Great Vacation Spot for Kids: Philadelphia - Meet Ben Franklin and Besty Ross

When we told people we were taking our 4-year-old girl to Philadelphia, we got the same quizzical looks that we got five years earlier when we said, "We're going to Los Angeles for our honeymoon!" Actually, we were pleasantly surprised at how many fun activities for little kids were available in Philadelphia.

LIBERTY BELL and INDEPENDENCE HALL
I know these may seem like the more dry and historical stops on a tour of Philadelphia. However, the welcome center is very friendly and features volunteers in period costume greeting the kids. Your kids will get a kick out of the bell if the line isn't too long. Outside Independence Hall, kids can join a mini-Continental Army and march around the courtyard with wooden muskets.

STORYTELLING BENCHES
All over downtown Philadelphia, storytellers ring large bells to call kids to the round benches. They tell interesting historical stories, and the kids can collect 13 stars for their flag.

FRANKLIN SQUARE
We really enjoyed this park, which is a few blocks north of the Liberty Bell. In addition to the large playground, kids can ride a carousel or play a mini-golf course based on the landmarks of Philadelphia. Franklin Square also has a storytelling bench and a giant fountain.

BEN FRANKLIN and BETSY ROSS HOUSES
Ben Franklin's house features a cool underground museum devoted to his life. You can even play the "Armonica," a musical instrument Franklin invented. Above ground, you can see the floorplan and frame of Franklin's house, as well as the nation's first post office, which was run by Franklin. You can also visit Betsy Ross' house. Make sure you get to meet Ben and Betsy, as the actors are great with kids and bring their stories to life.

SESAME PLACE
In nearby Langhorne, you can visit an amusement park based on the Sesame Street characters. While the park has too many water rides and not enough kids rides, your child will love taking pictures with Elmo, Zoe and Cookie Monster. The shows and parades are a lot of fun, too.

THE JERSEY SHORE
We stayed at a hotel in New Jersey, so we were just a short drive from the boardwalk in Ocean City, N.J. That was another great time. Our daughter loved playing on the beach, and there were tons of shopping and food choices. The boardwalk also featured an amusement park and four miniature golf courses. The best part of about Ocean City is that it doesn't close at 5 p.m. In fact, that's when the musicians and karaoke get going. We finally headed back at around 10 p.m., but the fun was still going.

SMITH PLAYGROUND and PLAYHOUSE
When you're on vacation with a little one, don't forget that they would like to stop sightseeing from time to time. Smith Playground and Playhouse are huge areas where kids can have a good time. The playground has a lot of equipment that you don't see at your local park, like a giant spider web made of ropes, and a huge old-fashioned wooden slide. Just make sure you get good directions and check the times they are open so your kids get a good amount of time to play.

I'm surprised the city of Philadelphia doesn't market itself more aggressively toward families with young kids. As we planned the trip around Sesame Place, we stumbled onto a great vacation destination for kids.