We recently spent 2 days in Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love and history. There is so much to see and do. So much history to explore and learn.
Day 1 in Philadelphia
Our first day in the city started early on a Saturday. We drove into the city from the Homewood Suites in Plymouth Meeting, a small town about 14 miles northwest of Philadelphia. I highly recommend the hotel. It is perfect for large families. As we drove, learned that just because it is the weekend it doesn’t mean the traffic will be lighter. It was very congested at times. I can’t imagine what the traffic is like during the workweek.
Since day one was going to be focused on the National Park and historical sites, we decided to park in the parking garage underneath the Independence Visitor Center. It was very convenient and not too expensive.
Next, we headed upstairs to the Independence Visitor Center. The kids and I got our Passport books stamped and we chatted with a very nice park ranger. She introduced us to the National Park trading card program. Kids ask park rangers if they have any trading cards. If the ranger has some, the kids must answer questions to earn the cards. It’s a fun way for kids to learn a bit more about the parks.
Liberty Bell
While researching our trip, I learned that the line at the Liberty Bell can get very long as the day goes on. Since it was approaching 9 am, opening time at the Liberty Bell, we headed there next. We waited in a short line and were shuffled through security. Then we got our first view of the Liberty Bell. Currently, the bell is the only thing you can view here. The museum portion is closed for renovation. Because of that, we were through in about 15 minutes.
Independence Hall
Then it was off to Independence Hall. Again, I read that lines could get long so we immediately searched out the tour entrance. As you are looking at the backside of the Hall, the entrance is on the far left. It took us forever to locate it. Once inside, you are shuffled through more security. Then we waited in line for the next tour. Tours are about every 15 minutes and they let in a large group of people. It was a bit crowded.
You start off on one side and listen to a park ranger describe the room and everything that happened. Then you cross the hall to the other side and hear about that room. The entire tour took about 20 minutes. I found it
Downtown Philadelphia
We spent the rest of the day wandering around downtown Philadelphia. We took a stroll through Washington Square and peaked through a fence to see Benjamin Franklin’s grave. During the summer months, you can pay a small fee to actually go inside the cemetery and get a close-up view of the Franklin family plot.
Next, we walked through Chinatown to get to the Reading Terminal Market for lunch. The market is quite an experience! It is packed with different vendors selling food, goods, and souvenirs. Finding a table can be a chore. I highly recommend The Original Turkey. The turkey sandwiches tasted just like Thanksgiving dinner. Oh, so good!
After lunch, we explored the area around City Hall. Unfortunately, during our visit, City Hall was closed and there were no tower tours. Then we headed back across town to our car. We made a quick stop at the President’s House, which is basically a shell of the house President Washington occupied. There are now outdoor exhibits describing the area.
Day 2 in Philadelphia
Day 2 started off with another drive into Philadelphia. We had planned to park in another parking garage but couldn’t find it. We ended up parking in a lot. I don’t recommend parking in a lot if you have a large vehicle. They pack vehicles into these lots and getting out is not easy. We had a really hard time backing our minivan out.
Benjamin Franklin Museum
Our first stop of the day was the Benjamin Franklin Museum. There is a $5 entrance fee for adults and $2 for kids 4-16. If you have a 4th grader with an Every Kid in the Park Pass, you will get in free. The museum is very small but has a ton of interactive exhibits. It was an interesting museum and worth the stop.
Outside the museum, you can go into the Printing Press which has free admission. The kids were fascinated by the printing press. A park ranger demonstrates the press often.
Also, outside the museum is Franklin Court, the grounds where Ben Franklin’s house used to be. Be sure to look up and down! The ground has descriptions of what used to be in each spot. Up above you can see the shell of the house and how large it would have been.
Franklin court 
Ben Franklin privy pit
Museum of the American Revolution
After Franklin Court, we headed down the street to the Museum of the American Revolution. There is an entrance fee to visit this museum. It is $21 for adults and $13 for youth 6-17. There are discounts for seniors, military, teachers, and students. If you are a homeschool teacher with an ID you qualify for a discount. It worked for me!
The museum has multiple levels and lots of exhibits describing the American Revolution. Some must-sees are Washington’s war tent, the Revolution film, Boston’s Liberty Tree, the Privateer Ship, and the many short films. Our kids liked the hands-on room on the first floor, but I believe it was a temporary exhibit. They also enjoyed climbing aboard the Privateer Ship.
Halfway through the museum, it was lunchtime. We decided to take a museum break and head to Sonny’s Famous Steaks. The cheesesteaks were large and delicious. The kids were even able to split a cheesesteak. You have to have a cheesesteak while visiting Philadelphia. It’s an unwritten rule!
After lunch, we finished up at the Museum of the American Revolution. Being a holiday weekend, it was packed. It really made it hard to enjoy. It was an okay museum. If given the chance to go to Philadelphia again, I think I would choose the National Constitution Center over this museum.
Penn’s Landing
Next, we walked to Penn’s Landing. Penn’s Landing is a park and event venue along the Delaware River. It is a popular ice skating spot in winter and a concert spot in the summer. Standing along the water you get great views of the Ben Franklin Bridge and the Battleship New Jersey.
Then it was time to head back to the hotel. Our time in Philadelphia had come to an end. The next day’s adventure will take us to
For more sites to visit in Pennsylvania check out these posts:
- 2 Days in Strasburg with Kids
- Gettysburg with Kids, Part 3
- Indian Echo Caverns with Kids, Part 2
- Valley Forge NHP with Kids
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this post are strictly my own. I was not compensated for this post.
5 Comment