I was very surprised by how interesting The Academ...

I was very surprised by how interesting The Academy of Natural Sciences is! We visited it after we had spent a few hours at The Franklin Institute (they are right across the way from each other) and it was the perfect end to our science-filled day.

The Academy isn't big, but their displays are interesting & well-maintained (they were even renovating some dioramas while were were there). The kids had fun at The Big Dig, where they got goggles & an archeologist tool to try their hands at an excavation. Also, we spent some time in the butterfly room checking out the various species of moths and butterflies flying around.

The staff was very friendly, helpful, & knowledgeable. We had a great chat with one of the women working there about their tortoise (who my kids thought was really cute, btw).

The Academy is a great stop on your trip to Philly & it won't take up too much of your day to explore.