With so much to see in Philadelphia with the kids, what are the best hotels for families in this city? The two best locations according to Trekaroo families are near the two main tourist areas: Museum Row and Independence Hall. They each maximize play time and minimize driving. Here are the winners:
Near Museum Row
All three of these hotels are located in the Museum Row area on the Ben Franklin Parkway and a stone’s throw from all the major family attractions like The Franklin Institute, the Museum of Natural Science and the Philadelphia Museum of Art and Rodin. Depending on your budget and travel style, these are the best 3 hotels near Museum Row for visiting families.
For Luxury & Kid Perks: The Four Seasons Philadelphia
From the moment you walk-in, your kid’s will be greeted with gifts and special treatment at the Four Seasons in Philadelphia. They’ve got diapers, age-appropriate toys, cookies and milk with turndown and more to help you and your family feel more at home. The service is 5-star, the hotel is impeccable, and the food is scrumptious. Wait there’s more – they’ve got an indoor heated pool, a collection of kid-friendly videos and a concierge that knows what to recommend to families. Average rate: $315/night for a moderate room on Fri/Sat, $515/night for suites. However, don’t miss their Family Values Package where you can book one room and get an adjoining room for 50% off plus a $100 credit to spend.
Read the full reviews from families on the Four Seasons Philadelphia | Check for Deals and Availability
For Suite Living & Breakfast: Embassy Suites – Philadelphia
The Embassy Suites in downtown Philadelphia provides suite living in this cylindrical hotel of all two room suites. Each of the rooms are spacious, clean and newly upgraded! After snoozing in these comfortable new digs, your family can chow down on a complimentary buffet breakfast at T.G.I. Friday’s in-house before heading off to the events of the day. Omelets made to order are a great way to start off any vacation day. The in-room kitchenette is great for storing and preparing left-overs for a quick meal. Rooms start at $129/night.
Read the full reviews from families on Embassy Suites – Philadelphia | Check for Availability
For Suite Living & a Roofdeck Pool: Windsor Suites
The Windsor Suites owned by Marriott is getting rave reviews from Trekaroo families after their million dollar renovations. Similar to the Embassy Suites, the rooms are spacious and the extra living room space is perfect for families. If you like to cook, whip up an entire meal for the family in their kitchen complete with a full-sized fridge, stove, and dishwasher for easy clean-up. The roofdeck pool is also great for dealing with the summer heat. No free breakfast though. Average rate: $104/night for a one-bedroom suite.
Read the full reviews on Windsor Suites | Check Availability
For more kid-friendly hotels near the Franklin Institute at Museum Row. Read the rest of this entry »
Beep Beep! KidsMobile is rollin’ into:
Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia is one special city.
- It’s home to the Liberty Bell & Ben Franklin.
- It’s where America’s independence was declared and where the American Constitution was written.
- It pioneered the first hospital, library, fire company, medical school, and university.
- It was the setting for the films Rocky and Twelve Monkeys.
- It is where all three founders of Trekaroo first met.
- It’s where Brennan and LiLing had their first date, got married, set up their first home and took their first jobs.
Needless to say, Philadelphia holds a very special place in our hearts.
Experiencing Philly with kids is pretty different from living there as a college student. So, we’ve gathered the recommendations of Trekaroo families who have the inside scoop on where to go with kids in this city steeped in American history.
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Trekaroo families have voted and this is where the cards fell for 2009:
Top Activities for Kids in Philadelphia – voted by parents
Best Kid-friendly Hotels in Philadelphia – voted by parents
Some of our star Philadelphia families are some fun-loving mom bloggers and they’ve assembled their list of recommendations that no visiting or local families should miss.
Mara brings you her list of Off the Beaten Path Kid Activities in Philadelphia. This mom got bit by the travel bug early in life and has not stopped traveling even after having two boys, now 4 and 7. In fact, when their eldest was just one, they visited 6 states, 3 countries and 2 continents. Read about their family’s adventures and admire her wonderful photos on Mother of all Trips
Lynn, a Philly mom of a tween and a teen, knows exactly where to head to keep them engaged and excited. Here’s her family’s list of favorite Teen-friendly Activities in Philadelphia. Lynn is the mom behind For Love Or Funny where she keeps a light-hearted view of life as a parent. Amidst her humor are some gems of wisdom.
Heading to Philly with young kids? Melissa is your go to mom with her list of Top 10 Things to Do in Philly with Young Kids. Melissa is the voice behind Girlymama where she brings us the inside scoop about products that young moms would be interested in. From shoes to food to places to visit, Girlymama will tell you what she thinks and give you opportunities to win some trendy fashion and gear.
Linda has a wonderful guide for visiting Historic Philadelphia by foot with Kids. This is a mom extraordinaire who has traveled through big and small towns all the country with her 4 kids. If you need advice about how to have a lifestyle of travel with a large family, she’s your go-to gal. Follow her adventures on her fantastic blog: Travels With Children
Amie O’Shaughnessy of Ciao Bambino brings us some Phildelphia: 5 Kids-friendly Activities. Ciao Bambino is a one of Trekaroo’s favorite partners because we share a common passion – inspiring families to travel. Ciao Bambino provides vetted reviews of the best accommodations when traveling with children of all ages around the world.
Other Philadelphia Resources:
Next stop, the city where the First Family resides - Washington DC.
The Trekaroo KidsMobile is a blog carnival with a twist. It’s designed to provide a unique opportunity for mom and dad bloggers to be featured on Trekaroo while
1) expressing their unique point of view
2) getting a web of link exchanges.
Join us for one of our next stopovers.
*******
LiLing Pang is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA and now IL and WA
Philadelphia most famous for being the centerpiece of American History. While Philadelphia offers many opportunities to bring history alive for kids in a fun way, there’s so much more for them to explore. Philly is filled to the brim with activities that will engage your children whether they’re 2 or 22. Here are our parent’s top picks:
Best Museum for Kids under 5 – Please Touch Museum (#1 place to take kids in Philadelphia)
Roadside Attractions at the Please Touch Museum
If you’ve got kids under the age of 5, be sure to add the Please Touch Museum to your list. Take the location of the first World’s Fair in the US… fill it with hands-on activity centers for kids and voila… you’ve got one of the best children’s museum in this country. Favorites include shopping at the grocery store or collecting and dumping at the construction site in City Capers, building rockets and launching them in Flight Fantasy, and changing the tires at Roadside Attractions.
Best Museum for Kids over 5 – Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute is the place to take kids in Philadelphia. The science center has more than enough to keep your kids busy for the whole day. From learning about the physics of air and flying to walking through the human heart, we were bummed when my 2 year old had to knock off to take a nap. For Love or Funny summed it up perfectly, “There are so many hands on activities, it’s hard to know where to start.”
Best Museum for Tweens and Teens – Mutter Museum
Your tweens and teens will be wide-eyed as they check out all the strange medical oddities spread throughout the Mutter Museum. “For kids who like a bit of gore, this museum is really fascinating. They’ll find jars filled with strange tumors, odd shaped skulls, and strange horns growing out of a person’s head.” (TravelPangs)
Grossest Museum in Philadelphia – Insectarium
If you’ve got kids who like to be grossed out, take them to the Insectarium. They won’t forget about all the creepy critters they see at Cockroach Kitchen and ,” the “glow-in-the-dark” scorpion, the live termite tunnel, or the tarantulas. It’s located in the Northeast section of the city, so a bit off-the-beaten path, but worth a visit if your kids like that kind of stuff.
Credit: Philly Duck Tours
Best Tour in Town – Ride the Ducks
The Ride the Ducks will make a trip through Philadelphia’s historical section a quacking good time with a nice 20 minute cruise around the Delaware River at the end. A fun way to enjoy Philadelphia without having to do a lot of walking.
Best Free Playspace – Smith Memorial Playground
Nestled in Fairmont Park, the Smith Memorial Playground is great for kids looking for some free outdoor fun. Here you’ll find a “40-foot-long giant slide, huge playground, and a giant 24,000 square foot playhouse! The basement has been turned into a small town – complete with stop light and parking meters, where kids can ride trikes. The playhouse is for ages 5 and under. Fun fun fun and free!!” (from girlymama)
Dutch Eating Place
Top Eatery for Families – Reading Terminal Market
With over 80 stands to choose from, this place is filled with food for any eater. It’s a great place for your kids to try some authentic Pennsylvania Dutch food from scrapple to whoopie pies. It can get crowded on the weekends, so be sure to hang on to your kids. Our favorite is savoring a plate of blueberry pancakes with a side of scrapple at the Dutch Eating Place for breakfast. YUM.
Must-see Historical Site to visit – Liberty Bell Center
Kids from preschoolers to high schoolers learn about the Liberty Bell. As Linda Kramer (aka minnemom) puts it, “This place has no interactive exhibits, but the fact that you’re seeing the actual Liberty Bell is impressive. Even if you’re 3. So take the kids, snap some photos by the Liberty Bell with Independence Hall in the background, and someday explain the rest of the history lesson to them. They’ll think it’s cool that they got to go there once upon a time.”
Which Hotels came up at the top?
Best Kid-friendly Hotels In Philadelphia – voted by parents
Other Resources for Philadelphia:
- Off the Beaten Path Kid Activities in Philadelphia – motherofalltrips
- Teen-friendly Activities in Philadelphia – ForLoveOrFunny
- Things to Do in Philly with Young Kids - Girlymama
- Historic Philadelphia by foot with Kids – Minnemom
- Phildelphia: 5 Kids-friendly Activities – CiaoBambino
- Best Attractions for Kids Who Love Trains in Pennsylvania – BryantFamily
Esther Lee is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA and now IL and WA
Head over to Lincoln Center in New York City because the Big Apple Circus is in town. I’ve always loved Big Apple Circuses because there’s only one ring which makes for a smaller and cozier circus experience. Great for younger kids and as a first circus experience because no child you take is more than 50 feet away from the stage.
Joining the Big Apple Fun because “America’s Best Clown”, Bello is Back! He’ll be with the circus in New York City through January 18, 2010 before visiting kids in other East Coast cities like Boston, Atlanta and more. If you’re looking for a unique Christmas gift this season, give the gift of an experience to the kids. There’s a super fun New Year’s Eve event as well. Tickets for Bello is Back! range in price from $28 to $89 (premium seating is $135). With Trekaroo’s special promo code, you can receive up to $30 off your tickets.
To purchase your discounted tickets to the Big Apple Circus:
- Online: http://bigapplecircus.org/pop.aspx and submit the code POP10 in the Promotional Codes box
- By Phone: CALL 888-541-3750 and mention code POP10
- In Person: Big Top Box Office 10AM–6PM daily. No service fee. Bring a copy of this blog post
*Offer good on select seat locations and performances. Remember, you must present this blog post to receive discount at the box office if you purchase tickets in person. Performance schedule subject to change so, be sure to check and double check. Offer is subject to availability; not valid on prior purchases; cannot be combined with other discounts or promotions. This offer can be revoked at any time. Discount amount varies. Limit 8 tickets per order. No refunds or exchanges. Telephone and Internet orders are subject to standard service fees.
TOUR DATES
- New York, New York (Lincoln Center): October 22, 2009 – January 18, 2010
- Atlanta, Georgia (Stone Mountain Park): February 12, 2010 – February 28, 2010
- Dulles, Virginia (Dulles Town Center): March 6, 2010 – March 27, 2010
Boston, Massachusetts (City Hall Plaza): April 3, 2010 – May 16, 2010 - Queens, New York (Cunningham Park): May 22, 2010 – June 6, 2010
- Long Island, New York (Eisenhower Park): June 11, 2010 – July 4, 2010
- New NYC Metro Venue (TBD): July 9, 2010 – July 25, 2010
Trekaroo is heading up to the beautiful Pacific Northwest to launch in Seattle and across the rest of the state of Washington. There’s so much to see here for tweens and teens – Shamu in the wild, Mt. Rainier, Pike’s Place, the Space Needle, where grunge music began, where coffeehouses took off, Microsoft, and more. For the younger set, there’s a plethora of indoor and outdoor fun to entertain kids for many days.
University of Washington by Flickr: danramarch
What have we got for you?
- Over 200 activities that have been rated and tagged by parents like you
- List of 1000 plus hotels throughout the state of Washington waiting to be rated by parents like you
- Coverage of the 5 major areas in Washington: Greater Seattle Region (Puget Sound), Palouse -Spokane, Mount Ranier and Snoqualmie, Olympic Peninsula, and the San Juan Islands.
- All sorts of fun lists on Destination Playgrounds in the Greater Seattle / Puget Sound Area, 5 Hidden Kidspots in the Seattle Area and more.
So, we’ve now launched something new in the Midwest and the Northwest. Stay tuned because we’ve got a pretty full schedule of places that we’d like to launch before our 1st birthday!
A standing ovation goes out to harebearmommy, travelmom, bbmmouse, and adorablyconfused who each jumped in full force to help get Seattle to a place where we’ve got something to share with the world. I also want to say thanks to my faithful team who work tirelessly to get things done in time.
Race you to the top of the Space Needle,
Esther Lee (thelees3) – CEO
Seattle Resources:
Best Activities for Kids in Seattle – voted by parents
Best Kid-Friendly Hotels in Seattle – voted by parents
- All 140 Activities for kids in the Seattle-Puget Sound Area
- Kid-friendly hotels in and around Seattle-Puget Sound
- Visiting Seattle with Little Kids - adorablyconfused
- Destination Playgrounds in Greater Seattle and Puget Sound – Travelmom
- Seattle Parks and Playgrounds - wandermom1
- Stores Mom and Kids Love in Seattle by Mompreneurs – Jill Dickinson
- 5 Lesser Known Pit Stops In and Around the Seattle Area – pitstopforkids
- Where to eat in Seattle with Kids in Tow - kirida
- Pumpkin Patches in the Seattle Area - Lydie Thomas
Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA and now IL and WA
Trekaroo’s KidsMobile is starting to chalk up those miles. We’ve traveled from New York, to Los Angeles, to Chicago and now we’re pulling into
Seattle, Washington
Don’t be fooled by Seattle’s rainy and gloomy reputation, because it is Seattle’s abundant rainfall that make spring, summer and fall lush and green. Set in Puget sound, this city offers fantastic outdoor recreation. In the rainy months, Seattle has some world class attractions that families absolutely love. Congrats to the families who helped launch Trekaroo in Seattle today.
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Trekaroo’s growing community of families have pitched in with their votes for 2009. Here’s the verdict!
Best Kid-friendly Hotels in Seattle – voted by parents
Best Activities for Kids in Seattle – voted by parents
Seattle is also the hometown for some exceptional moms who are smart, savvy and in the know about what real moms love about Seattle.
Michelle Duffy, better known as Wandermom starts us off with a list of her favorite Seattle Parks and Playgrounds. Wandermom is truly a travel guru! Her active family of 4 manages to travel on a budget, spending much time hiking, diving and skiing around the world. She is also the co-author of “Wanderlust and Lipstick: Traveling with Kids“. Her wealth of helpful tips can be found on her blog: Wandermom!
Carrie, a super energetic mom who lives in the heart of downtown Seattle knows the best Places to Visit with Young Kids in Seattle. She is the voice behind – Growing a baby in Seattle. Carrie reviews products and services that urban moms are interested in. Her reviews are insightful and personable at the same time. Get her take on some really cool stuff, afterall, Christmas is just around the corner.
Jill Dickinson brings us a list of Stores Moms and Kids love in Seattle who are owned by Momprenuers. Jill knows a good idea when she sees it because she’s the author of a book in the writing called “How to Become a Mompreneur”. She has interviewed a multitude of successful mompreneurs, so if you’re toying with a great business idea yourself, head on over to her blog – mombite - for some inspiration.
Hungry tummies = melt downs. Mona knows Where to eat in Seattle with Kids In Tow. Mona is the witty mom of a 3 year old and writes humorously about life as a full-time working mom on her blog – kirida. Need a good laugh about your predicament as a mom, you could spend hours on her blog (I just did myself – you sucked me in, Mona!)
So where are the locals hanging out? Amy tips us off with 5 Lesser Known Pit Stops in and around the Seattle Area. Her blog – Pit Stop for Kids – is filled with lots of helpful reviews about places to stop along various road trip routes around the country. Her mantra: Getting there should be half the fun! We couldn’t agree more.
Other Resources for Seattle:
- All 140 Activities for kids in the Seattle-Puget Sound Area
- Kid-friendly hotels in and around Seattle-Puget Sound
- Destination Playgrounds in Greater Seattle and Puget Sound – Travelmom
- Pumpkin Patches in the Seattle Area - Lydie Thomas
Next stop, the town where the Trekaroo founders first met - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania - Go Phillies!
The Trekaroo KidsMobile is a blog carnival with a twist. It’s designed to provide a unique opportunity for mom and dad bloggers to be featured on Trekaroo while
1) expressing their unique point of view
2) getting a web of link exchanges.
Join us for one of our next stopovers.
*****
LiLing Pang is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA and now IL and WA
With all the wonderful attractions for families in Seattle, you’re gonna want to stay for more than a day. Trekaroo families have weighed in on which hotels they like the best!
Best Kid-Friendly Hotel in Seattle – Watertown Hotel
The Watertown Hotel is getting rave reviews from Trekaroo families because they like it’s modern asthetic with comfortable rooms at a great value. Although it is located closer to the University of Washington instead of right downtown, the Watertown Hotel offers free shuttle service to most major attractions. If you have a car, parking is free unlike most downtown hotels where parking will run upwards of $26 a day. But that’s not all! Families love the free breakfast with freshly cooked bacon and eggs, free WIFI, and even free laundry facilities. A huge hit with families are the fun carts you can order up to your room. If your kids are bored, order up the art cart, or game cart. If mom needs some pampering, order up the spa cart. Average Nightly Rate $134
What’s to love
- Free shuttle to major attractions
- Fun carts – game cart, art cart, kids cart…
- Complimentary breakfast, laundry, WIFI.
- Suites are available
What’s not to love
- Not walking distance to main attractions
- No pool
Read the full reviews from families on Watertown Hotel | Check Availability and Deals at Watertown Hotel
Best Location for Families – Westin Seattle
Located right in downtown Seattle, the Westin’s location cannot be beat. It’s right on the edge of Belltown and Downtown, next to the monorail and within easy walking distance of some favorite family attractions like Pikes Place Market, Olympic Sculpture Park, Gameworks, and Seattle Aquarium. The Westin hotels are known for making families a priority and Westin Seattle is no exception. Their Westin Kids Club amenities provide so many extras that families are looking for from bottle warmers to jogging strollers. To top it off, families enjoy the wonderful indoor pool . Average nightly rates start at $159.
Other kid-friendly hotels in Chicago
Fairmont Olympic (avg nightly rate: $194) – 5 stars on Trekaroo
Seattle Marriott Waterfront (avg nightly rate $179) – 4 stars on Trekaroo
Grand Hyatt (avg nightly rate: $152) – 5 stars on Trekaroo
Sheraton Seattle (avg nighly rate $125) – 4 stars on Trekaroo
Hotels with Free Breakfast in Seattle
Which Activities came up at the top?
Best Activities for Kids in Seattle – voted by parents
Other Resources for Chicago:
- All 140 Activities for kids in the Seattle-Puget Sound Area
- Kid-friendly hotels in and around Seattle-Puget Sound
- Visiting Seattle with Little Kids - adorablyconfused
- Destination Playgrounds in Greater Seattle and Puget Sound – Travelmom
- Seattle Parks and Playgrounds - wandermom1
- Stores Mom and Kids Love in Seattle by Mompreneurs – Jill Dickinson
- 5 Lesser Known Pit Stops In and Around the Seattle Area – pitstopforkids
- Where to eat in Seattle with Kids in Tow - kirida
- Pumpkin Patches in the Seattle Area - Lydie Thomas
LiLing Pang is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA and now IL and WA
During the summer months, there are few cities that can rival Seattle for it’s wonderful outdoor fun and breathtaking views at just about every turn. During the rainy season, Seattle shows her kid-friendly side with delightful indoor attractions for top notch kid fun. These are the best of the best attractions for families as rated by local and visiting families.
#1 Place to take Kids in Seattle – Pacific Science Center
The Pacific Science Center is hugely popular with local and visiting families. And it is no wonder with room after room of hands on science exhibits that toddlers to teens can touch, bang, listen, observe and walk right into. You will literally be tearing your child away at the end of your visit.
Pacific Science Center
Best Place for Animal Lovers in Seattle – Seattle Aquarium
The highlight for many families is the Underwater Dome at the Seattle Aquarium. Imagine a 360 degree view of a 400,000 gallon tank full of fish! Kids also love the glowing jellyfish and the touch tanks where they can run their fingers over a sea anemone’s soft tentacles. The cute and mischievous sea otters and puffins will not fail to amuse mom, dad, and junior.
Photo by: Seattle Aquarium
Best City Walk with Kids in Seattle – Olympic Sculpture Park
This waterfront walk not only offers stunning views of Puget Sound with picturesque boats and mountains in the distance. It is also littered with whimsical sculptures that kids will enjoy like a giant typewriter eraser.
Olympic Sculpture Park http://ww.flickr.com/photos/hodgsons/2815626231
Best Outdoor Playground in Puget Sound – Green Lake
This wonderful 2.87 park is located within Seattle city limits. The path that encircles the lake is filled with hundreds of different trees. It’s perfect for a relaxing stroll, run, skate or bike ride. Green Lake is actually clean enough for swimming too. The huge playground and wading pool (west of the park) is were kids gravitate. Older children come here to play basketball, soccer,and baseball. This is THE place to be on a gorgeous summer day.
Best Indoor Playspace in Seattle – Children’s Museum
When the weather turns up rainy and cold, kids still get to explore, climb and stretch at the Children’s Museum. The kid-size grocery store is a big hit!
Which Hotels came up at the top?
Best Kid-friendly Hotels in Seattle – voted by parents
Other Resources for Seattle:
- All 140 Activities for kids in the Seattle-Puget Sound Area
- Kid-friendly hotels in and around Seattle-Puget Sound
- Visiting Seattle with Little Kids - adorablyconfused
- Destination Playgrounds in Greater Seattle and Puget Sound – Travelmom
- Seattle Parks and Playgrounds - wandermom1
- Stores Mom and Kids Love in Seattle by Mompreneurs – Jill Dickinson
- 5 Lesser Known Pit Stops In and Around the Seattle Area – pitstopforkids
- Where to eat in Seattle with Kids in Tow - kirida
- Pumpkin Patches in the Seattle Area - Lydie Thomas
LiLing Pang is a contributing author on Trekaroo – a reviews site dedicated to exploring and traveling with kids.
Travel with kids to: CA | FL | HI | MA | NY | PA | TX | VA and now IL and WA
