In our everyday lives, we're so busy working, cooking and driving that we don't have enough time to just relax and play with our kids. A vacation is a chance to be with our children without the other obligations. A trip to Philadelphia can mean a vacation that is decidedly family friendly, giving you the opportunity to relax, enjoy and just have fun with your children. Following these tips can ensure that your trip is stress-free and fun for everyone.
1) Include the children in the planning.
Kids will be much more enthusiastic about a destination if they feel like they chose it themselves. Give them the opportunity to make choices by offering them options: Philadelphia Zoo or Adventure Aquarium? Of course they'll have fun at either place, but they'll feel important making the choice. You can extend them the same courtesy when it comes to choosing restaurants and food. Narrow it down to choices that are acceptable to you by price and location, then make the options sound relevant to your child: Italian or Chinese? Or you could ask: "Should we eat at the restaurant that looks like it's from the fifties (River City Diner) or a place with dogs on the wall (White Dog Cafe)?" Make the choices seem fun for your kids, then after going there, praise them for their excellent choices.
Consider buying your children their own travel guides. Zchock's Journey Around Philadelphia From A to Z is appropriate for elementary school-aged children, and the illustrations and information will get them excited ahead of time. Reading books with a Philadelphia theme is also a way to get them prepared in advance, and knowing facts about a site makes children feel important. It's also a good way to "sneak" in some education. For the very small, Good Night Philadelphia is a board book with pictures of popular sites, and for older readers, Ben and Me by Robert Lawson is a story from the point of view of Benjamin Franklin's mouse that chapter book readers will enjoy.
2) Make getting around fun on its own.
Once you're there, don't forget that little feet get tired faster and more easily. Some attractions might seem like a short walk to you, but for children it's like a hike. Look for the purple minibuses made especially for tourists. An all-day pass is only $3 for unlimited rides, and the buses make loops from Logan's Circle to Center City and Penn's Landing, covering all of the most popular sites. Kids can have fun helping you spot the purple vehicles (maybe you can tell little ones they're "Barney buses"), and they'll be a lot less cranky when they aren't worn out from walking.
Trolley tours or horse and carriage tours are available from different companies, and can allow you to take in multiple sites with less walking if you so desire. If you're planning a side trip to Camden, New Jersey (home of a super kid-friendly aquarium), the RiverLink Ferry makes hourly departures every day. A ferry trip will seem like an event itself to younger children, rather than just a way of "getting there."
3) Choose locations with children's activities.
Kids are used to hearing "Don't touch" when they're in museums. It can be frustrating to eager and restless young bodies. In a city that seems full of velvet ropes and glass-enclosed 18th century artifacts, look for places that allow hands-on experiences for children. The Please Touch Museum (210 N. 21st St.) is made with this in mind. Kids can climb behind the wheel of a real bus, climb down a rabbit hole into a recreation of Alice's Wonderland or interact with scenes from Where the Wild Things Are.
The Fireman's Hall Museum (147 N. 2nd St.) also has interactive activities. Kids can try on a firefighter's coat or stand behind the wheel of a fireboat (something they may not even know existed). Several other museums have activities for children, and even more serene locations sometimes have special events for young people. Call ahead or check websites for current times and dates, but whatever you do: be sure to take the little ones to places they can actually touch.
4) Let them be themselves.
After hours of being indoors or standing in lines with crowds, kids need time to just shake loose and feel free. Take the time to visit one of Philadelphia's parks. Fairmount Park, at 8,500 acres, is the largest landscaped city park in the world. Imagine all the room your kids can have to just run, jump and play. With this much space, they won't be in anyone's way. Run and play with them yourself, and they'll remember it forever. Kids love to see their parents have fun and be silly.
Afterward, let them have some familiar food. Sure, it's great to teach kids about different cultures by having them sample local cuisine, and of course you want to visit a few nice restaurants, but it's hard on small ones. Why wait until they get home to let them eat foods they like? Take them for some pizza in one of Little Italy's many restaurants, or for burgers at Jim's Steaks on South Street (where you can eat a ribeye while they have cheesburgers and fries). They'll feel comfortable and happy, which is what you want.
Above all, make sure you are happy yourself. When parents are stressed, kids know. Plan ahead, relax and enjoy your time in Philadelphia. Your good mood will undoubtedly rub off on the little ones. With just a little foresight, the City of Brotherly Love can be the City of Family Love.