Over the past few years, we’ve been to Philadelphia multiple times, with and without our kids. Of course, since Rita went to school there, we’ve taken the trip down the turnpike multiple times. Here are some of the things we’ve done and places we’ve visited:
Adult Museums
Philadelphia Museum of Art: The most famous part of this museum is outside, with the famous Rocky steps. This museum has tons of paintings and artifacts, including a full reception hall from a palace in Ming China and other large buildings, and several famous paintings from the likes of Van Gogh, Rubens, Renoir, Cezanne, and Picasso.
Penn Museum: We visited this museum during one of Rita’s college reunions, and took a guided tour and Middle East Gallery Talk. This museum has a lot of the artifacts excavated by Penn archeologists over the years from the neolithic period through the modern age.
Barnes: The Barnes is home to one of the world’s greatest collections of impressionist, post-impressionist, and early modern paintings, with especially deep holdings in Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse, and Picasso.
National Liberty Museum: Small museum about the history of civil rights in America, exploring the meaning of freedom and liberty. This is a good museum for older children.
Mutter Museum: This quirky museum tells the story of medical history and science. There are many old medical artifacts and oddities including skeletons, organs, and medical devices.
Kids Museums
Please Touch Museum: giant children’s museum with several floors of hands on activities and playspaces; also has creative building classes
Franklin Institute: interactive science museum with live demonstrations and classes. Be sure to check out the Giant Heart
Winter Events
Mummers Parade – This fun parade occurs every New Years Day since 1901 in Philadelphia. Local clubs from around Philly compete with elaborate performances and crazy costumes, providing a fun and jovial experience.
Penn’s Landing – This cool area on the Delaware River waterfront with an ice skating rink.
Franklin Square – When we came to Philly with the kids during Thanksgiving, we came here for a (kinda anticlimactic) light show and a carousel for the kids, and some spiked hot chocolate for the adults.
NPS Sites
Liberty Bell – The highlight of Independence National Historical Park in Philly is the Liberty Bell.
Independence Hall – Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted by America’s Founding Fathers in the late 18th century. Independence Hall was the principal meetinghouse of the Second Continental Congress from 1775 to 1783 and the Constitutional Convention in the summer of 1787.
Valley Forge National Historic Site – Located a few miles outside Philadelphia, this was where the Continental Army camped during the winter of 1777-1778. The Army, led by General George Washington, was severely lacking in supplies, funds, and military preparedness. With the help of Friedrich von Steuben and others, the soldiers were trained to better fight against the British, ultimately leading to their victory in the American Revolution. We visited on President’s Day 2024, when the site had special events for Washington’s birthday. We “met” George Washington and Martha, decorated general hats and made birthday cards for Washington. Afterwards we did the traditional site visits including the visitor center exhibit and a 10 mile driving trail with several stops such as a memorial arch, statue of von Steuben and Washington’s Headquarters.
Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site – This site is the home of Edgar Allen Poe in Philly, where you can learn a little bit about the eclectic poet and some of his writings.
Nearby kids activities
Crayola Experience – This place had three floors of Crayola-themed activities and play areas for the kids including arts and crafts areas, crayon molds, and a jungle gym.
Legoland Discovery Center Philadelphia – One of our kids favorites. This Legoland is one of the bigger ones, including 4-D movies, shooting ride, Lego mini world, and of course tons of Lego building.
Sesame Place – This theme park is perfect for little ones, especially between the ages of 2-6. The rides are perfect for kids. We’ve visited all times of the year. During the summer, we enjoyed the water rides, During the Halloween and Christmas seasons, there are special trick or treating events, and other holiday themed shows and activities. Kids loved the rides, parades, shows, and character meet and greets.
