Reptile and Amphibian House

The Reptile and Amphibian House at Philadelphia Zoo is a fully indoor exhibit — and that makes it the smart choice for a Philadelphia visit when weather is questionable. While the outdoor zoo exhibits are at the mercy of rain and cold, the reptile house maintains its own climate-controlled environment year-round.

The collection is genuinely impressive: Komodo dragons, American alligators, large pythons, colorful poison dart frogs viewable in detailed terrarium habitats, various monitor lizards, and a range of amphibians. The exhibit design puts many animals at eye level with young children, which creates the 'face to face with a 10-foot python' moments that kids remember and retell.

This is included with Philadelphia Zoo general admission — no additional charge. The zoo is open 9:30AM-5PM, closed Tuesdays. For a full zoo day, a family of 4 should budget $90-120.

For the reptile-obsessed child (and there are many), this is often cited as the single favorite exhibit at the zoo. For kids who claim to be squeamish about reptiles, it's often the place where they end up fascinated despite themselves.