1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 299-1000
Website: www.acnatsci.org

Distance: approximately 45 miles
Driving Time:  approximately 1 hour 5 minutes
Hours of Operation: Monday-Friday 10:00am-4:30pm; Saturday, Sunday & Holidays 10:00am-5:00pm; closed Thanksgiving, Christmas & New Year’s Day.
Admission Prices: $10.00 Adult, $8.00 Child ages 3 – 12, $8.25 Senior and military, Children under 3 are free, College students $1 off with valid ID. There is an opportunity for a family membership for $65.00. This includes admission for two adults and all the children in the same household. Please see website for more details.
Parking: Please visit their website to learn more about the 8 suggested parking garages in the area. There is also metered parking.
Highlights: Between Dinosaur Hall, where kids can dig for buried fossils, and Outside-In where kids can touch live animals, this museum is bound to provide a fun, educational experience. There are over 10 permanent exhibits and a handful of traveling exhibits to entertain and excite any child.
Age range: All

1 Aquarium Drive
Camden, New Jersey 08103
(856) 335-3153
Wesbite: www.adventureaquarium.com

Distance: approximately 52 miles
Driving Time: approximately 1 hour
Hours of Operation: Open daily 9:30am-5:00pm.
Admission Prices: Admissions are scheduled every hour beginning at 9:30am. Adult: $16.95, Child (age 2–12): $13.95, Children under 2: FREE, Seniors (65 & up): $13.95. There is an annual family explorer passport membership for $125 which includes 2 adults and up to four children.
Parking: There is a lot in front of the Aquarium and parking is $7.00/day.
Highlights: Does your child love fish, sharks and other marine life? Adventure Aquarium may be the place for her! Here she will find nearly 200,000 square feet of sharks, hippopotamuses, FREE-flying birds, penguins and sea life from around the world to explore. Besides the over a dozen animal exhibits including Shark Realm and Penguin Island, there are also shows and programs given daily. There is also a state-of-the-art 4D Theater which is designed to make you feel like you are in the middle of the action. The Deep Sea feature takes you on an adventure at the bottom of the ocean floor. Combine this trip with a stop at the Camden’s Children’s Garden and you have a fun filled day for the whole family!
Age range: All

Central Park West at 79th Street
New York, NY 10024
(212) 769-5000
Website: www.amnh.org

Distance: approximately 55 miles
Driving Time: approximately 1 hour 17 minutes
Hours of Operation: Daily 10:00am-5:45pm, The Rose Center opens until 8:45pm on the first Friday of every month, Space Show hours are every half-hour from 10:30am-4:30pm; first Friday of every month 10:30am-7:00pm. Museum is closed Thanksgiving and Christmas Day.
Admission Prices: Suggested donation is as follows: Adults: $14.00, Children (2-12): $8.00, Senior/Student with ID: $10.50, Member Adult: Free, Member Child: Free. There is an opportunity for a family membership for $115.00 ($90 is tax deductible). This includes admission for two adults and up to four children as well as some other perks. Please see website for more details.
Parking: There is parking at the Museum’s three story facility at 81st Street between Central Park West and Columbus Avenue. The hours of operation are 8am – 11pm. Please check their website for rates.
Highlights: There are few words to describe the awe-inspiring nature of this museum. From the famous dinosaur halls to the state-of-the-art Hayden Planetarium, the permanent and special temporary exhibits provided will surely amaze and excite any child. In fact, I am sure we can all remember our first visit to this great Museum.
Age range: All

Bronx River Pkwy & Fordham Rd
Bronx, NY 10460
(718) 367-1010
Website: www.bronxzoo.com/bzhomepage

Distance: approximately 65 miles
Driving Time: approximately 1 ½ hours
Hours of Operation: Spring/Summer hours (Apr-Oct): Monday-Friday 10:00am-5:00pm;Weekends & Holidays 10:00am-5:30pm. Winter Hours (Nov- March): Monday–Sunday 10 am to 4:30 pm
Admission Prices: Spring/Summer rates: Thursday-Tuesday Adults $12.00, Children (2-12) $9.00, Seniors (65+) $9.00, Wednesday is by donation, Children under 2 are always FREE. Pay-one-price pass (available April 29 – October 29): A ticket that combines regular gate admission with a reduced rate for the most popular attractions. Adults $25.00, Seniors (65+) $19.00 and Children (2-12 years) $19.00. There is an additional fee for Special Rides & Attractions, please see website for more details. There is an opportunity for a family membership for $120.00 ($74.00 is tax deductible). This includes admission for two adults and children under the age of 18 as well as some other perks. Please see website for more details.
Parking: $8.00 parking for the Bronx Zoo is located just off exit 6 of the Bronx River Parkway. Additional parking is also available seasonally on Southern Boulevard.
Highlights: Voted “Best Family Outing in New York” by citysearch.com users two years in a row, The Bronx Zoo is the flagship of the largest network of metropolitan zoos in the country. Comprised of 265 acres, the Zoo has over 4,000 animals with extraordinary exhibits such as the Congo Gorilla Forest, the Indoor Asian Rain Forest and the Himalayan Highlands Habitat. There is also a Children’s Zoo, where kids can pet and feed domestic animals and enjoy climbing a spider’s web, sliding down a hollow tree and crawling through a prairie dog tunnel.
Age range: All

145 Brooklyn Avenue
Brooklyn, NY, 11213
(718) 735-4400
Website: www.brooklynkids.org

Distance: approximately 56 miles
Driving Time: approximately 1 hour 22 minutes
Hours of Operation: July-August: Monday Closed, Tuesday-Thursday 12:00pm-6:00 pm;Friday 12:00pm-6:30pm; Saturday & Sunday 11:00am-6:00pm. September-June: Monday & Tuesday Closed;Wednesday & Thursday 12:00pm-6:00pm; Friday 12:00pm-6:30pm; Saturday & Sunday 11:00am-6:00pm. There are special hours for the Totally Tots area (children under the age of 5): July-August: Monday Closed; Tuesday-Thursday 11:00am-6:00pm; Friday 11:00am-6:00pm; Saturday & Sunday 11:00am-6:00pm. September-June: Monday & Tuesday Closed; Wednesday & Thursday 11:00am-6:00pm; Friday 11:00am-6:00pm; Saturday & Sunday 11:00am-6:00pm. The museum is closed on Christmas, New Year’s, Independence, Labor and Thanksgiving Day.
Admission Prices: $5.00 per person, FREE for members and children under the age of one. There is an opportunity for a family membership for $50.00. Please see website for more details.
Parking: There is on-street parking available.
Highlights: At the Museum you explore the world! Enjoy learning about music from all over the world at the Music Mix exhibit and urban cities in the Together in the City. Children under the age of 5 can play and learn in the Totally Tots exhibit. Here they will find fun and interesting spaces like the Play Pond, Kids’ Quarry and Baby Patch.
Age range: All

Camden City Garden Club
3 Riverside Drive
Camden, NJ 08103
(856) 365-8733
Website: www.camdenchildrensgarden.org

Distance: approximately 47 miles
Driving Time: approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes
Hours of Operation: Open daily from 10:00am - 5:00pm. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Admission Prices: Admission is $5 for adults, $3 for children (3-11), and FREE for children two and younger. There is a modest additional fee for the three amusement rides. Family membership rates are also available. A discount ticket is available if you show your Adventure Aquarium ticket stub.
Parking: Suggested parking in the Waterfront parking garage.
Highlights: For the curious nature lover, the four acre Camden Children’s Garden is definitely a special place. Here you can explore interactive gardens such as a Railroad Garden, A Dinosaur Garden and a Maze. There is also a Treehouse, the Plaza de Aibonito Tropical Exhibit, and several Storybook Gardens such as the Three Little Pigs and Alice in Wonderland Gardens. The Philadelphia Eagles Four Seasons Butterfly House and the three amusement rides (Commerce Carousel, ArrowRiver train ride, and the Spring Butterfly ride) are sure to be a hit! Combine this trip with a stop at the Adventure Aquarium and you have a fun filled day for the whole family!
Age range: All

830 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10021
(212) 439-6500
Website: www.nyzoosandaquarium.com/5719085

Distance: approximately 55 miles
Driving Time: approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes
Hours of Operation: April–Oct: Monday-Friday 10:00am-5:00pm; Weekends 10:00am-5:30pm. November-March: Daily 10:00am-4:30pm.
Admission Prices: Admission to Zoo includes admission to Children’s Zoo: Adults $8.00, Children (3-12) $3.00, Seniors (65+) $4.00, Children under 3 are FREE.
Parking: There are no parking facilities available at the Zoo. There are a number of parking garages located between 60th and 67th streets and 2nd Avenue to Park Avenue.
Highlights: Taking the kids to New York City for the day? The Central Park Zoo is must see stop on your journey. Situated on over 5 acres, The Central Park Zoo and the Tisch Children’s Zoo offer you the ability to see over 130 different species only a few yards from 5th Avenue. Here you will find a wide range of animals from polar bears, seals and penguins to tropical birds, monkeys, and red pandas. In the Tisch Children’s Zoo, perfect for kids under the age of 6, you will find farm animals to pet and feed, a children’s theater, and a variety of interactive animal statues such as a spider web made of rope and a mock turtle’s shell and bunny.
Age range: All

212 W.83rd Street
New York, NY 10024
(212) 721-1234
Website: www.cmom.org

Distance: approximately 56 miles
Driving Time: approximately 1 hour 20 minutes
Hours of Operation: Tuesday – Sunday 10am – 5pm; Closed Mondays for Camp Groups & Summer Programs. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Admission Prices: Children and Adults $8.00, Seniors $5.00, Children under one and CMOM Members FREE. There is an opportunity for a family membership for $145.00 ($115.00 is tax deductible). This includes admission for all the children in one household, two named cardholders, and the household’s caregiver(s). Please see website for more details.
Parking: There is a Central Parking garage located on West 83rd Street between Columbus and Amsterdam. You can receive a 15% discount on your parking charge at this garage only by having your parking ticket validated at Admissions.
Highlights: Five floors of pure entertainment! There are permanent exhibits like the Little West Side where children can drive the mail truck and build the city skyline, and rotating exhibits such as Dora the Explorer, on display through December 2006, where children can climb through Boots playhouse and help Diego care for animals. Beside exhibits there are also daily drop-in programs like Story Time, Circle Time and Draw Me a Picture. Be sure to check-in and sign up at the Information Desk if you are interested in participating.
Age range: All

30 Centre Square
Easton, PA 18042
(610) 515-8000
Website: www.crayola.com/factory/index.cfm?action=plan.home

Distance: approximately 54 miles
Driving Time: approximately 1 hour 15 minutes
Hours of Operation: Vary depending on the day and time of year. Please check site before planning a trip. Generally speaking, January – May: Monday Closed, Tuesday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm, Saturday 9:30am-5:00pm, Sunday 12:00pm-5:00pm. Memorial Day-Labor Day: Monday-Saturday 9:30am-5:00pm, Sunday special hours, Sept – Dec: Monday Closed, Tuesday-Friday 9:30am-3:00pm, Saturday 9:30am-5:00pm, Sunday 12:00pm-5:00pm.
Admission Prices: Adults & Children (ages 3-64) $9.50, Seniors (ages 65+) $9.00, Military Discount $8.50, Children 2 and younger FREE. Admission does not include the 5% City of Easton admissions tax.
Parking: Paid parking is available at the City of Easton’s Municipal Parking Garage located on Pine Street and at other nearby lots. There is also metered parking. Important to note, Crayola Factory does not validate parking.
Highlights: For the budding artist in every child, the Crayola Facotry is a 20,000 square foot facility is an activity center for children of all ages. The Factory is not a real manufacturing plant, but there are live demonstrations on how crayons are made as well as over dozen other hands-on activities.
Age range: All

222 North 20th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 448-1200
Website: www2.fi.edu

Distance: approximately 45 miles
Driving Time: approximately 1 hour 10 minutes
Hours of Operation: Daily 9:30am-5:00pm, The Tuttleman IMAX® Theater stays open until 9PM on Friday and Saturday evenings. Closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas and New Year’s Day.
Admission Prices: Sci-Pass (does not include IMAX®) is $13.75 for Adults and $11.00 for Children (ages 4-11) and Senior Citizens (ages 62 and up). Sci-Pass with IMAX® is $18.75 for Adults and $16.00 for Children and Senior Citizens. IMAX® only is $9.00 for Adults and $9.00 for Children or Senior Citizens.
There is an opportunity for a family membership for $75.00. This includes admission for two adults and any four children. Please see website for more details.
Parking: Parking is available in the Franklin Institute Garage, entered from 21st Street. Rates vary depending on length of visit, please see website for specific details. Also, please remember to bring your parking ticket to the information desk for validation to receive reduced rates. There are additional parking locations, please website for more details. For shorter visits, there is metered parking located on Winter Street.
Highlights: With 9 permanent exhibits such as The Giant Heart, The Space Command, and The Sports Challenge, children can walk-through a heart, check out equipment used by real astronauts and feel what it would be like to be a star athlete. There are also several fascinating traveling exhibits to fill a child’s mind with excitement and wonder. There is also The Fels Planetarium and The Tuttleman IMAX® Theater to provide an out-of-this world experience.
Age range: All

352 Hope-Great Meadows Road
Hope, NJ 07844
(908) 459-9000
Website: www.thelandofmakebelieve.com

Distance: approximately 59 miles
Driving Time: approximately 1 hour and 25 minutes
Hours of Operation: Open for the public weekends only starting Memorial Day weekend (including Memorial Day Monday) thru 2nd weekend in June. OPpen for the public DAILY from the 3rd Saturday in June thru Labor Day. The Park will also be open on the weekend after Labor Day. Hours are 10:00am-6:00pm throughout the season.
Admission Prices: Admission price includes ALL Rides, Shows, Attractions, Family Picnic Grove, and Pirate’s Cove WaterPark. Adults: $19.00, Children (2-18): $21.00, Senior Citizens (62 & up): $17.00, Children under 24 months: FREE (limited to certain amusement rides)
Parking: FREE
Highlights: A family water and amusement park serving the tri-state area for over half a decade, a trip to the Land of Make Believe is guaranteed to be an action-packed day of family fun. Here you will find exciting rides, shows, attractions, games, a waterpark and a picnic area on over 30 acres. Family favorites include the Action River Ride, Buccaneer Pirate & Wading Pool, Hayride, Old McDonald’s Farm, “Black Hole” Waterslide, Grand Carousel, Pirates Fort, just to name a few.
Age range: All

Surf Avenue & West 8th
Brooklyn, NY 11224
(718) 265-FISH
Website: www.nyaquarium.com

Distance: approximately 52 miles
Driving Time: approximately 1 hour 15 minutes
Hours of Operation: The Aquarium is open 365 days a year and the seasonal hours are as follows: April-May: Monday-Friday 10:00am-5:00pm; Saturday & Sunday 10:00am-5:30pm; Holidays 10:00am-5:30pm. May-Sept: Monday-Friday 10:00am-6:00pm; Saturday & Sunday 10:00am-7:00pm; Holidays 10:00am-7:00pm. Sept-Oct: Monday-Friday 10:00am-5:00pm; Saturday & Sunday 10:00am-5:30pm; Holidays 10:00am-5:30pm. Oct-March: Monday-Friday 10:00am-4:30pm; Saturday & Sunday 10:00am-4:30pm; Holidays 10:00am-4:30pm. Last ticket is sold 45 minutes prior to closing.
Admission Prices: Adults $12.00, Children (2-12) $8.00, Seniors (65+) $8.00, *Children under 2 years are FREE. There is an opportunity for a family membership for $120.00 ($74.00 is tax deductible). This includes admission for two adults and children under the age of 18 as well as some other perks. Please see website for more details.
Parking: Daytime parking until 8:00pm - $10.00.
Highlights: Feel like going on a nostalgic trip to Old Coney Island? Why not stop at the New York Aquarium! Situated on 14 acres by the sea in Coney Island, the Aquarium is home to over 350 species of aquatic wildlife and over 8,000 animals. Whether you are watching sea lions perform at the Aquatheater, sharks and eels swim at Glover’s Reef, or penguins eating at the Sea Cliffs, you are bound to see some interesting animals.
Age range: All

3400 West Girard Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19104
(215) 243-1100
Website: www.philadelphiazoo.org

Distance: approximately 45 miles
Driving Time: approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes
Hours of Operation: March–November: 10:00 am–5:00 pm daily. December–February: 10:00 am–4:00 pm daily.
Admission Prices: (In-Season, April - Oct) General Admission (includes Birds of Australia) , Adult: $16.95, Child (age 2–11): $13.95, Child (under 2): FREE, Members: FREE – The family membership is $89 and includes admission for two adults and admission for children in the household under age 18.
Parking: Per vehicle: $10.00, Member with valid membership card: FREE
Highlights: For the zoo lover in all of us, the Philadelphia Zoo offers more than 1500 rare and exotic animals from around the world on 42 acres of picturesque Victorian gardens and historical architecture. The Tastykake Children’s Zoo includes a farm area where children can see sheep, goats, chickens and rabbits. There are also two new animal exercise yards where children can find macaws, porcupines, hedgehogs and owls and in the Backyard Bugs area, curious kids can see all sorts of interesting bugs. Lastly, throughout the day there are interactive animal shows at the brightly colored theatre.
Age range: All

210 North 21st Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 963-0667
Website: www.pleasetouchmuseum.org

Distance: approximately 45 miles
Driving Time: approximately 1 hour and 5 minutes
Hours of Operation: General hours: 9:00am-4:30pm. Summer Hours (7/1-Labor Day) 9:00am-5:00pm. Closed New Year’s, Thanksgiving and Christmas Day
Admission Prices: Children under the age of one: FREE, Children & Adults: $9.95 per person. There are group rates, please see website for more details. There is also an opportunity to for a four person membership for $75.00, please see website for more details.
Parking: There are several parking lots within walking distance of the museum in addition to on street metered parking. Metered spots are $0.25 per 15 minutes.
Highlights: The name says it all! A place where children are encouraged to touch, learn and play – what a great place! There are seven exhibits ranging from Barnyard Babies, designed for children 3 and under, to Kids Construct, where your child can nurture their creative side. There are also theater performances and programs as well as a kid’s store. Please check their calendar of events to see what activity is scheduled the day you plan to visit.
Age range: All

450 Flatbush Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11225
(718) 399-7339
Wesbite: www.nyzoosandaquarium.com/5719118

Distance: approximately 56 miles
Driving Time: approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes
Hours of Operation: April –Oct: Monday-Friday 10:00am-5:00pm;Weekends 10:00am-5:30pm. November-March: Daily 10:00am-4:30pm.
Admission Prices: Adults $6.00, Children (3-12) $2.00, Seniors (65+) $2.25, Children under 3 are FREE.
Parking: FREE parking is available on Flatbush Avenue.
Highlights: Visiting some friends and family in Brooklyn? Head over to beautiful Prospect Park where you will find almost 400 animals of more than 80 species. There are both indoor and outdoor areas were children can explore common and exotic animals in exhibits that are similar to their natural habitats. On the outdoor Discovery Trail you can find Kangaroo-Like Wallabies and Red Pandas. Inside exhibits feature Baboons, Snakes and many interesting birds. There is also a Petting Zoo area where children can learn about common domesticated animals and their habits.
Age range: All

53-51 111th St.
Flushing Meadows Corona Park
Queens, NY 11368
(718) 271-1500
Website: www.nyzoosandaquarium.com/5719193

Distance: approximately 62 miles
Driving Time: approximately 1 ½ hours
Hours of Operation: April –Oct: Monday-Friday 10:00am-5:00pm; Weekends 10:00am-5:30pm. November-March: Daily 10:00am-4:30pm.
Admission Prices: Adults $6.00, Children (3-12) $2.00, Seniors (65+) $2.25, Children under 3 are FREE.
Parking: There is a FREE parking lot located at 111th and 53rd Avenue.
Highlights: Another stop on the Wildlife Conservation Society tour is the Queens Zoo. Situated on approximately 5 acres, you can find more than 400 animals of over 70 species. The zoo has the feel of a national park and its perimeter is a pathway which walks you through various wild habitats found in both North and South America. Here you will find California sea lions, American bald eagles and bison, endangered spectacled bears, and mountain lions.
Age range: All