Philadelphia freedom: The City of Brotherly Love is a haven for families

Philly may be a motley mix of university students, hipsters and history buffs but it also happens to be an excellent place for kids.Even better? It’s only 95-ish miles away from midtown Manhattan and easily accessible by public transit.Of course, nailing an itinerary for youngsters requires a little extra legwork.

Thankfully, we ventured to the City of Brotherly Love this September to scope out the hot spots for the two-to-teenager set.First up, take the toddlers to the aptly named Please Touch Museum ($24/ticket), where fans of the animated series “Paw Patrol” can enjoy “Paw Patrol: Adventure Play” from Oct.7, 2026 through Jan.

3, 2027.There’s also a new 3,650-square foot “food and family exhibit,” an adventure camp space, fairytale garden, imagination playground, roadside attraction zone (a real hit for kids going through their wheels-wheels-wheels phase) and much more. Or, for those traveling with older kids (12 and up is probably a good bet), you’ll actually want to set your sights just outside of Philly, in nearby King of Prussia.

There, Netflix House Philadelphia (from $39/person) will dazzle and delight with a “Stranger Things” immersive experience and the option to play the Top9 mini golf course (from $15/person).The Netflix Bites restaurant has everything from house popcorn (of course) and tater tots to “Bridgerton-”inspired “Featherington French Toast” and cauliflower tacos, so there’s something for everyone.Next up, we’d steer groups with members of all ages to the Weitzman: Colors of Creation, a timed, interactive experience from the Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History.

This unique offering combines interactive projections, responsive sound, concert-style lighting and large-scale visuals for quite the display and makes for a nice segue to the Color Lab, a hands-on play and discovery space.From now through Oct.

4, admission to the Lindy and Akman family gallery, which includes the Colors of Creation ...