Kids Korner

Visit Philadelphia! Liberty Bell Ducks Benjamin Franklin Hear the Liberty Bell? Of course not! It can't ring, not with the two-foot, four-inch crack that's a half-inch wide. The bell cracked the first time it was rung in 1753, and was fixed and replaced – more than once. The 2000-pound bell rang all the time back then. But in 1846, it cracked again and couldn't be rung anymore. Still, the huge Liberty Bell remains an enduring symbol of freedom. You'll be able to learn all about it and how our country got started in Philadelphia at the Liberty Bell Center – from how the Constitution was drafted, to where George Washington camped with his troops, to the ways Philadelphians helped escaping slaves during the Civil War. You might literally get to walk in George Washington or Ben Franklin's footsteps and you never know whom you may meet along the way. (Go to www.onceuponanation.org) Of course there's lots else to do in Philly – go to a baseball or football game, check out a cool science museum and zoo, shop, and eat. Cheese Steak anybody?

Did You Know?

• The Liberty Bell DID NOT ring on July 4, 1776, for the Declaration of Independence. The Declaration is dated July 4, 1776, but that's the date it was sent to the printer. Four days later, bells tolled throughout the city with the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. But Historians aren't even sure if the Liberty Bell rang that day either because the steeple was in such bad shape. On every July 4th, children who are descendents of the signers of the Declaration symbolically tap the Bell 13 times in honor of the patriots from the 13 original states. Visit www.ushistory.org/libertybell for all kinds of other fun facts.

• Philadelphia was the home of the first public school in America. It opened in 1698. It's also home to the first library in America that opened in 1731.

• Betsy Ross made the original American Flag at her home in Philadelphia in 1777. One day in 1776, General George Washington and two members of the Continental Congress came to visit her upholstery shop to ask her to make a flag for the new nation. She'd never made a flag! They gave her a sketch that she convinced them to modify. Instead of six-pointed stars, she suggested they have five points. A year later, Congress made Betsy Ross' Stars and Stripes the official flag of the United States. You can visit her house at 230 Arch Street. (www.betsyrosshouse.org)

• The first Girl Scout cookie sale was held in Philadelphia in 1932.

• Benjamin Franklin only completed two years of elementary education but was one of the greatest over-achievers the country has ever seen. He became an author and publisher, writing many pamphlets and articles that helped lead to independence from England. He served on the team that wrote the Declaration of Independence. He helped start America's first library and volunteer fire department. He was an inventor. Besides the lightening rod, he invented swim fins! He was an explorer, organizing the first American voyage to explore the Arctic. He was also a musician and played the violin and guitar. He was funny, too. Ben Franklin turns 300 on January 17, 2006, but Philadelphia will be celebrating all this fall with special exhibits. Go to www.gophila.com/itineraries to print out a map you can follow to see Franklin's haunts. You can have breakfast with “Ben” Saturday mornings at the Independence Visitor Center and ask him all about his life. (www.benfranklin300.org)

• Elmo, Cookie Monster, Big Bird, and the rest of the Sesame Street gang party just outside Philadelphia at Sesame Place amusement park a half hour north of Philadelphia in Langhorne, Penn. The park is celebrating its 25th birthday this year with special shows, parades, and more. This year, the attraction is open through the end of October. (www.sesameplace.com)

• George Washington and his ragtag Continental Army holed up from the fall of 1777 through the winter at Valley Forge, about a half hour outside Philadelphia. He turned his army into a strong fighting force that winter, though many soldiers died in the harsh conditions. If you visit in fall, you might get to see a reenactment of a battle or the Continental Army's march in to Valley Forge, where the soldiers camped and rested. Today there's a National Historic Park where Washington's troops camped. You can visit Washington's headquarters and soldiers' huts or just go for a hike or bike ride. A big new American Revolution Center museum is supposed to open her next year. (www.valleyforge.org)

• The famous Philadelphia Cheese Steak sandwiches were invented by accident. Back in 1930, Pat Olivieri, who ran a small hot dog stand, decided he wanted something besides a hot dog for lunch. He grilled some chipped meet, put it on an Italian roll, and covered it with some onions. A cabbie who was a regular customer asked to try one. “…Forget the hotdogs, sell these!” the cabbie said. So Olivieri did, adding cheese. If you want the original, go to where 9th Street crosses Wharton and Passyunk Aves. (215-468-1546). You can get the recipe at www.patskingofsteaks.com.

What Other Kids Say You Should Do While In Philadelphia . . .

Meet Jeremy Rasco (age 13) and Joshua Rasco (age 12) who live in Phoenixville, PA, west of the Philadelphia International Airport. Their mom, Cynthia Rasco, is an Operations Supervisor for Southwest at Philadelphia International Airport. Don't Miss: Dave and Buster's, located just north of the airport on the pier. It has lots of video games and virtual games to enjoy. (www.daveandbusters.com) Also, along the pier you must see the fireworks at night. Younger kids will like Sesame Place, located 8-10 miles northeast of the airport. (www.sesameplace.com) For water lovers, you must visit Dorney Park. It has lots of roller coasters, water slides, and amusement rides to enjoy…a must visit. (www.dorneypark.com) Another great place to enjoy the water is at the shore in New Jersey. Six Flags Great Adventure is located in New Jersey, which is really just a short ride from the airport. Six Flags has plenty of roller coasters, including the new ride “Kingda ka,” the fastest, tallest roller coaster around. (www.sixflags.com) Philly also has a ton of museums, such as the Philadelphia Arts Museum, the Liberty Bell Museum, the Art Institute, and much more. Please visit www.Philadelphia.com for more information regarding the museums. Transportation: There are several ways to travel around the city by bus, train, or trolley. You should really travel on the Duck and see the city by water and land for only a few bucks. It's a “must do.” Where to Eat: There's no shortage of great places to eat, but you have to take out time to eat a Philly Cheesesteak with Cheez Wiz. The best place is Geno's, which is located close to Washington Avenue. While you're at Geno's take a step over to Pat's and compare the two cheesesteaks. If you like Chinese food, you must visit Chinatown, which is about five or six blocks away. Don't Go Home Without: Seeing a Philadelphia Eagles football game. You can't leave Lincoln Financial Field without a jersey or other souvenirs. Attend a Phillies baseball game if the season is still in. Best Thing to Do with Mom and/or Dad: Visit the King of Prussia Mall. Your parents can give a gift card and you can shop all day. Or, visit the Zoo. (www.philadelphiazoo.com)

Kids, Tell Your Parents . . .

• There is an entire area on Philadelphia's official tourism site to help families plan their visit, from where to stay to the low down on all the kid-friendly places to see. Visit www.gophila.com/family. Look for other hotel packages that include free parking and a special guide to African American history. And here's a new way to see the sights: Ride The Ducks on a land-to-water tour in an amphibious vehicle that splashes into the Delaware River. Show your AAA card for a discount (www.phillyducks.com). There's also the guided Big Bus Tour that enables you to hop on and off the double-decker bus at all of the tourist stops (www.bigbustours.com). Stop in at the Independence Visitor Center where a concierge can help you plan your days, and you can buy tickets while the kids are entertained by multimedia displays about Philly's history (6th and Market Streets - www.independencevisitorcenter.com).
  Besides the Liberty Bell, here are some other places guaranteed to be a hit with your gang:
  
  1. The National Constitution Center explores and explains the Constitution, including plenty of interactive exhibits that should grab the kids' interest. (525 Arch Street, www.consitutioncenter.org)
     
     
  2. Lights of Liberty Show tells the story of America's fight for independence with special effects and five-story projections through the fall. Wearing headsets, visitors follow costumed guides through the cobble-stoned streets where images are projected onto Independence Hall and other buildings. Make reservations at 877-GO-2-1776 or www.lightsofliberty.org.
     
     
  3. The Philadelphia Museum of Art where you can pay what you wish for family programs and to see the collections (26th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, www.philamuseum.org).
     
     
  4. The Philadelphia Zoo – the nation's oldest – is in Fairmount Park, one of the world's largest parks, which leads from the Museum of Art. You'll find more than 1,500 animals! (3400 West Girard Avenue, www.philadelphiazoo.org).
     
     
  5. The Franklin Institute Science Museum where a new huge Body Worlds exhibit opens in October (220 N 20th Street, www.fi.edu). Many families also give a thumbs up to The Academy of Natural Sciences where kids can, among other things, dig for “dino” bones. (19th Street & The Benjamin Franklin Parkway, www.acnatsci.org)
     
     
  6. Hit a game: The Philadelphia 76ers (www.nba.com/sixers) for basketball; the Philadelphia Eagles (www.philadelphiaeagles.com) for football; the Arena Football League Philadelphia Soul (www.philadelphiasoul.com); the Philadelphia Phillies for baseball (www.phillies.com); the minor league Camden Riversharks in Camden, New Jersey (www.riversharks.com); the Philadelphia Flyers for hockey (www.philadelphiaflyers.com); or the American Hockey League Philadelphia Phantoms (www.phantomshockey.com). There's also a professional Lacrosse team, The Philadelphia Wings (www.wingslax.com), and a pro soccer team, Philadelphia KiXX (www.kixxonline.com).

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By: Eileen Ogintz, Author of Taking the Kids™