Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We've been to Philadelphia many times and have always found it to be a great town that appeals on many levels. Whether you want to take in the historical sites, visit some kiddie theme parks and museums, or indulge in the local fare until your stomach protests, there's something for everyone in the family.

What to Do

I love how Philly makes history comes alive with attractions like the Betsy Ross House, the Liberty Bell, the Ben Franklin Museum and Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed. We particularly enjoyed the 300-year-old Betsy Ross House, where you not only visit the birthplace of the American flag, but got to interact with a very convincing "Betsy" as she explained her role in history.

I'm not a big fan of children's museums, but if I were compelled to pick a favorite, it'd be Philly's Please Touch Museum. It's got many well-done exhibits (we particularly enjoyed the Alice in Wonderland themed one), but what I like most is that the building is huge and high-ceilinged, so it never feels claustrophobic. There's even a full-size wooden carousel in an annex on the main level.

The Franklin Institute, a hands-on science museum, is another great stop in Philly and the best science museum I've been to in the country. We particularly enjoyed going through the giant replica of the human heart, surfing in the SportsZone, exploring virtual reality, designing Mars rovers, and watching the planetarium show "To Space and Back."

Another fun (and free!) stop in Philadelphia is the U.S. Mint. It's basically a factory tour, where you learn about how coins are designed and constructed, and get to peer down onto the factory floor where they're actually being made. I love factory tours in general, and this one was highly educational and well done!

We spent one morning at Franklin Square, a cute little park that features a carousel, playground, burger stand, fountain, and mini-golf course. My kids loved the mini-golf, and I loved the well-done Philadelphia theming on the course. The photo at the top, with the Independence Hall replica, was taken at hole 3!

And just over the river in Camden, NJ, is the popular Adventure Aquarium. Plan on spending at least a few hours there if you go. I've been to plenty of aquariums since becoming a parent, and I liked this one the best. There's a hippo habitat, which I've never seen before, as well as a shark tunnel (where you walk through a clear tube through the shark pool) and a shark bridge (where you walk across a netted bridge over the shark pool). That's a lot of shark excitement!

Where to Eat

I love most food markets, but Reading Terminal tops my list because so many of the stalls are run by the Amish, who make the most comforting food in the world. My one gripe is that all of the Amish stands are closed on Sundays. Don't miss Dienner’s for the barbecue chicken, Bassett’s for the fresh ice cream, Miller's for the handmade soft pretzels, Beiler's for the donuts and pies, DiNic's for the roast pork sandwiches, and Dutch Eating Place for the apple dumplings. On our most recent trip, we visited Reading Terminal for at least one meal a day.

And of course you’re having a Philly cheesesteak while in Philly, but the question is: Geno’s or Pat’s? After trying both, along with some other versions such as Ishkabibble's and Carmen's, we found that the best cheesesteaks can be had at Jim's. It's the tastiest, with the nicest staff, and it's relatively close to the city center. If you have time to eat just one cheesesteak in Philly, make it Jim's!

Where to Stay

We picked the Loews Philadelphia Hotel for one main reason: it has an indoor pool. Let's face it, it doesn't matter where you are — that's what the kids really care about! The hotel is also reasonably priced and within walking distance to just about all the area attractions (10 minutes to the historical district, 15 minutes to the Franklin Institute, and one block to Reading Terminal). They were also really nice about returning a laptop we left behind in our hotel room (!!!), packing it safely and mailing it to us free of charge.

What’s Nearby

Within half an hour of Philadelphia are two amusement parks geared toward younger children. Sesame Place in Langhorne, PA, is perfect for the younger set, with gentle rides, shows starring Elmo, a water park section, and a parade that runs twice a day. The whole park is pretty small by theme-park standards, making it easy for families to get around.

Diggerland is a construction-themed park in West Berlin, NJ, featuring real construction vehicles and equipment that your kids can ride and operate. They’ll be able to maneuver an actual digger, drive a dumper through an obstacle course, and dig for buried treasure using a mini excavator, among other down and dirty activities. There are also some more traditional amusement park rides, as well as stunt shows involving heavy equipment acrobatics.

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7 Kid-Friendly Factory Tours

I admit to being a sucker for factory tours. I know they're tourist traps, but there's just something about seeing the place where a familiar product gets made that really appeals to me. And the fact that most food-related factory tours involve products that my kids crave because they only get them as treats makes it easy for me to convince the whole family to come along. Here are six factory tours that we've experienced across the country.

Cape Cod Potato Chips, Hyannis, Massachusetts
This is a straight-up view of the factory, with no real bells or whistles. The cool part is that you get to see the whole operation, from the salting of the potato chips to when they get bagged by a machine, and you get a free bag of potato chips at the end. But there are no interactive elements, and the whole thing is self-guided. Still, it’s pretty neat to be able to eat fresh Cape Cod potato chips while in Cape Cod!

Ben & Jerry's Ice Cream, Waterbury, Vermont
What you get here is a half-hour guided tour, plus a scoop of ice cream at the end. Not bad for just $4 per adult (kids under 12 are free). This is a popular stop for tourists in the area, so it may get crowded during high season. A private ice cream making session can be scheduled in advance on certain days (we didn't try it).

Hershey's Chocolate, Hershey, Pennsylvania
The good news is that this tour is free and features a fun, sit-down ride that takes you through the history of Hershey's chocolate making. The bad news is that you'll need to stand on line to get on the ride, since Hershey is always overrun by tourists. Add on the "create your own chocolate bar" experience, which is pricey but well worth the money.

Turkey Hill Ice Cream, Columbia, Pennsylvania
The Turkey Hill Experience is well worth a visit if you’re in the Lancaster area. Milk a mechanical cow, drive a milk truck, taste unlimited ice cream and iced tea samples, and make your own ice cream flavor, which you then get to take home. Bring a cooler to keep your pints cold during the ride back!

Pez Candy, Orange, New York
Visit the place that dispenses Pez dispensers. Admission for adults is $5, but you get a $2 credit toward anything from the gift shop, so that seems pretty fair. Candy demos are offered on weekdays, and free samples are available all the time. Naturally, the collection of Pez memorabilia that's housed here is off the hook! Be prepared to feel nostalgic.

Jelly Belly Candy, Fairfield, California
This is a fantastic (and free!) guided factory tour, one of the better ones that we’ve been on. Of course, that just meant we ended up spending way more than we should've on candy after the tour. It shows you the whole operation floor and features cute, informative games along the way. On the way out, you get a free bag of jelly beans. And if that weren't enough, you can try unlimited flavors at the jelly bean bar.

Vermont Teddy Bear, Shelburne, Vermont
I highly recommend this tour for your kids — if you can stomach the steep price ($40+) of a Vermont Teddy Bear from the gift shop afterwards (because your kids will definitely be begging for one). A "bear ambassador" walks you around the workstations of the factory, where you'll get to see craftspeople hand-making the bears on weekdays (or their unmanned sewing machines on the weekends). The tour is hands on, with opportunities to touch the fur and stuffing, and you leave with a souvenir bear button. Adults are $4 and kids under 12 are free.

Any great factory tours that I missed? Let me know in the comments section!

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Lancaster, Pennsylvania

There’s so much to do in Amish country. From pretzel twisting workshops to horse and buggy rides, the Amish know how to show kids a great time.

What to Do 

The famous horse and buggy rides may be a completely touristy experience, but it’s something the kids will love to do. And if they’re train lovers, you’ll have to buy tickets to the Strasburg Railroad steam train, which offers a 45-minute round-trip ride through the Amish countryside. You can even dine on board! 

The Amish are famous for their pretzels, and shops selling the salty treats abound in this area; our favorite is Julius Sturgis, where the whole family can try their hand at pretzel twisting and take home free samples. 

Less than an hour from Lancaster is the popular Hershey Park, but if you’ve got really young kids, there's no need to travel that far to go to an amusement park. Dutch Wonderland is right in town and perfect for the under 5 set. 

And before leaving the area, pick up a souvenir at Kitchen Kettle Village, a quaint but quite large shopping village where you’ll find locally made jams, ice cream, art, and the somewhat creepy faceless Amish dolls.

Where to Stay

We stayed at the Fulton Steamboat Inn, which was a real treat for the kids. The hotel exterior resembles an actual steamboat, and each of the rooms are decorated with a nautical theme. On the premises there's a large playground that includes a pirate ship climbing structure, as well as a pond filled with ducks and koi that you can feed. 

Where to Eat

Amish Country is well known for its home-style buffets, and our favorite is Miller’s Smorgasbord. This place is no Sizzler’s – the ingredients tend to be locally sourced, everything is made from scratch, and the food is fresh and tasty. My favorite part: There’s an impressive array of homemade pies at the dessert counter (you can also purchase them whole). You won’t eat this well at a buffet anywhere else.

What’s Nearby

Just a short drive from Lancaster is the Turkey Hill Experience in Columbia, PA, which is well worth a visit if you’re in the area. Milk a wooden cow, taste unlimited ice cream and iced tea samples, and make your own ice cream flavor from scratch. We spent more than three hours at this fun attraction.

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