In January of 2008, the nation will celebrate the 300th birthday of Benjamin Franklin. While all Americans are likely to take at least a passing notice of the great man’s special day, Philadelphia, PA where he lived and did so much important work is already gearing up to celebrate the local hero they like to cal “Ben”. This means that in Philadelphia this fall you are likely to find lots of fun things to do with your family and get a head start on your own Benjamin Franklin remembrances without benefit of a crowd.
Breakfast with Ben. At Disney World in Florida we delighted at the concept of “Breakfast a la Disney” when we had the chance to enjoy breakfast with our kids while they enjoyed the Disney characters who were visiting from table to table. A similar idea is being used to develop a more personal interest in the life and work of Benjamin Franklin among visitors to Philadelphia . It’s called “Breakfast with Ben”.
Benjamin Franklin was a man involved in many aspects of colonial life and history. His discovery of electricity via a kite and a key is well documented . But Franklin was also instrumental is developing local fire companies, public libraries and better reading glasses. He was a statesman, politician, philosopher and entrepreneur. There were not many avenues of thought or activity that he left unexplored during his 80 plus years. Your family can get a chance to learn more about this national hero by taking part in “Breakfast with Ben” .
The Independence Ballroom at the Independence Visitors Center is the site for “Breakfast with Ben”. Visitors will have a chance to enjoy breakfast but also to interact with a Benjamin Franklin reenactor who will dazzle you with his knowledge of the life of this great man and please you with his patience in listening to and responding to questions posed by children. The Breakfast is offered from 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.on Saturday mornings through October 27. Children participating in Breakfast with Ben will receive souvenir gifts of the occasion, a chance for an autograph and a posed picture with “Ben.
The price for children for this event is $13, adults are charged $20. While this may seem a bit pricey,you are getting a great meal and a wonderful chance to expose your kids and yourself to a fun way to learn about history and one of the truly remarkable men who helped to found and develop our nation.
Self-Guided Walking Tour. You can enjoy fall family fun in Philadelphia with hardly any expense by connecting with “the Constitutional ” a free self guided walking tour of major historic sites of Philadelphia. Walk brochures can be found at a variety of tourist spots and at the Independence Visitor Center.
When the weather turns cool and encourages walking, you do everyone a favor by choosing the self guided tour as a great way to enjoy some fall family fun in historic Philadelphia. The self guided walk is somewhat reminiscent of Boston’s Freedom Trail. Within an approximate total walk of three miles visitors can take in any or all of some thirty historic sites.
History in a book is nothing like seeing it in the flesh. Being able to directly eyeball sites like the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Congress Hall, Franklin Court and the National Constitution Center aren’t just educational opportunities , they are fall family fun activities to share. The self guided tour can fill a whole day or you may want to break it up to really concentrate on sites you enjoy and come back for several visits. If you spend a whole day you will want a lunch break and you will find this is easy to do as many of the historical centers have eateries meant to match the needs and expense accounts of families.
Speaking of Lunch. The cool days of fall and lots of walking can really help your family to build up and appetite. That’s when you realize that fall family fun in Philadelphia, PA really is incomplete without sampling the nationally renowned “Philly Cheese Steak” sandwich. Restaurants and sandwich shops across the country try to duplicate this culinary treat but most fall well short. So if you are in Philadelphia for some fall family fun, don’t forget the Cheese Steak.
There are plenty of sandwich shops that will sell you a Philly Cheese Steak and most are delicious but if you are looking for the real deal, you may want to take the family to “Pat’s King of Steaks”. A trip here will answer two questions. First, who created the Philly Cheese Steak? The answer to that question would be Pat Olivieri in the 1930’s. Pat used to sell hot dogs, lots of hot dogs. But the story goes, he got tired of eating hot dogs everyday and decided to cook up some chopped steak, threw it in a roll and then covered it with onions, the cheese came later and was a real hit. Pat soon moved out of the hot dog business and since then “Pat’s King of Steaks” has been owned and operated by Pat and his family .
The second question you can answer by going to “Pat’s” is, how good is a Philly Cheese Steak, really? That’s a wonderful question to have to answer and will make a great center piece for you day of fall family fun in Philadelphia, PA.
Historically Related. Fall family fun in Philadelphia may suggest a side trip just a half hour or so out of the city. If your family enjoyed meeting Ben Franklin and seeing some of the historic sites along the self-guided walking tour then they may be open to the idea of visiting Valley Forge. It’s not a them park and there are no amusement rides here but your kids may have some fall family fun anyway.. Valley Forge is designated as a national historic park and stands as memorial to the brave men who banded together with little to eat and very poor shelter through the cold and emotionally challenging winter of 1777, because they believed in one another and in the cause of liberty.
Today the park provides modern Americans with a chance to view the site where Washington’s depleted army wintered and throughout the fall to watch re-enactments of various Revolutionary War battles as they are played out. On Saturdays from November 6-March 6, Valley Forge welcomes young people to join in the activQities sponsored at the parks Kids Corner. Children will both learn about the American Revolution and have the chance to make a simple craft item to take home to remind them of their visit and of our American patriots.
The Valley Forge National Historical Park is opened daily from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Washington’s Headquarters building and all other parts of the park are offered to the public free of charge. An added bonus of a trip out to Valley Forge is the fact that this area is well known as a great birding location. So increase the fall family fun in the Philadelphia by toting along your field glasses so that you and your children will have the chance to enjoy the natural beauty that now surrounds what once was a place of considerable suffering and gloom.
Philadelphia is remembered as the “cradle of liberty”, a place where our American foundations of our freedom were established. Your kids might also say they remember the fall family fun in Philadelphia that you all enjoyed together.
