Visiting Philly, Need Suggestions For Saturday Activity (Philadelphia, Reading: mall, food)

[LightningMcQueen]

We have one day in Philly with children ranging in ages from 2 to 5. We will be there on a Saturday, after having visited Sesame Place the day before.
Would you please suggest some activities (parks, museums, street fairs, etc) that would be fun for the children. One thing we have planned is lunch at Jim's (which I understand is THE cheese steak joint.)

[pman]

there are many cheesesteak joints, depending on whom you ask. If you do Independence Mall, there's sonny's nearby. also consider the please touch museum and the franklin institute.

[PhillyViaBoston]

This recent thread might help:
//www.city-data.com/forum/phila...yo-no-car.html

Suggestions included the Please Touch Museum, Academy of Natural Sciences, Franklin Square, Philadelphia Zoo, Adventure Aquarium in Camden, Camden Riversharks minor league baseball, Battleship New Jersey, and the historic sites around Independence Mall. Have fun!

[LightningMcQueen]

Thank you for the suggestions. I think the group is leaning towards Independence Hall and the park that it sits on. I guess that's why you call it a "Mall"?

[Generic Bicoastal Liberal]

Yes, the actual meaning of "mall." Keep it simple: see Snuffy at the Ses Place, then take the kids to the Franklin Institute. The zoo is not what it used to be 100 years ago (it's old, dirty, and in a slum), and the elephants are gone! Natural Sciences is too small for a city the size of Philly. The Art Museum will make the kids' eyes glaze over (although it is tops for adults). Cheesesteaks at Jim's are very good, but you'll wait an hour to get one. Pat's and Geno's in South Philly are the originals, and better, and faster. Drive there. You'll want to avoid South Street after dark, or completely. Old City is where the action is now anyway, plus you'll see men in tights and horses there to amuse the kids. So, to recap: Franklin Institute, then Old City - oh, forget the steak places, you won't have time (get a steak instead at the Bourse in Old City). Then get the heck out before dark, unless you want to see the REAL Philly.

[newmarlig]

Unless you are drunk at 3:00 a.m, Pat's and Geno's suck.

[Generic Bicoastal Liberal]

But that of course is beside the point, no, yes? Wouldn't a tourist want to see the true tourist sights, whether you believe they "suck" or not? That's rhetorical.

[newmarlig]

Originally Posted by Generic Bicoastal Liberal

But that of course is beside the point, no, yes? Wouldn't a tourist want to see the true tourist sights, whether you believe they "suck" or not? That's rhetorical.

Your words:

Pat's and Geno's in South Philly are the originals, and better, and faster. Better IMO would mean better tasting. So, I will stick to my original comment.

[gfspeople]

go to the redding terminal, the best food is located there.

[PeeAye Native]

Originally Posted by gfspeople

go to the Reading Terminal Market, the best food is located there.

I agree. This should be your first stop in the city, for a late breakfast or early lunch. It's a shame it take 8 posts for someone to say this.

Reading Terminal Market › Home

Easy walk from Independence Mall to there. And you can find just about any kind of food, don't wait until later afternoon, or the amish vendors will be packing up or sold out. I have to say to the suggestions to take your kids and feed them cheesesteaks! Go to RTM and you'll find much, much better food.