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Episode 1: Finding Fun, Calm, and Brotherly Love in Philly: A 3-2-1 Plan
91 Plays16 days ago
Traveling with children with neurodiverse needs or anxiety often feels like planning a trip where the conditions may change at any minute, and learning to adapt becomes part of the adventure.There is excitement about exploring new places, but there may also be questions about crowds, noise, unfamiliar routines, and big emotions. Plans sometimes shift, and the day may look different from what was originally expected. For many families, travel becomes easier when the focus is on staying flexible and allowing space for breaks when they are needed.
In this episode of Family Travel that Supports ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety, Dr. Josette Bianchi shares a simple way to plan a family trip using the show’s 3-2-1 travel format. The journey includes places where kids can touch, explore, and learn, spaces where they can move around and stay active, and food stops with flexible options for families. There is also a bonus spot where kids can climb, swing, and release some energy when they need a break from the busy city.
At the heart of it all is a gentle reminder. Travel does not have to be perfect to be meaningful. Sometimes the best memories grow from small moments, a quiet break, a curious question, or a child discovering something new. Meet your family where they are and keep wandering without limits.
Topics Covered:
- 00:00:00 – Welcome to Family Travel that Supports ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety
- 00:01:56 – Destination spotlight: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- 00:03:14 – The 3-2-1 Travel Plan
- 00:03:33 – Place #1: Philadelphia Zoo
- 00:05:00 – Place #2: Please Touch Museum
- 00:06:35 – Place #3: The Franklin Institute
- 00:07:29 – Sensory backpacks and return option
- 00:08:09 – Family-friendly food options in Philadelphia
- 00:09:50 – Bonus tip: We Rock the Spectrum
- 00:10:57 – Episode wrap-up and final reminder
About Your Host:
Dr. Josette Bianchi is a board-certified pediatrician, mom of three, and a travel lover who believes families should feel confident exploring the world together. Through Family Travel that Supports ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety, she shares practical tips, real-life experiences, and encouragement for families raising children with big feelings, sensory needs, or behavioral differences.
Combining her medical background with her perspective as a parent, Dr. Bianchi helps families plan flexible, sensory-friendly trips. Each episode offers simple ideas, honest stories, and helpful tools to make travel more manageable and more meaningful for neurodiverse families.
Connect with Dr. Jo:
Email: familytravelsupport@gmail.com; josettemarie@gmail.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/josette-bianchi-40902943/
Podcast Show Description:
Family Travel that Supports ADHD, Autism, and Anxiety is a podcast for families who love to travel and are raising children with big feelings, behavioral challenges, and neurodiverse needs. Join Dr. Josette Bianchi, a board-certified pediatrician and mom of three, as she shares practical tips and real-life experiences to help families plan more manageable trips using a simple 3-2-1 travel format.
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Transcript
Introduction to Family Travel with Neurodivergent Children
00:00:00
Speaker
Welcome to Family Travel that supports ADHD, autism, and anxiety, podcast for families who love to travel and have children with big feelings and challenging moments.
00:00:11
Speaker
I'm Joseph Bianchi, a mom to three children, board-certified pediatrician, and a travel lover. If you're raising children with ADHD, autism, anxiety, or other behavioral differences, and the idea of travel feels both exciting and overwhelming, this podcast is for you.
3-2-1 Travel Plan: Places, Food, and Tips
00:00:28
Speaker
Each week, using an easy-to-follow, 3-2-1 plan, three places, two food options, and one great tip for families, we'll talk about real-life experiences of traveling with kids who don't fit the typical mold.
00:00:40
Speaker
Most episodes will follow this format, but we'll also sprinkle in some listener stories, deeper dives into specific challenges, and interviews. From meltdowns at airport security to the beauty of a breakthrough moment in the middle of a museum, we're covering it all.
00:00:54
Speaker
Chaos, joy, and the learning that comes with it. Disclaimer, this podcast is for general information, educational purposes only and is not to be considered medical advice for any patient.
00:01:06
Speaker
In this podcast, we will discuss tips and tools for planning sensory-friendly and flexible trips, how to manage behavioral challenges on the go, choosing destinations that support neurodiverse families, and stories from other parents who've been there too.
00:01:19
Speaker
This podcast isn't about perfection. It's about adapting, adjusting, and finding what works for your family. Because travel can be meaningful, empowering, and even fun when we stop comparing and start connecting.
Empowerment Through Travel
00:01:32
Speaker
Whether you're planning your first road trip or you're already seasoned family travelers, Family Travel that supports ADHD, autism, and anxiety is here to help you feel seen, supported, and maybe even inspired to book that next adventure.
00:01:46
Speaker
Because around here, we truly believe in wandering without limits. So grab your crew, your luggage, and your love of adventure, and let's hit the road together.
Exploring Philadelphia: A Neurodivergent-Friendly Destination
00:01:55
Speaker
Hey, so today we're heading to one of my favorite places, my husband's hometown in a city our family visits often, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
00:02:04
Speaker
Philadelphia is famously known as the city of brotherly love, but let's be honest, it's also the city of big feelings, strong opinions, and doing things your own way, which honestly makes it a pretty great match for a family like ours and maybe yours too.
00:02:18
Speaker
This is a city where history lives right next door to playgrounds. People are direct, passionate, and unapologetically themselves, and no one blinks if your kid's melting down, wearing headphones, or loudly narrating their entire travel experience.
00:02:31
Speaker
Philly is walkable, which is really nice. It's packed with hands-on museums and full of places where kids are encouraged to touch, move, explore, and ask questions. All things that work beautifully for neurodivergent kids and families like ours.
00:02:44
Speaker
In future episodes, we'll explore some great day trips around Philadelphia, but today's episode is all about keeping things manageable and enjoyable in the city itself. One of our favorite sayings here on the show is, don't leave fun for fun.
00:02:58
Speaker
Translation, take it easy, enjoy the moment, don't try and do it all. And this is really a city where that applies. Philadelphia is a big city. There are endless options, but the magic happens when you slow down, focus, and meet your kids where they are on that day.
00:03:13
Speaker
For this episode, we're to sticking with our simple 3-2-1 format. Three places, the Philadelphia Zoo, the Please Touch Museum, the Franklin Institute, two food spots that work well for families, and one bonus tip place that helps everyone burn off a little bit of energy.
00:03:30
Speaker
Okay, so let's get started. We're going to start with the Philadelphia Zoo. This is the very first zoo in America and home to more than 1,900 animals. It's a big zoo, so expectations really matter here.
00:03:42
Speaker
You don't need to see everything to have a great visit. Some good things to know is that parking is about $20. It is free if you're a member. If you have a Philadelphia City Pass or Go City, they also offer some discounts.
00:03:54
Speaker
The zoo is a culture city sensory inclusive certified venue. So there are quiet zones. There are headphone friendly areas. There are also are sensory bags available zoo membership and mobility rental areas.
00:04:08
Speaker
So that's like where you get your stroller and, you know, scooter or whatever you need for mobility situations. Our family's approach is we plan the night before. We get our tickets online. We use the zoo map right on the website.
00:04:22
Speaker
Everyone gets to pick two must-see things, and then we build our visit around those things. um Kind of map it out to see where to go first and look at the map of the zoo with what the kids want to do to sort of figure out the most streamlined way to approach things.
00:04:37
Speaker
Fan favorites in our house include the reptile area, the big cats, and the petting zoo. And don't skip the play area. We love it. It's a perfect spot for a snack or a lunch break, a brain break, and just a chance to get some physical energy out between exhibits if everyone needs to like take five minutes to just have a brain break and take some energy out.
Sensory-Friendly Attractions for Children
00:04:59
Speaker
Next on our list is the Please Touch Museum, classic Philly stop for younger kids in particular. A few things to know going into this is that it's large, it's spread over multiple floors, and it can feel overwhelming, especially if you have multiple kids or anyone in your group who's a runner.
00:05:16
Speaker
This is a place where a person-to-person defense really helps. If you're looking for something smaller, a little bit more manageable for your group, the Bucks County Children's Museum may be a better fit.
00:05:27
Speaker
We're going to cover that in a future episode when we talk about Philadelphia day trips. You will need a car to go to that museum. It's also one that our family loves and we will cover later.
00:05:38
Speaker
But back to the Please Touch Museum. Again, mapping it out ahead of time makes all the difference. Pick two to three key areas ahead of time and let go of the rest. They also offer play without boundaries here. This is a sensory-friendly morning experience.
00:05:52
Speaker
Just note you need to pre-register for this event. You need to arrive on time for it. And you really want to check the calendar to see when it's going to fall because it's not offered all the time.
00:06:03
Speaker
Two big rules here at the show. Don't try and do too much. Don't leave fun for fun. Definitely applies at this at this museum as well. Our favorite exhibits are the shopping area sponsored by Giant, the Alice in Wonderland themed area, the water play area, which I highly suggest bringing extra clothes for if you can. And there are several other exhibits that are sort of rotating that you can check out on their website ahead of time to see if it works for your family and you want to build that into the schedule.
00:06:33
Speaker
Our next stop in Philadelphia is the Franklin Institute. It's a fantastic option, especially for school-age kids. So where I think Please Touch is a little bit more geared towards the younger crew, maybe toddlers, preschool, kids that are in kindergarten up to about age eight or nine.
00:06:49
Speaker
i think the Franklin Institute is nice for school-age kids, but there's something for everyone here. What to know that the exhibits rotate, so check what's available before you go. There's paid self-parking.
00:07:01
Speaker
available in the museum garage. It's located on North 20th Street. Buying tickets ahead of time is best. This is another spot where previewing exhibits and choosing two to three areas of focus can really prevent overload and make the day go smoother.
00:07:15
Speaker
The museum is highly interactive. And the sports-focused exhibits are a hit with many kids, especially if you have kids that are a little bit more physical, need to take out some energy, looking for brain breaks. That's a great fit.
00:07:27
Speaker
They also offer sensory backpacks at this location as well. You can get them at the ticketing deck. And one feature that we really appreciate in our family is that if things feel too crowded, too noisy, someone's just not having a great day, you can leave within 30 minutes of arriving and come back during another day on your trip.
00:07:47
Speaker
And I think that's a really great pressure to reliever for families, especially that may not have everyone in their group being neurotypical. And maybe it's just not working out that day, no matter what's going on with your kids.
Diverse Dining Options in Philadelphia
00:08:00
Speaker
Okay, so the three places that we visited on our trip to Philadelphia were the Please Touch Museum, the Philadelphia Zoo, and the Franklin Institute. Now we're going to move on to food. Always a fan favorite here at the show.
00:08:12
Speaker
Family-friendly options. I picked two. There's so many options in Philadelphia. It's definitely a foodie city. But the two that I picked, I think, work well for families that may have dietary issues, gluten-free needs, or just want a little bit of variety and some healthy choices.
00:08:29
Speaker
The first is the Be Well Bakery and Cafe. There's two locations. One is in the Huntington Valley and one's in Richborough. It's a go-to option for families managing food allergies, gluten-free needs, and there's many healthy options on the kids' menu.
00:08:44
Speaker
They're very mindful about their ingredients. Kids love the chalkboard sign, and it's just very informal and a good place to go with families. The Reading Terminal Market is also another great place to check out. It's a historical indoor farmer's market.
00:08:59
Speaker
It's a Philly classic and also a fun cultural experience, so you're kind of hitting two things here. You're getting something to eat, you're trying some different foods, but you're also seeing like one of the sites that Philly has to offer. So you're getting a taste of Philly while also tasting some great food.
00:09:15
Speaker
um One of the reasons we really like it is there's lots of different food options. If you have picky kids, if you have snackers, you have someone that might be hard to pick for, there's just lots of great options.
00:09:26
Speaker
There's also plenty of dietary choices, including gluten-free options. That said, it can be loud and overwhelming, especially on a busy weekend. So if noise or too many choices can be a challenge for your group, this may not be the best fit for your family. And that's also okay.
00:09:41
Speaker
Okay, now that we've talked about our three places to go, two food places, we're going to go through or bonus tip.
Indoor Activities for Young Children
00:09:49
Speaker
Our bonus tip for the Philadelphia episode is a place called We Rock the Spectrum.
00:09:54
Speaker
This is an extra place to check out. It's located in Northeast Philadelphia. There's also additional locations in New Jersey, about 30 minutes from Center City. there's We rock the spectrums all over the country, but personally, we don't have one in our area, and a lot of families don't have one local to them. So if you're in Philadelphia, don't have one near you, this is a great place to check out.
00:10:16
Speaker
It's really geared towards kids that are about toddler age till up about seven or eight. It's a very inclusive space that has an indoor gym, and it's a fantastic place to get out energy, regulate bodies, and let kids move around freely, especially if you're getting a rainy, snowy day in Philadelphia.
00:10:33
Speaker
Our kids love the indoor zip line, and my daughter especially loves the dramatic play kitchen area. I think there's something for everyone here, and everyone is very understanding about the way that your kids play or interact in the space. So it's really a great fit for our family. We love it, and especially on a rainy day, it's a good place to take out some energy.
Conclusion and Listener Engagement
00:10:55
Speaker
So wrapping up for the day, we covered our 3-2-1 pattern that we do here on the show where we do three places, two great places to eat, and one awesome tip for family.
00:11:07
Speaker
Travel doesn't have to look like anyone else's version to be meaningful. Meet your family where they are and keep wandering without limits. You guys got this. We'd love to hear from you, suggestions, feedback, any places you'd like us to cover here on the show. And if this content resonates with you or another parent, please follow, share the show, or subscribe and spread the word. We'll see you next time.