14 Blocks of Northern Liberties, Free Kayaks, and Pay-What-You-Wish Dinosaurs

Free kayaking and rowing on the tidal Schuylkill, straight off Bartram's dock, with no reservation, no experience, and no rental fee. Staff hand you a life vest and a paddle and point you upriver toward the meadow. In July and August they run it from 3 to 7 to stay out of the worst of the afternoon heat. It is shady along the bank and the water runs cooler than the street. Minors need an adult in the boat.

Saturday is the Academy's Firstival day, marking its founding in 1812 as America's first scientific society devoted to natural history, and admission is pay-what-you-wish all day. That gets you the whole museum: Dinosaur Hall with the T. rex, the wildlife dioramas, live animal shows, and the hands-on dino dig that runs all summer for Dino-Mite Summer. The Firstival programming itself is 11 to 1, and the museum is open 10 to 5. Regular admission is $22 for adults and $18 for kids, so this is the Saturday to go.