Please Touch Museum – Philadelphia, PA

Since 1976, the Please Touch Museum has been the Children’s Museum of Philadelphia. The museum was the very first in the nation whose target audience was families with children seven and younger. Over the years they have grown into one of the very best children’s museums in the nation and have become experts in play! Please Touch Museum is home to two floors of interactive exhibit zones designed to encourage learning through play. We let the kids choose which exhibit we went to and how long we stayed in each and really had a blast! My kids favorite areas included:

Rainforest Rhythm– This noise filled exhibit allows kids to explore the sounds and sights of the jungle! The entire room reflects the rainforest theme. The kids can beat on drums, turn rain stick logs, listen to tropical rapids, jiggle vines that play the tambourine and interact with jungle animals. My kids had a blast in this room. They loved the nine-foot long stuffed forest snake, but had even more fun pretending to paddle down the river in a dugout canoe.City Capers– This is the largest and was the most fun part of Please Touch Museum for my kids! The entire area offers a realistic urban environment. There is a mini version of Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, a McDonald’s, a ShopRite Supermarket and even a construction area! This is by far the fastest paced area of the museum and will be the hardest area to pull your little one away from!

Flight Fantasy- This exhibit sets the stage for imagination-based play. Kids must use their body to make things go!  They can row a flying machine or play hopscotch on clouds! Flying machines inspired by centuries of experimentation and imagination offer opportunities for creating movement using your body’s own energy.

Roadside Attractions-  Children can decide which destinations and marvels they want to discover and explore. My kids loved the real Toyota Scion and filled it up with gas about thirty times. You can also repair a car in the Please Touch Garage, then create a fantasy vehicle in the Body Shop.

River Adventures- If your kids are anything like mine, they love to get wet. Which means the River Adventures exibit will be a huge hit! Kids can race sailboats in water currents, play with bubbles and splash around all while staying dry wearing special water vests!

River Adventures also offers a special toddler area for kids 3 and under that allows little ones to discover animals nestled in the high grass and lily ponds!

Wonderland- My little princess finally found her favorite exhibit when we entered Wonderland! Kids can leave the real world behind and explore the wonder of imagination! Descend down the Rabbit Hole to enter the topsy-turvy world of Wonderland. Weave through a circular maze and discover the Tea Party, the Hall of Doors and Mirrors, the Pool of Tears and Caucus Race, and the Duchess’ Kitchen. Unusual characters, challenging riddles and experiments with optical illusions make Wonderland a “curiouser” and “curiouser” place to be.

Emmitt did not like the Wonderland maze, so I was excited to see they had a special toddler area that offered a safe haven for him and other youngsters!If you are ever in or near Philadelphia, and have kids that are seven or younger- the Please Touch Museum is a place you must visit. General hours are Monday – Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m and Sunday, 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Tickets are 15.00 per person, kids under one may play for free!

You can also purchase a Discovery Combo Ticket, that will get you a single-day admission to Sesame Place any weekday May 4-June 29, 2012 and ANY single day at Please Touch Museum May 4-June 29, 2012. Discovery Combo Ticket – Ages 2 & Up are $49.99. Discovery Combo Ticket – Ages 12-24 months are  $12.00.

Comments

  1. Wendy @ ABCs and Garden Peas says

    Oh! I’m so glad you wrote this review. We’re definitely visiting next time we go to Sesame Place! I think my son would just love it, and I want to see the rainforest rhythm section. Thanks for letting me know it’s there!

  2. looks like tons of fun!! i’ve wanted to go there for a while.

  3. Diane K. Brimmer says

    Looks like you had a blast with the kids. I think the big kid on the bird had a lot of fun too! LOL What memories your kids will have. Thanks for sharing your vacation.

  4. This looks like a TOTAL blast! We have something fairly similar here in Las Vegas called the Discovery Museum but the Please Touch Museum looks larger, more versatile and newer. It looks like your entire family, even the hubby, had a lot of fun.

  5. Ang Alford says

    This looks so awesome , def making a trip here !

  6. Nicki Z. says

    I remember seeing the “Please Touch Museum” featured on an episode of “John & Kate + 8” and thought it looked like such a cool place to bring the kids… too bad we live in MN, but we do have a nice Children’s Museum here. 🙂

  7. Jessica Cox says

    Look like so much fun.And Educational too.

  8. Amazing!! We do have one of those here but it’s not near as grand. It looks like that could be an all day activity

  9. Meg Tucker says

    What a fun time!! Wish to visit someday! Also,your pictures came out so well. 🙂

  10. Amy Easlick says

    Wow this place looks amazing!!! So wish it was near my home!!!

  11. Carrie Phelps says

    We have a museum much like this here in NH and it’s quite the hit with my grandchildren!

  12. Okay this is the BEST place to bring your kids and looks like Hubby! Very good learning and interactive, Love it:)

  13. I love its name “Please Touch Museum”! It’s the best place to play and educate the kids! Love it, too!!!

  14. We need one of these. My daughter would have a blast.

  15. LOVE this! Wish we had one close by!

  16. Elizabeth G says

    WOW! That place looks GREAT! I wish we lived closer to it!

  17. Sarah Walker says

    Omg this makes me want to take my son for a plane ride to visit this place! He would love the fact that he can play and touch every exhibit. I love that it’s just for younger children. I wish they had a place like this in California.

  18. Kimberly Bauer says

    I’m in NJ, I think we need to take a day trip out to here. It looks amazing and there are things to do for all the kids.

  19. Marisa May says

    I love places that allow kids to learn via hands-on play. This looks great!

  20. What a nice safe haven for children. Best of all they get to experience different adventures some whimsical others practical. Open their eyes to the possibilities in this world. Kid friendly place and I am all for that. Thumbs up. Thanks for sharing. On my bucket list.

  21. Nicolette Capuano says

    This museum looks amazing! Looks like we will be taking a trip to philidelphia.

  22. wow! wonderful!

  23. Danielle P says

    This museum looks like a lot of fun! We went to our local Touch Me Museum where they had a construction zone and similar areas . Once my daughter warmed up to it, she had a lot of fun.

  24. that looks like so much fun! I’d love to take my son there. We went to the children’s museum the other day and its great, but this looks like a lot more stuff to do.

  25. Ang Alford says

    City capers part looks super fun !!

  26. I like that kids can touch everything and even pretend to milk a cow!

  27. wow! That place is amazing. The kids must of had a blast.. I know both my little ones would! I love the flight fantasy. Thanks for sharing!

  28. Oh My Gosh! This is the coolest place! I’d even have fun. I have 2 neices ages 4 and 8 who would go nuts in this place. I live in California and I’ve never heard of this place where I live. I’m going to check it out to see if there’s one near me. Thanks for the great post!

  29. Diane K. Brimmer says

    Wish we had something like that around here. Looks like you had a lot of fun. I like the pic with dad on the bird too. LOL

  30. Stefanie Elysse Hurtado says

    What an incredible opportunity to teach children to explore! There needs to be more places like this!

  31. Lynnette Watkins says

    This looks like a FUN place to be with the kids. I don’t have to say every 5 minutes “Don’t Touch”. I could see them going wild with everything they can learn and touch.

  32. Carolyn Ann Colley (Griffith, Smith) says

    Looks like a great place to go to.

  33. Looks like so much fun! I wonder if our local museums have something similar for children.

  34. This looks like so much fun! I’ll have to keep it in mind if I ever visit!

  35. It’s an amazing museum! LivingSocial just had a deal where you could buy an admission ticket & a carousel ticket for $9. I wish I had told you about it sooner!

  36. Stephanie Hungerford says

    I love the under 3 area so that the younger ones can feel included and the Price is very reasonable per the post above that is prefect for a lot more families and it is cheaper than a lot of amusement parks

  37. What a fun museum!! And that name~just adorable!!!!

  38. Sue King says

    Looks like fun.

  39. Now this looks like fun! Our kids would totally love it.

  40. Danielle says

    This looks cooler than cool. Wish we had one!

  41. Terri S. says

    This place looks wonderful to bring my 2 little granddaughters to! The 6 yr old would love Wonderland. There are so many things for them to do and lots of things to learn. We’re always searching for interesting places to visit on summer vacation. Thanks for this info 🙂

  42. Amanda Alvarado says

    That looks like so much fun! I wish they had something like that here! I think dd would love the River Adventure part!

  43. Ann M Heilman Parker says

    all though I wish this was closer because it looks like an extra fun cool place to take the kids for the day…you did a great job with the pictures to give me an idea of what it is all about…good job!

    truwinner@gmail.com

  44. kelly willis says

    wow i will have to plan a trip

  45. Nikole H. says

    I love Children’s Museums like these –I only wish we had one closer!

  46. Phildelphia is not too far from me – this looks like so much fun and would be good for both of my girls even though they are five years apart!

  47. Barbara Mayes says

    That would be a great place to take young children to experience!

  48. Rebecca Xavier says

    I love that this is a museum for the younger children. Looks fun!

  49. kelly willis says

    this would be the best museum to take my boys

  50. Sue Hull says

    This looks so fun. Heck I’d have fun there! Lol! I wish I lived there. I’m in Ca. Thanks for sharing your pics!

  51. So fun! We have one similar to this here in Salt Lake City and my daughter loved it when we took her!

  52. This looks amazing! I wish we had something like this here to bring my daughter to when she is a little bigger!

  53. Danielle Mitchell says

    How fun! I wish we had one of those near me. I live in Texas, north of Houston. My twin 5 year old girls would love it. 🙂

  54. Jesselyn A/Jesstinger says

    There really should be so many more museums like this one. When I was growing up everything was kind of like “LOOK – but do NOT Touch” – even if we went to visit a farm we weren’t allowed to touch the animals! I think children (adults too) can learn so much more in interactive settings and usually all five senses to experience things.

  55. Kate Dorsey says

    Great review!! We live about an hour and a half from here, couldn’t wait until my son was a e little older to enjoy this!! But it is definitely on our list of activities this summer now that he is 3 =)

  56. sarah heart says

    Wow, this is an awesome museum, most of them you DON’T touch, so this is great for kids! We will have to go here for our next vacation 🙂 LO will love it!!! Thanks for the awesome review!

  57. Denise Nutile says

    Thanks for reviewing. This place looks awesome. Here in CT we have a couple of similar places but very small. Would love to check this place out in person. Thanks for all the info.

  58. Fun place for the kids to do what they want.

  59. Cynthia C says

    Kids would love this!

  60. We the junior museum here and DS loves to go there and check out everything from the supermarket and boat to their special displays which last time we were there was all about human anatomy ~ bones, muscles, organs… it was really neat to put together a puzzle of a skeleton with a five year old ~ O and to watch an old video (I watched it when I was a kid) that has the “them bones” song in it 😉

  61. Nena Sinclair says

    Hands on museums are wonderful for kids, that’s how they learn and it keeps their attention. This looks like a great place!

  62. this museum looks like a lot of fun for the kiddos i wished there was something like this when i was young near by

  63. They really have something for all interests and ages. Definely going on my to do list.

  64. Mia Buchsein says

    I am really interested in taking the grands to the Please Touch Museum in Philadelphia next time we are up there to visit with family. My niece took her daughter there and they had an awesome time. The City Capers exhibit sounds so interesting and fun ~ a great way to teach them about special places around the city that I grew up with. Thank you so much for reminding me about this wonderful museum for children.

  65. Thanks for sharing this. I keep wanting to go up and try this, but been afraid my son would enjoy. Your pictures showed me how much fun this would be!

  66. Margie Young says

    This museum is so cool, thank you for writing it !!

  67. This museum looks awesome! Kids spend so much of their lives following rules, which include keeping their hands to themselves, that to be able to let loose and have some fun in a place like this, all while learning, is amazing!

  68. vickie couturier says

    how cool is this place,,i would love to take my grandkids there someday if its still open

  69. Your photographs remind me of the fictional museum on “The Simpsons” called “The Knowledgeum”! I can’t get over how cool this place actually looks. Kids of all ages-and grown-ups!-will not be able to resist so many fun things. This place is I’m sure worth more than one trip because you won’t want to miss out on one corner!

  70. ellen beck says

    I really like ‘museums’ like this. Wee are in a fairly small town yet have whats called the Imaginarium where people are encouraged to touch and explore. They usually have themes which s changed now and gain I think 4 or more times a year.

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