Best of Philly

Best Kids' Activity

2023 Best Way to Waste an Hour or Two With Your Kids

Watching Planes Fly Into PHL From Fort Mifflin

You’ve exhausted the playgrounds. It’s too nice to spend the day in a museum. Your kids are driving you up the wall. Head to Fort Mifflin and look skyward. The grounds of Philadelphia’s only Revolutionary War-era fort are a perfect spot to let your tykes blow off some steam while yelling “Here comes another one!” as plane after plane — seriously, every three to five minutes — lands nearby. Keep an eye out for the fort’s annual Airplane Day, held every May, which attracts professional pilots and amateur plane-spotters. Read More »

6400 Hog Island Road, Philadelphia, PA Website

2023 Best Library Activity

Read to a Therapy Dog

Bring the new reader in your house to practice the skill with a furry companion. The pup serves as a non-threatening and comforting audience — no judgment or corrections, plenty of tail wags. Look for these generally monthly events at the Parkway Central library as well as some neighborhood branches. Read More »

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2023 Best Destination Playground

Kids Castle in Doylestown

A playground’s a playground, right? Slides, swings — you get the picture. But not this spectacular Bucks County palace of play. The eight-story wooden playground is divided into different “kingdoms” based on age and ability, all the way up to a rock wall. Over the past year, Kids Castle got even better thanks to renovations that include specialized play structures for kids with impairments, sensory issues and autism. Read More »

425 Wells Road, Doylestown, PA Website

2021 Best Trampoline

Jump Star Bungee Trampoline

Who knew trampoline jumping could be even more fun? Here, jumpers wear harnesses attached to bungee cords, so they can do all kinds of flips and acrobatics (or, you know, just have more of a sense of security and confidence) that might be too much for your casual jumper to try. Read More »

500 West Germantown Pike suite 150, Plymouth Meeting, PA Website

2021 Best Activity for Thrill-Seeking Little Ones

Elmwood Park Zoo Cub Climb Ropes Course

This charming suburban zoo has a challenging ropes course for anybody four and a half feet tall or taller. For smaller adventurers, there’s this course that’s just five feet off the ground at its highest point but still features more than 15 games and a 100-foot-long zip line. Read More »

1661 Harding Boulevard, Norristown, PA Website

2020 Best Way For Parents to Get a Moment to Themselves: Virtual Classes

Settlement Music School

If being at home with your kids 24/7 has changed your attitude toward screen time, it’s okay. Allay your guilt (if you still have any) by registering for one of the many local kids’ classes that have popped up on YouTube and across social media. See the full write up at Virtual Classes. Read More »

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2020 Best Way For Parents to Get a Moment to Themselves: Virtual Classes

Philly Zoo at 2

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2020 Best Way For Parents to Get a Moment to Themselves: Virtual Classes

InMovement Gymnastics Education

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2019 Best Kids’ Event

Drag Queen Story Time at Mister John’s Music

It's a dance party and a story time hosted by a drag queen named Miss Maria TopCatt. If that all sounds like a lot to take in, look at it from a toddler’s perspective: All they see is that it's okay to look different and be different and be friends with people who look different. And actually, that’s pretty awesome. Keep reading here. Read More »

904 South 9th Street, Philadelphia, PA | 773-469-1593 | Website

2017 Best Place to Climb a Tree

Treehouse World

Tree Top Builders has spent the last 15 years constructing seriously impressive treehouses around the country. Now they’ve got a local park where your little monkeys can belay from treetops, shimmy up trunks, bounce on giant trampolines and, of course, run from one amazing treehouse to another. Read More »

1442 Phoenixville Pike, West Chester, PA | 484-329-7853 | Website