Get a day pass to a water park like Kalahari. Photo courtesy of Kalahari Resort

1. Day Trip to a Water Park

Pack your swimsuits and head to one of these awesome nearby water parks, or try an indoor water park to really escape that sun. 

Make a splash among the skyscrapers at Dilworth Park. Photo courtesy of Center City District

2. Make a Splash

Get soaked at a local splash park or spray ground, most of which are free!

3. Take a Swim

Jump into one of Philly's many public pools or use the heat wave as an excuse to enroll the kiddos in swim lessons.

Hot summer days are the best excuse for a frozen treat. Photo courtesy of John's Water Ice

4. Go for Ice Cream

Snack on some cool treats from the the best ice cream shops around. 

5. Or Stick with Wooder Ice

Team Rita's or John's? Which water ice makes your heart melt?

6. Get Underground

Consider exploring a cool local cave or cavern.

The Jersey Shore is always a good option for beaches, boardwalks, and family fun. Photo courtesy of Wildwoods

7. Head Down the Shore

Take a trip to the Jersey shore. Nothing beats an ocean spray and beach breeze.

8. Hit the Lake

Take the family canoeing or kayaking, and perhaps play a friendly game of tip the boat if you really need to cool off.

9. Academy of Natural Sciences

Stay cool while discovering dinos at the Academy of Natural Sciences.

10. Find a Factory

From chocolate, to chips, to crayons, get the lowdown on how things are made on a factory tour.

11. Please Touch Museum

You'll love the A/C while kids seven and under will love the Please Touch Museum's carousel, mini market, and the Big League Fun exhibit (through September 3, 2023).

Find Nemo at Adventure Aquarium. Photo courtesy of the aquarium

12. Adventure Aquarium

Find your favorite sea creatures in Camden while staying cool at the Adventure Aquarium.  

13. Trampoline Parks

If the kids are already bouncing off the walls, head to one of the many trampoline parks in the region.

14. Escape Room

Escape the heat in one of these family-friendly escape rooms.

15. Go Bowling

You may work up a sweat but at least these bowling spots are air-conditioned!

16. Indoor Batting Cage

Enjoy the fun of baseball without sweltering at the ballpark at these indoor batting cages.

17. Visit the Library

Visit your local Free Library to browse the shelves or enjoy programs, activities, and story times.

18. Wander an Art Museum

From the Philadelphia Museum of Art's Art Kids programs, to browsing the galleries of the Barnes Foundation or another museum in the area, there's so many options for creative kids.

19. Franklin Institute

Journey through a century of beloved animated tales in Disney100: The Exhibition, hike through a heart, show off in the sports zone, or pop into the planetarium at the Franklin Institute.

Let off some steam at an indoor play space like Giggleberry Fair. Photo courtesy of the play pace

20. Giggleberry Fair

Visit Bucks County and let the kids loose in Giggleberry Fair, located in quaint Peddler's Village.

21. Indoor Play Spaces

Check out a local play space where young kids can play indoors while you meet up with other overheated parents.

22. Roller Skating

Head inside and grab some wheels to skate around in the AC at one of these great roller skating rinks!

23. Spruce Street Harbor Park

Swing in hammocks in the shade while enjoying a frozen treat at Spruce Street Harbor Park.

24. See a Show 

Check out a live performance at the Upper Darby Performing Arts Center, including Disney's High School Musical 2 Jr., Matilda Jr., Disney's Beauty and the Beast Jr., The Three Little Pigs, Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella: Youth Edition, and Finding Nemo Jr.

Get excited about history at the Museum of the American Revolution. Photo courtesy of the museum

25. Museum of the American Revolution

Step back in time—but this time with air conditioning—at the Museum of the American Revolution.

26. Axe Throwing

Big kids ages 10 and up can try their hands at axe throwing. Bury the Hatchet has several locations to choose from in the Philly area.

27. Paint Pottery

From Mud Room Studio in Ardmore to Create Me Pottery in Huntingdon Valley to various Color Me Mine locations, there's lots of creative options.

28. Train Ride

New Hope Railroad and Colebrookdale Railroad are popular steam engine options. Only first class cars have A/C, but you can roll down the windows in coach and enjoy the breeze.

29. Legoland Discovery Center

An interactive LEGO brick world plus an indoor playground and even a theme park ride make Legoland every kid's play paradise.

Cool off in the Color Room at Philly's Museum of Illusion in Old City. Photo by Jody Mercier

30. Museum of Illusions

Fool your eyes at the mesmerizing and highly Instagrammable Museum of Illusions.

31. Craft Hall

A brewery and restaurant with a pirate ship playground inside...Craft Hall in NoLibs is the perfect place for Philly families to ride out the heat.

32. Dine Out

There's tons of kid-friendly restaurants to satisfy Philly foodie families. 

Beat the heat with playtime at Smith Memorial Playhouse. Photo courtesy of the venue

33. Smith Playhouse

The 16,000 square foot playhouse is free and one of Philly's most beloved play spaces. Brave the heat for a ride down the giant century-old wooden slide.

34. Movie Night

Enjoy a movie from the comfort of your car at one of these drive-in movie spots, or have a family movie night at home. 

35. Indoor Rock Climbing

Ascend in an air conditioned, indoor climbing gym.

36. Crayola Experience

Bring that box of crayons to life at Crayola Experience in Easton.

37. Reading Terminal Market

Reading Terminal Market is a very Philly solution to a heat wave. Grab some ice cream and enjoy the vibe while exiting the heat.

38. Independence Seaport Museum

Discover Philly's river history, pretend to be a pirate, or take a paddle boat for a spin on the Delaware at the Independence Seaport Museum.

39. Meet at the Mall

Cool down in the play areas at King of Prussia Mall and Plymouth Meeting Mall.

40. Get Crafty

Browse our crafts, science projects, and boredom busters for ways to keep cool in the comfort of your home. 

Originally published in 2018. Updated for 2023 by Alyce Wilson.