You spray and swat, but most of the time, you still end up itching and scratching after the night is through. Luckily, these all-natural mosquito repellents will help you to keep the pesky bugs away — without the use of potentially harmful chemicals or additives.

• Lavender oil. Create a simple mixture of 30 drops of lavender oil blended with two tablespoons of vegetable oil and rub it on the skin to keep mosquitoes away.
• Rosemary. If you find yourself swatting at mosquitoes while standing over the barbecue grill, throw a few branches of rosemary on the grill to keep those bugs away.
• Neem oil. Neem oil, which is extracted from the Neem tree that is native to India, is one of the most effective natural mosquito repellents. You can purchase this oil from most organic health food stores.
• Apple cider vinegar. To repel mosquitoes from the inside out, mix one or two tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with your usual drinking water earlier in the day.
• Remove standing water. Above all else, you’ll need to remove the areas where mosquitoes breed to really get rid of the mosquitoes in your area. This means removing all buckets, tarps, and even pet bowls that collect standing water.

13 Natural Ways to Keep Mosquitoes Away [Natural Living Ideas]
All-Natural Homemade Bug Spray Recipes That Work! [Wellness Mama]
DIY: Homemade Insect Repellent Sprays and Lotions [Inhabitat]

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr Julien Haler

The Insectarium is Philadelphia’s only all-bug museum, and it's been dedicated to everything creepy, crawly, and multi-legged since 1992. Needless to say, youngsters (and the young at heart!) adore this unique museum. It's the largest insect museum in the entire country, and it hosts thousands of live bugs on display and even more mounted insects for science enthusiasts of all ages to admire.

The museum spans three floors and features a gift shop, classrooms, and a small movie theater on its main level, while the other two floors are dedicated to an ever-changing collection of kid-friendly exhibits. The mock apartment filled with living cockroaches is sure to make bug-fearing visitors a bit woozy, but the third floor’s live scorpions and exotic insects are so fascinating, you might forget your fear.

Insectarium is open Mondays through Saturdays. Admission is $9 and free for kids under 2.

Insectarium
8046 Frankford Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19136
(215) 335-9500
www.myinsectarium.com
www.yelp.com/biz/the-insectarium-philadelphia

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/likeaduck

The Barnes Foundation was founded in 1922 by Albert C. Barnes. Its extensive collection contains works by some of the most renowned Post-Impressionist artists and early Modern painters. Here in Philadelphia, you can find pieces from the world over by greats such as Renoir, Picasso, Rousseau, Pippin, Van Gogh, and Demuth.

After the construction of his gallery was complete, Barnes filled the halls with his growing collection of works. He arranged them in "ensembles" rather than chronological or geographical sections to highlight principles of light, color, line, and space. You can see these ensembles today as Barnes wanted them to be seen. His center still follows his mission to this day, to further "the promotion of the advancement of education and the appreciation of the fine arts."

You can visit over 3,000 pieces by booking your tickets online or by phone. Guided tours are available and are recommended for those visiting the collection for the first time.

The Barnes Foundation
2025 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy
Philadelphia, PA 19130
(215) 278-7000
www.barnesfoundation.org

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr BarnImages.com