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Family Fun in Philadelphia and The Countryside
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Benjamin Franklin
Photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC
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Location:
Center City Philadelphia: Rittenhouse Square, Old City, Bella Vista and beyond
Transportation:
On foot or in a taxi
Duration:
3 Days
With a wide array of family-friendly attractions, the Philadelphia region is a kid’s kind of town, where history and horticulture, art and animals, gardens and galleries, tours and theme parks come together to offer loads of family fun.
Besides being the birthplace of our nation and bubbling with historic attractions and exhibits, Philadelphia is also a great place to have fun and play. So grab the fam, and hit the ground running with this family guide to Philadelphia and its Countryside!
Day One
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The Liberty Bell Center
Photo by R. Kennedy for GPTMC
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Take a trip back in time to revisit the beginnings of our nation’s history and struggles for freedom in the places where it all happened: Philadelphia. Enjoy a hands-on history lesson of Philadelphia while you walk through the Historic District of downtown Philadelphia. Start your day off with a visit to the Independence Visitor Center, where you can pick up a free walking map and a free timed ticket for Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell, two must-see attractions of Philadelphia.
Before your historic adventure begins, make a stop to the Reading Terminal Market, the nation’s oldest continuously operating farmers’ market. Cooks from the finest local restaurants come to the market each morning for the very freshest in meats, poultry, seafood and specialty ingredients. Fuel up on anything from Asian and Mediterranean fare to our famous Philly Cheesesteaks.
After grubbing on some delicious Philadelphia cuisine, go east to the historic district, where you can check out the Liberty Bell, or chill under the canopy of trees at Independence National Historical Park, an area that includes Independence Hall, Carpenters’ Hall, and great buildings and houses that date to the Revolutionary period. Next, head over to City Hall, the country’s largest, where you can take a trip up to the base of the William Penn Statue, which until 1983 was the city’s highest point and still serves up great views.
If the little ones start to get tired, hop on one of Philadelphia’s exciting bus tours, which let you experience the city in the comfort of your own seat. Ride the Ducks is a land and water sightseeing tour all in one vehicle. The 80-minute tour includes the historic district, South Street and Society Hill, the Betsy Ross House, Ben Franklin’s grave, Penn’s Landing, as well as a cruise on the Delaware River. Or for a less structured option, tour the city in an authentic London open-top, double decker bus from The Big Bus Company Philadelphia. Tours depart opposite the Independence Visitor Center and make more than 20 convenient, hop-on/hop-off stops throughout Center City.
Once you’ve gotten your fill of history, head to the Please Touch Museum®, where children ages one to seven years old are the focus of the fun. Interactive experiences abound in displays such as Move It!, an exhibit that teaches children about various forms of transportation; Kid’s Construct, a workshop, garage and backyard environment; and Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, a display that explores what life is like down the rabbit hole. A snack/lounge area is on the premises, so you can re-fuel before dinner.
Once the stomach starts growling, head back to the historic district to City Tavern, a truly historic dining experience complete with Colonial haute cuisine, costumed wait staff, and Colonial-era drinks and desserts. Alternately, there are many restaurants, cafes, and bars to choose from along 4th, 3rd, 2nd, & Front Streets or on Chestnut Street between Front & 4th Street.
As Ben Franklin says “Early to bed and early to rise, makes a man healthy wealthy and wise”, make sure to get a good night’s rest for another fun-filled day in Philadelphia.
Day Two
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Giggleberry Fair
Photo by B. Krist for GPTMC
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Start the day with a quick and delicious pastry at Petit for Pastry Studio, Old City’s most famous dessert spot, or head to Center City’s Le Bus Bakery for some hearty bagels, muffins, or noteworthy scones. Then head to Penn’s Landing, where you can take a short trip on the ferry across to Camden’s Riverfront. From here, head to the Adventure Aquarium, home to more than 5,000 marine animals. The aquarium, with its signature white dome, offers equal measures of entertainment and education with additional attractions including the Touch-a-Shark tank and the Caribbean beach, home to tropical fish and birds.
Next, head to Camden Children’s Garden, a four-acre horticultural wonderland featuring a host of interactive exhibits, including the Butterfly, Railroad, Dinosaur, Treehouse and Storybook Gardens. Children can even take a train ride or hop on the beautiful carousel.
It’s time to get back to Philly for more excitement! The next stop is the Philadelphia Zoo, America’s first zoo, featuring a 42-acre Victorian garden with more than 1,800 exotic animals. The Zoo offers pony, camel and elephant rides, swan boat rides, and the Children’s Zoo and Treehouse, allowing kids to get some up-close critter contact. The Zoo’s newest adventure is the Zooballoon, which rises 400 feet above the treetops and overlooks giraffes and zebras. Grab a bite to eat here, but don’t fill up, you’ll need room for one of Philly’s authentic cheesesteaks!
Once you’ve gotten your fill of all the animals, head to South Philadelphia, where you can see the facing cheesesteak rivals Pat’s and Geno’s. Where to go is your choice!
Once you’re stuffed to the brim, hop in the car and head to Peddler’s Village for some evening shopping and strolling. For families, the Village includes Giggleberry Fair, a 10,000-square-foot entertainment center comprised of: The Grand Carousel, an old-fashioned merry-go-round; Giggleberry Mountain, an obstacle course and maze with side-by-side racing slides; and Discovery Land, featuring a moon bounce and interactive waterway. Finally, head back for a well deserved rest.
Day Three
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The Franklin Institute
Photo courtesy of The Franklin Institute
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Start off the day with a trip to Linvilla Orchards, one of the last working farms in the Delaware Valley. With over 300 acres, Linvilla hosts a variety of family-friendly events throughout the year. Hayrides, tours, fruit and vegetable picking and swimming are offered in season.
Next, head to Longwood Gardens, one of the world’s finest horticultural display centers, with 1,050 acres of gardens, woodlands and meadows, 20 outdoor gardens, 20 indoor gardens and 11,000 different types of plants. Indoors there’s the Children’s Garden, featuring an ever-changing water curtain and leaping water "glow worm,” a maze and flower-shaped water jets. There’s a special outdoor area for children in the adult’s Idea Garden, home to a seasonal display complete with a sunflower house, A-to-Z garden and weather station.
Once the stomachs begin to growl, head back to Center City to the Franklin Institute, the region’s premier science museum featuring a full city block of exhibits such as the kid-friendly Sports Challenge, in which visitors can climb a rock wall, throw a pitch, challenge gravity and surf monstrous waves; and KidScience, a display that combines more than 20 interactive components to illustrate scientific principals. The museum is also home to the Tuttleman IMAX Theater, the Fels Planetarium and a 3D Theater. On-site dining is available, so first get some grub and spend the rest of your day in exploration!
With so much to see and chose from in Philadelphia, it’s a sure thing that you and your family will have a blast in Philadelphia and It’s Countryside!
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