Please Touch Museum

4.1 (450 reviews)

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Closed • 9:00 am - 4:30 pm

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Please Touch Museum - Grocery store - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Please Touch Museum - Carousel - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Please Touch Museum - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Katherine B.

One of the best children's experiences I've ever been to. Such an incredible building with gorgeous architecture, and a place my kiddos could have stayed all day! I cannot speak enough about stopping into this museum. The Alice in Wonderland exhibit was one of the best parts!

Emily H.

What a delight the Please Touch Museum was for my family! We visited on the recommendation of my brother- and sister-in-law, who we were visiting in Philly. I admit that I thought this might entertain the crazy masses of children among us for maybe 30 minutes, but we ended up staying for a couple of hours -- and probably could have stayed longer if not for nap times. This beautiful building has different spaces that kiddos can interact with -- from mini towns and shopping areas, water tables and a giant "Alice in Wonderland" area. It also boasts a fun carousel, which was worth the extra cost. The Please Touch Museum also has a great food court, which came in handy. Even for adults, it was hard not to want to play with everything as well. I wish I had something like this when I was a kid! The tickets are a little on the steep side at $24 for anyone over 1, but in terms of time spent, this was worth the price.

I looked up to see if there were kids hanging from the ceiling - but there were some cool celestial decor

Jess L.

All I can remember of our visit here was watching kids hang from the ceilings. Ok, not really, but I needed to look up not to feel overwhelmed. I came on a very hot summer day at around 11am on a free weekend. Ok, I was not set up for success, but almost immediately, we were all overwhelmed. Even getting to the bathroom felt like a battle. At a place like this, one is always in a tacit battle with parents who are not paying attention and those who are paying a bit too much attention. The dynamic felt a little pushy. It was hard to get into any specific part to interact with without feeling some competition. The grocery store is obviously one of the best attractions, but when they're refilling the area, the tension is palpable. Honestly, we were all excited to get out of there.

Sarita M.

We love this place, there is something for every kind of kid - for the high energy kids who need to climb and run (like mine), for those that are still crawling, for the kids with different sensory needs (I thought it would be too overwhelming), the kids who love fantasy and whimsy, for the kids who want quiet time with a cute book in a corner. There is something for the future engineers, artists, mechanics, astronauts, bakers, etc etc etc. It's impossible to see everything in one day so it doesn't get boring even after multiple trips and as your child grows their perspective changes. the membership basically pays for itself after 2 trips (love that free parking, unlimited carousel rides and discounted cafe and gift shop items with membership). Since it's indoors, it's a wonderful rainy or cold day activity, a place to just let kids be kids. We also love that many of the "exhibits" are reflective of real life - how cute are the septa bus, trolley and the supermarket? There are mini workshops on the lowest level (make sure to check what ages they are appropriate for). Usually I expect cafes in these types of places to be ridiculously overpriced but I think the prices here were quite fair. I also love how clean everything is, it is HARD to keep things clean since kids are basically petri dishes - my son and I have tried out several indoor play spaces and there are a few where he got so reliably sick after a visit that we just stopped going, The Please Touch Museum is not one of them. My only complaint is that I wish there were more bathrooms - us potty training parents are suffering. But otherwise, I'm happy to renew my membership AND I love gifting memberships to my other parent friends so we can have chill play dates together.

Rachel V.

Checked out this museum and it did not disappoint! The unlimited $5 carousel rides are a neat option. I like the café and there are plenty of options for kids and adults alike. We actually found parking right outside, which was maybe a stroke of luck but that saved us 18 bucks which was nice. Some of the exhibits seemed a little older, possibly outdated maybe need a little upkeep but in general there was a lot of fun things for 3, 4, 5 year-olds. My 3 year old loved the water exhibits and they offered vests for the kids to stay dry! I'm not sure I'd bring an older kids here but that's a pretty good age group.

Molly H.

While the museum was pricey, it was so worth it! We brought my 2 year old and we all had the best time. She loveddd the grocery store. The little carts and belt to scan your items with the credit cards was so cute! She also loved the water area and the Septa bus. It was fun to explore everything and I appreciate there were so many lights and sounds for little ones to press and learn from. I appreciate we could bring food or snacks in, but we ate lunch in the food court. The food was pretty basic so I wish we had brought our own but I appreciate they had pouches, hummus, etc in the grab and go section. I hear it can get very busy, but we came right when they opened on a Sunday. It was also a nice weather day, so I think a lot of people went to the zoo instead so we got lucky.

Laura W.

It doesn't get much better than this for a children's museum! We spent all day here (minus about an hour-we arrived about an hour after opening), and could've easily come back the next day and spent another day here. A couple of tips: *check out the schedule for the creative arts studio and makers space. If you want to sign up, hang around that area because it fills up quickly and registration is only available an hour or so before. *the food and family exhibit has specific times it closes for cleaning. * plan to follow the end of day parade-so much fun! * unlimited carousel is so worth it to purchase There is just so much to explore here! Water play area is awesome too! Both my 3 year old and 6 year old did not want to leave. Coming from another city, we stayed overnight prior to our visit and I'd highly recommend doing that so you can get an early start. If we were local we'd absolutely have a membership!

Gabriella W.

This is an EXCELLENT place to take your toddler. Children's are able to touch everything, play with foam, water, cars, play food, play grocery shopping, and so much more. They also have a carousel for kids to ride with or without their parents. They have a cafeteria with kids friendly food and a gift shop with souvenirs.

Troy L.

I decided to visit the museum during one of their free days. I took the 38 bus from the Amtrak station to Please touch me museum. As a lot service got discontinued for septa on 8/24/2025, a lot of the septa bus schedules and routes got messed. I was able to find the correct 38 stop to the Please touch me museum. It was a 30 minute ride and too me a few steps to the museum. Since it was free, museum was packed. Experience was not that enjoyable because kids were everywhere and all the adults were sitting on the available seats. The grocery station downstairs was a mess because there was not enough carts for everyone. It was good to get a preview of the museum. I will definitely come back when it is less packed.

Carmen L.

We went here during one of the free admission during the summer time. It was a very big museum located in a big grassy field . We were able to explore all the areas. It was kind of chaotic since it was free so we had to wait for our turn. It was still a good museum for the kids. You can basically spend a whole day here. There is also story time if you time it correctly. The Alice in wonderland maze was pretty cool. They are have an eating area if you want to buy food. A big merry go round inside, additional pay for this one.

Yanill F.

Must visit if you have young children! We were in Philly for the weekend from New York. We visit museums often in the tri-state area. The Please Touch museum was amazing and our favorite so far! Tons of different sensory areas to keep them engaged and having fun. The place is huge, it never felt overly crowded. The water sensory stations and supermarket area were my kids' favorites. I have three under six and they all had an amazing time. I would definitely return. The food was reasonably priced as well unlike other museums. Five stars!!

Matthew L.

The Please Touch Museum is a children's museum that opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in October 1976. It was founded by Montessori educator Portia Sperr. The museum's mission is to create a space where children can explore the world through play and learn through curiosity. It began as a small operation with 25 children at a time, staffed entirely by volunteers, and was initially located at the Academy of Natural Sciences. The museum moved to a larger location two years later. By 1983, it had to another location on 21st Street near the Franklin Institute. In 2005, the museum received an 80-year lease to operate at Memorial Hall: a much larger location with room for more exhibits. The museum officially opened at Memorial Hall in October 2008. My family and I recently visited the Please Touch Museum while we were on a short trip to Philadelphia. Since my wife and I became parents, we are always on the lookout for good children's museums. The Please Touch Museum may just be the best one we've ever visited! There were so many different areas for our two young sons to explore: Roadside Attractions, the Rocket Room, the Storytime Cabin, Wonderland, Nature's Pond, the Imagination Playground, Food and Family, the Fairytale Garden, Adventure Camp, and much more. We definitely think our sons' favorite exhibit was River Adventures, which focuses on water play. They spent so much time here. In addition to all of the great exhibits, the museum is also home to a historic circa-1908 Woodside Park Dentzel Carousel which we loved riding on. We spent about 3 hours at the museum, but our sons probably could have spent the entire day there and not have been bored. We highly recommend the Please Touch Museum to families with young children! We hope to return in the future!

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Trish K.

Elite 26

295

750

1581

9 years ago

Thanks Yelp for reminding me to review this place. I heard about it on my certifiedkids app. The building is gorgeous!! What struck me is- for being a kids place the volume wasn't out of control. Also, it was CLEAN. No weird smells. Grime. Nothing. Just a cool museum. I also appreciated that we didn't have to exit through the gift shop. There was a little cafe with the kid staple food. The carousel was a lot of fun. Not a very long ride but perfect for the kids. My kid liked the foam block area and the little town downstairs. She also liked the train display. This place is fantastic for kids and parents. There were staff members around and the kids were having fun. I highly recommend this place to anyone looking for where to go with your kids!! read more

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Sui B.

Elite 19

171

790

1277

9 years ago

For as much as I could possibly "like" a place with screaming children running wild into each other and not sharing, I give this a museum a solid 4. I am deducting a star for the outrageous parking fee of $12 and the lack of staff intervention when some of the older kids got violent with the blue noodles. Now on to the good. We pulled up to the museum that could have easily stood with some of the finest establishments in Paris. It is almost a shame that the bright orange sign "please touch museum" stood in the front of the building. The size of the museum is impressive. When you first enter you can choose to go left or right. Both sides have an upstairs and downstairs loaded with touching opportunities to indulge the kiddies who are too often told "NO! Don't touch that!" My favorite interactive exhibits was the Alice in Wonderland which comprises of mazes and tea parties, secrets windows that look out to mysterious creatures a child would find exhilarating. Bottom line- for $19 (over the age of 1) it is a great couple of hours to spend with kids under 5, especially in the winter! read more

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Andreina S.

Elite 25

287

184

9 years ago

The membership is the way to go if you live in the Philly area, with the second visit you can pay for it for a family of four, completely worth it and believe me, you will be coming here more than twice specially in the winter months or and the hot summer time. The membership will also give you many benefits like 50% discount on affiliated places like Tampa, FL & Pittsburgh, PA children's museum just to name a couple, a whole list of locations can be provided when you purchase your membership. It's a great building with lots of space on each exhibition, kids can touch, play with and climb anything they want, perfect for all ages. You will find the typical areas like the supermarket, construction site and art room but they also have a room where you can shoot "space rockets" which my kids love and can spend hours in. A maze with Alice in the Wonderland theme, water area and more! This place is true my magical, I wish I had something like this when I was a kid! read more

Please Touch Museum - Train station area - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Please Touch Museum - Market - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Carmi D.

583

7 years ago

This review is for the staff Everything else in the museum was amazing for my kids to play and enjoy themselves. The staff is rude and have no consideration for the handicap or elderly. We were on the big bus tour And got off at the please touch museum to let my 2 and 3 year old burn off some energy. Me, my teen daughter, 2 toddlers, grandma and grandpa. Grandma and grandpa wanted to sit out in the lobby since we were only going to let the 2 kids play for an hour. No point in them paying 19$ to stand around when they could rest on the bench. At one point my father asked to use the restroom. Bad health, handicap, and had other issues. Anyway they told him he had to pay 19$ to come in and use the facilities since he wasn't a paying customer. Wth?! Serious? Ladies in front said it was a safety issue for grandpa to come and pee in the bathroom while I paid for my kids to play. Apparently it's a policy. So I offered to switch out with him and sit out while my kids played and he went in to pee and come back. But that's not allowed. So I'm going to speak to a manager and hopefully get some insight. Update: I called the executive office and spoke with someone, didn't get her name, she called the museum and said a "mr Pritchard" will come out and find me. They send out a "ronnie m" the general manager. I wish I got the staffs names of the people I spoke to at the front who said "it's my job, it's a policy, it's safety, it's for paying customers..." excuses excuses. The fact that I had to call up higher to use the bathroom is ridiculous. This museum is all about money and it shows when the staff talk to you and how they treat you. No welcoming at all the head snapping and eye rolling and the "psh!" Attitudes. Won't come back again. Unless the staff in front retire. They were about that age anyway. Good thing they let him use the restroom. I almost had to call 911 for an ambulance so my father could get relief and empty out. It was a medical issue but we hate playing the medical card. If I called 911 the museum would have most definitely be served to foot the bill and other damages caused to my fathers already bad health. If it's a policy to not let paying customers use the restroom. Then build one in the lobby! Yo get people riding tour busses here and they get stuck and have nowhere else to go with no other means and no other restroom nearby. Smh. Update #2 The bathroom is in the lobby. Just blocked off my ropes and security so you can only use it on the way out of the museum. read more

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Kevin P.

Elite 25

135

305

7 years ago

My family are huge fans of this facility! The staff working is all fantastic and very helpful. The price is on point for what you get. And if you are members like we are it includes other great features...ie: early access, special events, FREE parking! Can't go wrong if you plan on going twice at least... and we go every Monday! The museum itself is pretty large, many great play areas. They have a garden where kids can harvest vegetables. A pizza shop, restaurant, grocery store, many different types of trucks (my boys favorite!). They also have different event areas that come and go with the season and what's popular. A huge hit is also the "rocket room". You construct a little foam rocket and are able to shoot it through targets at a predetermined angle. A big hit is also the water tables! Not enough great things to say about that, we spent about 45 minutes just in that area! And downstairs is an Alice in Wonderland themed playground, tea party, and flamingo croquette! And to top it off, they have a carousel! Can't go wrong there. All in all a great experience for everyone attending, even the grandparents had a ton of fun! I recommend to anyone that loves to play, touch, and be hands on! All ages would love this place!! read more

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Shaila S.

Elite 26

475

425

369

9 years ago

As a mom of a toddler, I must say, this is hands down the best childrens museum I have been to in my life. The transportation exhibit, water room, grocery room, medical examining room - everything has been thought out with so much detail - it is amazing. Its a great place to bring your kid, explore with them, and experience with them. Also, the cafe is solid - with organic fresh pizza and kid friendly food. and restrooms with plenty of changing tables all over the place! Definitely plan to stay here at least half a day to get your moneys worth (its not cheap) but it is definitely worth it. read more

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Camilo M.

4 years ago

Fun time to spend with your family especially little ones there is a lot for them to explore and helps them learn how real world situations occur for example the grocery store was a blast as they run around grabbing they're essentials. And after all long day playing and running there are surely in it for a nap on the way home read more

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B I.

253

3 years ago

No doubt the place is nice with things to do for everyone. It is too pricey in my opinion. That said it was still crowded on the weekend. Getting 1 yr membership makes sense if you plan to come more than twice per year. read more

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Holly W.

Elite 14

114

395

14 years ago

I took my four year old niece here last week and we could not have had a better time. The quality of the museum and the people working there is top shelf. We spent five hours and could have easily spent another five. The thought put into each area to make it entertaining and educational and appealing and engaging and perfectly kid friendly all at once is just brilliant. We went on a warm Friday in May and it was really pleasant - much less crowded than the previous time when we went on a weekend. It felt like the first time we went was still fun but we were racing madly from one exhibit to another trying to squeeze around lots of other kids and this time we could actually take a bit of time and really play and more calmly and fully experience each wonderful area. It was worth taking a day off from work to do it. There are "dress up" outfits for doctors, astronauts and even an Alice in Wonderland blue dress, pinafore included. She loved everything but spent the most time loading bricks, launching rockets, grocery shopping, running around the Alice maze and playing in the water with the boats. There is a puppet show three times a day and it was really cute and entertaining and included audience participation that the kids (and adults!) loved. The cafeteria had lots of kid friendly food like organic chocolate milk, pudding, fruit, ice cream, Rita's water ice, pizza, hotdogs and juice boxes. There is so much great detail - the light up sun, rainbow and the hanging clouds above the water area, one has a face and blows occasionally to show "wind", another cloud actually rains - there is an amazing mural that lines the ramp that one takes down into Alice's rabbit hole - I could go on and on. The other thing that really struck me was how much every person working there seemed to sincerely like children - I like kids but I can only imagine dealing with lots of them every day, all day, might get tiresome. But from the man taking our tickets to the woman leading the "parade" they have in the lobby with the kids to the sweet girl who read my niece stories with such enthusiasm, even though we were the only ones who showed up for story time - everyone we encountered was ready to chat and smile and try to do everything they could to make sure she had a wonderful adventure. And they were successful! read more

Please Touch Museum - A very merry un-birthday! - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Please Touch Museum - Warp drive engaged! - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Please Touch Museum - Storytime - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Please Touch Museum - Puppet show - adorable! - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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John L.

Elite 26

619

3823

7 years ago

I decided to take my 5 year old son and 6 year old niece here during a weekday for some fun and to stay out of the ridiculously hot weather! My first tip would be to part on the avenue of the states. The parking lot will cost you $12, but parking on the street is free. (My loss is your gain, you're welcome!) The building itself is beautiful. Memorial Hall is the only large exhibit building to survive on the Centennial exhibition of 1876 aka World's Fair. Just imagine being there back then and seeing the first time introduction of: Alexander Graham Bell's telephone Remington Typographic Machine (typewriter) Heinz Ketchup Wallace-Farmer Electric Dynamo, precursor to electric light Hires Root Beer Kudzu erosion control plant species There is a model of the entire fair grounds on the bottom floor which was so neat to walk about and see. If you want to know more history https://www.phillymag.com/news/2016/05/10/centennial-exhibition-history/ check that article out. When you walk inside the museum you see a junk sculpture of the Statue of Liberty's torch which is a great family picture. It's a tip of the cap to the original real torch which was actually at the 1876 exhibition. Museum wise this is an amazing place to let your kids imaginations go wild. My son had the most fun on the top floor launching little foam rockets in the rocket room, floating boats in the river adventure area and building things out of the foam toys in the imagination playground. The bottom floor he enjoyed Wonderland mostly and it was so funny to see all the kids in the museum rushing around and pretend shopping/paying for items in the market. I thought it was a nice touch to have costumes for the kids to wear in certain rooms to further their imaginations. I wish they had more of them to share! The carousel is beautiful, but sadly there is no music to go along with the ride which is a bit of a let down. I paid for unlimited rides, but my little guy was done after one ride. We spent about 3 1/2 hours here and enjoyed every minute. $19 is a little steep for admission, but the kids had a blast so it was worth it. I wanted to note that they did have some small toddler only play areas which was in case you want to take an older sibling to have fun, but still have activities for a little one. read more

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Jeffrey K.

Elite 13

274

416

143

18 years ago

Great idea in concept and it made my kids happy (thus giving this place three rather than two stars), but I did not find anything particularly great about this place. Granted, it is not "overwhelming" which can be a good thing especially for small kids -- but I got the sense that this place felt dated as far as its exhibits were concerned -- that combined with the relatively expensive price of admission just did not make it a "WOW" place for me. NOTE: I was recently given a hint that you can get free (or perhaps discounted) admission to this place if you FIRST visit the Ben Franklin Museum -- they apparently have free or discounted passes to the Please Touch Museum that can be obtained there. It will be interesting to see / return to this place when the "new" and improved Please Touch Museum opens up (I think it is supposed to be right next door.) The mock-up that is on the first floor of the current location seems impressive and I think will continue to bring joy to kids of many ages. read more

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Jaimee A.

Elite 26

2399

1961

713

10 years ago

This is a great museum! The outdoor space is beautifully landscaped with a lot of room for kids to run around while waiting for the museum to open. The first floor is divided in 3 sections. Section one is dedicated to cars and transit, section two is a water table play area and section three has a full sized carousel. The bottom floor has "rooms" with different themes. The themes varied from hospital, grocery store, shoe store and diner. They also had an Alice in Wonderland maze. Overall, my kids had a great time! read more

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Brendan c.

Elite 26

631

186

10 years ago

The please Touch Museum used to be great but it has lost it's way. Everything is half broken and/or worn down. Staff tell you how things are broken at every turn. Just one example is the big river display is nothing more than a place for a kid to splash water with their hands. Nothing works correctly if it even works at all. Things like the shoes store has no shoes to play with. The market is tired and worn out. The only redeeming place is this is still a good and safe place to take your sound child. I hope the directors out some money back into their displays. read more

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Emily Y.

Elite 15

494

487

14 years ago

One of the best Children's museums I have ever been to! It was my 2nd time at PLEASE TOUCH and my 6-yr old Godson LOVES this place. He spent the majority of the time there in the construction play area. I think that is his forte! He loves construction trucks very much, but not as much as Thomas the Train & Friends and this construction playground is pretty amazing with lots of working tools/machines like a conveyor belt, time clock, and bricks...well OK, bricks are not really parts that move but these bricks kept this 6-yr old busy for at LEAST 3 hours!!! It was a real bitch trying to get him outta the place!!! We were lucky enough to have been in line with really nice people who gave us a coupon for free entrances...Philly moms ROCK!!!! Oh yeah, we went on Presidents Day Weekend and it was packed like a MF yet this 6-yr old had the best time and even made a few friends!!! Note to parents, please make sure you stay with your kid, sometimes we encounter a few bullies (very few but they exist) whose parents are too tired and sitting their asses on the benches not paying any attention to what their child is doing! Pictures to come soon! read more

Please Touch Museum - The brick layers - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Please Touch Museum - YAY!!! Happy place - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Please Touch Museum - See!! Anyone of all ages has a smile on their face!!! - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Clare D.

Elite 26

246

603

232

14 years ago

My child had a lot of fun here, but I'm very annoyed that Please Touch Museum didn't honor my 10% off discount for showing my SEPTA TransPass. According to SEPTA's Pass Perks program: What is Pass Perks? Pass Perks is a special program designed to reward SEPTA TransPass and TrailPass customers with discounts to a wide variety of establishments throughout Greater Philadelphia. In order to redeem a Perk, all you need is to show your pass at the time of the transaction. and here is the 10% off discount info: http://www.septapassperks.org/perkview.php?t=pfrf&id=728 The ticket girl had NO CLUE about this discount. Surely, others should've asked about this discount because not everyone comes here by car. read more

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Dana M.

Elite 24

238

7 years ago

I've been visiting the Please Touch Museum since I was a child. It was a wonderful experience to bring my toddler here for the first time. This is the perfect place to let your child explore and learn. The exhibits are really cool and and range from a super market to a rocket launch pad. Lots of fun for growing young minds. They have designated play areas for children 3 or under so they don't have to compete with the bigger kids which I loved. There is a concession area and a cool cafeteria to eat in that is the home to a giant carousel. I opted to pack my own lunch for the day but it's nice to know they have food. There aren't any lockers (they do have a coat closet) so wear a back pack or something so you can be hands free to play with your little one. Check out some of the scheduled activities on their website as well to take full advantage of your time here. read more

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Ellen G.

7 years ago

The cost of admission is 20 pp- which seems on the high side considering that this starts at any child over 1 year old. Parents also pay full price for accompanying their child. At this price, a season pass may be worth it if you brought your kids every week. The exhibits are interactive but it's not a completely unique experience- other indoor places offer similar experiences, and some even include parents admission with child (I'm specifically referring to those I've visited in the D.C./northern VA area. There also isn't an area for the kids to just climb and tumble around. The carousel rides are also at an additional cost- seems that one ride should be included in that 20 dollar admission fee. Lastly the staff operating the front desk is not the most friendly- seems odd for a kids museum. My mother in law came out (after having already paid) to meet us and they tried to charge her twice and were actually pretty rude about it. read more

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Erik B.

7 years ago

This place is amazing, not just for kids. I went with two little ones and I think I had more fun then they did. read more

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Sherese M.

108

7 years ago

This is a great museum for young children. It has two levels. There are so many things to explore here and it's interactive on so many levels. It had a great water play space, art area, block area, carousel and even a show. The price point is fair for all that is included! It is definitely a trip.to consider. read more

Please Touch Museum - My son putting gas in a car. - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Please Touch Museum - My son putting air in the tires. - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Please Touch Museum - He's attaching tires to the car...I believe they were magnetic. - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Please Touch Museum - .....making a sandwich in the deli....there were quite a few different exhibits which contained food! - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Please Touch Museum - Here's the museum! - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Please Touch Museum - He loves this zen garden!!! I couldn't tear him away... - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Dave H.

137

8 years ago

OMG this is prefect for kids. My daughter loved the water table and the grocery store. This place is great place definitely will put a smile on a childs face read more

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Matt F.

Elite 26

108

741

1857

12 years ago

Perfect for kids as long as it's not too crowded. Came here last summer for the first time to bring our son after hearing about this place and of course being in the area. We arrived fairly early and had some peace of mind before the crowds started and kind of put a damper on things. Granted they're kids, but it's almost hard to enjoy certain things when there is just chaos going on all around you. We did work our way back around to some areas that we bypassed due to the large number of kids who completely engulfed said 'exhibits'. There was a camp or two there two with naturally no sense of direction or control from their counselors, which says a lot about that particular camp. Anyway, the place is ideal for kids (ages 2 to maybe 7 or 8) who are curious about certain things, places, and just want to pretend play in a sort of real environment that they wouldn't normally get to experience. There's the popular Shop Rite shopping experience, working in McDonald's, exploring a real car, a children's hospital, and so on. There really is a lot to do for kids and this place will keep them entranced for several hours. The Alice in Wonderland set up is actually well done and even adult fans of that will appreciate it. Littered throughout the 2 floors are glass displays of nostalgia and memorabilia from the 60's to the 90's that is certainly nice to look at for parents - I know for me (being a child of the 80's), looking at some of those displays brought me back to my own childhood. This place is worth your time at least once if you're in the area with your kid(s). It would be better of course if the parents or teachers/counselors stayed with their kids and told them to put things back once they were finished so that the next set of kids could enjoy them just as much as their kids did, but not the Please Touch Museum's fault or job for babysitting the irresponsible. Some areas are meant for slightly older kids, while other areas are best suited for toddlers. We never got to experience the "rocket" room due to the rough kids inside there that weren't readily going to give up their spots at a particular area. It's a shame, but the parents/counselors are the ones responsible for that one. The water play area on the first floor will probably get your child a little wet, so be prepared with that. They do have a parking lot that charges $8 to park, but you also have the option of parking in the street for free as long as you can find a spot. The gift shop is predictably overpriced, but that is normal. The staff was as pleasant as could be from the ones I dealt with or seen. All in all a great place and definitely worth a visit for your kids. read more

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Shereen C.

Elite 26

310

899

1673

11 years ago

This is a museum for children. I imagine any child would have fun here. Some of the exhibits seem cheesy and not very educational, but the kids still seem to like it. Admission is rather pricey, however, since they charge a hefty fee per individual (for each child or adult). It'd make more sense for the Museum to offer a family or group admission that's cheaper, since adults are there to accompany the children. I definitely wouldn't want to go for my own sake. Would young children even be allowed to go in alone, without accompanying adults? read more

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Stephen B.

Elite 26

199

490

1482

10 years ago

This place does as much to teach kids proper social etiquette as it does to teach them about the real world. A model car, bus and trolley that kids can get into and make believe they are driving is just the tip of the iceberg of offered hands on experiences. As importantly kids learn from their parents proper social etiquette: wait in line and take your turn. Of course there are the one per centers who don't think their kids have to follow the rules. Street parking is free; the lot runs $20. bring your own food with you in a cooler. unless you want to pay about 30 to 40 dollars for family of 3 to eat in the cafeteria. read more

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Tara W.

Elite 20

489

599

133

8 years ago

Perfect for the preschool set, it's like going for a play date at some other kids house where you don't have to clean up the toys. They have different themed semi educational areas like a hospital, garden, tv studio, and grocery store. Of course my kid played with all the stuff we have at home (baby dolls, play food) but it was DIFFERENT play food so it was exciting. We went on a gorgeous Friday afternoon and it was emptyyyy. I'm sure it gets packed on weekends or mornings with school trips. You can buy tickets and parking in advance and flash on your smartphone. Love it! read more

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Stephanie W.

3 years ago

You may think this place is safe since it's a Children's Museum but it is NOT. There are 2 floors with no separation (floor or netting) between the 2nd and 1st floors. Children can and DO throw toys over the 2nd floor and onto people on the first floor. We watched this happen to 2 children! Both were hit by wooden blocks an older child knowingly threw down from the 2nd to 1st floor. One child had a bloody gushing head wound and the museum did nothing. Please be careful if you take children and go on the lower level. Watch out for flying objects that could injure children or anyone!! read more

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Bruce L.

7 years ago

Had an amazing time at the please touch museum with my grandkids! They absolutely loved riding on the carousel and seeing all of the cool exhibits. What a fun Saturday and cannot wait to go back soon. read more

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Jennifer M.

Elite 19

192

283

8 years ago

So so cute! We had an amazing time at the museum today. So much to see and do from a kiddies perspective. Our princess was very entertained and excited to see and touch everything. They had different activities today at specific times which was pretty cool. We purchased our tix online along with parking and a carousel ride. Great price. Upon entry there is a guard that directs you to the correct line to retrieve your tix. I like order lol. It's pretty easy to get through the floors in about 2 hrs or less. There are plenty of seating areas and bathrooms. And there is even an area to purchase lunch I believe, or bring your own. The store is pretty great also. Stop in and look around. They had some great deals today. I'm glad we took the trip to visit. I was impressed by the smocks when it came to the water activities, nicely done. We will definitely come again. read more

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Traci C.

232

12 years ago

We took a road trip from the DC area to Philly to give the Please Touch Museum a go after hearing a lot about it from friends. Our visit took place on the Friday before Columbus Day weekend with myself, my hubby, and our two year old. Admission: We were fortunate to take advantage of their two free admissions per military ID (including spouse ID) so that all three of us got in for free. We paid $3 for our little one to have a ticket for the carousel. That's it. I have read of some people getting upset at the cost for the kids but it is after all a CHILDREN'S museum, and with the amount there is for them to do, I wouldn't complain at all. Parking: There was *plenty* of free street parking outside of the museum, no need to use their lot. Exhibits: We loved all of the different sections of the PTM! Our little one enjoyed the water area, grocery store, and Alice in Wonderland exhibits most. Carousel: Worth the $3. Beautiful and loved that they had security straps on the horses to loop around the kids. Bottom line: Would I visit again if I were in Philly? Yes, mostly because it's free for my family. Definitely best for the younger crowd, I'd even say 6 and below. read more

Please Touch Museum - Old school Fisher Price display. - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Kitty H.

Elite 26

428

4683

9 years ago

We decided to join the membership due to free parking ( $12 ) and it would be paid off in 2 visits. Discount also applied to carousel tickets. Members paid $1. Regular $3. Adults ride free. 10% discount at cafe. We saw people parking along the road for free and walking to the museum. Museum has two levels. Ground and lower. One cafe. Pros: 1. Affordable food prices which was seldom seen in commercial places. See my pictures for pricing. Gluten free food offered on a limited menu. 2. Outside food allowed. Tables found in cafe or next to carousel. 3. Dance party at the end of the day x 15 minutes. My son ( 4 ) complained it's too loud but my daughter ( 1.5 ) enjoyed it. 4. Plentiful plastic aprons at water area. 5. Creative design such as the Alice in Wonderland theme maze. 6. Role play area such as kitchen, hospital. grocery store, construction, bus, ice cream stall, race car driving etc. Train exhibit at lower level. 7. Cute rubber duckie collections including an Obama duck ( see my pic ) by water area. 8. Great appearance of the building. Cons: 1. Carousel ride offered no music. A little dry after a few laps. Line was not bad though. We waited for 5 minutes. 2. Child height ( my son is 4 ) sink available to certain bathroom only. 3. Place was dated. Toy parts missing, dolls were dirty and dark, hand dryers not working etc. Ice cream toy stand had one cone and 2 scoops of ice cream left for kids to play. 4. Not enough staff supervision. Older kids were grabbing toys from younger ones, especially at water works ( kids were splashing too ) and grocery stores/kitchen area at the lower level. 5. Story time and meet and greet Potato Head: No microfone was used for story time. It was in the foyer area which was a big empty space right at the entrance. One couldn't even hear her standing 25 ft away. 6. Plastic aprons at water area were one size fit all. Fit well on 5-6 years old kid but not for my 1.5 yrs old daughter. 7. Strollers everywhere!!!! Walk at your own risk. No designated stroller parking. Overall, kids were occupied for whole afternoon. Parent close supervision required as always. In my case, I made sure no older kids would grab my son's toy from his hand and vice versa. Minus one star due to dated condition, missing toy parts and not sufficient staff supervision. read more

Please Touch Museum - Obama - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Please Touch Museum - Stroller everywhere! Walk at your own risk. No designated stroller parking - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Please Touch Museum - Can't even hear the story telling - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Please Touch Museum - The only cafe museum. Prices are acceptable - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Dave F.

Elite 20

436

658

1440

9 years ago

So... have you ever been to a children's museum anywhere? Great, then you know what you can expect. The Please Touch Museum is in a space that probably once upon a time housed a real museum, and now is home to a lot of interactive exhibits and hands on activities for children. It's a good sized space with lots of themed areas (cars, trains / buses, grocery store, doctor office, outer space, Alice in Wonderland, etc). There's a lot of activities such as art work and story time as well. My main issue here is the same one I have with every other children's museum... half of the interactive exhibits are broken. It pretty much feels like one out of every 3 or 4 interactive exhibits just flat out don't work. I get that these things are abused by children every day, but if a family of 5 is coming and dropping close to $100 just to get in the door (admission is $19 per person, and the same price for a 2 year old as an adult), it's not unreasonable to expect things to be functional. Overall, I'd give it maybe a 3.5 star overall, but the combination of the relatively high cost, especially for children, and amount of broken exhibits force me to round this down to a 3. It's a good way to spend a few hours, but temper your expectations relative to the price. read more

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Rutherford M.

8 years ago

They are way overcharging for this and my son's favorite thing was the wooden train set that is going away soon for some goofy Zanzibar exhibit. read more

Please Touch Museum - Young Trump voters - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Deborah A.

8 years ago

This is a great place to bring the kids on a rainy Sunday. Everyone there seemed to be really enjoying themselves. I couldn't believe there was free parking!! The Cafe had great offerings and the gift shop had really different items to pick up on your way out. My niece and nephew ( 3 and 4) were the perfect age for all the activities. read more

Please Touch Museum - Awesome rainy day activity - Museums Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Anthony S.

Elite 26 All-Star

365

1008

1343

11 years ago

If you have kids that range from I guess about 2 1/2 to about 7ish years old, this is a great place to go. It's certainly not the most educational museum you'll visit, but keep in mind you are not going for you. The kiddies will run around non stop from the moment they arrive until the moment they get really cranky, have a meltdown and need to leave :-) In all seriousness, I think it's a great place to come and spend a few hours, you're little one(s) will have a terrific time and you will definitely get your walking workout in for the day. read more

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Cindy L.

Elite 26

363

130

10 years ago

Best time my 2 year olds had in Philadelphia so far! This place is a huge hands-on museum for toddlers and kids (I think all elementary age kids can have fun here, too, although in my opinion, best for toddlers and kids up to 3rd grade.) Admissions was $17 per person and kids older than 1 need to pay as well. They had a huge two story play area for kids. A market to buy food (they can be the customer and cashier), an area dedicated to motor vehicles that the kids can drive in (my boys liked the crane the best and the man working that station was super kind and patient with the kids), a water area to play with boat (loved that they had a pull over for the kids to wear so they avoid getting too wet), an emergency room, Alice in Wonderland tree...there was so much to do..oh..and the giant carousel. Just a great time had by all! :) read more

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Ahmed A.

7 years ago

***FREE PARKING ON THE STREET *** It's called a museum but there is nothing "museum" about it. It's a Home Depot size McDonald's Play Place. The visiting exhibit was the only learning experience. Carousel ride should be included in ticket price for kids for one time and additional rides should charge extra. They charge for parking but parking is free DIRECTLY in front of the "museum". They charge $19 for 1 year olds but a lot of things were not for them. They couldn't reach the water for the rubber ducks or boats. And many other exhibits were not for them. Also adults should not pay full price as kids do. Not for ages above 6 and no less than 24 months. The museum will tell you 1-8. The room downstairs with the trains smelled moldy and my son couldn't go in due to the smell. read more

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Dar L.

6 years ago

This place is magnificent for toddlers. I've never seen anything like it. My 2.5 year old especially loved the Septa bus and the rubber ducky waterway. We live in DC and went ahead and purchased an annual membership as we plan to take our toddler back to PTM a few times this year. (Yes, it's that good!) And as a parent, it brings me joy to watch how delighted and happy my kid is there. P.S. The cafe there has pretty good food too. Well curated facility. read more

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Shop T.

7 years ago

Amazing place to take children...went there with my 5 year old and 18 month old and they had a blast! Each exhibit is clean and interactive! The only issue was when I was paying to get in the attendant was very confused as to who I was paying for and actually over charged me, so check your receipts! Other than that it was well Worth $19 pp! Restrooms were clean..didn't check out the cafe but it looked good! They allow you to bringing snacks and drinks for your little ones. They have a parking lot which is $12 but you can easily find parking Across the street! Highly recommend for a day trip with your family! You can spend the whole day there and Jane a great time! Will definitely be back! read more

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Chelsea C.

Elite 18

140

371

8 years ago

Overall, I was very underwhelmed... The Please Touch Museum is a fantastic interactive environment for all sorts of kids - but it's important to note that my 5-year-old son was a bit old for a lot of the exhibits. We specifically went for the Wonderland exhibit, which he loved; however, many of the other options seem geared for 2-4 in age. PTM is also VERY expensive, which is not a reasonable expectation for this type of family activity. I also did not appreciate spending so much to find half of the water table features broken, overflowing trashcans, unimpressive food and drink options, dirty and broken exhibits, and a pitifully short carousel ride with a number of the horses out of service. I'll stick to the Children's Museum in Pittsburgh when it comes to activities like this... read more

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Victor G.

241

110

8 years ago

Cool place to take the kids during the day. Lots of hands on activities for them. We killed 5 hrs here. I wanted to make sure to get my money worth. At the end of the day, my kids were worn out. Looking forward to the next trip read more

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reviewer m.

146

16 years ago

Fun place for kids and maybe even for big kids. We went here with some friends and their little guy. The little guys had a ball and there are tons of things to play with and really nothing breakable. Kids were poking around, hanging off things, climbing, and just having fun. There was a huge water section where you can put smocks on the kids and splash around with the boats. In the basement level is an Alice and Wonderland themed place and a little city with McDonalds and a doctor's office. I'm not sure what age the museum is geared towards but I would say younger than 2 wouldn't appreciate it and over 8 would think it's lame. Note/Tip: if you go but don't have kids, admission is $2 cheaper! read more

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Page 4 of 12

4231 Ave Of The Republic
Philadelphia, PA 19131
Directions
(215) 581-3181
Call Now
Visit Website
http://www.pleasetouchmuseum.org/

Hours

What time does Please Touch Museum open?

Please Touch Museum opens at 9:00 AM on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

What time does Please Touch Museum close?

Please Touch Museum is closed on Monday and Tuesday.Please Touch Museum closes at 4:30 PM on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Mon-Tue ClosedWed-Sun 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM

Services

Is Please Touch Museum by appointment only?

No, Please Touch Museum is not by appointment only.

Indoor Amenities

Does Please Touch Museum allow dogs?

No, Please Touch Museum does not allow dogs.

Other Amenities

Does Please Touch Museum have free WiFi?

Yes, Please Touch Museum has free WiFi.

Ask the Community - Please Touch Museum

I have a nearly two month old infant, must I buy a child's ticket for them?

Children under 1 are free

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Any child friendly restaurants nearby?

There really isn't much right there since it's actually IN the park. It's a quick hop onto 76 which will bring you back into the city. From there you can go to University City or Art Museum/Fairmount. In Fairmount Little Pete's is a solid casual… Read more

View question details

What age kids is this good for? I have a 2 yr daughter

I would say 4 and younger. My son is almost 6 - and we had a hard time finding enough for him to do.

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Review Highlights - Please Touch Museum

“For some reason my l/o could not stand the feeling of the rug in the Alice In Wonderland maze exhibit.”

Mentioned in 14 reviews

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The Franklin Institute

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The science center named for a founding father famous for several notable scientific experiments…read morelives up to his legacy. There is so much to see in one day that one could spend the whole day there. We managed to arrive just in time for a show in the planetarium, which was beautiful with plenty of relaxing seats. This is just outside of the LEGO exhibit where visitors can explore building various things. Down the middle of the institute is a giant pendulum swinging and knocking over some pegs over the course of 24 hours. Other exhibits include space, engineering, body mechanics, etc. Plenty of things to observe and read about, but also many interactive exhibits making it fun for kids (of all ages). All of us enjoyed the giant human heart that you can walk through to explore the various ventricles and atria. Most memorable for me was watching Child #2, who sits still for nothing, be absolutely entranced by the live demonstration of a dissection of a cow's eyeball. He thought it was the coolest, and the guy giving the demo was very patient with all the kids who came up to ask questions afterwards. For anyone who likes Science, this is an absolutely fantastic place to come explore!

I'm from NYC. Many months ago I had planned on visiting Spruce Street Harbor Park on Memorial Day…read moreSaturday. I bought a non refundable round trip ticket on Greyhound. And then a week before my trip, I found out that it would be 55 degrees and raining on Memorial Day Saturday. I wasn't going to flush $60 down the toilet. I thought about indoor activities that I could do in Philadelphia. And then I remembered that one of the episodes of Abbott Elementary took place at the Franklin Institute. I decided to check it out. Overall, I was impressed. The museum is divided into sections based on a specific theme. My favorite section was the space exploration section. There were many exhibits about the universe and advances in space exploration technology. Even if you're not into science those exhibits will pique your interest. Another section of the museum is about human anatomy. Since I get disgusted easily I passed. There was also a section of the museum about mechanical engineering. That wasn't really interesting. My favorite part of the museum is a giant steam engine at the basement. It is so freaking huge. It's bigger than an Amtrak locomotive. In addition to exhibits, the museum has various 20 minute science demonstrations. I watched a demonstration in which a very funny female scientist used a bunch of chemicals to create fire. There's also a liquid air show and an electricity show (I didn't have time to watch those. I will return to the Franklin Institute the next time I visit Philadelphia). In addition, there's a show about dissecting animals (I don't recommend that). $29 is a bit steep, but that's to be expected at a major museum in a big city,

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4.1

(159 reviews)

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It's honestly hard for me to rate any museum under 5 stars, let's be real. I came for one of their…read moremonthly Dinos After Dark events and loved it. Even though it's a "pay what you want" event, there were still a lot of kids around. I kind of thought it might be more of an adults-only vibe, but it makes sense -- the whole place is built with kids in mind. There's a giant T. rex fossil in the main atrium that's super impressive, but the museum floor plan is a bit confusing. There are tons of kids' play areas and fewer traditional exhibits. A lot of the taxidermy looks almost too realistic, which is a little unnerving but also kind of cool. Still a really fun time overall. The top floor has an interactive animal area and another kids' play section. The second floor has a rubber dig pit for kids, and I accidentally wandered into it and immediately realized how hard it is to navigate when you're not actually there with a child. Oops. Staff was great. Super informative and enthusiastic, even showing off different types of roaches and explaining them in detail. You can tell they really love what they do. I learned a lot and had a genuinely good time. I'll definitely be back.

I visited the Academy natural science on free museum day during welcome America. The museum was not…read moreoverly crowded. The staff were super friendly. This museum has a lot of interesting animal exhibits and special exhibits. It's smaller so it's chewable for young children. There's also a children's area on the third floor with a lot of hands on things to do. He saw some of the dioramas of the animals, but spent most of our time in the special exhibit the ecology of fashion. The exhibit was very well done. Its focus was how fashion affects the environment, waste. And animals. It also showed new materials that are being used to cut back on waste. It highlighted the fast fashion trend, and how it affects sustainability. It was really interesting exhibit.

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Philadelphia Art Museum

4.6

(960 reviews)

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Climbing the famous "Rocky Steps" in Philly's 93-degree heat made me feel I'd really accomplished…read moresomething when I reached the top. My reward -- a leisurely browse through the air-conditioned Philadelphia Art Museum. Augustus Saint-Gaudens' towering "Diana" sculpture welcomed me, then I gravitated towards familiar favorites: "Little Dancer, Aged Fourteen" by Degas, & Impressionist paintings; Rothko's "Orange, Red, Yellow"; & Diego Rivera murals. During my visit, Van Gogh's "Sunflowers" were temporarily on display, which are a treat to behold, as well as "Rising Up," an exhibit dedicated to boxing in the US & our fascination with the Rocky statue & steps here at the museum. Though the front of the building is iconic, there's a rideshare pick-up/drop-off point at the back West Entrance that's less congested with traffic & requires less walking for those not keen on a 72-step climb.

I absolutely love the Art Museum in Philadelphia! I've been there a few times, and every visit has…read morebeen such a great experience. The first time I went with my four-year-old, I wasn't sure how interested she would be, but she actually loved exploring the exhibits. Her favorite part was the LEGO Art Museum area - she played there for about 30 minutes and had so much fun. The museum is beautiful, very clean, well organized, and has something enjoyable for both adults and kids. I also love that parking is very convenient - they have a garage nearby that is around $9 per hour, and there is also upstairs parking, which is a little smaller but nice because it's a bit closer to the museum entrance. It's such a fun getaway in the city, and I love that it can be both educational and entertaining for the whole family. Definitely a place we'll keep coming back to!

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Edgar Allan Poe House

4.3

(97 reviews)

3.4 mi

Small, easy, short touristy trip. Another great free thing to do in the city when you have friends…read moreor family from out of town. I live in Nolibs, so this is an easy walk from my house. Parking is plentiful nearby, too!

Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site - Philadelphia, PA…read more Boomsauce Score: BS +++ (Amazing location! now that's boomsauce!) Even mid-renovation, this place hits different. Stepping into Poe's former home is like walking through the pages of Gothic literature. The art installations and that surreal raven sculpture outside? Straight out of a dream--or a fevered poem. It's eerie, poetic, and deeply moving. Though the house is currently closed for a utilities improvement project, you can still feel the weight of history pressing through the walls. Poe lived here during one of his most prolific periods, penning classics like The Black Cat and The Tell-Tale Heart. The cellar even resembles the one described in The Black Cat, adding a deliciously creepy layer to the visit. If you're in Philly, this is a must-visit. It's not just a museum--it's a tribute to the tortured brilliance of one of America's greatest literary minds. And when renovations wrap, it'll be even more hauntingly beautiful. --- Boomsauce Scale | Rating | Meaning |---------|----------------------------------| | B | basura (trash) | | BS | basic (come on! Try harder) | | BS + | better (Yo! That's better) | | BS ++ | best (alright! Alright! Alrightttt!) | | BS +++ | Amazing location! now that's boomsauce! |

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Philadelphia was the first hub of modern medicine in the US. It's incredible to just take a few…read moreminutes to really appreciate the magnitude of this. The staff was really nice as we arrived a few minutes after our allotted time on our purchased tickets. I struggled with the tightness of the space. Many specimens required me to squat which may not be possible for other guests. There is so much to see but it's in such a tight space, specifically the first floor. Many of the glass cases were also warped which was not easy on the eyes. The museum has great potential if everything was spaced out more. Given that the space is tight, one felt rushed to read everything because there were other guests shoulder to shoulder trying to experience the space. If you were ever into Ripley's Believe It or Not, check the Mutter Museum out, plenty of unique cases! I felt queasy at times seeing real specimens floating in jars. The pharmaceutical marketing room was intriguing, I love seeing ads from the past!

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The Masonic Temple in Philadelphia

Available by appointment

After having it on my list for a while, I finally took a tour of the Masonic Temple with my husband…read moreand some friends yesterday. It was worth waiting for. Right across from the Philadelphia City Hall, the Masonic Temple serves as the headquarters of the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. It's a huge building and - wow - is it maximalist! Our tour was a little over an hour, and I recommend booking ahead (a group walked in just in front of us and hoped to buy tickets for the tour about to start, only to learn that it was sold out). Our tour guide was knowledgable (but told us when she didn't know the answer to a question because the Masons are secretive and keep a lot of facts about what occurs in the Lodge to themselves). The architecture is really stunning and there's so much to see: incredible plasterwork, grand staircases, murals, and more! Photography without flash is allowed throughout the tour, and I took about a million photographs. The Temple has a fascinating history, and the architecture and decor made my jaw drop a few times. Definitely worth visiting if you live in or are visiting Philadelphia.

A beautiful building that houses the leadership offices of the Grand Lodge of PA Freemasonry. Tours…read moreare available, but need to be scheduled in advance. Beautiful lodge rooms, hallways, artwork and fraternal historical artifacts. A landmark historical building well-worth the visit. Certainly a must-see if you are a member of this ancient and honorable fraternity, as are both my son and I.

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The Barnes Foundation

4.0

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An ad for this museum came up in my Instagram feed and I'm glad it did. I put it on my list when I…read morewas visiting Philly recently. This is more like a house than a museum and the walls are filled with art from top names in the art world. I had a very nice but rushed visit cause I was trying to visit the Philly art museum before it closed as well. Next time I'll take more time. Cezanne, Manet and Picasso. The staff was nice to deal with too.

Beautiful museum- the tickets are pricey but it's a great experience. We loved their collection of…read moreMatisse and Renoir paintings. There's also a great temporary exhibit running through August of 2026 called Freedom Dreams on the main level that's very moving.

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Philadelphia's Magic Gardens

A wholly original and beautiful little spot with an incredible story behind it. Really cool to see…read morehow one man's vision endured against long odds and now has left a great space for other artists to share their work too. The gift shop also has great, unique stuff. Worth making a little trip here and strolling the neighborhood to see the vendors and Isaiah's other work nearby. Pro tip: Get your ticket in the gift shop and don't worry about timed entry!

We love quirky places like this. There are a number of these "weird" art installations in our home…read morestate of Wisconsin so we knew we had to visit this when in Philadelphia. We bought timed ticks online a couple of weeks in advance - with our reciprocal museum membership we got free admission. The history of this place and the artist who created it is fascinating. There is so much to see in each area and around each corner. It's easy to miss stuff. Don't forget to walk around the block to see the exteriors of nearby buildings. They have all been given the "mosaic" treatment! We were here a bit under one hour. Definitely worth a stop!

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Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts

I visit museums without pre-conceived notions, reading reviews generally after the fact. PAFA --…read moreas it's known -- is a good one. Founded in 1805 the academy is the first school and museum of fine arts in the United States. The historic landmark building is closed for renovations with three stories of exhibits now housed in their Hamilton Building (which is NOT named for Alexander!) Several things impacted me: the galleries are wide open, light and airy. A pleasure to walk through. A number of items from the Atwater Kent collection -- formerly the Philadelphia History Museum -- are on display. The diverse collection ranges from baseball, department stores (Wanamakers, anyone?), civil rights ... the list goes on. There is student and alumni art for sale and casts of Greek and Roman antiquity located in an active student workspace. As with most museums, exhibits change. The gift store with its friendly proprietor, is as good as any I've been to. A beautifully curated collection, and after Thanksgiving, I believe everything is discounted 30% for the holidays.

Great local arts (and oldest fine art)…read more Enjoy their occasional events. V inclusive and alternative. Friendly and clean

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The gallery is light and airy; a pleasure to walk through

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Woman (Containers) by Natalie Frank

The Fabric Workshop and Museum

Honestly, I had no idea this place existed until I saw it advertised and decided to check it out…read more I'm glad I did because it ended up being one of the more unique museums I've visited in Philadelphia. It's a relatively small and intimate space. The first floor has a gift shop and an area for workshops and activities, while the galleries are spread throughout the building. When I visited, the first-floor exhibition featured quilts, while the upstairs gallery focused more on themes of American culture. Both were fantastic. The quilt exhibition was probably a traveling show, and I absolutely loved it. I know several quilting enthusiasts, so I have at least some appreciation for how much time, patience, and technical skill goes into creating these pieces. Some of them felt less like blankets and more like full-scale tapestries. The level of detail, color work, and craftsmanship was incredible. The upstairs exhibition had a much stronger political and social commentary element, which I personally enjoyed. Art doesn't have to exist solely to be beautiful or entertaining. It can challenge ideas, express opinions, document experiences, and start conversations. I appreciated that the museum embraced that side of art rather than shying away from it. One of the coolest parts was the workshop area downstairs. There was a small market set up and plenty of people actively crafting and creating things. For a moment I wanted to join in, but the space was packed. Then I watched what everyone was making and quickly realized these people were good. Very good. At that point I remembered I was in a fabric museum and workshop and that my own sewing abilities are... let's politely call them limited. The only thing that felt a little awkward was how often the museum reminded visitors about the recommended donation. I completely understand why. Free museums need support, and I have no issue contributing. It just came up enough times that I started feeling a little self-conscious about it. I was already planning to donate on my way out, but repeated reminders always make me feel slightly uncomfortable even when I understand the reason behind them. Overall, this was a wonderful surprise. Thought-provoking exhibitions, beautiful craftsmanship, active creative spaces, and a welcoming atmosphere. If you're interested in textiles, contemporary art, or just want to discover a museum that's a little different from the usual Philadelphia lineup, it's definitely worth a visit.

Popped in to thaw my dawgs and was greeted by a lovely giftshop. Lots of gorgeous prints and…read morejewlerly made by local artists and my favorite-- free postcards!! I was hoping to see the workshop, but the day I went only the 1st floor exhibits and the 8th floors were open to the public. I recently got back into sewing, so this was a great opportunity to explore new ways fabric has been used for expression.

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Visitors explore sketches and journals from Moki Cherry's life, featured in "The Living Temple: The World of Moki Cherry"

Ulfirst floor

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Risa Puno, in collaboration with The Fabric Workshop and Museum, Philadelphia. Group Hug, 2024. Photo credit: Carlos Avendaño.

Linvilla Orchards

Went to the spring car show. This is my 3 rd year going. They get lots of old and classic cars and…read morethey do a flea market as well. They have a pizza truck that serves very good personal pies. The car show gets a few hundred cars. If you want to enter your car it's $20 cash at the gate. They give you a small tin plaque and a registration card for your window. Since my car isn't winning any awards I don't stay till 3 pm to await the judges choices. My car is nice, but not prize winning nice but that's ok. It's a fun few hours. It got too hot by noon to stay longer. Weather in early May is tricky. Highly recommend checking out the car show. The general store on the grounds is huge. Bought lots of stuff to take home.

Linvilla orchards is an amazing place to bring family and kids of all ages. They have so many…read moredifferent activities like fruit picking, animal zoo, pet feeding, children playground, all for free. There's also a beer garden for adults that opens around noon. There's also a a market that sells freshly grown fruits, vegetables and local made goods. There's also a garden and gift shop selling a lot of the local artisan products. Lots of parking available around the main entrance area. We went early in the morning around 10am. We spent most of the first few hours walking around the zoo that had a huge chicken range, duck pond, cow, goats, sheep and horses. There are vending machine to buy corns to feed the animals. We had to get our own quarters as the coin exchange machine was broken. Around the noon we head to the Linvilla Grill. They had some good pizza and chicken tenders. There were few outdoor benched to dine. Price was little steep. The freshly squeezed lemonade was outrageous. They make the whole thing by grinding lemon right in front and put it in a huge plastic 32 oz jar. It is so worth for $8. We also bought some peaches and cooking sauces from the market. Cash is preferred, for credit card they charge fee at the market checkout.

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Linvilla -- 1:30pm on Tuesday in September (Rosh Hashanah holiday) a sea of cars

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Some pumpkins they are everywhere

Italian Market Festival

4.5

(20 reviews)

3.9 mi

Always a great time with great food I go every year with my mom she's from that area so it's a…read moregreat time for her

I once had the pleasure of a one day trip with good close friends to Philadelphia, PA during the…read moreItalian Market Festival. We had a foodie day of Italian staples including sweets. Italian Market Festival is an outdoor market on 9th Street that complete me... Italian sausage, Italian staples as freshly handmade pasta, and all genres of sweets imaginable. Eat, walk a little, walk some more on Philadelphia's historic 9th Street! Foodie galore in the City of Brotherly Love!

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5/18/2024 grease pole

5/18/2024 draft peroni

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5/17/2025

Manayunk Arts Festival

4.5

(12 reviews)

3.2 mi

So much fun! Lots of variety of food and arts! Must go ... add it to your calendar! Glad I wentread more

We love going to the Manayunk Arts Festival. We had a great time, but unfortunately it was too hot…read moreto walk around for any length of time. Hopefully next year the weather will be cooler.

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Glass menagerie

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David A. Vigo, artist from Pensacola, Fl

St Anthony's Italian Festival

3.2

(13 reviews)

24.6 mi

Everything! The ambiance was beautiful, good crowd control, and the food was absolutely delicious!read more

the biggest RIP off I have ever seen. save your money. 30 dollars for 2 kids to ride 2…read morerides!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! we left and went to Middletown carnival

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Good ole festival fare...Spaghetti & Meatball with bread & butter $10

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It's amore! Italian flags everywhere :)

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

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35 reviews that are not currently recommended

The reviews below are not factored into the business's overall star rating.

Ana H.

Elite 23

154

3 years ago

My sons and I recently visited the Please Touch Museum, and we had a wonderful time. It's definitely one of the best museums for kids that we've ever been to. The museum is designed with young children in mind, with plenty of hands-on exhibits and interactive activities. My sons particularly enjoyed the water play area, where they could splash and explore to their hearts' content. They also loved the kid-sized supermarket, where they could pretend to shop and play cashier. One of the standout exhibits was the Centennial Exploration, which took us on a journey through the history of Philadelphia. The exhibit was beautifully designed and featured plenty of interactive elements, such as a train ride and a carousel. My sons were fascinated by the exhibits and learned a lot about the city's history. The museum is also very well-maintained and clean, which is important when you're visiting with young children. The staff were friendly and helpful, and we felt very welcome throughout our visit. One thing to note is that the museum can get quite busy during peak hours, so it's best to arrive early or be prepared for crowds. However, the museum is so well-designed that it never felt too crowded or overwhelming. Overall, I would highly recommend the Please Touch Museum for anyone looking for a fun and educational experience with young children. My sons loved every minute of their visit, and we can't wait to go back again! read more

John V.

128

12 years ago

Perhaps a better name for this place should be, "Please Touch, children's place space". For me, a museum has a certain level or amount of educational material. This "museum" does not meet that standard. That being said, it's a fantastic place space with amazing activities to entertain your child. My son had a blast. You can easily spend a full afternoon here with your child being fully engaged and interested. Highlights of our visit were obviously the carousel, the Alice maze and tree. The boats in the front were definitely neat. I will say, the winter puppet exhibit was a little creepy and odd. Overall, a great space, helpful staff, and decent food (by museum standards). If I lived in Philly, we would definitely be members. #oldguysyelptoo read more

Nagesh P.

1467

10 years ago

I got the year pass for my toddler for this place. I did not have time to take him there so just recently we went there on the weekend. The place have gone down big time. It is not clean as it used to be, a lot of the toys are broken and the worst - somebody stole my iPhone from my stroller. I have more than a 1,000 family pictures! Please if you are planning to take you kids to this place make sure that you carry valuable things with you at all time. What a disappointment. I will not go there any time soon. I hope when I go there next time the place would be cleaner, toys would be working and I would not have to watch out all the time for my belongings but enjoy the time with my son. read more

Gerard C.

2 years ago

I've been to this place several times and it's always a happy moment for the kids! The place is always clean and there's always security on hand to handle any situation. My kids absolutely loved the classes that were offered. The coding class with Reid was excellent, and the art class with the oil pastels was expertly managed. They made learning fun for the whole class! This museum is surely huge! My favorite spot was the Alice in Wonderland Tea room, but there were also crafts, pretend cooking and shopping areas. There's always something for the kids to learn on, like book reads, live exhibits, and meet and greets! read more

Leah D.

11 years ago

This is a gold mine for kids! The museum just moved (Oct 2008) from its somewhat small space in Center City, to this spectacular and gigantic building that holds a special place in Philadelphia's history as the art gallery from the Centennial Exhibition in 1876. Kids can easily spend hours on the first floor alone with the indoor carousel; stream with plenty of toy boats, ducks, and locks; race car pit crew; airplane making station; and craft room... to name only a few exhibits! Parents and older kids will enjoy the full model of the 1876 Centennial Exhibition in the basement. read more

Joseph A.

357

13 years ago

I was in the Please Touch Museum on Friday May 17th when the fire broke out. Before the fire my daughter was having a blast at the facilities, and even when we were evacuated the PTM staff were interacting with the kids playing games and story time outside on the grass. The only drawback was the fact that they are expensive ($16 per adult and child as well) and when the fire broke out they didnt offer us the refund given that we are from out of town and probably never going to go back there. read more

Threegirlhouse M.

15 years ago

Extremely overpriced and overrated as compared to other kid attractions in the area. Your child gets to pretend play in a kidsized McDonalds? a shoe repair? Combine that with kids that are unsupervised (parents are busy on their phones) and hogging exhibits for personal photo ops (Can your child not climb into the car, I am trying to get my kid to smile for a picture for 5 mins). Seriously?? A rude crowd. Not returning EVER. read more

Shelb L.

Elite 26

495

4483

2 years ago

This museum is absolutely fantastic! We could have easily spent an entire day exploring all it has to offer. The Please Touch Museum is a wonderful destination for visitors of all ages, with engaging exhibits that spark curiosity and creativity. I particularly appreciated the thoughtful touches throughout, like the conveniently placed hand sanitizers, which made the experience feel extra safe and enjoyable. Highly recommend! read more

Betty F.

11 years ago

I didn't get to come here until I was in 7th grade. I loved it then and even now at 23, I could still spend hours playing around at all the exhibits. The recent move to Memorial Hall was much needed - its old location was too small to handle all the fun that can be had in this place. Sadly, it seems to have placed it out of reach for a lot of visitors and locals that do not attempt to venture out to west Fairmount park. read more

Amy K.

12 years ago

Was amazed how big the museum is. This place is full of fun. Everything looks new and clean. My son loves this place he will never get tired of it. They are really good at locate your kids too one time I turn around my kid is gone already so they radio each other and found him right away. I feel very safe here. The only thing is they don't really have a area for babies. read more

Summer S.

13 years ago

Not really what we expected. The museum advertises that it is suitable for children up to 7, but many areas are developed for children 3 and under. My 7 year old was much too old for most of the exhibits and really didn't have a fabulous time. I don't feel it meets up with the advertising that I read about it before coming to Philadelphia. read more

Olivia D.

14 years ago

Please Touch Museum is just such a great place! I brought my nieces there 3 times and they keep asking me to bring them back. They absolutely love it here, without being bored for one second. It hasn't been overly crowded when I have been here, just enough where it's comfortable. I may sneak in and play myself one day!! read more

William William P.

8 years ago

I took my family here this weekend. The facilty is clean, the staff was polite, it's spacious with enough activities to fill 2-3 hours if you have active children. I know my boys loved it. However, the price for adults is a little high. 15.95 a person for adults when it's a museum for children is a little silly. read more

William P.

8 years ago

William P.

8 years ago

Crystal V.

11 years ago

My son loved the please touch museum. We made our way in for the first time and there was so much to see and do. They loved the shopping store and the jungle animal exhibit. It is so interactive! He keeps asking to go back. The staff was exceptional and answered any questions we had! read more

Frank S.

2 years ago

Me and my daughter LOVE coming here. Shame it's further away than it used to be. Not that it's a problem but I enjoyed being closer. But the parking now is awesome because it's free and always always available for many many spots. read more

caralee g.

16 years ago

Wow, the building, outside and in, is just wonderful. What a place for kids! Clean, not too crowded in the morning. Good selection of lunch foods. My favorite was the tree-house, water-play, and alice-in-wonderland sections! read more

Megan V.

14 years ago

We have visited her often since we have a membership. It is fun and a good way to fill the day but at over $50 for a family of three I think the prices are a bit steep if you don't have the membership. read more

Gigi Z.

13 years ago

Love this place. If you have kids this is the place. perfect for something to do in the winter or during a rainy day. Food could be better but still a great place for your kids to learn and run wild. read more

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35 Please Touch Museum reviews that are not currently recommended

Why does Yelp recommend reviews?

35 reviews that are not currently recommended

Please Touch Museum - museums - Updated July 2026

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People found Please Touch Museum by searching for…

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