Above: Splash Lab Arts' painting room.
This is a selfish blog post because I wanted a list of ideas when we need something to do! That being said, all of these things I've been to and can recommend. Lots of them cost a little bit, but there are some free ones in there, too! I am such a cheapskate, so to help cut down on cost, I've asked for memberships for birthdays/Christmas, and I am always on Groupon to see what deals there are.
Obviously this isn't ALL there is to do in Philly or the suburbs! There is lots of historic stuff to do in center city, Philadelphia, but that's pretty far from me and in the winter I'm not trying to walk around downtown with stroller and try to find bathrooms for my toddler. And if you're wondering how does a mom of 2 get out when she had a two-year-old and a new baby? You just wing it and bring snacks! Or you bring friends. And also the snacks. (And here are tips for transitioning from 1 to 2 kids.)
Above: A view of only HALF of the Smith Playground, taken from their second story playroom in the mansion.
THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS IN PHILADELPHIA:
- Please Touch Museum: the membership is well-worth it! Perfect for kids over 1.
- Splash Lab Arts: I shared this in my IG Stories! In East Falls, easy street parking. Kids wear smocks and can paint and make a crafty mess at tables, or in the paint room they wear borrowed boots and can paint the walls, floors, anything! Lots of creative play areas with toys, too. One entrance fee, stay as long as you like. **Don't show up right when they open. We did that an the employee casually opened 30 minutes late, unapologetically. Not sure why!**
- Philadelphia Zoo: buy a membership on Black Friday for discounts up to 40%! We've gone even on 20-degree days, because there are plenty of buildings to go in and see animals/warm up.
- Smith Playground: historic mansion with semi-maintained indoor play areas and the BEST outdoor playground ever. An enormous metal slide where you slide down on burlap sacks, tire swings, climbable ropes thing for kids...so so creative.
THINGS TO DO WITH KIDS IN MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PA:
- Maple Acres Farm: FREE. With a gravel parking lot, animals to look at and beautiful fields to walk through. Totally outdoors, also has clean bathrooms by the entrance. I shared our adventures there in this post.
- Kids Castle, Doylestown: FREE. Enormous wooden castle playground outside. Perfect for 2+ (unless you want to follow your little one year old through the castle).
- Montgomeryville Splash Pad: FREE. A playground with water shooting out of the ground. Open in the summer, water turned on at 10am (get there early because it gets crowded!)
- Upper Dublin Library: FREE. Lots of creative play toys, dress-ups, train table, play kitchen, and coloring tables, plus a closeby parking lot.
- Springfield Township Library: FREE. Brand new building with a HUGE children's section. Lots of puzzles, games, train table, and tons of space to spread out. We love Duplo block Fridays there!
- Tabora Farm: Free. Has little go-carts good for 3+, big sandbox, and goats and rabbits to look at. Their deli/bakery has amazing, fresh food. Perfect for a picnic and space for kids to run around.
- Fort Washington State Park: FREE. Has a decent playground right by the bathrooms, lots of paved roads for walks with a stroller, and lots of grassy areas for kids to run around.
- The Little Pod: $10 per kid, play as long as you want. Bouncy houses, jungle gyms, creative play areas...
- Bounce U: for the older toddler, like 2.5 and up. There are two-story tall inflatables, so this place attracts older siblings, which isn't great for the tiny toddlers. Check Groupon for discount passes.
- Bouncetown: for the crawlers and young kids. There's a baby/toddler toy section, bounce house, small jungle gym, and a snack is provided.
- Legoland at the Plymouth Meeting Mall: so much for toddlers to do, and kids under 2 are free! We got a membership from Groupon and it's the best!
- Be Well Cafe: incredible menu, delicious coffee with a kids play area and chalk wall. Perfect for brunch with mom friends + kids on a rainy/cold day.
- The Elmwood Park Zoo: check your local library for passes to borrow. It's a simple zoo to walk around with young kids and has an enormous playground in the middle.
Above: Kids Castle, Doylestown. Still fun even in the snow! Just bundle up and wear boots :)
Read more: My favorite kids books that I don't mind reading 30x a day!
Moms in the area, what would you add to this list? I'd love to update it with more suggestions! What fun things do you love doing where you live?
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