I grew up on the West Coast, far from the thirteen original British North American colonies. Philadelphia, Boston, New York, and Washington, D.C., were so distant that I never imagined that I would be able to visit the places my history books mentioned. When my parents surprised us with a Bicentennial-themed East Coast vacation, I was overjoyed. Seeing Independence Hall, the Betsy Ross House, and the Liberty Bell was a dream come true.
Many Maryland families live close enough to Philadelphia to travel there, sightsee, and return home in a single day. Philadelphia is just over two hours by car, Amtrak train, or Peter Pan bus from Baltimore. The City of Brotherly Love is also a great weekend destination for families. Many of the city’s best museums and historical sights are located near each other, making it easy for visitors to walk from one to the next.
Affordably priced Philly PHLASH buses travel a loop route that includes stops close to most of Philadelphia’s best-known tourist attractions. (Tip: The PHLASH runs from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. daily during the summer and operates on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays the rest of the year.) Best of all, there’s something for everyone in Philadelphia, whether you love art, science, animals, historic ships, or parks and trails. Let’s take a closer look at some of Philadelphia’s family-friendly attractions.
Historic District
Most first-time visitors to Philadelphia begin their sightseeing at Independence National Historical Park, home to Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and many more sites and museums related to the founding and early years of the United States. Start at the Independence Visitor Center to learn more about the city, buy tickets, and book tours.
You’ll need to reserve timed tickets for Independence Hall if you want to tour the building where the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence and Constitutional Convention delegates approved the Constitution of the United States. You don’t need tickets to see the Liberty Bell or the exhibits in the Liberty Bell Center, but the entrance line can get quite long. If you have young children in tow or want to avoid standing in line, you can peek at the historic bell through a window on the east (Independence Mall) side of the building.
There is much more to see and do in the Historic District, including the Museum of the American Revolution, the National Constitution Center, the Betsy Ross House, the Benjamin Franklin Museum, and Benjamin Franklin’s grave at Christ Church Burial Grounds. If you want to view Franklin’s grave but do not want to pay the Burial Grounds admission fee, there is a viewing spot in the brick wall near the corner of 5th and Arch Streets.
Center City
Philadelphia’s City Hall stands on land that Pennsylvania’s founder, William Penn, set aside for future government buildings in 1682. While you can’t tour the inside, the exterior of the building is worth a closer look. The statue of Penn on top of City Hall is 37 feet tall, making it the world’s tallest sculpture displayed atop a building.
For a true Philadelphia experience, head for Macy’s City Center on the corner of 13th and Market Streets. The store’s massive Wanamaker Organ, located in the building’s Grand Court, is the largest playing pipe organ in the world. Here, organists have presented free concerts at noon and 5:30 p.m. every day except Sundays, Christmas Day, and Thanksgiving Day since 1911. Next, walk over to the John F. Kennedy Boulevard side of City Hall for a photo stop at LOVE Park, named for the famous LOVE sculpture, where you’ll find a fountain, more sculptures, food trucks at lunchtime on weekdays, and midday weddings on most Wednesdays.
Logan Square/Fairmount Park
Many of Philadelphia’s best-known museums and the Philadelphia Zoo are located in the Logan Square neighborhood and nearby Fairmount Park. Younger children will enjoy the Please Touch Museum, where kids are encouraged to learn through play and hands-on activities. The nearby Philadelphia Zoo, the nation’s oldest, features animals from around the world, including big cats, playful otters, and Humboldt penguins.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art’s Art Kids program offers art studio time for children on weekends as well as family-friendly tours, Little Art Kids sessions, and Sensory-Friendly Mornings on select days throughout the year. Set aside time for a Rocky Balboa-style run up the steps on the east side of the museum building. Nearby art museums include the Rodin Museum and the Barnes Foundation.
Science-loving families will enjoy the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University, a natural history museum, and The Franklin Institute, which focuses on science and technology. If you need some fresh air after your museum visits, head to the Schuylkill River Trail, currently 75 miles long, for a stroll along the river.
Penn’s Landing
You can also walk along the Delaware River’s bank on the other side of the city. To do this, head to Penn’s Landing, where the Delaware River Trail awaits. This 3.3-mile stretch of the trail connects Penn Treaty Park to Pier 68. Family-friendly stops along the way include the Blue Cross RiverRink, which is open for roller skating in the summer and ice skating in winter, and the Independence Seaport Museum. This maritime museum features a multitude of kid-friendly activities on the first floor, maritime art and historical artifacts on the second floor, and two historic ships.
Admission to the cruiser Olympia, Admiral George Dewey’s flagship during the Spanish-American war, is included in the price of your ticket. You’ll need to pay separately to visit the Becuna, a Balao-class submarine that saw service in World War II and the Cold War. Tours of both historic ships offer a glimpse of what Navy life was like in the late 19th and 20th centuries. (Tip: Wear close-toed shoes, as you will be climbing up and down steps and ladders.)
