Winter in Philadelphia doesn’t mean staying indoors. From immersive light displays and interactive museums to ice skating and indoor mini-golf, Philly offers plenty of ways for families to enjoy the winter season.
Created to be an immersive, family-friendly experience, this one-mile pathway features cosmic lights, sound, and projections, and puts on a show where “nature and technology merge to tell the story of visiting stars descending to Earth before rising again to the night sky.”
Housed at the Abington Art Center, Astra Lumina will be open through March. Tickets start at $27 (there are also discounts for large groups) and can be bought online.
515 Meetinghouse Road, Jenkintown, feverup.com
Morris is offering a discounted rate for the winter season. In January and February, general admission fees are discounted for everyone when you purchase them online, and children under 3 remain free. Prices come out to be $12 for adults, $11 for seniors and $6 for kids. Families can explore the grounds, or, head to the venue for some stand-alone dates like a Family Winter Wellness Walk (Jan. 17 and Feb. 21).
100 E Northwestern Ave., morrisarboretum.org
There’s plenty to do and see while at the MoAR, but this winter, families can also catch ‘The Declarations Journey.’ This exhibition gives visitors an inside look at how Native American nations were the first foreign powers to formally acknowledge the independence of the United States, becoming allies with the U.S. during the Revolutionary War.
Otherwise, kids can try on soldiers’ clothing, design flags, decode messages, play period games, join Living History interpreters for games and storytelling, and more.
101 S. 3rd St., amrevmuseum.org
The Rothman Ice Rink in Dilworth Park offers a fun family day out. Admission comes out to be $7 for children (10 and younger) and $10 for adults, with skate rentals running at $10 per person. Discounts are also available for groups of 10 or more for timed, 90-minute sessions (reservations are available to book now online). Children and adults with physical or developmental disabilities can also reserve a sled for skating beginning Jan. 5 through its last day, Feb. 22.
Some other dates to look out for at Dilworth this winter include the Cabin’s weekday happy hour (Mondays through Thursdays, 5 to 7 p.m.) and Trivia Nights (every Wednesday beginning Jan. 7), a Lunar New Year Celebration (Feb. 21, 5 to 7 p.m.) and free admission to the Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink on Mondays and Tuesdays in February.
1 S. 15th St., centercityphila.org
Otherworld holds 55 unique rooms and installations, which visitors can explore in a self-guided tour. The concept is the brainchild of 100 artists, modelers, animators, creative technologists, fabricators and more led by founder Jordan Renda. This particular venue encourages guests to freely explore and interact at their own pace with each section of the building. Visitors will find installations from local artists like Big Howl, Adam Crawford, Mz Icar, Evan Lovett, Sue Moerder, Kristin Scholz, Justin Gellar and David Guinn.
This winter specifically (through Jan. 4), locals can also check out ‘The Magic of Willow’ while there. The annual light show features 600 strands of LEDs that dance along to music.
2500 Grant Ave #1, otherworldphila.com
Sandbox VR offers state-of-the-art virtual reality activities for groups of up to six people. While there, groups put on VR headsets and wear motion sensors that capture their full body movements, letting them see and physically interact with each other as they "battle in a shared virtual world."
Guests can choose from nine different VR experiences created by Sandbox's in-house team of video game industry veterans, including kid-friendly games like the popular 'Squid Game Virtuals' and 'Curse of Davy Jones.'
1712 Walnut St., sandboxvr.com
On Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Sundays, Libertee Grounds is family-friendly all day as well as on Fridays and Saturdays until 7 pm. The venue's mini-golf course and bar boast 12,550 square feet, making the grounds the official home of the largest indoor mini-golf course in the city. Philadelphians can play 9 holes or opt for 18.
Plus, Philadelphians will also be able to check out new amenities at the venue, including a state-of-the-art golf simulator, a new bar with seating for up to nine guests, lounge areas for guests to relax in while playing mini-golf, and an added private event space for gatherings.
1600 W. Girard Ave., Suite C5, liberteegrounds.com
