Sesame Place Philadelphia
Aimed squarely at young kids and their families, this water and theme park based on the popular children's show Sesame Street provides fun places for children to crawl, climb, and jump; float, slide, and splash; and meet, greet, and perhaps hug the ageless Big Bird and his friends. Though there are dry-land activities, the highlights of the park—especially on a hot summer day—are the water rides, including the Rambling River, the interactive Count's Splash Castle, and rides at Big Bird's Beach. (Water attractions are open seasonally.) As befits a park for preteens, the rides in Elmo's World and the roller coasters—Vapor Trail and Oscar’s Wacky Taxi—are modest by theme-park standards, but they've got enough excitement for young riders. Other favorites are the daily, and nightly, parades and shows; Sesame Neighborhood, a replica of the TV street; and pricey meals with characters like Elmo and Grover. Sesame Place Philadelphia is the world's first theme park to be a Certified Autism Center; see website for information. The park's gift shop is large. Buy tickets online in advance for substantial savings. Check ahead in case any rides or attractions are closed, and note that food is expensive and can be uneven in quality (see website FAQs for info on bringing water). No cash is accepted at the park, but you can buy a debit card at no cost.
