Visit Philadelphia for FREE Family Fun

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When it comes to visiting Philadelphia, some of the best things to see and do are free. Who says travel has to cost tons of money?  I am certain many families and budget conscious travelers eager to explore this historic city will love this list.  Check out the city’s many no cost and low-cost attractions, including historic Independence Hall, student recitals at the Curtis Institute of Music and the high-tech production line of Herr’s Potato Chip Factory. Many a school trip has been at the chip factory, it is always a must do for my family.

Let’s take a peek at what we can find for FREE (or close to it) in the City of Brotherly Love.

Historical Sites:

• On 5^th Street, snuggled behind the east wing of Independence Hall, is Philosophical Hall. Erected in the late 1780s for the American Philosophical Society, it functioned as the nation’s first museum, national library and academy of science. Today, the site houses the American Philosophical Society Museum, where changing exhibitions highlight the intersections of history, art and science. $2 donation requested. 104 S. 5^th Street, (215) 440-3440, apsmuseum.org
• After a two-year revitalization, the Benjamin Franklin Museum reopened in 2013. Dedicated to celebrating the legacy of one of America’s most storied forefathers, the museum features artifacts, computer animations and interactive displays that explore Franklin’s life and character. Day-of tickets are available at the door and cost $5 for adults and $2 for children ages 4 to 16. Admission is free for children three and under. 317 Chestnut Street, (215) 965-2305, nps.gov/inde
• The Betsy Ross House was the pint-sized Colonial home of Betsy Ross, who is credited with sewing the first American flag at the request of General George Washington. Visitors meet Betsy herself as she works in her upholstery shop. Admission is $5 for adults and $4 for children, plus $2 for the optional audio tour. 239 Arch Street, (215) 629-4026, betsyrosshouse.org
• For a bird’s-eye view of Philadelphia, visitors head to City Hall’s observation deck, which sits just below the William Penn statue. Four-person tower tours take place on weekdays, every 15 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. and cost $8 for adults, $6 for seniors and $4 for students and children. Broad & Market Streets, E. Market Street Portal, Room 121, (215) 686-2840, phila.gov/virtualch
• Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest continuously occupied residential street in the U.S., is a quaint cobblestone alley located in Historic Philadelphia. Admission for a guided tour of the museum and alley is $5 per person. Family rates are available and vary depending on size of family. Children under six get in for free. Closed during winter months; open Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoons the rest of year. Between Front & 2^nd Streets and Arch & Race Streets, (215) 627-8680, elfrethsalley.org
• Known as the birthplace of our nation, Independence National Historical Park (INHP) includes attractions such as the Liberty Bell Center, The President’s House: Freedom and Slavery in the Making of a New Nation and Independence Hall, the site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and theU.S. Constitution. Timed tickets for Independence Hall can be picked up at the Independence Visitor Center on the day of the tour for free or reserved in advance online for a $1.50 reservation fee per ticket. No tickets are required in January and February. All other attractions are free, and no tickets are required. INHP attractions, between 5^th & 6^thStreets and Market & Chestnut Streets, (215) 965-2305, nps.gov/inde; Visitor Center,
  6^th & Market Streets, (800) 537-7676, phlvisitorcenter.com
• On Independence Mall, the National Museum of American Jewish History invites people to enjoy one of its most popular exhibitions for free. The Only In America^® Gallery/Hall of Fame celebrates the lives and achievements of 18 Jewish-Americans who show that America has provided individuals with extraordinary opportunities. The ground-floor gallery boasts some big-name artifacts: Albert Einstein’s pipe and Steven Spielberg’sSuper 8 camera, among others. 101 S. Independence Mall East, (215) 923-3811, nmajh.org
• History buffs of all ages enjoy Once Upon A Nation’s storytelling benches at 13 locations around Historic Philadelphia, right where the action happened more than 200 years ago. Children can obtain a story flag at any bench, collect a star from each storyteller and exchange the flag complete with 13 stars for a certificate and coupon that can be used at the Betsy Ross House and the Franklin Square Shop. Benches are open from Memorial Day through Labor Day; check website for days and times. Free. (215) 629-4026, historicphiladelphia.org
• During self-guided tours of the United States Mint, visitors watch coin production from 40 feet above the factory floor and see the nation’s first coining press. Audio and video stations explain currency’s history. Free. 5^th & Arch Streets, (215) 408-0112, usmint.gov
• The site of the 1777-78 winter encampment of General George Washington and the Continental Army, Valley Forge National Historical Park offers a glimpse into the Revolutionary War with historic structures such as Washington’s Headquarters and commemorative monuments such as the National Memorial Arch. Visitors can explore the park by car, by bike or on foot guided by the park’s cell phone tour, obtained by calling (484) 396-1018. Free. Route 23 & N. Gulph Road, King of Prussia, (610) 783-1099, nps.gov/vafo

Cultural Attractions:

• For some serious savings on Philadelphia’s most popular attractions, tour-goers can snag a CityPASS ticket booklet, which includes four tickets to Philly favorites. Visitors can pick either Adventure Aquarium or The Philadelphia Zoo, but Philadelphia Trolley Works, The Franklin Institute and the brand-new One Liberty Observation Deck are always included. As of March 1, 2016, the cost is $59 for adults and $39 for children ages 2 to 12—45% cheaper than full-price admission costs. The pass is valid for nine consecutive days beginning with the date of first use. What’s more, it allows holders to skip the main entrance ticket line at most attractions. (888) 330-5008, citypass.com/philadelphia
• Located in a former Civil War-era bank building, the museum at the Chemical Heritage Foundation houses permanent and rotating exhibitions, showcasing hundreds of 18^th– to 20^th-century artifacts that tell the stories of the successes, astonishing failures and strange surprises behind the scientific discoveries that changed our world. Free. 315 Chestnut Street, (215) 925-2222, chemheritage.org
• The Mummers Museum celebrates a centuries-old Philadelphia tradition, which can be traced back to Swedish settlers who brought to the Colonies their Christmas custom of dressing in costume and performing pantomimes. The annual parade started in South Philadelphia on New Year’s Day in 1901 and has grown into an elaborate 10,000-person, all-day affair. A pay-what-you-wish donation to the museum, featuring a rich collection of Mummer memorabilia, is all that’s required. 1100 S. 2^nd Street, (215) 336-3050, mummersmuseum.com
• For Target First Wednesdays, Please Touch Museum^® presents family fun at a discounted price every first Wednesday of the month. From 4-7 p.m., admission is only $2 per person and includes storytime, live puppet shows, interactive activities and more. 4231 Avenue of the Republic, (215) 581-3181, pleasetouchmuseum.org

Art & Gardens:

• The Barnes Foundation, which houses one of the most important collections of impressionist, post-impressionist and early modern paintings in the world, offers free admission and programming on the first Sunday of every month for its Free First Sundays, presented by PECO. The Barnes also has an art library located on the lower level, which is free to visit Monday through Saturday, as well as free audio tours and free ARTime Storytime programs that are best for children ages 2-5 and their caregivers. 2025 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 278-7200, barnesfoundation.org
• Every Wednesday night starting at 5 p.m., the Philadelphia Museum of Art is open to visitors who can pay what they wish to explore the entire main building, showcasing works by Marcel Duchamp, Salvador Dalí, Himalayan artists and many others. Budget-conscious art lovers can also pay what they wish on the first Sunday of every month. In addition, the museum offers free cell phone tours that add perspective to the collections. 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 763-8100, philamuseum.org
• Housing the largest collection of works by Auguste Rodin outside of Paris, the renovated Rodin Museum features treasures such as The Gates of Hell and a bronze caste of The Thinker. The surrounding gardens are also a great place to find artistic inspiration. Guests pay what they wish to explore. 2151 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 763-8100, rodinmuseum.org

Special-Interest Tours & Attractions:

• Part of the Bucks County Wine Trail, family-owned and folksy Buckingham Valley Vineyards offers self-guided tours and free tastings Tuesday–Friday ($5 on weekends). Founded in the Philadelphia suburbs in 1968,Rushland Ridge Vineyard & Winery focuses on chambourcin, cabernet franc and chardonnay grapes and provides free tastings seasonally from Thursday through Sunday. Buckingham, 1521 Route 413 (Durham Road), Buckingham, (215) 794-7188, pawine.com; Rushland, 2665 Rushland Road, Jamison, (215) 598-0251, rushlandridge.com
• Philadelphia’s spectacular 58-floor Comcast Center, one of the tallest “green” buildings in the country, features The Comcast Experience. This stunning blend of art and technology depicts realistic nature imagery, urban landscapes and much more on one of the largest four-millimeter video LED screens in the world—with five times the resolution of a high-definition television. 1701 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, visitphilly.com/comcast
• Along with two playgrounds and plenty of open space, Franklin Square, a revitalized city park named in honor of Ben Franklin, features a fountain, Philly-themed miniature golf, SquareBurger food stand and the Parx Liberty Carousel. The park, celebrating its 10^th birthday in 2016, also hosts free events and programs throughout the year. Mini golf: $9 for ages 13 and up, $7 for ages 3 to 12; carousel: $3 for ages 3 and up. 6^th & Race Streets,(215) 629-4026, historicphiladelphia.org
• The one-hour Herr’s Snack Factory Tour finishes with samples of chips, just out of the cooker. Tours take place Monday through Friday, and reservations are required. Small fee required beginning in June 2016. Route 272 & Herr Drive, Nottingham, (800) 284-7488, herrs.com
• Nature lovers who tour Linvilla Orchards, a fully functioning, 300-acre farm, pick up some delicious goods at the year-round market, spot barnyard animals and head to the fields to pick fruits. Minimal costs for activities. 137 W. Knowlton Road, Media, (610) 876-7116, linvilla.com
• Pizza Brain offers its guests more than just a traditional pizzeria experience. This Fishtown eatery houses the world’s first and only pizza museum, filled with anything and everything pizza-related. The collection ranges from pizza-themed toys and comic books to records about cheesy, saucy pies. Free. 2313 Frankford Avenue, (215) 291-2965, pizzabrain.org

What are you most excited to do in Philadelphia?