Philly trip with kids: Philadelphia Museum of Art

Philadelphia surprised us with one of the best art museums in the country. The Philadelphia Museum of Art building itself is impressive: located in Fairmont Park (not downtown), the historic building towers over the adjacent Spring Garden neighborhood. While planning a Philly trip with kids, families will want to start out by running up the imposing museum steps a la Rocky (the movie was filmed here). I hear many visitors come only for this, which is ridiculous: the museum houses over 2,000 years of art ranging from sculpture and photography to painting and tapestry.

philly-with-kids

We started on the 1st floor to hit the biggies before the kids faded: here, you’ll find van Gogh’s Sunflowers and several works by Picasso in the European Art galleries. In the American Art gallery, Winslow Homer is the biggest draw (no pun intended!) but we ended up spending a great deal of time here looking at the various contemporary art pieces and 20th century art. We found this section of the museum to be particularly kid-friendly.

armor-room-philadelphia

Save the upstairs for after you’ve seen what you want to see as a parent, because once kids get into the Arms and Armor wing, you may never leave. Honestly, I was fascinated, too. This impressive gallery features full knight armor, knights on horseback, armor from just about every period, and weaponry of all kinds. Our kids played a game of picking out what they’d want for battle during various periods of European and Asian history (a made-up game of their own), which took the better part of an hour. When you finally pull the kids away, the Asian Art wing waits, and an impressive section of early European Art featuring full rooms from various periods (we liked the English drawing room).

philly-art-museum

Date last visited:

June 2014

Distance from the interstate:

A few seconds from I-95.

Admission:

Tickets are $20 for adults, $14 for youth (13-17) and free for kids 12 and under.

Dining:

There is a museum cafe, located at the bottom level, as well as Granite Hill, a critically-acclaimed restaurant. Outside the museum, Fairmont Park offers space for picnics, and food trucks are often in the vicinity (though at the time of our visit, we only saw ice cream trucks).

Hours of operation:

Open Tuesday through Sunday 10 am to 5 pm. Late hours Wednesday and Friday nights (until 8:45 pm, with ‘pay what you wish’ starting after 5 pm).

Directions:

The museum is located at 2600 Benjamin Franklin Parkway.

As I disclose whenever applicable, our visit to the museum was complimentary, for the purpose of review. Without complimentary entry, we wouldn’t be able to bring as many reviews to Pit Stops for Kids.

Philadelphia with the kids: where to go and what to see

If a fun-packed trip with the kids is planned, Philadelphia with the kids should make the shortlist of top places to visit. Situated in the mid-Atlantic region in the south eastern part of Pennsylvania, Philly is a big city with big-hitting attractions to match. Being the fifth most populous city in the United States, Philadelphia gives places such as New York and Chicago a run for their money in the bustling metropolis department. If the kids want a high-octane, energy-packed city break, it’s hard to get it wrong in Philadelphia.

Philadelphia-with-the-kids

Disguised learning

Okay, so this is a vacation, right? School’s out and the kids are just up for having a great time, but parents love it when they can combine a bit of learning with the fun and Philadelphia has many opportunities for such skullduggery. First place to visit on the list should be the Please Touch Museum in the historic setting of Fairmount Park’s Memorial Hall. There’s a clue in the name that this is no ordinary museum, children are actually encouraged to learn through play in this enormous homage to childhood. There are themed sections from Alice in Wonderland, a fairytale garden and a supermarket experience; children can sit behind the wheel of a bus or make believe they’re sailing a boat. With a focus on interaction there are many things to spark the imagination and the Please Touch Museum is especially popular with younger children.  The highlight of the visit is likely to be a ride on the stunning, lovingly restored carousel with painted, prancing horses. This museum is a joy to visit any time but makes a wonderful option when rain interferes with outdoor plans.

Next stop is the Franklin Institute. Since 1934 Philly families have been coming here to enjoy the science related exhibits. Kids love learning about how things work and when it comes to bodily functions, they really relate. A new exhibition investigating the working of the brain is sure to please them, as is the walk-through giant heart. There are also movies to enjoy in the IMAX theater and exhibits designed to help us learn how electricity works, in a fun and interesting way. Covering all things from sport to space, the Franklin Institute will excite children and adults alike.

Last stop on the disguised learning tour of Philly should be the Independence Seaport Museum on Penn’s Landing. Ever wondered what it was like in a World War II submarine or how about riding the waves in a 1890s Navy cruiser?  These exhibits give an insight into the maritime heritage of Philadelphia, making the museum is a great port of call for young and old.

It’s show-time

There are few better family bonding experiences than sharing a great show together. Whatever the tastes of your brood, there will be something to tempt them at the Wells Fargo Center, Philadelphia’s leading events and entertainment venue. Buy Wells Fargo Center Tickets for a range of family friendly spectaculars including Philadelphia Flyers games, Disney on Ice shows, Harlem Globe Trotters exhibition games, wrestling, Sesame Street and many musical acts.  With a thrilling program packed with quality and variety, it won’t be difficult pleasing everyone.

Let’s get active

For burning off excess energy, Philadelphia is blessed with some wonderful open spaces. Try the colonial surroundings at Franklin Square for its mini golf, carousel and picnic area; there is plenty of room for children to run about. Alternatively, The Smith House and Playground offers six acres of wooded parkland with a 44 foot wooden slide, ‘play mansion’ and an enormous play-pod with jungle gyms and see-saws galore. If they’re not totally exhausted after all that, take them to the slightly more sedate Camden Children’s Garden, an interactive four acre space where youngsters are encouraged to get in touch with their inner horticulturalist. For children showing a budding interest in all matters gardening, this place will seem like heaven.

Critter capers

Most families have at least one budding zoologists or veterinarians keen for a bit of animal fun, so why not take them to the wonderful Philadelphia Zoo? Marvel at the Primate Center, the Avian Center and The Big Cat Falls; this zoo has been here for 150 years, so they really know what they’re doing. If water-based creatures are preferred take a trip to Camden Adventure Aquarium where the new hippo exhibition is wowing visitors. Along with the penguins, sharks and crocodiles, there are some fascinating creatures to see up close in a wonderful setting.

Finding great things to do with the kids in Philadelphia is not a problem, the hardest thing will be persuading them to leave this brilliant family destination once the vacation is over…

CityPASS

Photo credit: Flickr/Vic15

The Choo Choo Barn

A traffic jam along the tracks is just one detail in the displays at Choo Choo Barn. Photo property of Mother of All Trips.

226 Gap Road
Strasburg, PA

Do you have a train-crazy kid in your family? Planning a family vacation or road trip through Pennsylvania Dutch country? You’ll want to stop at the Choo Choo Barn, a 1,700 square foot train-lover’s dream featuring over 150 hand-built animated figures and vehicles and 22 operating trains!

Mara Gorman of Mother of all Trips, says of the Choo Choo Barn: “I knew it was going to be a hit with Tommy when we walked in and immediately saw a baseball game with tiny players running the bases and a ski mountain with a working lift…there’s also lots of fascinating real-life stuff like construction sites with moving bulldozers, a car accident complete with backed-up traffic, and a house on fire being busily tended to by a crew of firefighters. And of course there are also trains chugging around continuously, passenger cars that you can see in, freight trains marked “Pennsylvania Railroad and B&O and even some that are pulled by engines who will be familiar to all Thomas the Tank Engine fans.” (Read her full review for more details and travel tips!)

Extra Tip! Can’t get enough of trains? Visit three other train attractions in PA: the Strasburg Railroad, the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania, and the National Toy Train Museum. Alternatively, check out the cool railroading offers at modelbuildings.org.

Please Note: Route 30 has many outlets and tourist attractions along it, and during the summer months the traffic on the far side of Lancaster (the side closer to Strasburg) can be beastly! There are lots of lights because of all the businesses. Plan accordingly!

Date last visited: May 2010.

Distance off the interstate: Right off Route 30. Approximately 30 minutes from either I-76 or I-83.

Hours: Generally open 7 days a week, but hours are varied by season.

Admission Prices:

Adults (13 and up) $6.00
Kids (4 to 12) $4.00
Kids under age 4 are admitted free

Food Services: The Mother of all Trips recommends the restaurant next door to the Choo Choo Barn for lunch!

Bathrooms: Located on-site.

Website: Choo Choo Barn

Directions: From I-83, take exit 19 for PA-462 W, then merge onto N Hills Rd. Turn right at US-30 E, then right at PA-896 S/Hartman Bridge Rd. Continue to follow PA-896 S two miles, then turn left at E Main St. Take a slight left at PA-741 E/Gap R.

From I-76, take Hwy 283 to Hwy 23 into Strasburg.

Sideling Hill Service Plaza

Farmers Market at Sideling curstesy of The Mother of All Trips

Taylor, PA

The Sideling Hill Service Plaza is one of 18 on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, but only one of two hosting a farmer’s market of locally grown fruits and vegetables (the other one is located in Allentown).

Says Mara of The Mother of all Trips, We pulled off at the Sideling Hill Service Area on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in between Harrisburg and Altoona to discover that it is a lovely spot! We grabbed our cooler out of the trunk and had a nice picnic next to the memorial garden that is planted on one side of the service area building (a plaque there honors veterans of the armed forces)¦Nicest of all was the farmer’s market, where five days a week it is possible to purchase local produce, jams, and baked goods. I picked up some cherries and blueberry bread for breakfast  they should make a nice supplement to the complimentary cereal we get at our hotel. Read Mara’s full article Playing Catch on the PA Turnpike.

Date last visited: Mid-June 2009

Distance off the interstate: Directly off the turnpike. Access from both east and westbound.

Bathrooms: Yes.

Food Services: In addition to the farmer’s market, the plaza contains a Burger King, Popeye’s, and Hershey’s Ice Cream.

Website: Find information on all of the Pennsylvania Turnpike’s service plazas at: http://www.paturnpike.com/geninfo/srvcplaza/svcplazas.aspx.

Directions: West of Harrisburg on the PA Turnpike (I-78), between exits 161-180.

Photo curtesy of The Mother of All Trips.

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