The challenge: two adults (my husband Ken and I) two young kids (our daughters, Milla, 3 and Arden, 1) and 48 hours to see it all. Here’s how we spent our weekend escape in Philadelphia.
What We Did:
The Philadelphia Trolley Works Tour
The trolley tour enabled our family to see the city’s main attractions in just 90 minutes. The tour is narrated by knowledgeable and cheerful tour guides, and you can hop off at any of the 20 stops to customize the day to your family’s interests. We enjoyed visiting attractions like the Betsy Ross House, the Rodin Museum and the iconic “Rocky Steps” at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. (phillytour.com)
Please Touch Museum
A perfect place for kids to learn and play! Our girls perused the aisles of the mini ShopRite supermarket, played with water currents in “River Adventures” and learned about transportation in “Roadside Attractions.” The museum also houses the century-old refurbished Woodside Park Dentzel Carousel. (pleasetouchmuseum.org)
Adventure Aquarium
This incredible 200,000 square-foot aquarium boasts so many exciting
exhibits, shows and adventures. Our family loved the 40-foot shark
tunnel, which features over 30 sharks and 850 other sea creatures. The
“Touch-A- Shark” exhibit is great for those who are brave, like Milla. (adventureaquarium.com)
Where We Stayed:
The newly renovated
Doubletree Hotel Philadelphia is located in the center of the city’s
cultural district. Families will love the hotel’s proximity to the
Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts and the Academy of Music, the
Pennsylvania Convention Center, the Liberty Bell and other
family-friendly attractions. The rooms are chic but comfortable and
offer beautiful views of the city. The hotel also has an indoor pool and
whirlpool, high-speed internet access, and a warm and gracious staff
that greeted us with smiles and high fives (to Arden’s delight!). (philadelphia.
doubletree.com)
For more info: visitphilly.com.
Kristen J. Duca
blogs at ultimatemama.com.
