Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Philadelphia, PA

We're lucky we live in such a great city; everywhere you look there are places to learn more about science. Here are my favorite spots.

1. The Franklin Institute. Well, it may seem obvious, but this wonderful science museum for kids is the perfect place to start. While I have to admit that many of the exhibits are oriented for children older than preschool, the hands on elements make it fun for even the smallest budding scientist. Once again, I will remind you to avoid the museum on Fridays; it's full of elementary students on field trips on Fridays. Trust me.

2. Please Touch Museum. No, this museum does not have a scientific focus, but there are plenty of exhibits that teach about the physics of water and air, and is a great place for the preschool set. There are also some nice exhibits about ponds and other areas that qualify as science.

3. The Academy of Natural Science. Well, this one is obvious too, isn't it? The Academy has many hands-on sections, including live animals, as well as the awesome year-round butterfly exhibit. I find this is a nice, small and quiet museum that isn't as crowded as others, so it really provides you time to teach some solid scientific lessons.

4.  University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaelology and Anthropology. If you want to teach about the emergence of past peoples and our own history, this is the perfect museum. It might be best for children four and up, but you can't go wrong visiting this museum if people is what you want to study.

5. The Mutter Museum. Not for the faint-hearted, this museum at the College of Physicians in Center City will gross out your kids, but trust me, they will be engaged. The bins and bins of things people have swallowed will entertain them for an hour or more, and the formaldehyde jars of all kinds of digusting things will wow them. Again, best for kids four and up, I think.