Philly or Baltimore for a weekend with kids

Littlejen22

which one and why?  Oh, we live closer to Philly.

GinandTonic

That's a tough one.  We live about 10 minutes from Baltimore, but DH has family in Philly - and used to live there - so we've spent a lot of time there.

For kids, Baltimore has the Aquarium, Port Discovery (it's a big hands-on kids museum), the Science Center.  All right there in the Inner Harbor.  Lots of restaurants and just general walking around.  The zoo is eh, though - DD and I just went Tuesday (it was raining).

Philly also has a cool kid's museum - Please Touch Museum.  I feel like there isn't as much of a central area where everything is within walking distance.  Kids our ages won't care about the history stuff (Baltimore has that too - Fort McHenry, etc).  I think the aquarium is also across the river in Camden.  I've heard WONDERFUL things about the zoo there though.

Temp108743750006959

Philly because the Please Touch Museum, Smith Playground and zoo are all next to each other and the food in the city is awesome.

Mominator

I agree with PP that Philly Zoo is awesome, we go all the time. Please Touch Museum is also great, but I feel like other than those two places, there isn't much more for young kids. We really like the Inner Harbor and generally go for at least one weekend every year. I love that everything is within walking distance of each other.

GinandTonic

Yeah, the Inner Harbor does suck for chain restaurants, but Little Italy is walking distance from the Harbor and has some WONDERFUL, kid-friendly options.  So does Federal Hill, for that matter.

I know Philly has its own Little Italy, but it's walking distance to nowhere except scary, South Philly (my husband has relatives there, I'm allowed to think that).

I also remembered you could do the B&O train museum as well - it's wonderful.

 Odd that I'm defending Baltimore.  I've lived here more than a dozen years, I guess it's about time...

EastCoastBride

Ditto GinandTonic on what Baltimore has.  Sure, the Inner Harbor itself isn't really an attraction, but I'm sure Philly has areas that are generic too.

Reading the stuff about Philly, though, that might be a trip for us to take sometime.  But I have to do all the Baltimore stuff first....

praline

-auntie-:

Philly. I don't get the Inner Harbor as a destination; I have a big box book store and plenty of chain restaurants near my local mall, hardly makes it a destination. Hell, I have Sesame Place at my local mall.

True, Philly is bigger and less walkable but there are Phlash buses available for cheap. Please Touch is awesome, ditto Smith Playground  and America's first zoo. Don't forget the Natural History Museum and Franklin Institute and Franklin Square.

https://www.historicphiladelphia.org/day/franklin-square/

Sesame Place is a mere 30 miles from downtown. New Hope & Ivyland RR is a few miles north of that in a cute town full of great food and interesting shops. Beats Cheesecake Factory.

You kind of don't know what you are talking about.  Mere steps from the Inner Harbor is Federal Hill and there are TONS of cool coffee shops and little restaurants and a nice market and the Visionary Art Museum (which is great for kids).  Fells Point is also not far (not walking but a short drive) and likewise has many cool little shops and places to eat.  AND Hampden is not far from that.  AND if one drives up Charles street a little bit there to Mt. Vernon there is the central branch of the Enoch Pratt library and other nice little shops and restaurants.  The Gallery Place part of the Inner Harbor does have a Hooters and the like but there is also a local sushi restaurant, a small ice cream shop, etc.... 

Littlejen22

I will say that I only live 45 minutes from Sesame and went about 6 times last year and will probably be there a dozen or so times this year, and as geeky as this is we spent my birthday at a hotel there the last two years...the kids are happy then Mommy has a great birthday!  But for others that live farther that is a nice trip if you plan on staying for more than a couple of days in Philly.

And I do love Philly and actually find it very walkable, my BFF and I stayed near City Hall last year and walked to the Liberty Bell area and then down to South Street and back, I was even wearing flip flops and it was very doable.  And my kids do love NY and Boston so I am sure they would love just the sight seeing even if they are not into the history yet.  I do plan on doing a few day trips this summer whether or not we stay over night.  I do wish that the zoo and all that was closer to center city but driving is not a huge deal although I have a feeling I would do that area as a day trip instead of when staying in a hotel b/c it seems like a waste to me to drive somewhere when we are in center city.

And thanks for all the Baltimore info, sounds great and like there is a lot to do.  I might have to do that just because a day trip there would be tiring with the kids since it is about 3 hours one-way.

praline

-auntie-:

praline:

You kind of don't know what you are talking about.  Mere steps from the Inner Harbor is Federal Hill and there are TONS of cool coffee shops and little restaurants and a nice market and the Visionary Art Museum (which is great for kids).  Fells Point is also not far (not walking but a short drive) and likewise has many cool little shops and places to eat.  AND Hampden is not far from that.  AND if one drives up Charles street a little bit there to Mt. Vernon there is the central branch of the Enoch Pratt library and other nice little shops and restaurants.  The Gallery Place part of the Inner Harbor does have a Hooters and the like but there is also a local sushi restaurant, a small ice cream shop, etc.... 

BTDT. I'm entitled to my opinion. It's no Philadelphia or New York or Boston.

Yeah Little Italy is cute and the food is pretty good. I had a very nice Carbonara off menu at some cheesy mirrored Italian place that could have doubled as a set in The Sopranos. But Inner Harbor? I've tried to like it. I did it once with a dear friend who lives there, once with a Cub Scout Pack and once with DH. NMS.

 

Sure, you're entitled to your opinion of a place you aren't from, and obviously don't know much about.  From your post it doesn't sound like you've spent much time in Federal Hill, in Fells Point, or other parts of Baltimore (Hampden, Canton, Hamilton, and on, and on).  I think Philly sounds great, but why you need to make downtown Baltimore sound like a horrible suburb is sort of strange.  The Inner Harbor by the way is where the Science Center is, and for people with kids it's a great destination.  Whatever...Baltimore can live without you hon.

Littlejen22

praline:

-auntie-:

praline:

You kind of don't know what you are talking about.  Mere steps from the Inner Harbor is Federal Hill and there are TONS of cool coffee shops and little restaurants and a nice market and the Visionary Art Museum (which is great for kids).  Fells Point is also not far (not walking but a short drive) and likewise has many cool little shops and places to eat.  AND Hampden is not far from that.  AND if one drives up Charles street a little bit there to Mt. Vernon there is the central branch of the Enoch Pratt library and other nice little shops and restaurants.  The Gallery Place part of the Inner Harbor does have a Hooters and the like but there is also a local sushi restaurant, a small ice cream shop, etc.... 

BTDT. I'm entitled to my opinion. It's no Philadelphia or New York or Boston.

Yeah Little Italy is cute and the food is pretty good. I had a very nice Carbonara off menu at some cheesy mirrored Italian place that could have doubled as a set in The Sopranos. But Inner Harbor? I've tried to like it. I did it once with a dear friend who lives there, once with a Cub Scout Pack and once with DH. NMS.

 

Sure, you're entitled to your opinion of a place you aren't from, and obviously don't know much about.  From your post it doesn't sound like you've spent much time in Federal Hill, in Fells Point, or other parts of Baltimore (Hampden, Canton, Hamilton, and on, and on).  I think Philly sounds great, but why you need to make downtown Baltimore sound like a horrible suburb is sort of strange.  The Inner Harbor by the way is where the Science Center is, and for people with kids it's a great destination.  Whatever...Baltimore can live without you hon.

FWIW, Auntie has always seemed to me to be one of the nicest, genuine and helpful people, she does not like Baltimore even though it sounds like she has been numerous times and gave her opinion, no big deal but no reason to be snotty to her for not liking it either.

I do appreciate your comments about places to go and things to do; it gives me plenty of ideas if we go, and we will likely do a weekend during the spring or summer.

praline

Sorry littlejen she annoyed me.  I know I've been accused of this on here in the past, but her know-it-all attitude about every.freaking.thing gets on my nerves and Baltimore is a place I know a lot about.

I'm outta yer post now, have a nice vacay.

EastCoastBride

I"m jumping back in for a moment- auntie, I get that there are places you like better than Baltimore. That's fine. But I get praline's point.  You make it sound like ALL there is to Baltimore is the Inner Harbor.  For someone who claims to have been here a lot of times, it's not a fair assessment and sure, for those of us who live here - it's off-putting. 

I lived in Federal Hill for 11 years and raised my son there for 2 years - the city has a LOT to offer. 

If you prefer Philly, that's fine.  I think it sounds interesting and would like to go there too.  But you don't have to make Baltimore sound like a chain store pit of nothingness.