The Please Touch Museum touts itself as "the children's museum of Philadelphia." We couldn't agree more. The exhibits are interactive and fun. And because they encourage adults and children to learn and explore together, the exhibits make a visit to the museum as fun for parents as it is for kids.

What You Will See
The Please Touch Museum has a number of permanent exhibits, including:

• Barnyard Babies, a clever farm-themed exhibit.

• Move It, which is all about transportation. Children are encouraged to travel as far as their imaginations will take them on an a real SEPTA bus, a boat on the Delaware River, or the "Rocket Express" monorail.

• Studio PTM, a child-size television studio. Kids can create original sound effects, see what it feels like to be an actor or news anchor behind the camera, and even work the camera themselves.

• SuperMarket Science, which lets kids take over the food preparation from shopping (or selling) in a child-size grocery store to whipping up culinary masterpieces in the kitchen. Where does the science come in? This exhibit also allows kids to view a variety of tasty treats through a microscope and magnifying glass.

The Museum also has a "make-and-take-home" activity each day. And look for the special performances by musicians, dancers, mimes and storytellers. These performances take place almost every weekend.

Our Favorites
I guess we're really readers at heart because we are especially fond of the two exhibits based on classic children's stories:

• Sendak consists of oversize settings and creatures that bring Maurice Sendak's books (such as Where the Wild Things Are and In the Night Kitchen) to life. It is a wonderfully beautiful and interactive exhibition -- there is nothing quite like the joy of wandering through the three-dimensional versions of Sendak's vision.

• Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland is a 2,300 square foot, completely interactive interpretation of Lewis Carroll's tale. Visitors walk into a darkened, winding corridor which serves as the rabbit’s hole. From there you'll encounter the Hall of Doors and Mirrors. Surprises are behind each door, and mirrors which kids can change from concave to convex, create the illusion of growing larger or smaller. Other features of the Wonderland include a shimmering Pool of Tears, croquet in the Queen’s Courtyard, the Mad Tea-Party, and plenty of riddles and puzzles which offer fun ways to play with words, allowing guests to experience the essence of Alice in Wonderland. The Museum had indicated that the size and level of detail of this exhibit is what guests can expect when the Museum opens the new Please Touch Museum at Penn’s Landing in the year 2002.

More Fun Nearby
Directly across the street from the Please Touch Museum is the CoreStates Science Park, which was developed in collaboration with the Franklin Institute Science Museum. This outdoor, interactive, learning center includes about 30 interactive elements, such as speaking tubes that permit kids to talk to friends across the park without raising their voices; the Sun Dial which shows children how to use the shadow of their bodies to tell the time; the Spindancer which makes streamers dance in the air; and the Granite Ball, which weighs 400 pounds, but spins easily because it sits on a bed of pressurized water. Don't miss the The Sky Bike, which allows two visitors at a time to ride 18 feet above the ground in a demonstration of gyroscopic stability.

Admission to the CoreStates Science Park is free if you have paid for either the Please Touch Museum or the Franklin Institute that day. The Park is open each year from May through October.

Getting There
The Please Touch Museum is located at 21st Street and Race Street in the heart of Philadelphia's Parkway museum district. Detailed directions are available on the Museum's web site.

Discount parking is available at Kinney Systems parking lot at 23rd and Arch Streets. You can also park in the metered spaces on Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

Other Logistics
The Museum does not have a restaurant, but you can eat the snacks you've brought from home in a small lounge on the first floor. Note that eating in the galleries is prohibited.

Strollers are not permitted on the 2nd floor where the galleries are, but there is plenty of room for stroller parking in the lobby by the admissions area. Snuglies are available for free.

The bulk of the museum is wheelchair accessible.

We've found that the exhibits appeal most to children under 7 years of age.

For more information, visit their web site.

QUICK CLICKS
Check out Cheaptickets.com "Cheap of the Week" and save BIG on featured destinations!
Find 4-star hotels at 2 star prices at Hotwire.com and get up to 60% off retail rates!
Luggage Online carries top brands in luggage, briefcases and travel accessories at great prices.
Add one of these once-in-a-lifetime vacation experiences, including skydiving, helicopter rides, hot air ballooning and much more, to your Philadelphia trip -- you'll be glad you did!

Site Directory: