The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University

Step into America's oldest natural history museum where towering dinosaur skeletons greet wide-eyed kids and hands-on discovery stations keep little fingers busy. The Academy combines classic museum exhibits with live animal encounters and a magical tropical butterfly garden where hundreds of colorful butterflies land right on visitors, creating unforgettable moments for the whole family.

• ✓Butterflies! exhibit with hundreds of live tropical butterflies in a lush garden setting
• ✓Massive T. rex and other dinosaur skeletons including the museum's famous Gigantosaurus
• ✓Outside In exhibit with live animals like snakes, turtles, and poison dart frogs
• ✓Fossil Prep Lab where kids can watch real paleontologists cleaning and studying fossils
• ✓Big Dig interactive excavation pit where children can uncover replica fossils

1. 1.Visit the Butterfly Pavilion first thing when doors open at 10 AM before it gets crowded and butterflies are most active
2. 2.Don't miss the hands-on Discovery Center on the third floor where kids can touch fossils, bones, and artifacts,it's often overlooked but a huge hit with children
3. 3.Pack snacks since the café options are limited, though there's a small lunch area where outside food is permitted
4. 4.Download the museum's scavenger hunt activities from their website before you go to keep kids engaged throughout the exhibits
5. 5.Parking at the museum lot costs $15, but street parking on nearby residential streets is often free on weekends if you're willing to walk 5-10 minutes

Saturday or Sunday mornings right at 10 AM opening offer the calmest experience before school groups and afternoon crowds arrive. Avoid the limited Friday hours unless you prefer a quieter but shorter visit.

General admission is around $20 for adults and $17 for children, with children under 2 free. The museum is fully stroller-accessible with elevators, and while there's a small café, many families bring lunch to enjoy in designated eating areas.

The museum is open year-round but currently only operates Friday-Sunday (closed Monday-Thursday). Summer months see the heaviest crowds. The museum hosts special seasonal events including Science After Hours and holiday-themed activities,check their calendar in advance.

The Franklin Fountain (15-minute walk) serves old-fashioned ice cream and kid-friendly sandwiches in a nostalgic setting. Alternatively, Reading Terminal Market is a 10-minute drive offering diverse food options from Amish baked goods to fresh pretzels that appeal to picky eaters.