Anonymous wrote:Pro tip: Gas stations make the best cheese steaks.

Nope - but also don't go to Pat or Genos. The best cheese steak is the one you have while drunk late evening after a great night, but I'd also say one that's just convenient. No need to wait in huge lines. You will have no issue finding a convenient one in the city.

The beer at Human Robot and Other Half is top notch.

Pro tip: Gas stations make the best cheese steaks.

Gritty!!!!

The light show at Macys is back. Really geared towards little kids but a great tradition.

Book iceskating tickets at city hall for same time if you plan to walk through the Christmas Village! There’s ice skating at Penns Landing (go to Franklin Fountain after) but nothing beats being right in the city!

The Nutcracker at the Academy is always fun. And Walnut Street Theatre currently has Christmas story.

The PMA (hate the new branding!) is always lively on Friday nights but even more so during the holidays!

If you have young kids the train display at Morris Arboretum is always fun but a bit of hike up to Chestnut Hill.

And echo everything else about the Barnes and Reading Terminal.

Lots of great suggestions here already, and adding to go to Middle Child Clubhouse for breakfast.

The Barnes is great, but if it’s your first time I think the Philadelphia Museum of Art is amazing. Agreed on visiting RTM - there is something for everyone. DiNic’s roast pork sandwiches and Famous 4th Street cookies are my favorite things.

The Christmas market by City Hall is cute, as is skating on the rink by the Delaware river. I think there is a winter market setup over there too. If your kids enjoy shopping/window shopping, Walnut Street from about 18th (Rittenhouse Square) to Broad Street has good stores. Your foodie kid might enjoy popping into Di Bruno Bros., which is a really awesome cheesemonger and market. There’s an upstairs cafe with delicious pizza and drinks (for you) too.

For restaurants - hard to go wrong in Philly. Parc is a forever classic and it’s really nice at Christmastime, but any Starr place will be good. He just opened a new one on Rittenhouse Square called Borromini that I want to try. Barbuzzo and Little Nonna’s are also great. Alternatively you could do one of the classic places in the Italian Market - Ralph’s is very good. There’s also great Middle Eastern food if you want to do something different. Suraya in Fishtown is excellent, as is Laser Wolf. I have eaten at Zahav a few times and think it’s good, but not worth fighting for a reservation or eating at 10:30 PM. I believe Laser Wolf is owned by the same group and I liked my meal there better.

Enjoy Philly! It’s a really great city. I moved away a few years ago and still miss it.

Anonymous wrote:The Barnes Foundation! It's fantastic.

https://www.barnesfoundation.org/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=paidsearch&utm_campaign=collectionvisitationSAD&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=20125069632&gbraid=0AAAAACP5DbJR4QSt4xaM8Fn7dkIWa7-Oi&gclid=Cj0KCQiAosrJBhD0ARIsAHebCNr7XlSxVEU7nr7KstGdRGQk7zApqYdhjGaSQJBB7elT9bZZxYTrTbcaArO9EALw_wcB

This! I’m not big into art but this place was impressive.

Agree on Barnes ans PhAM, and would add Museum of the American Revolution. So well done and not far from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.

If you are driving and there's an opening consider Longwood. Christmas there is a gift. But its often sold out for all reasonable times.

https://www.phillymagicgardens.org/

On weekends, you can book a private tour that starts an hour before it opens to the public. Totally worth it.

Penn Museum is awesome.
Philadelphia Museum of Art for your art lover.
Liberty Bell & Independence Hall.

We like the Christmas market. Food is good / get the dumplings in love park. Really yummy.

DD really likes Eastern state penitentiary.

Reading market is awesome but find somewhere else for cheesesteaks. The really good place in there for them closed down.

Also, it's not as central as the Dilworth Plaza christmas market but if you are over in Old City (a nice neighborhood for restaurants and shops) you could check out the RiverRink ice skating and holiday village as well:

https://www.delawareriverwaterfront.com/where-to-go/blue-cross-riverrink-winterfest

The Christmas market is fun if it’s not too crowded. There’s a part near city hall and a part in Love Park. Philadelphia museum of art is great (and huge) but if your dc is interested in art you might also consider the Barnes.

The Christmas Light show at Macy's (the old Wanamakers) is classic and free...this also may be the last year.