Philadelphia

We enjoyed visiting Philadelphia as a family.  It was fun to see the striking Philadelphia City Hall in the center of Broad and Market streets.  It is the largest municipal building in the nation.  It is topped with a statue of William Penn.

 

We decided that we had to find the best cheesesteak, so we tried a couple that were highly reviewed.  We both think that Steve's Prince of Steaks wins handsdown!  I read lots of reviews on chowhound.com and it was one of the best. We went to the Bussleton one (I think) and there are no seats. We thought it was amazing and would definitely go again. Be sure to get grilled onions and the white american cheese. We also got the white american cheese on the fries. So good. The other option at most of the places is cheese wiz.  Also good, but not as amazing was Chinks Cheesesteaks, there was some seating.

Capogiro Gelato - Best gelato ever!!! We went to the Midtown location. The most amazing flavor was the grape! A little expensive but sooooo worth it.

 

 

Elfreth's Alley - Free. This was my favorite thing, but I am an architecture nerd. It's not a long walk from the main sites and worth seeing. It is the oldest residential street in the nation.

 

 

 

Fireman's Hall - Free or just donations maybe. We just breezed through quickly. It has lots of antique fire equipment and trucks. Right next to Elfreth's Alley.

Betsy Ross House - Cost. We paid to go in and I don't think we should have.  It is worth just seeing the house from the outside and it is right by all the other sites.

 

Benjamin Franklin's Grave - Cost. We paid for this and shouldn't have, because we realized, you can see it from outside the fence for free!

 

It was great to see the Liberty Bell.  We went on a tour of Independence Hall (in the background of the pic above), but it was not the greatest for the kids.  You can still see it from the outside, but my husband desperately wanted to go in. You have to get timed tickets ahead of time for Independence Hall.

Carpenters Hall - Free. Again, the architecture nerd that I am I really enjoyed this because it is home to the oldest trade guild and a good example of Georgian architecture. And my husband the history/politics nerd liked it because it was where the First Continental Congress met.

Camden Children's Garden - Cost. Cute, a little hokey but my young kids liked it.  Right next to the aquarium, but we didn't go there.

Fairmount Park - Next to the Philadelphia Museum and river. Pretty park and fun to walk around on trails. No playground equipment.

 

 

Pennsylvania Hospital - Founded in 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Dr Thomas Bond to care for the “sick-poor and insane of Philadelphia.”  Patients were first admitted in 1756.

 

 

 

Some fun things we missed and would like to visit another time . . .  

Constitution Center - Costly, so try when kids are older and will appreciate more.

Philly Pretzel Facotry - closed Sundays.

The Dutch Eating Place - in the Reading Terminal Market and is supposed to have great pancakes.  Closed Sundays.

Philadelphia Museum of Art - When the kids are older.  The museum is an example of Greek Revival architecture and a part of the "city beautiful" movement.  The polychrome terrecotta sculptures in the pediment are significant, as most greek revival architecture is unpainted to resemble the current state of greek architecture.  However it is believed that originally greek architecture was very colorful, the pigments have simple not worn well.  Read more.