As a big Harry Potter fan, I was delighted to hear a new exhibition was coming to The Franklin Institute in Philadelphia.

A couple weeks ago I had the opportunity to go with my cousin, her boyfriend and some of his younger cousins; we went on a Saturday morning, so it was crowded. The tour started with everyone picking what house they wanted to join. I chose Hufflepuff because I took the sorting hat quiz before, and that’s where I was put. You also choose what type of wand you want, put your name in the system and take a picture to make the experience more personal.

Throughout the experience you are led through different scenes from all of the movies. You get the chance to step inside the Wizarding World with scenes from Hogwarts, the Weasley’s house, Hogsmeade, Enchanted Forest and more. You also get a chance to see how tight it was under the staircase Harry lived in with his aunt and uncle — perfect for a photo opportunity.

One part I really enjoyed was getting to see some of the movies’ most iconic and popular props, everything from famous costumes, wands, books and more.

There are also interactive experiences where you can take a picture of yourself in a Hogwarts house robe, create your own magic potion or spell to use against the Dark Arts, collect points for your house and even try Apparition, a popular method of travel in the wizarding world.

Since the exhibition was crowded, the tour got backed up a bit and some spots were overcrowded, so it felt like we didn’t get the full experience or see everything. Although I felt that way, I thought it was a cool experience and really enjoyed it.

— Mary Melnick, social media and editorial coordinator