Philadelphia 2 Day Itinerary With Kids [Where America Began]

This Philadelphia 2 Day itinerary with kids is just for you. 

Yes, we’ll cover the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall…but stick around, because Day 2 has a mob boss’s prison cell and a wild card spot full of illusions that will fill your camera fast. (Your kids will be impressed, I promise!)

At TripIdeaMom.com, our family tests out Northeast trips with two school-aged kids—so you don’t waste your time or money on places that aren’t worth it. I’ll walk you through the best spots and give you tips for making the most of your day.

Jump to: Day 1 – Interactive History | Day 2 – Landmarks, Legends + Mob Bosses | Where to Stay | Wild Card — Museum of Illusions | FAQ

Trip Prep Steps – Book Ahead!

Before you go, book your Independence Hall tickets. Don’t plan on booking day-of, or you might miss it! 

👉Grab your tickets now: Independence Hall Tickets – Independence National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service).

Don’t see your dates open? They might be sold out. Or, on some holidays it’s just first-come, first serve so plan to arrive early.

Ok, now onto the fun…

Day 1 — The “Interactive History” Day

Everything today is walkable and close together. No bouncing around the city.

These are the spots your kids have already learned about in school, but it’s way cooler to experience it first-hand.

9:00 AM — Liberty Bell (Go Early)

Start at the Liberty Bell Center right as it opens.

It’s free, fast, and way less crowded if you stop there first.

The building itself is basically a narrow hallway with memorabilia and posters with history stories along it.

Then the Liberty Bell is front-and-center in a big picture window with Independence Hall in the background. 

They’ve got someone there to help you take a few photos, but you’re shuffled along pretty quick.

My photo tip – make sure your family stands to the sides of the bell. If you all group together up front, the bell gets covered up.

(Whoops – this was a lesson I learned the hard way. We initially jumped in front and center…and we’re not a “round 2 picture” kinda family.)

9:45 AM — Independence Hall

Next, head to Independence Hall (book timed tickets ahead).

We actually got lucky on this – we went on the 4th of July, and you couldn’t book tickets ahead, so we hopped in line FIRST THING and got right in. (I like to think that it’s my good karma….)

This is the room where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were debated and signed.

There’s a guided tour by a park ranger, and it’s great. It’s storytelling at its best. It fully kept our kids’ attention and since it’s air conditioned inside it was a nice break from the summer heat.

The guides know all kinds of very specific historical details – like what the founding fathers ate and drank at the time. And they love answering questions. So invite your kids to ask away! (Perhaps you can even challenge them to stump one of the park rangers. It would be a true challenge, they really are that good!)

The whole experience is honestly just so moving. To think how the U.S. started right in that very spot. And was debated, not by people who knew exactly what to do, but by people who were trying to figure it out. It probably sounds corny, and even as I write this it’s hard to describe completely, but it stuck with me. 

And when your kids get to actually experience a place they learned about, it sticks with them too.

11:00 AM — Benjamin Franklin Museum

Now that you’ve done the major iconic spots, let’s cover a couple lesser-known locations…

(Feel free to squeeze in a snack or swap this next stop with lunch – it’s no fun when the crew is hangry! You get to make the rules.)

Our next recommendation is to walk over to the Benjamin Franklin Museum. 

Side note: who knew Ben Franklin was such an amazing guy?? He had so many different ideas about what to build, make, and invent.

And the museum covers so much of it!

It’s a short walk-through with tons of interactive displays.

There are screens where the kids can play games, exhibits to look at and test your knowledge, and even some projection videos flashing with mini movies. Plus, the design aesthetic of the museum is just really cool….lots of designs with shadows and back-lighting. 

It was a little hard to capture the essence of the museum on my iphone because the lighting was a bit dim, but my kids loved the vibe of the whole place.

It also had a lot of spots to sit, which our kids appreciated after standing in what they felt like as a long line at Independence Hall. (Mind you, we spent like 30 min. in line 😂 so take it with a grain of salt.)

We had low expectations of this place because it seems like it’s not mentioned a lot, and it ended up being one of our favorite spots. I loved that it was relaxed and a little less serious, but also gave the kids permission to have lots of ideas and to try them out. 

Future inventors and entrepreneurs apply here! It’s definitely worth the visit.

12:30 PM — Lunch in Old City

There’s a ton of nearby lunch spots.
Pause. Sit. Reset.
You’ve earned it.

2:00 PM — The Mint

This next stop is cool and often passed over. The United States Mint. This is THE place where they literally manufacture money.

It’s quick, free, and fascinating. 

You’ll start out walking through a few different display spaces with older and rare versions of US money. Plus see some money-related souvenirs and collectibles. 

Then ride up the escalator for the chance to look out at the factory as it’s manufacturing coins.

That’s right, whole bins of money as the final product!

If you’ve ever watched one of those shows to see how things get made, this will be perfect for you. See how money is made firsthand! 

My “day job” is actually in Manufacturing, and it still just blows my mind to see equipment that usually makes metal parts like brackets or soda cans, stamping out money. 

You can’t take any pictures inside, so there’s not a lot to post on your Facebook or Instagram accounts, but it was a neat stop that wasn’t even on our radar before this trip. 10 out of 10!

Where to Stay: A Hidden Gem with a Rooftop Pool

After a full Day 1, your kids are going to lose their minds when they learn your hotel’s got a rooftop pool.

Find it at the Holiday Inn Express Midtown. It’s great for a 2-day trip to Philadelphia with kids, with the perfect location. Close enough that we could walk to all the historic stops, with an on-site parking garage where you can leave the car the whole time.

But the best part? The hotel’s amazing open-air pool built into a rooftop on the side of the building. Your kids get to swim outside surrounded by city buildings! Our kids (and the grandmas we FaceTimed) thought it was the best!

Our booking even included breakfast (so be on the lookout for that option). It was such a big timesaver because we didn’t need to hunt for a nearby diner in the morning. A definite win!

Day 2 — Landmarks, Legends, + Mob Bosses

Day 2 is going to be epic. It starts nice-and-easy with some of the iconic landmarks. Then the real adventure starts!

9:00 AM — Start with the LOVE Sign

Head to LOVE Park for the classic photo.

It IS the City of Brotherly Love after all.

It’s quick (15–20 minutes in line, max), but it sets the tone: we’re here, we’re doing this.

Going early in the morning means a short line. (You’ll notice a theme – we try to get to main attractions and touristy stuff early to beat the crowds.)

My kids didn’t have any real expectations around the sign, but I did. It looked so cool on instagram! 

In real life, it’s cute, but a little smaller than I’d expected. (Sorry Philly! I still love you!)

9:30 AM — The Rocky Steps Moment

Next stop: Philadelphia Museum of Art.

You’re here to run the steps, laugh, and let your kids burn energy.

This is where that classic scene from Rocky was filmed, where he runs up the steps when he’s training.

Snap a photo with the Rocky Statue (usually there’s a line), take in the skyline, and brave the stairs with your kids. 

Rocky the movie is rated PG, so extra points if you watch it before your trip!

But kids love getting out energy, so ours had fun despite not having seen the movie.

Plan about an hour here if you’re just walking around outside. 

The day we went it was blue skies and great weather, so we grabbed an ice cream at a nearby food truck and just hung out. 

There’s even a bit of shade right near the steps.

You can definitely go in and check out the museum too. 

We didn’t check it out this round, but the armor room and the modern art sections are supposed to be big hits with school-aged kids.

Midday — Head Back Toward Center City

Grab lunch somewhere easy on your way back.

Most of the restaurants in and around Philly are pretty relaxed with pub food and fries.

And reminder: get the cheesesteaks, they really are so tasty.

Afternoon — Al Capone’s Prison (It’s Surprisingly Cool)

Instead of defaulting to another park or museum, head to Eastern State Penitentiary.

It might sound like a strange place to take kids, but they’ll love it. 

It’s a cool combination of exploring and learning, with just a twinge of creepie.

Once you pay, they’ll hand you headphones and a personal audio device for the self-guided tour. (It looks like a walkman…such an old-school reference 😂)

Then you’re free to explore the whole prison at your own pace.

Walk into and out of the old cell blocks. Check out some of the crumbling areas. At times it felt like an archeological adventure! Very Indiana Jones-esque. 

We were surprised at how high the ceilings were and at the natural light that shines through. It’s surprisingly bright and airy feeling inside.

The real draw? Al Capone’s cell, where the famous mob boss from the 1920s and early 1930s stayed.

He definitely had connections, even while locked up.

Our kids couldn’t believe some of the stories about his special treatment.

At the end, there are some exhibits that walk you through the history of prisons. It put the whole visit in perspective.

Plan about 1.5–2 hours, and expect some great stories to swap and share on the ride home. 

Wild Card — Museum of Illusions 

Okay, I promised a wild card. And this one delivers.

The Museum of Illusions is walkable from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, so it fits naturally into either day without any extra driving or logistics.

The concept is simple: you don’t just look at illusions, you become part of them. 

Think mirrors, optical tricks, and setups where your whole family becomes the exhibit.

Our kids’ favorites?

• A setup where you look like you’re floating upside down at a diner.
• A chair that makes whoever’s sitting in it look tiny — like you’ve been shrunk.
• A card game where you look like you’re playing against five versions of yourself!

Afterward, we sent a photo to my mother-in-law of the kids upside down in the diner. She called us immediately. She could not figure out how we did it.

It’s so fun, especially for tweens who aren’t easily impressed.

And bonus: there’s a Museum of Illusions in most major cities, so even if you’re not hitting Philly, file this one away.

The Real Reason This Philadelphia 2 Day Itinerary with Kids Works

Philadelphia doesn’t feel like a history lesson. It feels like a story — one your kids will actually remember.

Day 1 pulls them in. Day 2 keeps them talking.

And somewhere between running the Rocky steps and walking through a crumbling prison, you’ll realize: this is exactly the kind of trip they’ll bring up for years.

That’s the whole goal, isn’t it?

Find Your Next Adventure

It sounds like your crew is game to check out sites across the Northeast. From Washington DC to the Mansions in Rhode Island, we’ve got you covered with unique and amazing spots. Head over to my guide on Northeast Getaways for Families to get more ideas.

Looking for a stop by the big apple in NYC? You’re going to love it. Check our take on the sites and plan your next trip here: NYC Guide for Visits with Kids

FAQ’s