Directly over the Ben Franklin Bridge from Camden County, Philadelphia offers a quick day trip for southern Jerseyans, or a great weekend away for those looking more for a staycation. From well-known museums to quiet park areas to hidden gems only locals know, here are some of the best things to do throughout Philly.
CAN’T-MISS SITES
If you only have one day to explore, the Independence Visitor Center should be your first stop. Ask for a copy of the Historic Philadelphia Gazette newsletter, which includes a calendar of events, a list of sites throughout the historic district, and a well-detailed illustrated map. Ask about any discounts or ticket bundles they offer, too. The Philadelphia CityPass is a good choice if you want to visit multiple sites during your visit. There is also a special Historic District Ticket Bundle that groups together participating locations. You should plan to visit Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell Center, both of which are free.
The Museum of American Revolution is another impressive site, where you can see interpretations of real battles from the Revolutionary War – including info on the role New Jersey played in the fight for freedom. Our favorite exhibits include flags from wartime, soldiers on horseback (with a soundtrack that makes you feel like you were in the fields) and a room of Native American storytellers. There are activities tailored just for kids, like a warship you can climb on, dress up areas, first-person theatrical performances and living history demos. The Revolution Place play area on the first floor gives kids an opportunity to see what life as a colonial child, by shopping at a market, seeing a map of the war, and doing crafts in the kitchen.
The Franklin Institute’s Body Worlds: Vital takes you on a journey to see what goes on inside your body through 20 full-body sculptures and 150 specimens that show your veins, arteries, organs and all the functions underneath the skin. It’s very interesting, but not for the queasy. The exhibit is open through September 1. The institute itself has tons more to do, like live science shows and demos, planetarium shows, a SportsZone where you can test your athletic abilities (like racing down a track or pitching a baseball), the ability to crawl inside your brain, and checking out the gigantic Baldwin 60000 steam engine train.
It’s all hands on deck – literally – at the Please Touch Museum, where eveything has a hands-on element to help with learning. There’s a new exhibit by GIANT supermarkets that includes a shopping market, a home and industrial kitchen, and a neighborhood festival area. Explore the Adventure Camp, dream in the Fairytale Garden, flex your drawing muscles in the Creative Arts Studio or take a ride on the carousel.
Burn up more energy at Treetop Quest Adventure Park in Fairmount Park, with its 60 treetop obstacles and ziplines that range from easy to challenging, with some as high as 60 feet above the ground. The courses are broken down by age and level so that kids don’t feel overwhelmed.
When it’s time for lunch, visit Reading Terminal Market, which will satisfy even your pickiest eaters. The building is 78,000 square feet – that’s 1.7 acres! – and has over 75 food vendors selling everything from sushi to Georgian breads to falafel to pizza to Korean desserts to Bassett’s ice cream (an institution in the area). Save your appetite – and your wallet – so you can try a variety of foods, while keeping in mind that there are large crowds and generally long lines.
HISTORY IN THE CITY
Philly has an expansive history and culture, with everything from Polish, Black and Jewish roots to museums dedicated to historical figures like Ben Franklin and Betsy Ross.
Popular spots are the Liberty Bell and the National Constitution Center, but you should also plan a visit to the National Liberty Museum for its four floors of galleries and exhibits dedicated to the values of freedom. Through storytelling, art and interactive experiences, kids will feel inspired about the founding of this country, and its future.
Philadelphia City Hall took 30 years to complete construction. The William Penn statue out front weighs 27 tons and is 37 feet tall – and City Hall stands at 548 feet to the top of William Penn’s hat, and was the tallest building in the city until 1987. Look for any of the 250 sculptures designed by Alexander Milne Calder. Through the City Hall Tower Tour, you can purchase a timed ticket to walk the grounds and get a panoramic views of the city from 500 feet up.
At the Penn Museum, you can explore 10,000 years of history and go around the world in 60 minutes, exploring Africa, Asia, the Americas, the Mediterranean, the Middle East, ancient Egypt and early Mexico and Native America.
Sometimes vacations are better with a travel guide. The 90-minute Black History Walking Tour takes you to Congo Square, unmarked graves of free and enslaved African Americans and the Underground Railroad. Philly Magic Tours offers a walking tour with a mix of comedy and magic. As you wander through Philly’s historic district, you’ll see some cool off-beat locations, then watch a comedy performance on site.
Or the Beyond the Bell Tours are designed for nosy history lovers. The Beyond the Liberty Bell History Tour goes through Old City and Independence Park to see major historic sites, but shares unique info like the abolitionist symbol at the Liberty Bell, myths about forgotten founders and the legend of William Penn and the Lenape. The Badass Women’s History Tour talks about Philly as a “city of sisterly love” through the eyes of Hannah Callowhill Penn, Gloria Casarez, the Red Rose Girls, and LGBTQ pioneers.
FOR CURIOUS MINDS
After all that learning, treat the kids to a more relaxing activity. Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens lives up to its name. Based on the works of Isaiah Zagar and his wife Julia, every inch of the museum and studio are covered in their mosaics. They offer tours for you to look around, or sign up for a make-and-take activity to express creativity of your own.
Museum of Illusions Philadelphia has 60 exhibits of mind-bending illusions and puzzles. You’ll get great photos for Insta, but you’ll also learn the magic behind each trick.
The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University has a “Night at the Museum” feel when you walk in to gigantic dinosaur skeletons. Dinosaur Hall includes dino eggs, footprints, a life-sized model of the inside of a stegosaurus, and a green-screen video studio where you put yourself into the world of the dinosaurs. Upstairs you can dig for fossils, see live creatures in a forest-like area, listen to storytime and meet some of the museum’s animal ambassadors.
At the Independence Seaport Museum you can climb aboard the oldest floating steel warship as well as a World War II-era submarine. Pop into the Seaport Boat Shop to watch active boatbuilding.
If the kids misbehave at all during your trip, take them to Eastern State Penitentiary for a wakeup call! It’s one of the most famous, oldest and expensive prisons in the world, but today you can walk down the cell blocks to see what life was like behind bars for some of the most dangerous and notorious criminals. A cool spot to see: Al Capone’s 7-month residence. And you can literally step inside certain cells, if you dare – warning: don’t try this if you’re claustrophobic. A daytime trip was more our speed, touring the inside and outside grounds via audio tour. But many people love to come back around Halloween for a 10-acre haunted experience through the halls and courtyards, including haunted houses, historic tours and live performances.
OUTDOOR ADVENTURES
Philadelphia is known for its parks and green spaces. The 2,000 acres of Fairmount Park include a horticultural center with a greenhouse; trails for hiking, biking and horseback riding; paths along the beautiful Schuylkill River; and year-round events like guided hikes, yoga and meditation, stargazing after dark, kayaking, tasting tours and family days.
Shofuso Japanese Cultural Center is a go-to in the spring for its cherry blossom trees, but it’s also a quick stop other times of the year if you have time for a 30-60-minute self-guided tour. Shofuso hosts tea ceremony demos, or you can study a tea ceremony with Urasenke Philadelphia.
Along the Delaware River waterfront, take a stroll along the river trail, pop by a series of piers, spend time relaxing at Spruce Street Harbor Park, or check out the events at the Independence Blue Cross River Rink.
The Philadelphia Zoo is America’s first zoo, and is open almost daily year-round, so you can see the Galapagos turtle hatchlings, new flamingo exhibit, expanded Bear Country, and beautiful animal-shaped topiaries throughout the grounds.
Schuylkill Center for Environmental Education is one of the first urban environmental education centers in the country. Its 365 acres of fields, forests, ponds, and streams create a living laboratory on indigenous Lenni-Lenape land, so kids get a lesson in Native American history as well.
Although it’s about 45 minutes away from Center City, we want to give a nod to Longwood Gardens in Kennett Square, because it’s so incredibly beautiful. Spend the entire day wandering through the Waterlily Court, West Conservatory Plaza, Bonsai Courtyard, Rose Garden, Peirce’s Woods, Ornamental Kitchen Garden and various fountains.
FOR ART LOVERS
The city has its fair share of museums, theater and public murals. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is more of a classic art museum, and has national and international art on display, a calendar of activities for the family, and a shop with 100 makers. Outside, you’ll see plenty of people running up the front steps ala Sylvester Stallone in the movie “Rocky.”
The Barnes Foundation takes a more sophisticated approach. There are no labels on any of the artwork, so if you want to delve deeper you’ll have to join a tour, enroll in a class, or use the mobile gallery guide. The purpose is to create a visual relationship between the pieces without any distractions.
Arden Children’s Theatre offers a spring and a winter performance each year, and every show includes time after to meet the cast for a Q&A.
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts features performances by Ensemble Arts Philly, The Philadelphia Orchestra and Broadway shows.
JUST FOR FOODIES
No visit to Philly is complete without a cheesesteak, and although people debate about Pat’s and Geno’s, we tried Sonny’s Famous Steaks, which turned out to be another great spot. There’s a vegetarian grilled cheese and gluten-free hoagies, but we prefer a classic steak with Cheez Whiz, peppers and onions. The sandwiches transfer well on a car ride home from Old City to New Jersey.
We also like Oh Brother for not only its cheesesteaks, but also its mac and cheese burger on a mac and cheese bun, mushroom truffle burger on a pretzel bun, chili lime fries, and fried Oreos and Twinkies.
The Franklin Fountain has an old school ice cream parlor vibe, complete with ice cream, phosphates and sundaes made on premise – just steps away from Shane Confectionary (America’s oldest) along Market Street.
For a more eclectic menu, The Red Owl Tavern at the Kimpton Hotel Monaco is very rustic, but the menu is impressive. More than just a hotel restaurant, the menu includes pork belly bao buns, whipped ricotta with strawberry-rhubarb compote, spicy crab and artichoke dip, gnocchi Bolognese, a mushroom hand pie with braised greens, a tuna burger and Earl Gray panna cotta.
For Mexican with ambience, Las Bugambilias (the Spanish word for a specific type of plant) is a beautiful restaurant that is popular because its Desayuno Cafe menu (breakfast served all day) includes a breakfast burrito, chilaquiles, huevos divorciados, and a Mexican omelet. It seems every table ordered guacamole or ceviche – or both, with a selection of soups, tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, tortas, molcajete, fajitas, other entrees, and seafood.
MAKE IT A STAYCATION
If you’re planning to stay, Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia is our first choice for accommodations. Located on Chestnut Street right by the historical attractions, the lobby is a gorgeous mix of history with modern decor (a nod to its namesake, Grace Kelly, American actress and Princess of Monaco), and the guest rooms have a boutique feel, but the property is both kid- and pet-friendly.
The Kimpton offers fresh tea and coffee in the lobby from 7-10 am every morning, so indulge in the caffeine fix before a full day of sightseeing. If you need a break during the day, head back to the hotel for Social Hour from 5-6 pm, when you can have a free glass of wine. Put the kids to bed and take the elevator up to the 10th floor, where the Stratus rooftop lounge is open late Thursday to Saturday.
The Red Owl Tavern inside the Kimpton serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with a typical American tavern menu, plus there’s a pretty bar and cute coffee area. There is a 24/7 fitness center that has a Peloton bike – definite perk!
The Hilton Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing is the only waterfront hotel in the city, and has an indoor pool, Keating’s Rope & Anchor Bar + Kitchen and a fitness room – but the real draw is to bring a lock for the Philadelphia Hope Fence to share your love.
The Holiday Inn Express Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing is less than 10 minutes from Elfreth’s Alley, The Betsy Ross House, Christ Church and other sites in Philly’s Historic District. The rooms have great views of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and the Camden waterfront – and there is free daily breakfast.
For a more authentic feel, book one of 12 rooms at The Thomas Bond House Bed & Breakfast, which is restored from 1769, in the heart of Old City.
PRO TIPS
To get a great overview of the entire city, consider booking a bus tour that takes you through the heart of the city. The Big Bus Tour offers access to dozens of iconic sites in a hop-on, hop-off format. Though we took the drive later in the day and stayed on to see everything in one fell swoop, we agreed next time we’d use the bus as a mode of transportation, too.
Philly is very walkable, but if you need to move around, consider a rideshare or the Philly Phlash bus loop (each ride is $2, or get a day pass for $5). You can drive and park in front of certain museums or attractions, but you’ll need to allot extra time for finding a parking meter, and then you’ll have to keep an eye on the timer.
Next year marks the 250th anniversary of America, and from October 9 to 16, Homecoming 250 will see ships arrive to their birthplace along the Delaware River. Consider this Philly’s version of Fleet Week. You’ll be able to tour active-duty Navy ships, watch flyovers from the Navy and Marine Corps aircraft, see the Blue Angels aerial demo team, watch military teams on the ground, listen to the Navy and Marines bands, and join a veterans picnic. On November 10, there will be a celebration at Independence Hall.
Take a virtual tour of Philly via our Instagram page.
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