A weekend in Philadelphia

By:  Jennifer Milano

Philadelphia may not be the first city that comes to mind when thinking about a weekend getaway, but the city is a fantastic place to visit, especially if you have kids.  When I was a freshman at Penn, I took an Urban Studies class on "The City of Philadelphia," which was my introduction to the U.S.'s fifth most populous city.  Philadelphia is truly urban, with lots of attractions and street life focused in a compact area called "Center City".  In addition to the famous Liberty Bell and historic Independence Hall, where the U.S. Constitution was written, Philly is home to world-class museums, great restaurants and affordable, luxury hotels.  We love that we can stay at the Philadelphia Four Seasons Hotel for only $250.00 a night!

How to Get Here and Around:  Philly's airport is located about a 20-minute taxi ride from the city's center, or about a 25-minute train ride.  Philadelphia has a good subway system, and much of the city is walkable.  Like most cities, you don't need or want to rent a car.

What to Do:  Philadelphia has lots of attractions, and is a particularly good city to visit with children.  Here are some of our favorites:

• The Franklin Institute - one of the best science museums we have ever visited, The Franklin Institute was so engaging for my seven-year-old that he asked to return the next morning (which we did).  The museum participates with the ASTC Reciprocal Program, so if you are a member of your participating local science museum, you can enter The Franklin Institute free of charge. (Tip: Not all museum memberships are priced equally - join your local participating science museum and the annual fee is often less than a one-time visit to a more popular science museum.) Click here for the museum's official website.

• The Academy of Natural Sciences - with a huge, motion-activated mechanical dinosaur to greet you, this museum is appealing for children and other science enthusiasts.  Entrance is free for ASTC Passport Holders.  Click here for the museum's official website.

• Please Touch Museum - Philadelphia's children's museum, geared toward kids ages three to twelve, is a perfect place to bring your little ones.  When my children were younger, they were engaged for hours at this hands-on museum.  Click here for more information.

• Philadelphia Zoo - if you or your children enjoy zoos, Philly has a good one.  Click here for more information.  Before you visit, read The Trumpet of the Swan to your children, a wonderful novel by E.B. White in which a trumpeter swan who has no ability to make sounds takes up residence in the Philadelphia Zoo.

• Independence Mall - a must if it is your first visit to Philadelphia or you have school-aged children, Independence Mall is an area of Center City that houses many sites important to the birth of the United States, including the Liberty Bell Center and Independence Hall.  Audio and live walking tours are available.  Click here for more information.

• Philadelphia Museum of Art & the Rocky Statue - some visitors want to run up the steps to the Philadelphia Museum of Art and have their photo taken in front of the iconic Rocky Statue.  Others want to avoid the statue and head into the museum itself, housed in a beautiful building and featuring amazing works of art.  Or who says you can't do both?  Click here for the museum's official website.

• Reading Terminal Market - food lovers should head to Reading Terminal Market, a covered market filled with restaurants and food vendors.  You can find Amish specialties, baked goods, seafood, produce and more.  Click here for more information.

• Rittenhouse Square - one of my first assignments in my Urban Studies class about Philadelphia was to compare Rittenhouse Square to Washington Square.  While I can't recall the details of that essay, it is Rittenhouse Square to which I return.  Centrally located and surrounded by a mix of hotels, restaurants and residences, the park is truly a lovely place to stroll.  Click here for more information.

• University of Pennsylvania - as a proud Penn alumna, I admit I am biased here.  But if you are interested in seeing a classic college campus in the heart of West Philadelphia, head to Locust Walk on Penn's campus.  Find the lifelike statue of Benjamin Franklin sitting on a bench, let your kids climb on the over sized broken button in front of the main library, or head to a football game at Franklin Field.  If you do head to a football game, make sure you buy a bag of toast outside to participate in the traditional throwing of toast onto the field at the end of the third quarter.  Click here to learn more about this unique tradition.  Grab a cheesesteak at Abner's before or after the game.

• Society Hill - architecture buffs will enjoy walking around this historic residential neighborhood, noted for its cobblestone streets and 18th and 19th century brick row houses.

Where to Stay:  Philadelphia has many good hotel options, but why not go for the best when it's so affordable?  We have stayed at The Four Seasons twice in the past several years, securing a rate of $250.00 per night.  Book on whatahotel.com and receive extra perks that bring the overall cost down.  While on the edge of Center City, the Four Seasons is located just a few blocks from most of Philadelphia's museums.  The restaurant serves excellent cheese steaks and the best Sunday brunch I've ever had (book ahead).  The indoor pool is perfect for swimming laps or splashing around with the kids.  (Note that the hotel is closed for renovations in 2016 and 2017 (that I don't think it needed), and I'm hoping the rates won't climb.)  If you prefer to be on Rittenhouse Square, try The Rittenhouse Hotel or Hotel Palomar.  On Penn's campus, stay at the Inn at Penn.

Where to Eat:  You should prioritize eating a cheesesteak while in Philly.  While some claim the classic way to order a Philly cheesesteak is with "cheese whiz" (my college dining hall had a cheese whiz dispenser at every meal), I think that's revolting.  I like real cheese, not a bunch of chemicals mixed together that yield a gooey substance that doesn't resemble cheese.  I recommend you order a cheesesteak with provolone and onions.  That's my favorite.  If you want to add peppers and/or mushrooms, go for it.  My Penn campus favorite for cheese steaks recently closed, but if you find yourself on Penn's campus a popular place to grab a cheese steak is Abner's Cheesesteaks.  On South Street in Center City, try Jim's Steaks.  A little out of the way, Pat's King of Steaks has been serving up some of Philly's best cheese steaks since 1930, and is worth the inconvenience.  If you follow my recommendation and stay at The Four Seasons, try the cheesesteaks in the hotel's restaurants, which are superb.  The Sunday brunch at the Four Seasons is also spectacular (book ahead).  Click here for Philadelphia Magazine's top 50 restaurants as of December 2015.