Fun Things to Do in Philadelphia With Teens

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Visit the Herr's Factory and watch Herr's employees use their unique process for making your favorite snack items. In the Chipper's Theater, you will learn the history of Herr's. You will also learn fun facts about their delicious products. Tours take up to one hour. It is a walking tour between three buildings. After your tour, visit the gift shop for unique gifts and your favorite Herr's snacks.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  Teens can start their weekend off right at any of the Philadelphia Rock Gym locations with Student Night every Friday. Kids can climb in a safe environment, socialize, and have fun with their peers. It is the perfect way for teens to end their school week and begin the weekend! Student ID required.

Cost: $14.95 (Day Pass) and $3.50 (Gear)

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  The Northbrook Canoe Company offers fun for your family with kayak, canoe and tubing rentals that you can take out on the Brandywine River. It will be a fun nature experience everyone will enjoy. They offer canoe and kayak trips ranging from 1 hour to 2.25 hours. Tubing trips are 2-3 hours and take you on a floating tour along the Brandywine which will feel like a lazy river to cool you off in the Summer heat. Get ready for some cool water fun with the Northbrook Canoe Co!

Cost: Starts at $50/canoe, $40/kayak and $20/tubing Specials available!

Vanessa M.:  Treehouse World offers ziplining tours that take adventurers to a whole new level with 3 ziplines, 8 bridge crossings, and more. Ever tried rock climbing up trees? Ring the bell at the top of the tree's 40 ft climbing route! Trampolines, Children's Grove, and Mini-Farm are also available for kids to explore. Archery tag is a brand new kind of experience teens will love! Think archery (with soft foam tips) meets paintball in this competitive war game.

Shila:  A canopy tour takes place atop a mountain as you experience a series of zip lines, rope bridges & challenges through the trees under the "canopy" of leaves. You'll take the chair lift to the top.

There's a few different levels based on your experience & preference.

Vanessa M.:  Give your kids the thrill of a lifetime at IFly Indoor Skydiving, where they can experience the feeling of freefall without having to jump out of an airplane! Children ages 3+ are eligible to try indoor skydiving in a safe and fun environment. Click here for reservations.

Expedition Escape makes for a great activity for teens and adults. Their escape rooms are family-friendly, interactive, challenging and fun. All games are private, so it will be only your group in the room.

Sue Krawitz Tandoc:  The Gravity Vault is an indoor rock climbing gym for people of all skill levels. They offer many programs including instructional sessions and a variety of classes as well as walk-in climbing with an instructor - perfect for an after-school activity! They also have Belay Certification classes for ages 14+. Team Vault offers three levels of climbing teams with training and competitions for ages 7-19. Their full calendar lists all programs per week. Wednesdays are the Student Day Special.

Cost: Day Passes: $14/under 21. Membership and punch passes are available.

Vanessa M.:  If you are looking for family adventure, look no further than Dutch Springs, the 50 acre lake adventure center. Take advantage of the beautiful, freshwater lake with scuba diving, snorkeling, and aqua park. The Sky Challenge incorporates rock climbing, rope bridges, and other height-defying feats. The cost for snorkeling and the Sky Challenge is included in Aqua Park admission! Make your adventure last all weekend with on-site camping!

Ages: scuba 10+, snorkeling 8+, Sky Challenge 48+ inches tall
Cost: Aqua Park $22-36, Scuba $45

Erin P.:  Adventurous teens will love this fun treetops ropes course, where they can enjoy the Poconos from a new vantage point - up high! The course includes swaying bridges, wobbly logs, zip lines, vertical cargo nets, ladders, high-wires and much more. With over 100 aerial obstacles, there is no shortage of adventure! And parents, experienced guides are located throughout the course to offer directions, tips and encouragement.

Ages: 9 and over. See site for other restrictions.

Cost: Full Treetops Course: $40/person - 9AM start only. (Advance registration required); $50/person - all other time slots.

Erin P.:  Open Studio classes at The Handwork Studio are geared specifically for teens. The kids can pick their own project to sew. They can bring in their own pattern or choose from among the wide selection available at the studio. This class is perfect for both beginners and experienced machine sewers. Instructors will help the students select a project that will be appropriate for their skills.

You can register for the class here.

Cost: $225/session; Fabric and supplies are included in the cost of the class.

Erin P.:  Treetop Quest is now open in beautiful Fairmount Park. Your teens can jump, climb and soar through the treetops as they explore five courses spanning over four acres. The five courses feature different obstacles and zip lines. There are 18 total zip lines. In addition to the zip lines, there are balance beams, tight ropes, swings, and more. The highest courses are 60 feet off the ground!

Cost: Ages 12 - 17: $44 (Advance online registration: $42)

Tim Ponisciak:  If you live in or near Philadelphia, you have to take your kids to a game at the Palestra! Penn's Men's Basketball team plays in the iconic building, which has seen many famous basketball games and is often listed as one of the top college sports venues in the country. The Palestra itself is a big draw as the building looks, feels and smells like a piece of history. If you are not a Penn fan, make sure to go see one of the city's other local teams play as most have at least one game in the building each year.

Cost: Tickets start at $10/person

Vanessa M.:  Kids 10+ can experience both tournament team and recreational paintball play at Playground Paintball Park. Package deals include field entry, marker rental, compressed air tank, unlimited air fills, full mask, and 500-1,000 paintballs. Onsite pizzeria is available to refuel hungry kids with food and drinks.

Ages:10+

Standard Package: $50 per person, includes 500 paintballs
Plus Package: $65 per person, includes 1,000 paintballs

Tim Ponisciak:  The Barnes foundation is a very unique art museum. Albert Barnes, the museum's namesake, wanted the items in the museum to be displayed in very specific ways, alongside other pieces of art or household items. The museum's new location, within Philly city limits, makes it a little easier for city dwellers to visit. This museum is going to be best for kids who are a little older.

Cost: Adults - $25, youth age 6 to 18 - $10, toddlers 5 and under are free. There are also special days with free access!