Ari Nestlebaum

Review of Academy of Natural Sciences

This is a great (AND historic) science museum that...

This is a great (AND historic) science museum that is geared for children but contains plenty to excite science-oriented adults as well. There are three floors containing a huge collection of taxidermied animals, countless dinosaur skeletons and casts, an "archaeological site" where kids can uncover fossils, a large auditorium for videos and presentations and an entire room of interactive science exhibits meant to be manipulated by children. There is a huge lunchroom for visiting schools and camps, as well as a well-stocked cafe.There is always a program happening or about to happen, and overall this location gives the sense of being larger than it is.

One note of caution: There is no parking lot, and on-street parking is difficult or outright impossible. Several paid lots within a five-minute walk from the museum occasionally have all-day deals, so it's worthwhile to look into that via SpotHero or some other third party site and then spend the day at the museum itself or its many nearby attractions such as the Free Library of Philadelphia or the Franklin Institute.