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

Every city offers a few of these; the places everyone goes that are popular beyond reason, and visited frequently. Those of us that have lived in Philadelphia know them well, but if you are new to the area or just visiting, this list may not seem quite so obvious. So here are Philadelphia's top five kid destinations.

1. The Philadelphia Zoo. This was the very first zoo in the United States; yet another Philadelphia historic landmark. The zoo is considered to be a "42-acre Victorian Garden" according to their website, which translates into SMALL. Unlike other zoos across the country, the Philadelphia Zoo can be easily seen in its entirety in just a couple of hours. Admittedly, this also means that the space these (often rare and endangered) animals have is smaller than most, but the Zoo has made great leaps and bounds with its habitats, and the animals have plenty of room to breathe today. Best bet: if you live in Philadelphia, become a member; it's worth every penny.

2. The Adventure Aquarium. Located in Camden, New Jersey, the Adventure Aquarium is a lovely place full of beautiful displays of all kinds of water wildlife. Kids can touch sharks and other critters (you can even arrange a swim-with-sharks date if you are super adventurous and, you know, rich), watch a cool 4D movie (including seats that spray you with water--um, that really started me when I went for the first time. Thought my daughter's diaper had sprung a crazy leak). Best of all, the Camden Children's Garden is located right next door, so you can enjoy some beautiful outdoor sites as well (additional admission fee for the Children's Garden, but it's pretty nominal).

3. The Please Touch Museum. Philadelphia's premier children's museum gets mentioned here at Savvy Source Philadelphia a fair amount--it's because it really is JUST THAT AWESOME. It was awesome for years BEFORE its recent big move to Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park, where it is now three times bigger. Full of fun interactive exhibits that, yes, children are encouraged to touch, and this is an outing that really cannot be beat. The new space opens to the public October 18, 2008.

4. The Franklin Institute. Named after inventing whiz Ben Franklin, this awesome science museum for kids features a myriad of fun interactive exhibits, and best of all, the one thing every kid in Philadelphia adores--the huge walk-through human heart. This museum is definitely better for kids that are a little older--at least three and up, but probably even four and up. Located in the heart of the Museum District, you'll find plenty of other nearby cool places like...

5. The Academy of Natural Sciences. This museum, again the oldest in the nation, is full of interesting (and sometimes creepy) exhibits. Don't expect too much--it's a small museum full of stuffed animals (stuffed as in taxidermy, not, you know, cuddly critters), gemstones, and plant life studies. But up on the top floor, you'll find Philadelphia's best Live Butterfly exhibit, a wonderful spot to visit in winter because it's tropically warm in there, and it's like tasting a bit of spring.