Especially for Kids

Philadelphia is one of the country's great family destinations. It has a variety of attractions for different ages, and because it's so walkable and neighborhood-based, a snack, a rest, or a new distraction is never far away. Since so many of the family attractions are explained in more detail elsewhere in this or other chapters, I'll restrict myself to a list of the basics.

The Independence Visitor Center, at 6th and Market streets, coordinates and sells several packages that combine free admission to many kid-friendly attractions with accommodations at hotels such as the Loews, Sheraton Society Hill, Four Seasons, and Holiday Inn (tel. 215/965-7676). Visit www.gophila.org, the website of the Greater Philadelphia Tourism and Marketing Corporation, or call them at tel. 215/599-0776, for more family-oriented hotel packages.

Museums & Sights

In Center City, you'll find the Please Touch Museum, 210 N. 21st St. (until it moves to Penn's Landing); Franklin Institute, Benjamin Franklin Parkway and 20th Street; CoreStates Science Park between these two on 21st Street; and the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Parkway and 19th Street. The Free Library of Philadelphia Children's Department, across Logan Circle at Vine and 19th streets, is a joy, with a separate entrance, 100,000 books, and computers in a playgroundlike space, with weekend hours. Around Independence Hall are the Liberty Bell Center; Franklin Court, between Market and Chestnut streets at 4th Street; the waterfront at Penn's Landing, off Front Street; the new National Constitution Center at Arch and 5th streets; and, of course, the guided tour of Independence Hall. You can also take the ferry from Penn's Landing and the great new Independence Seaport Museum to the aquarium, children's garden, and battleship in Camden, New Jersey. In West Fairmount Park, you'll find the zoo.

Playgrounds

Rittenhouse Square at 18th and Walnut streets has a small playground and space in which to eat and relax. Other imaginative urban playgrounds on this side of Center City are Schuylkill River Park at Pine and 26th streets, and at 26th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, opposite the art museum. Nearest Independence Hall, try Delancey, aka "Three Bears" Park at Delancey between 3rd and 4th streets (with lots of fountains and animal sculptures to climb on) or Starr Garden at 6th and Lombard streets. The best park in Fairmount Park is the Smith Memorial. It's got a giant wooden slide, weird climbing things, and an indoor playground with plenty of toys to play with and spots to picnic (head north on 33rd St., then take a left into the park at Oxford Ave., near Woodford). Worth an afternoon is Franklin Square Park, between 6th and 7th on Race Street, with an old-fashioned carousel, a fountain (ca. 1825), a Philly-theme mini golf course, and a playground. Open daylight hours. Carousel charges $3 to adults, $2 to children. Mini golf costs $8 per adult and $6 per child. At press time, hours were limited to Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays.

Entertainment

There is lots of children's theater in Philadelphia. The Arden Theatre at 40 N. 2nd St. (tel. 215/922-1122; www.ardentheatre.org) is one of a dozen companies that produces children's theater year-round. Mum Puppettheatre at 115 Arch St. presents a season of thought-provoking and enjoyable plays for all ages; call tel. 215/925-8686 or visit www.mumpuppet.org for schedule and details.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art at 26th and Ben Franklin Parkway (bus: PHLASH, 21, or 42) has dedicated itself to producing Sunday-morning and early-afternoon programs for children, at minimal or no charge. Your kids could wind up drawing pictures of armor or watching a puppet play about dragons, visiting a Chinese court, or exploring cubism. Call tel. 215/763-8100, or 215/684-7500 for 24-hour information.

Outside Philadelphia

In Bucks County, there are Sesame Street-based rides and water slides at Sesame Place in Langhorne, and the restored antique carousel at Peddler's Village in Lahaska. To the northwest, try the 20th-century entertainment areas connected with Franklin Mills, and Ridley Creek State Park and its 17th-century working farm in Montgomery County. For Revolutionary War history in action, visit Valley Forge or Washington Crossing National Historical Parks. And for a fascinating experience, spend a couple of days in Lancaster County -- you can even stay on a working Amish farm.