Travel Tips: A toddler in Philly

Thursday, November 8, 2018


Philly in Fall is a great place to visit with a toddler!

The weather is all over the place. In one day we needed a sweater, it rained then the sun came out and we were sweating followed by a beautiful sunset. Then it got windy and cold again at night.  But I am guessing if you have a toddler you are already familiar with this fast cycling bi-polar behavior, right?! So just ignore it like you should with your toddlers tantrum when they breakdown in the middle of the sidewalk on your way to the grocery store and make the best of it!

For example; you can walk just about everywhere in the city! Which is a great way to travel and see lots of things with your toddler, no need to jump in and out of the car and have those car seats fights, you know when they turn into a feral cat trying to be put in the sink for a bath.  If it does rain, which in our experience happened a lot for an hour or two and then went away just as quickly as it came. Uber Black has an option for cars with car seats inside the city.

Anders loved strolling down the busy streets and screaming at the big trucks! 

Places to check out:

 

INDEPENDENCE MALL

Has a welcome center, with food, clean bathrooms and a 15 minute video to cool off inside. Then you can walk through the area where the Liberty Bell is housed and walk around the lovely grassy area around all for free. If your toddler is in a good mood or you have the time you can buy a ticket and do the whole tour inside and outside the buildings.  All you need is stroller and lots of snacks, basically the key to doing anything with a toddler.  Click here for more info  




Passed out on our walk around the surrounding neighborhood

 

FRANKLIN SQUARE


Fountains, Carousel, mini golf, jungle gym for littles, all and all Great Park for kiddos! Also, very near Independence Mall, we did these in the same day. We spent a little over an hour here but Anders could have played at this park for longer. The playground is really set up for toddlers.  Click here for more info  



 

PLEASE TOUCH MUSEUM

People kept telling me to go check out the “ Touch Me museum” that it was great for kiddos But the name kept throwing me off so I ignored and we were there visiting family so we had other plans. But again kept hearing about it and next time we go, we will definitely be visiting it.   
Click here for more info 
 
{Update May 2019} Ok so we went to the Please Touch Museum and it was AMAZING! The Museum is located in Fairmount Park which is gorgeous and huge green space inside the city. Then the museum is housed in an eve more gorgeous building.  


Inside the first floor has a water area, a motor area, space for special exhibit then on the second floor where we spent most of their time they have entire little town. It was beyond adorable. A shoe store, restaurant ,grocery store, book store, hospital, bank. Really it was so cute! If that wasn't enough they had an entire "Alice and Wonder Land" Area including the garden maze and fantastic giant tree. We really could have played here all day long if we didn't need Anders to nap. Oh and I almost forgot the carousal but we didn't make it there. If your kiddo doesn't need a nap, then plan to spend the entire day here. 






 

SESAME PLACE

We took an uber, about 30 minutes from downtown to Sesame Place and despite being a very hot day it was great! We really did not know what to expect and was not very prepared for a day long excursion but we spent about 3 hours there which was just long enough for Anders. He got to do a meet and greet with Elmo and friends, rode some rides, ran around "Sesame Street" and then of course no trip like this is complete with out some souvenirs. We went with Murray because he is my favorite and we already had an Elmo at home. Of and last but not least they have an adorable carnival game section and even if you don't win you walk away with a stuffed animal or prize. Everyone was a winner, my kind of carnival!
Click here for more info 




There are lots of other places to go like random parks, museums, fountains to see and of course the Pennsylvania Ballet just to name a few.  We will definitely be back to explore the city more! 





Visiting the ballet students at the Pennsylvania Ballet


Checking out the Barnes Museum 


 

{Updates May 2019}

RITTENHOUSE SQUARE PARK

Really pretty park in the middle of the shopping area of Philly. Toddlers and little kids swarm the park with their parents all during the day. Babies in strollers just getting some air to little ones scooting around on their scooters, it seems like the place to be. We went daily both times we visited (Fall and Spring).  Every Saturday they have a farmers market, with the most beautiful flowers from an Amish family. 




PHILADELPHIA ZOO

We spent an early morning before nap time here on a sunny beautiful day. The Zoo is setup like a loop so it is easy to just follow it around and not too big. They had very active animals and even Kangaroo's which I have never seen at a zoo. The volunteers that worked there were very helpful and we really enjoyed our time there. They have an indoor small children area and a petting zoo for kids too. 
Click here for more info  

 

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