Comm Convo: Your recs for 36 hours as a tourist in Philadelphia

+ 👣 Exploring with all the libs in NoLibs 😜

This week, I spent three days wandering the streets of Northern Liberties, Fishtown, and the Art Museum neighborhoods while my son and his friend attended baking camp at a cooking school in Philadelphia.

I chuckled as I meandered through streets filled with "libs" (i.e., liberal-leaning Americans) in a neighborhood called "NoLibs" (short for Northern Liberties). Embarrassingly, it took me a hot second to make sense of the NoLibs lingo everywhere when the area attracts more than its fair share of left-leaning yuppies.

Separately, a former high school softball teammate (we’re going waaaay back, friends) reached out on Instagram to ask for recommendations about how to spend 36 hours in Philadelphia with her family (husband and three young children). As I walked through the city streets, I thought about what might make the list of best things to do with a family in Philly, through the eyes of a local.

I sent her some recommendations, which I'll share below. But I'd love to know what you'd recommend to a friend who's making a pit stop in our City of Brotherly Love with kiddos in tow. Please share your ideas so we can have a stellar list of suggestions for whoever’s friends are next to come to town.

Leave a comment at the bottom of the post in the Substack app (or reply to this email, and I’ll add them for you)!

Sidenote: It only took me 12 years of living in Philadelphia to realize that "Brotherly Love" is a literal translation of the city's name in Greek. ✨ philos = love and delphos = familial/brotherly connection ✨Am I the only one just figuring this out??! 🥴 Probably…

But back to my recommendations

For the first half day in the city, I suggested the Please Touch Museum or the Franklin Institute. There are many places to eat. I told her Cava is a good, predictable place for lunch or dinner if the kids are picky and want a basic plate while the adults get something a little more interesting. Insomnia Cookies never fails.

The next morning, wake up and run the Rocky steps, followed by Sabrina’s for brunch.

If her family was up for the historical parts of town, I recommended she spend the day visiting the Museum of the American Revolution and Independence Hall with a quick walk over to Elfreth’s Alley for some fun family photos.

It might seem a little random, but I’ve always loved this tiny plot near S 4th St and Walnut Ave, just behind the 18th Century Gardens along 4th St. It’s the footprint of an old, little house from the Revolutionary era, a stark reminder that our McMansions of today offer far more perosnal space than most humans have enjoyed throughout time. It’s a remarkably simple way to connect with our past.

Sneak in a stop at the National Constitution Center if she still has time and, more importantly, the kids have bandwidth to continue exploring. I think the Liberty Bell is underwhelming.

If it rains, PuttShack is a fun indoor activity, as long as she arrives before it turns into a bar after dinner.

And if she’s willing to blow out the budget, the Four Seasons hotel is unreal. Have you seen the pool?! I told her that her kids would never forget it. 💦

What do you recommend for visitors taking a quick swing through Philly?

My adventure tips keep her family close to Center City. Would you send her to more unique neighborhoods like Fishtown or NoLibs? Queens Village or Society Hill? How about South Street for a cheesesteak from Jim's?

If you haven't been into the city lately, what are you waiting for?! We have wonderful opportunities to explore in and around Chadds Ford, but you can't beat the walkability and delight of finding hidden gems in city alleys, plopping down on a park bench in a pocket park with a pollinator garden, or serendipitously stumbling into a swanky snack shop.

As local experts, we know the ins and outs, as well as the diamonds in the rough. What would you recommend for a family trip itinerary with just 36 hours to breeze through a whirlwind exploration of our historic city?

I hope you have a bunch of great suggestions so that I can refer back to them in the future!

📢 Your Recommendations

Here are some other suggestions that you all shared with me.

• Barnes Foundation | Home to an incredibly prestigious art collection (and just down the street from the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Rocky Steps). Consider visiting the Rocky Steps after you see the Barnes Foundation.

• Italian Market Food Tour | Tucked in South Philly, you’ll get to try a half dozen or so eateries and hear history of the city while you walk. (There are many different food tour options. I chose to link to one, but I haven’t tried it so I don’t necessarily recommend it over others you might find by searching online.)

• Franklin Fountain | A great ice cream place in Old City. A good pit stop between Independence Hall and Elfreth’s Alley.

• Wagner Free Institute of Science | Victorian natural history museum that is also a National Historic Landmark. This is a bit outside the traditionally “touristy” part of the city, so check maps online to see how it fits into your day.

• Mütter Museum | Called “disturbingly informative,” this medical museum features some fascinating exhibits, including numerous human remains. They discourage children under 10 from visiting due to the graphic nature of some of the exhibits. But I’ve heard people really enjoy it, so long as they know what they’re in for.