Philly day trip ideas...

[sixesandsevens]

Hi all,

My son (9) and I are taking a day trip to Philly in a few weeks and I'm looking for things for us to do. He's a train nut, so we're taking the Amtrak up to 30th Street Station but beyond that, we've got the day free from 10:00a-5:00p.

Any suggestions nearby? Can we walk to someplace like the Mutter Museum or the Franklin Institute from the train station?

Thanks in advance. Any and all recommendations are much appreciated!

[cmatthes]

The train station is across the river from the Franklin Institute - you could walk if you really wanted to, but I'd take a cab this time of year. That is a GREAT place to spend part of the day with your kids, and your son is at a great age for that. The Academy of Natural Sciences is right next door too, and would be an easy stop.

Independence Hall, the Constitution Museum, Ben Franklin's grave, etc. are also a short cab ride.

The Italian Market is kind of in between the two, and that's another great destination to try out - definitely try to hit that for lunch if you're in that part of town. Lots of stuff to keep any kid's interest there.

[diablo175]

All the listed activities have actually been done with groups of 6- 13 year olds on summer camp field trips requiring only 3 or 4 hours.

There are walking "ghost tours" of the purported haunted sections of the city as well as Duck Boat tours, both of which I've done and are well liked by youngin's.

You can also get in on tours of the two major sports parks which is cool if you like baseball and football, though the baseball park is MUCH more interesting from the teams history standpoint.

The Independence Seaport Museum is way cool as you get to walk thru several warships and a WW2 Sub and see some of the civilian maritime displays which the kids enjoyed.

As mentioned the Franklin is always cool.

Another is the Philly art museum but that's my own interests speaking.

[Ting Ho Dung]

Amtrak goes South you know. Stops right at our front door. After you're done with all that head our way. I'll pick you up. Your kid like the beach? Sorry, can't help you with Philly although I hear they are great sandwiches. Isn't there a defective bell up there somewhere to look at?

[LostArt]

I used to take groups over there all the time

independence mall has the liberty bell

walk to independence hall

go to the park in the back and see commodore barry's statue

walk down chestnut st there is an art museum on the right forgot the name of it

go back up to 4th st and then go to the bourse bldg cool achetecture crappy stores

next to it is the ben franklin museum very cool

go one block north on 4th and arch is ben franklin's grave

next block philadelphia mint cool stuff

go south on arch (or it race?) you will see the fire dept and then betsy ross house.

if you want you can go for a ride on the philly ducks' but they had an accident a year or so ago not sure what they do now or if they even go in the water.

cool record store on 2nd and market

in that same vicinity is a maritine museum atwater kent museum if you are into old radios and other stuff to do.

if you get to south st go to jim's for cheese steaks for iscabibble do NOT go to pat's or geno's their sandwiches are crap.

tons of shopping on chestnut st you can walk up to city hall then go into the old wanamaker bldg not sure if it is lord and taylor or some other name now cool courtyard there.

have fun

[sixesandsevens]

Dumb as this sounds, I hadn't even thought about a cheese steak.

Thanks for all the great suggestions guys!

Thorn - I may take you up on that one day. My boy is selling the auto train pretty hard.

[diablo175]

Dumb as this sounds, I hadn't even thought about a cheese steak.

My understanding of Philly cheesesteaks is: there are two so-called originals- Pats King of Steaks and Genos. However, there are numerous others that are just as authentic but maybe not as widely known- Tony Lukes, Dalessandros, Larry's, Campos etc. It's similar to the hubris surrounding who has the best deep dish pizza in Chicago and I KNOW better than to get in the middle of that debate.

[BubbaVO]

Chris and Diablo really do have it covered for the age group.

[LostArt]

pat's and geno's are for tourists

[LostArt]

forgot to mention the ben franklin print shop on market st.

cool stuff

[jim777]

I'll take Carmine's in Bellmawr NJ over Pat's or Geno's any day

[Stike]

Dumb as this sounds, I hadn't even thought about a cheese steak.

John's Roast Pork

El Vez may not be authentic tacqueria fare but it's a fun place and the food is really good.

[diablo175]

I'll take Carmine's in Bellmawr NJ over Pat's or Geno's any day

I'm not endorsing them in the least. Frankly, I don't care for their steaks- they use cheese whiz on 'em if I'm not mistaken. No thanks.

[jim777]

I'll take Carmine's in Bellmawr NJ over Pat's or Geno's any day

I'm not endorsing them in the least. Frankly, I don't care for their steaks- they use cheese whiz on 'em if I'm not mistaken. No thanks.

Only if you ask for it. I get 'Merican cheese, onions, sweet peppers and long hots on mine, but the Mrs likes provolone And I spelled Carmen's wrong! Sacrilidge LOL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zAWfcSEztU

[mojo2001]

>John's Roast Pork

Now you're talkin! Also Cosmi's. This is my old neighborhood and the place to be for steaks and hoagies, but not easy to get to from 30th St Station.

These used to be a fair amount of rail interest at the Franklin Institute, including a complete steam locomotive. And the Academy of Natural Sciences is right across the street so Logan Circle is a good destination for a 9 year old.

[sixesandsevens]

Thanks for all the tips!

We wore out a little earlier than I'd hoped, but we visited the Liberty Bell, the Franklin Institute, Reading Terminal Market, and a few random train stations. The blue line basically took us everywhere we needed to go too.

Thanks again!