here are 16 top educational family trips around Philadelphia

1. Awbury Arboretum

The Awbury Arboretum is a unique place where nature, history, and the arts all come together. It is the location of Philadelphia’s only Revolutionary War battle and they also have lots of educational programs on poetry, art and local wildlife. It is located at 1 Awbury Rd. in Philadelphia.

2. Tyler Arboretum

The Tyler Arboretum is another great spot for nature lovers. Here there is 650 acres of plant collections, historic buildings and 17 miles of hiking trails to explore as a family. It is located at 515 Painter Rd. in Media, Pennsylvania.

3. Wyck

Want your kids to immerse themselves in history more? Take them on a trip back to colonial times and the Victorian era with a trip to the Wyck house at 6026 Germantown Avenue in Philadelphia. Besides the historical home, there are also a garden and farm to explore.

4. National Museum of American Jewish History

The complete Jewish history in America is at your fingertips at the National Museum of American Jewish History. All 360 years. Teach your kids about your heritage. The museum is located at 101 S. Independence Mall East in Philadelphia.

5. Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts

If your kids are more art lovers, then they will love a family trip to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, where they can explore the galleries and discuss the work. The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is located at 118-128 North Broad Street in Philadelphia.

6. Philadelphia Museum of Art

Of course, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is also a mecca for artists with its over 200 galleries of painting, artifacts and architecture from all over the world and from different time periods. Ask about museum tours to experience the museum to the fullest. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is located at 26th St. and Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

7. Rodin Museum

At the Rodin Museum, you and your family can check out 124 sculptures as well as bronze casts, drawings and prints, all the work of Auguste Rodin. The Rodin Museum is located at 2151 Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia.

8. Fox Chase Farm

You can’t go wrong with farm animals when it comes to educational family trips. The Fox Chase farm is open to groups to learn about caring for farm animals and other seasonal activities on the farm like maple sugaring. Fox Chase Farm is located at 8500 Pine Road in Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.

9. Franklin Institute

At the Franklin Institute, you and your kids can climb up in the giant heart and learn about space exploration and other cool medical and scientific advancements. There are plenty of live shows and hands-on exhibits to keep everyone enthralled. Also be sure to check out the IMAX, planetarium and 3D theater. The Franklin Institute is located at 221 North St. in Philadelphia.

10. Academy of Natural Sciences

Not far from the Franklin Institute is the Academy of Natural Sciences where you can learn more about creatures of our present and past including dinosaurs. Your kids will love digging for fossils and all the other special hands-on activities held there. The Academy of Natural Science is located at 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

11. Please Touch Museum

The Please Touch Museum is completely hand-on for your kids’ enjoyment. There are two floors of interactive exhibits including a kid-size supermarket, hospital and construction zone. And there are always special exhibits going on as well. The Please Touch Museum is located at Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park, 4231 Avenue of the Republic in Philadelphia.

12. The Crayola Factory

What kid doesn’t love drawing, right? Take them to see how their crayons made at the Crayola Factory. There are 28 hands-on attractions for the kids to explore, all about how color, chemistry and technology all come together to make art. The factory is located at 30 Centre Square in Easton, PA.

13. LEGOLAND Discovery Center Philadelphia

With just a short trip to the Plymouth Meeting Mall, all the lego lovers in your family will be in heaven. At the LEGOLAND Discovery Center, they will get to enjoy hands-on activities with legos and spent hours in the ultimate indoor LEGO playground. The center is located at Plymouth Meeting Mall, #1055 at 500 W. Germantown Pike in Plymouth Meeting.

14. Adventure Aquarium

Just over the river in Camden, your water babies will get a kick out of learning about marine life, from the big guys like sharks and dolphins to the little translucent creatures in the deepest darkest part of the ocean. Adventure Aquarium is located at 1 Riverside Drive in Camden, NJ.

15. Hersey Chocolate Tours

The great thing about Hershey is that even when it is not the weather for amusement rides and water parks, you can still have some educational fun at Hershey Chocolate World where you can tour the candy making process and even make some chocolate of your own in the chocolate lab. The museum is located at 101 Chocolate World Way in Hershey, PA.

16. Lancaster

Just a two hour ride away from Philaphia, you can get a lot of fun educational activities for the family too. There you can explore the Lancaster Science Factory, the Strasburg Railroad, the Railroad Musuem of Pennsylvania and get a taste of Amish life.