Remember the Wizard of Oz? Well, Dorothy and I have something in common.
There's no place like home.
As much as I love to travel and explore new places, there's something special about coming home to Philadelphia. It's also a great place for a weekend trip or a quick escape during the week with your family. Now, with the Visit Philly Overnight Hotel Package (stay any two consecutive nights and your car stays for free) it's even easier to plan your getaway.
There is so much to do for families in Philadelphia, that it can be a bit overwhelming planning an itinerary, so I wanted to share some of my favorite things to do with you. If I were create my perfect 3 day/2 night trip to Philadelphia, here are some of the places I would go with my family:
1) I've taken my kids to many children's museums, and the Please Touch Museum® is top notch! It includes two full floors of interactive exhibit zones, plus a fully restored 100-year-old carousel. Youngsters can play and pretend amid Alice’s Wonderland, River Adventures and other hands-on fun. And on Target First Wednesdays, the museum stay opens 4:00-7:00 p.m. with $2 admission. 4231 Avenue of the Republic, (215) 581-3181, pleasetouchmuseum.org
2) Philadelphia is full of history, and the Liberty 360 3D Show is a fun way to learn a little but about its roots. The show takes visitors on an immersive, 360° patriotic journey, led by none other than Benjamin Franklin, to discover our nation’s symbols of freedom—from the bald eagle to the Statue of Liberty. Inside the Historic Philadelphia Center’s customized, wrap-around PECO Theater, the 15-minute indoor show uses the most modern technology of its kind to spotlight the most treasured American value—liberty. 6th (215) 629-4026, historicphiladelphia.org
3) Going to the Adventure Aquarium is a must! It is the most family friendly aquarium I have ever been to and my kids love coming back time and time again! At Adventure Aquarium visitors can count on hands-on activities, animals, exhibits and unforgettable moments. You can walk through a suspended Shark Tunnel, get nose-to-nose with hippos and check out KidZone, a virtual playground under the sea. The 760,000-gallon Ocean Realm is home to sea turtles, stingrays, schooling fish and sharks, including the only great hammerheads on exhibit in the country. Adventurous types can roll up their sleeves to pet and feed stingrays, or touch shrimp, lobster, starfish, crabs and sharks. 1 Aquarium Drive, Camden, NJ, (856) 365-3300, adventureaquarium.com
4) America's first zoo, the Philadelphia Zoo is also a family favorite. Home to nearly 1,300 animals— many rare and endangered. In addition to leading the way in conservation efforts, America’s first zoo features award-winning exhibits such as First Niagara Big Cat Falls, the McNeil Avian Center, the PECO Primate Reserve and seasonal family-friendly events. The new wildlife academy and interactive children’s zoo, KidZooU, enhances the zoo experi-ence for kids, from toddlers to tweens, with dynamic displays, hands-on learning and animals including unusual goats, sheep, chicken and ducks. 3400 W. Girard Avenue, (215) 243-1100, philadelphiazoo.org
5) Oh, how we love Linvilla Orchards! It's a scenic 300-acre family farm dedicated to agriculture, education and entertainment, families can explore the Garden Center, pick their own seasonal fruit, hop on a hay-ride and buy freshly baked pies to take home. 137 W. Knowlton Road, Media, (610) 876-7116, linvilla.com
6) Longwood Gardens is one of our favorite places to go year-round. My kids absolutely love this place and it's a feast for the senses, no matter how old you are! Each time we go to Longwood, we have a unique adventure. You don't want to miss the towering tree houses, the magnificent conservatory or the enchanting indoor children’s garden. Although this is not located in the city, I I'd say it's well worth the drive! U.S. Route 1, Kennett Square, (610) 388-1000, longwoodgardens.org
7) Riding The Ducks is such a fun way to see Philadelphia and learn about some of it's history. It is an amphibious vehicle that goes from land (Philadelphia Museum of Art to the Liberty Bell Center) to sea (Delaware River), can look forward to 90 minutes of entertainment, city history, fun facts and lots of kid-approved quacking. 6th (887) 887-8225, phillyducks.com
8) The Franklin Institute is a classic destination. I remember going here as a child and it's still incredibly popular today. As the region’s premier science museum, The Franklin Institute features a full city block of kid-friendly exhibitions, such as the walk-through Giant Heart (an old favorite!), Space Command, Sports Challenge, Electricity and Changing Earth. It’s also home to the Tuttleman IMAX Theater, the Fels Planetarium and a 3-D theater. 222 N. 20th Street, (215) 448-1200, fi.edu
9) I've heard great things about the Smith Memorial Playground & Playhouse. It's one of the oldest playgrounds in America, dating back to 1899, and offers children (ages 10 and under) a free, safe place to play, jump, swing and climb. For children five and under, the Tot-Lot features more than 20 pieces of age-appropriate play equipment, and at the 16,000-square-foot Playhouse, kids run the show. 3500 Reservoir Drive (near 33rd (215) 765-4325, smithplayground.org
10) The Herr’s Snack Factory Tour is close to an hour from the city, but it's worth the drive! At the Herr's factory, you will learn about the History of the Herr's brand, get to see how the snacks are made, and get to taste freshly made potato chip! The tour is free, educational and fun, but be sure to reserve your spot online before going. Route 272 & Herr Drive, Nottingham, (610) 932-6400, herrs.com
Sounds like fun, right? These are my top 10 things for kids to do when visiting Philadelphia and this is just a small sampling of what the area has to offer. There is so much to see and do.
So, are you ready to #VisitPhilly?
Philadelphia is the perfect spot for a getaway! Stay for any two consecutive nights at one of twenty participating hotels and your car stays free! For more information and to book your room visitphilly.com/overnight.
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Visit Philadelphia. The opinions and text are all mine.
Photo Credits: Linvilla & Adventure Aquarium by R. Kennedy for Visit Philadelphia™ / GPTMC. - Please Touch by M. Edlow for Visit Philadelphia™