Your guide to activities and fun things to do with your preschoolers, toddlers and kids in Philadelphia, PA

One of my favorite outings in Philadelphia by far is the historic Reading Terminal Market. Located at 12th and Arch Streets in downtown Philadelphia, Reading Terminal is like a food Disneyland. If Disneyland were small, indoors, and, you know, had a lot of Amish folks and was held inside a train shed. Heh.

You can do nearly all your grocery shopping at Reading Terminal, including buying plenty of yummy baked goods, locally made cheeses, locally grown meats and produce and much, much more.

If you travel with your kids, know this: it gets crowded. Weekday mornings--AFTER the workday starts--are your best times to enjoy the market. If you use a stroller, I recommend stopping and buying your kid a mouth-wateringly yummy Amish pretzel (brushed with REAL homemade butter, quite possibly churned by the lovely young woman selling the pretzels) to keep your kiddo happy and occupied. If you don't use a stroller (I don't), well, maybe a leash? There are LOTS of nooks and crannies a kid can hide in at the market.

Then I'd recommend a quick stop at the Cookbook Stall--well, if you're interested in cookbooks, that is, or Miscellanea Libri for other kinds of books. Hit the Fair Food Farmstand next for locally grown organic artisanal foods including the best eggs you'll ever taste. For meats, Guinta's Prime Shop offers the best in natural and grass-fed hormone-free meats including awesome homemade sausages.

If you need lunch, well. You can literally sample the world. You'll find French crepes, Philly cheese steaks (well, duh), sushi, Peking duck, Thai, Middle Eastern Foods, and Barbeque--and that's only a partial list. I'll just say you won't go hungry. There's a nice food court area, but you will have to fight for a table--it gets quite crowded at lunch with local workers and visitors to the nearby convention center.

Reading Terminal Market is one of Philadelphia's treasures, so don't miss it. You'll be glad you went!