Instead of dropping a couple hundred bucks to take your family to see the hyped King Tut exhibit, I’d recommend the Amarna exhibit at the Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology as a less expensive and, in many respects, superior way to get your Egyptology fix.

The artifacts in the exhibit illuminate the story of the religious and political upheaval triggered by Tutankhamun’s father, Akhenaten, when he installed a new monotheistic religion in Egypt. Akhenaten may not be quite the celebrity that Tut is–Steve Martin never wrote a song about him. But he’s a more interesting historical figure. The curation of the exhibit at the Penn Museum is informative and well-paced.

The regular Egypt exhibit at the Penn Museum is the real deal-clincher. They have a 12-ton sphinx–the third largest in the world. The stately entryway to Merenptah ’s palace in Memphis was excavated and placed on display here. There’s a fantastic head from a statue of Ramesses II.

And yes, horror fans, there are actual mummies. You won’t be seeing any mummies at the Franklin institute.

This doesn’t even take into account the other excellent galleries and exhibits. Even the cafeteria food is (much) better at the Penn Museum.

Admission to the Penn Museum, including the Amarna exhibit, is $8 for adults, $5 for kids and seniors. Here are a few tips if you decide to go:

1. There are plenty of convenient parking garages, but the Penn Museum is just a block from the University City SEPTA station.
2. Sunday afternoon admission is free during the academic year, but the museum is usually closed on Sundays in the summer. This year, though, the Amarna exhibit and lower Egyptian gallery is open on Sundays for a reduced admission.
3. The gift shop sells inexpensive workbooks related to the exhibits for kids of elementary school age. They turn the museum exhibits into fun scavenger hunts for information. Might not be a bad idea to help keep your young archaeologist occupied.
4. An annual household membership costs less than three admission tickets to the Tut exhibit at the Franklin Institute. It comes with all sorts of perks, including special preview and lecture events. There’s an exciting Pre-columbian exhibit on its way in the fall, so if you think you might want to come back a few times, consider a membership.