One day itinerary please for a tired mom
August 27, 2019 5:29 PM Subscribe
What’s a good one day exploration of Philly look like? Toddler-friendly. Exhausted parent-friendly.
My little family needs to get away. We decided on Philadelphia which is a 2 hour drive away. Thinking this weekend. Drive up in the morning, stay the night, and drive back the next day after breakfast. Please help suggest a good one day itinerary.
Would love to do like a museum or park exploration. Plus some kid-friendly restaurants with good food, but they could toss rice on the floor and I won’t stress (of course, will clean and tip). Kid loves Asian food. Good central hotel location? And a good brunch place the morning before we go.
My little family needs to get away. We decided on Philadelphia which is a 2 hour drive away. Thinking this weekend. Drive up in the morning, stay the night, and drive back the next day after breakfast. Please help suggest a good one day itinerary.
Would love to do like a museum or park exploration. Plus some kid-friendly restaurants with good food, but they could toss rice on the floor and I won’t stress (of course, will clean and tip). Kid loves Asian food. Good central hotel location? And a good brunch place the morning before we go.
Response by poster: Sigh. Of course there is. Thanks on the heads up.
posted by inevitability at 5:52 PM on August 27, 2019
posted by inevitability at 5:52 PM on August 27, 2019
Normally I'd recommend the Art Museum, Franklin Institute, Please Touch Museum, and Fairmount Park but Pax is right on...Made In America will be at the foot of the Art Museum so that area will be a mess. I'm assuming hotel / AirBNBs are booked up too.
If you're determined to come up this weekend you may want to look east around Independence Hall. Constitution Center is great and the Museum Of The American Revolution seems kid-friendly. Spruce Street Harbor Park would be fun too.
posted by Diskeater at 6:15 PM on August 27, 2019
If you're determined to come up this weekend you may want to look east around Independence Hall. Constitution Center is great and the Museum Of The American Revolution seems kid-friendly. Spruce Street Harbor Park would be fun too.
posted by Diskeater at 6:15 PM on August 27, 2019
im a broken record on this front, but one of your two breakfasts should really be at South Philly Barbacoa.
dont forget to get at least one bowl of the consomme.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 6:27 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
dont forget to get at least one bowl of the consomme.
posted by Exceptional_Hubris at 6:27 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
FWIW, the Please Touch Museum isn’t near the Art Museum and you can get there just fine via 76 or West Philly, skipping the art museum madness. The zoo, which is IMO the best zoo in America (fight me), is also close by.
For brunch, the default suggestion is Sabrina’s bear the Italian market, but get there early and/or be prepared to wait.
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 6:34 PM on August 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
For brunch, the default suggestion is Sabrina’s bear the Italian market, but get there early and/or be prepared to wait.
posted by Special Agent Dale Cooper at 6:34 PM on August 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
If you're trying to stay away from the Art Museum area for event reasons, the historic/museum area in South Philadelphia around the liberty bell is also really pleasant and surrounded by nice outdoor spaces to hang around with a toddler.
The absolute 100% best thing you can do with your toddler and enjoy as an exhausted parent, though, is Shofuso Tea House and Garden. You go in (children under 5 for free) and it's a self-guided tour around an old traditional Japanese tea-house. The cedar smells, the koi in the pond, the garden... it's just so tranquil but it's a small area so your toddler can't get too far if they happen to decide to bolt or do something weird. And if you want, you can kind of just sit on the deck for a bit and gaze at the garden, which I used to do on a regular basis when I lived in Philadelphia.
posted by gloriouslyincandescent at 6:59 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
The absolute 100% best thing you can do with your toddler and enjoy as an exhausted parent, though, is Shofuso Tea House and Garden. You go in (children under 5 for free) and it's a self-guided tour around an old traditional Japanese tea-house. The cedar smells, the koi in the pond, the garden... it's just so tranquil but it's a small area so your toddler can't get too far if they happen to decide to bolt or do something weird. And if you want, you can kind of just sit on the deck for a bit and gaze at the garden, which I used to do on a regular basis when I lived in Philadelphia.
posted by gloriouslyincandescent at 6:59 PM on August 27, 2019 [1 favorite]
Agree with Special Agent above. I was at the zoo today with one toddler and one preschooler, and it is so pleasant with the cooler weather. The animals are more lively, it seems, when they are not flattened with the heat. But the Please Touch can be very crowded if the weather is wet or oppressive, as the outdoor zoo puts visitors off in bad weather. Pro tip; the zoo is incredible and deserted in wet weather, while the Please Touch is mobbed.
Don't miss the bird exhibit, which has you walk through various climates amid the appropriate birds which swoop and fly all around you. There is also a separate feed-the-birds walk-through screened exhibit near the toddler choo-choo ride. They also have a carousel (members get one ride included) and don't miss the Treehouse, an indoor playground for kids where parents can actually sit down while the kids run around and climb on the exhibits. Note that these are all a little pricey if you're not a member, but included if you are (parking, too, which is $16.00 for non-members) so you might consider a membership even for one day. It might be cheaper overall than all the potential add-ons, and all food and souvenir purchases are discounted with membership.
Depending on the age and stamina of your toddler (and you) I wouldn't plan to do both in one day, and the Please Touch is wonderful for toddlers, with a rescued carousel to ride, water to play in (with their hands, not a splash park exhibit. They provide smocks.) There's a pretend grocery store with little carts the kids can "shop" in, and it's all a thoughtfully presented bevy of options. And as a seasoned toddler-wrangler, the Please Touch is the one place I don't pack a lunch. If you park along the ample roadways the parking is free. Not sure if lot parking is included in admission as we are members there, too. I know the carousel costs per-ride for non-members, but that's the only attraction with an extra cost. The food is pretty good and not out-of-sight priced. The zoo is doing better with food options, finally, and I'd suggest moseying past the Big Cat Fast Food mega-establishment about 50 yards to the new food truck dining area. One truck is entirely vegetarian, and one has the most interesting butternut and bacon panini offering. I had one today.
Hotels I can offer no advice. I live in the Art Museum area and I wouldn't wish Made in America on anyone. We will be hunkered down.
posted by citygirl at 7:10 PM on August 27, 2019
Don't miss the bird exhibit, which has you walk through various climates amid the appropriate birds which swoop and fly all around you. There is also a separate feed-the-birds walk-through screened exhibit near the toddler choo-choo ride. They also have a carousel (members get one ride included) and don't miss the Treehouse, an indoor playground for kids where parents can actually sit down while the kids run around and climb on the exhibits. Note that these are all a little pricey if you're not a member, but included if you are (parking, too, which is $16.00 for non-members) so you might consider a membership even for one day. It might be cheaper overall than all the potential add-ons, and all food and souvenir purchases are discounted with membership.
Depending on the age and stamina of your toddler (and you) I wouldn't plan to do both in one day, and the Please Touch is wonderful for toddlers, with a rescued carousel to ride, water to play in (with their hands, not a splash park exhibit. They provide smocks.) There's a pretend grocery store with little carts the kids can "shop" in, and it's all a thoughtfully presented bevy of options. And as a seasoned toddler-wrangler, the Please Touch is the one place I don't pack a lunch. If you park along the ample roadways the parking is free. Not sure if lot parking is included in admission as we are members there, too. I know the carousel costs per-ride for non-members, but that's the only attraction with an extra cost. The food is pretty good and not out-of-sight priced. The zoo is doing better with food options, finally, and I'd suggest moseying past the Big Cat Fast Food mega-establishment about 50 yards to the new food truck dining area. One truck is entirely vegetarian, and one has the most interesting butternut and bacon panini offering. I had one today.
Hotels I can offer no advice. I live in the Art Museum area and I wouldn't wish Made in America on anyone. We will be hunkered down.
posted by citygirl at 7:10 PM on August 27, 2019
Please Touch Museum is amazing for a toddler, as others said.
On the way back, maybe hit up Camden's Adventure Aquarium. It's one of the best that I've been at. My kids loved it as well.
posted by pyro979 at 7:30 PM on August 27, 2019
On the way back, maybe hit up Camden's Adventure Aquarium. It's one of the best that I've been at. My kids loved it as well.
posted by pyro979 at 7:30 PM on August 27, 2019
Another thought with a Toddler is to ride a bus, trolley, or other mass transit, and make it part of the excitement of the day. Lots to look at, people to see, all while sitting in a vehicle.
posted by nickggully at 8:34 PM on August 27, 2019
posted by nickggully at 8:34 PM on August 27, 2019
There's this really great playground, Smith Family Playground, in Fairmont park, which is essentially a giant Mansion gutted and filled with toddler friendly toys plus ground with a giant slide (the kind you use sacks to slide down) and other great playsets. It's not far from the Please Touch Museum either, which is a really neat spot for kids, and the zoo, as others have mentioned.
posted by erattacorrige at 8:52 PM on August 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
posted by erattacorrige at 8:52 PM on August 27, 2019 [2 favorites]
South Philly is a nice destination, for walking along East Passyunk, restaurants, etc. Beautiful new library and playground at Broad and Morris, plus a few other playgrounds on the stretch through the Italian Market (Capitolo, Palumbo). Lilypad at Broad and Wharton is a play space with an open playgroup on Sunday mornings, 10-11:30 (Free first visit). Also, Clark Park in West Philly has a nice playground, cafes, and Parks on Tap beer garden this weekend, with numerous delicious restaurants around. None of these places should be too affected by the Made in America festivities, except for the potential of slow traffic on 76.
posted by zachxman at 6:21 AM on August 28, 2019
posted by zachxman at 6:21 AM on August 28, 2019
Banana Leaf in Chinatown is delicious and I've been there many times with toddlers.
Made in America does take over the Parkway but it's doesn't effect the whole city.
posted by sepviva at 7:01 AM on August 28, 2019
Made in America does take over the Parkway but it's doesn't effect the whole city.
posted by sepviva at 7:01 AM on August 28, 2019
I recommend the Magic Gardens to everyone.
posted by sudama at 8:02 AM on August 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
posted by sudama at 8:02 AM on August 28, 2019 [1 favorite]
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posted by Pax at 5:44 PM on August 27, 2019