Below are some of my family's favorite places in and around Philadelphia:
Franklin Institute: http://www2.fi.edu/ This is a great place for learning about science. Very hands-on and interactive.
Adventure Aquarium: http://www.adventureaquarium.com/ The Adventure Aquarium is a bit expensive for our usual homeschooling budget. However, a few times a year they offer homeschooling weeks where the price is greatly reduced.
Philadelphia Museum of Art: http://www.philamuseum.org/ The monthly homeschooling classes at the art museum are extremely popular. They are scheduled for the first Wednesday of every month, and students are divided by age/grade levels. You definitely have to pre-register for these classes, as they often fill up quickly. If you have a membership, there are also free tours and lectures offered weekly at no additional charge. Check the museum calendar for those of interest to you. My kids and I have attended several of the 45-minute tours, and I think our largest tour included 8 people.
Philadelphia Zoo: http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/ We've been members of the zoo for the past 15 years, and my youngest was recently part of the zoo's Junior Advisory Council, which helped advise on the new Children's Zoo. I use the zoo as an integral part of our zoology/animal biology studies. A trip to the zoo can set a family of four back almost $100 by the time you buy tickets, pay for parking, buy some souvenirs, and grab a few snacks and beverages. However, if you're going to visit more than once or twice, a membership is a good investment since free parking is included. And, the indoor play area--the Treehouse--is only open to members, and is a great place to escape when the zoo is crowded.
Bartram's Garden http://www.bartramsgarden.org/
Independence Seaport Museum: http://www.phillyseaport.org/
Fireman's Hall Museum: http://www.firemanshall.org/ Free.
Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center http://fairmountworks.com/ Free.
Free Library of Philadelphia http://www.freelibrary.org/ (Full disclosure-- I work part-time at the Central Branch of the Free Library, so my review might be slightly biased!) The Free Library system of Philadelphia offers a little of something for everyone. There are branches all throughout the city, but the main branch is at 20th and the Parkway, and offers free architectural and historical tours on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 10:00 a.m., and daily tours of the rare book department at 11:00 a.m. This year, in celebration of Shakespeare's 450th birthday, the library is presenting Year of the Bard: Shakespeare at 450 featuring films, talks, exhibitions, performances, and a big birthday bash on April 23rd!
Independence National Historic Park http://www.nps.gov/inde/index.htm
National Constitution Center http://constitutioncenter.org/
Morris Arboretum http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/index.shtml
Salvation Army Kroc Center http://www.use.salvationarmy.org/use/www_use_KrocCenterPA.nsf
King of Prussia Mall http://www.simon.com/mall/king-of-prussia-mall
Walking in the Wissahickon http://fow.org/about-park/activities/hiking
Big Blue Marble Bookstore http://www.bigbluemarblebooks.com/
Franklin Institute: http://www2.fi.edu/ This is a great place for learning about science. Very hands-on and interactive.
Adventure Aquarium: http://www.adventureaquarium.com/ The Adventure Aquarium is a bit expensive for our usual homeschooling budget. However, a few times a year they offer homeschooling weeks where the price is greatly reduced.
Philadelphia Museum of Art: http://www.philamuseum.org/ The monthly homeschooling classes at the art museum are extremely popular. They are scheduled for the first Wednesday of every month, and students are divided by age/grade levels. You definitely have to pre-register for these classes, as they often fill up quickly. If you have a membership, there are also free tours and lectures offered weekly at no additional charge. Check the museum calendar for those of interest to you. My kids and I have attended several of the 45-minute tours, and I think our largest tour included 8 people.
Philadelphia Zoo: http://www.philadelphiazoo.org/ We've been members of the zoo for the past 15 years, and my youngest was recently part of the zoo's Junior Advisory Council, which helped advise on the new Children's Zoo. I use the zoo as an integral part of our zoology/animal biology studies. A trip to the zoo can set a family of four back almost $100 by the time you buy tickets, pay for parking, buy some souvenirs, and grab a few snacks and beverages. However, if you're going to visit more than once or twice, a membership is a good investment since free parking is included. And, the indoor play area--the Treehouse--is only open to members, and is a great place to escape when the zoo is crowded.
Bartram's Garden http://www.bartramsgarden.org/
Independence Seaport Museum: http://www.phillyseaport.org/
Fireman's Hall Museum: http://www.firemanshall.org/ Free.
Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center http://fairmountworks.com/ Free.
Free Library of Philadelphia http://www.freelibrary.org/ (Full disclosure-- I work part-time at the Central Branch of the Free Library, so my review might be slightly biased!) The Free Library system of Philadelphia offers a little of something for everyone. There are branches all throughout the city, but the main branch is at 20th and the Parkway, and offers free architectural and historical tours on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays at 10:00 a.m., and daily tours of the rare book department at 11:00 a.m. This year, in celebration of Shakespeare's 450th birthday, the library is presenting Year of the Bard: Shakespeare at 450 featuring films, talks, exhibitions, performances, and a big birthday bash on April 23rd!
Independence National Historic Park http://www.nps.gov/inde/index.htm
National Constitution Center http://constitutioncenter.org/
Morris Arboretum http://www.business-services.upenn.edu/arboretum/index.shtml
Salvation Army Kroc Center http://www.use.salvationarmy.org/use/www_use_KrocCenterPA.nsf
King of Prussia Mall http://www.simon.com/mall/king-of-prussia-mall
Walking in the Wissahickon http://fow.org/about-park/activities/hiking
Big Blue Marble Bookstore http://www.bigbluemarblebooks.com/