By Sarah Schlichter

updated 12:30 p.m. ET May 5, 2006

Walking through Philadelphia sure beats history class. Kids get to step outside the textbooks and into the past when they visit the birthplace of America -- to see where the Constitution was signed, where Betsy Ross may have lived and where William Penn landed when he arrived to found the city.

Kids can play quoits (a traditional colonial game) on the lawn at Independence National Historic Park, or park themselves on a "storytelling bench" and listen to tales from the American Revolution. They can even get a letter postmarked at Benjamin Franklin's post office.

But Philly isn't stuck in the 18th century. There are plenty of modern pleasures for families to enjoy together. Get up close and personal with sharks, climb through a huge model of a human heart, play in whimsical gardens or go to a museum where visitors are actually encouraged to touch.

Kids won't even realize that they're learning even while they're having fun -- and parents might be surprised to find that they're having fun, too.

Amazing freebies worth pursuing:

• Wandering the busy stalls of Reading Terminal Market.
• Playing colonial games and listening to stories from the Revolution in Independence National Historic Park.
• Cooling off in the fountain on Logan Square on a hot summer day.
• Visiting the Independence Seaport Museum on Sundays from 10 a.m. to noon.
• Hanging out at Penn's Landing.
• Visiting the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and other buildings in Independence National Historic Park.
• Playing in Rittenhouse Square.
• Visiting Franklin Court.
• Participating in some family programs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art on Sundays in July and August.

Home away from home

• For families who enjoy a little luxury when they travel, the Loews Philadelphia Hotel is a good choice. Call the hotel's family concierge ahead of time to plan out your itinerary and arrange for age-appropriate welcome gifts for the kids. Once you arrive, children can stay free in the same room as their parents. You'll also find game libraries, childproofing kits, supervised recreational programs and special restaurant menus. The hotel's Center City location puts it within easy walking distance of both the historic sights and the museum district.
• Right near Independence Mall is the Holiday Inn Historic District, just steps away from Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Along with a great location and reasonable rates, the hotel offers cribs, rollaway cots, board games and in-room video game rentals. Kids under 12 eat free in the hotel restaurant. Ask about family rate packages.
• For some of the conveniences and comforts of home, try the Embassy Suites in Center City. Each two-room suite offers a kitchen area with a microwave and refrigerator, plus up to two beds and a sofa bed. (Cribs are available on request.) Each suite also has a dining area and a balcony. Breakfast is complimentary, and other meals are available in the attached T.G.I. Friday's. The hotel is located near Logan Circle and some of Philly's most kid-friendly museums.

Day one
You'll start your day right where America itself started: at Independence National Historic Park. The park spans several blocks and some 20 historic buildings, including Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed. Make the brand-new Independence Visitor Center your first stop, to get your bearings and find out what special events are happening in the park today. Note that if you want to visit Independence Hall, you'll need a timed, dated ticket for a tour. These can be reserved up to a year in advance (you'll pay a small fee for the convenience), or you can get free same-day tickets here at the visitor center -- but be sure to arrive early.

You can also purchase tickets here for "Ride the Ducks," an 80-minute land and water tour on amphibious vehicles called Ducks (in keeping with the theme, everyone gets a free "wacky quacker" noisemaker). The tour makes its boisterous way through the sights of Philadelphia's historic district before plunging with a crowd-pleasing splash into the Delaware River at Penn's Landing. This is a great way to get an overview of the area, learn some history and decide which attractions are worth going back to see in more depth.

The tour drops you off near the Liberty Bell, which is your next stop (depending, of course, on the time of your tour through Independence Hall). Philly's most famous landmark was cast in England in 1751 but cracked for the first time after only a few years. After it was recast, it served as the official bell of the Pennsylvania State House (now Independence Hall), was rung in celebration of the Declaration of Independence and eventually was adopted as the symbol of the abolition movement. The bell is now located in its own glass-enclosed pavilion, complete with informational exhibits and a video presentation.

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