Philadelphia Places of Interest
Betsy Ross House
Betsy Ross is the seamstress believed to have sewn the first American flag. While no written proof exists, oral history points to the belief that in 1777, George Washington, Robert Morris and George Ross visited Betsy Ross, a furniture upholsterer, bringing with them a sketch of a 13-star flag. Today, visitors can explore the home Ross occupied from 1773 to 1785, located just blocks away from Independence Hall. Guests tour the landmark’s seven period rooms, including a kitchen, bedrooms, parlor and the only interpretation of an 18th century upholstery shop in the country. The house is furnished with 18th century reproductions and Ross family heirlooms, including Betsy’s eyeglasses, quilted petticoat and Bible. The home’s courtyard, a favorite gathering place during the summer months, is also the site of storytellers and colonial crafters at work. Betsy Ross is buried between the giant trees that line the courtyard.
The Betsy Ross House is open daily, April to October, from 10 AM to 5 PM but closed Monday, October to March. Admission is $2 for children ages 12 and under and $3 for adults. A 25-minute audio tour is available for $5 per person. For more information: 215-686-1252
Independence Hall
Constructed between 1732 and 1756 to serve as the State House of the Province of Pennsylvania, Independence Hall is the site of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the drafting of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. Today’s guided tours of Independence Hall include its courtroom and Assembly Room, which features the original “rising sun” chair that George Washington used as he presided over the Constitutional Convention. The West Wing is home to the original inkstand used to sign the Declaration, as well as an original draft of the Constitution. Independence Hall’s Georgian architecture has been restored to its original late 18th century appearance and the majority of its furnishings are period pieces.
Independence Hall is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM. Admission is free. Visitors must pick up their free timed tour tickets, available the morning of their visit, at the Independence Visitor Center, located adjacent to Independence Hall; these tickets are required March to December and are used to eliminate long waits. Tickets tend to be gone by 1 PM, so visitors should plan on picking them up as early as possible. The Independence Visitors Center opens at 8:30 AM. Each visitor can take up to 10 tickets for a family and up to 80 tickets for a group. Timed tour tickets can also be reserved online up to one year in advance for just $1.50 per ticket. Independence Hall is accessible by public transportation and parking is available at the visitor center’s underground lots. For more information: 215-965-2305
Liberty Bell Center
A Philadelphia mainstay since 1915, the famed Liberty Bell is located adjacent to Independence Hall. Housed in the newly-renovated Liberty Bell Center, the bell hangs from what is believed to be its original yoke, which is made from American elm. The Liberty Bell Center features a short film, which tells the history of the bell and both its traditional and modern role as a symbol of freedom. The Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly ordered for the original bell, cast in London in 1751, for the Pennsylvania State House. Soon after its arrival, the bell cracked upon its first ringing, and a new bell was cast in 1753. There is no confirmed date on when the current bell cracked, but it has not been rung since George Washington’s birthday in 1846. Weighing about 2,000 pounds, the Liberty Bell is made largely of copper and tin, but contains traces of lead, zinc, arsenic, gold and silver.
The Liberty Bell Center is open daily from 9 AM to 5 PM and to 6 PM in the summer. No tickets are required and admission is free. Private events may be held at the Liberty Bell Center with the approval of the Independence National Historical Park and National Park Service. The Liberty Bell Center is accessible by public transportation and parking is available at the visitor center’s underground lots. For more information: 215-965-2305
National Constitution Center
Philadelphia’s 160,000-square-foot National Constitution Center is dedicated to increasing the public understanding of and appreciation for the U.S. Constitution and its contemporary relevance. Numerous high-tech exhibits, artifacts and interactive displays tell the story of the Constitution. The Signers’ Hall is made up of 42 life-size bronze statues of the Constitution’s 39 signers and three dissenters, while the star-shaped Kimmel Theater is home to the Freedom Rising story, told through live acting and multi-media images. The center’s Freedom Exhibit Gallery features changing exhibits that focus on such icons and topics as Abraham Lincoln, Benjamin Franklin and the First Ladies. Visitors can also dine at the center’s Delegates Restaurant, a 225-seat glass-enclosed restaurant that overlooks Independence Mall. The National Constitution Center offers a variety of spaces for private events, including the Grand Hall Overlook, which can accommodate up to 600 people and offers a fantastic view of Independence Hall.
The center is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 AM to 5 PM, Saturday from 9:30 AM to 6 PM and Sunday from 12 to 5 PM. Admission is $8 for children ages 4-12 and $12 for adults. Admission for children under age 4 is free. Parking is available in the center’s underground lots at a rate of $7 for one hour, $9 for three hours and a maximum rate of $17, while the Market-Frankford subway stop is located just one block away. For more information: 215-409-6700
Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art’s impressive collection, ranging from Renaissance to modern art, spread out among its 200 galleries makes it the 3rd largest art museum in the United States. The museum is also home to more than 80 period rooms, including a medieval hall, Indian temple, Japanese ceremonial tea house and portal from the Abbey Church of Saint-Laurent. The museum’s presidential china collection includes pieces designed for and used by presidents from George Washington to Ronald Reagan. Each year nearly one million people visit the museum, known as cultural masterpiece and commonly recognized for its appearance in Rocky, when star actor Sylvester Stallone ran up its front steps. The Rocky bronze statue, commemorating the movie, is located outside of the museum. Visitors can enjoy fine dining daily at the Museum Restaurant and three cafes, including the popular champagne brunch buffet served Sunday from 11 AM to 3:30 PM. The Philadelphia Museum of Art can also be booked for private functions.
The Philadelphia Art Museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM, and Friday to 8:45 PM, when the Great Stair Hall is transformed for Art After 5 live jazz performances, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. Museum admission, which includes several guided tours, is $10 for children ages 13-18 and $14 for adults. Admission for children under 12 is free. Sunday admission is by donation. Parking is available around the museum perimeter for $5 and the museum is accessible by public transportation. For more information: 215-763-8100
Philadelphia Entertainment
Italian Market
Spanning 10 blocks along Ninth Street in South Philadelphia, the Italian Market is one of the largest open-air markets in the United States. Operating for more than 100 years, the market is home to over 100 vendors specializing in fresh produce, fish, cheese, pasta, coffee, tea, meat, spices and baked goods. While the market has a strong Italian heritage, it also offers extensive Mexican, Vietnamese, Korean, Thai and Chinese fare. The Italian Market is also home to Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks, the most famous cheesesteak purveyors in the city. Both Pat’s and Geno’s are located at the intersection of Ninth Street and Passyunk Avenue and are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Visitors should expect long but fast-moving lines when waiting for a world-famous Philly cheesesteak. Pat’s and Geno’s staff frowns on ordering delays, so visitors should know their order well before they get to the front of the line. The Italian Market is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 AM to 5 PM and Sunday from 9 AM to 2 PM. Several public parking lots are located along Ninth Street.
Reading Terminal Market
Established in 1892, the Reading Terminal Market is the nation’s oldest continuously operating farmers’ market. Located on the ground floor of the Pennsylvania Convention Center
Pennsylvania Convention Center, the market has more than 80 unique merchants offering fresh fare, exotic flowers, handmade crafts and everything in between. In fact, two of the current merchants are descendants of original merchants from the first market that took place over one hundred years ago. At sit-down eateries located throughout the market, shoppers can enjoy almost every type of cuisine, including Middle Eastern cuisine, soul food, organic vegetarian selections and traditional Pennsylvania Dutch fare. Markets have been an important part of Philadelphia culture since the late 17th century and remain so today. More than 100,000 people visit the Reading Terminal Market each year. The market is open Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 6 PM and Sunday from 9 AM to 4 PM. Garage parking is available and can be validated.
For more information: 215-922-2317
Rittenhouse Row
Chic and stylish, Rittenhouse Row is the place to go for luxury shopping and dining in Philadelphia. Rittenhouse Row stretches from the Avenue of the Arts (Broad Street) to 21st Street between Spruce and Market streets and is home to more than 200 restaurants, shops, art galleries, salons and boutiques. Rittenhouse Square has been the city’s most fashionable residential neighborhood since the second half of the 19th century. Today, its elegant homes and modern high-rises are a stunning backdrop for haute couture shopping. The neighborhood is also home to an extensive collection of whimsical outdoor statues.
South Street
Philadelphia’s South Street is a vibrant Bohemian locale that attracts both visitors and Philadelphia residents alike. Guests should expect to mingle with a diverse mix of both teenagers and adults, making South Street an ideal people-watching locale that is always busy, no matter the time of day. Located between Front Street and Seventh Street in Center City, South Street was the centerpiece of live local music in the 60s and 70s. Today, it is one of Philadelphia’s most popular tourist destinations, home to more than 300 shops and 60 ethnic restaurants and bars. South Street’s Fabric Row is a hub for Philadelphia textile businesses and shoppers, featuring numerous fabric, home furnishings and clothing shops.
Philadelphia Restaurants
Cuba Libre
Cuba Libre, located in Philadelphia’s Old City neighborhood, not only features delicious authentic Cuban fare, but also offers the largest selection of rum in the city. Serving up contemporary interpretations of traditional Cuban cuisine, Cuba Libre spans two floors reminiscent of mid-1940s Old Havana. The restaurant’s warm mahogany and oak, cracked tile, painted plaster, exposed concrete and brick, courtyard and exotic tropic foliage creates a lively, inviting atmosphere. Its 30-foot-tall ceiling dotted with paddle fans provides the final authentic Cuban touch. Menu favorites include the “fire and ice ceviche” of sushi-grade tuna, coconut milk, jalapeno and ginger sauce and red onion escabeche, as well as guava barbecue ribs and “suntanned Chilean salmon,” served with honey-mango glaze, giant yucca couscous, summer squash, wilted greens and star anise tomato sauce. Cuba Libre features more than 75 premium and flavored rums, including its own Cuba Libre Premium Brand. Exotic mojito flavors include passion fruit, cherry and pineapple. The restaurants batidos, or Cuban milkshakes, made with fresh fruit including banana, coconut and mango, can be served with or without rum. Cuba Libre also features weekend salsa dancing and live entertainment. Group accommodations are available for 20 or more guests.
Cuba Libre serves lunch Monday through Friday from 11:30 AM to 3 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM to 2:30 PM and dinner daily from 4 to 11 PM. Late dining is available Friday and Saturday from 11 PM to 2 AM. Lunch entrees range from $13 to $19 and dinner entrees range from $18 to $32. For more information: 215-627-0666
Le Bec-Fin
Perhaps the most well-known restaurant in Philadelphia, Le Bec-Fin specializes in fine French cuisine. A long-standing recipient of the renowned Mobil Five Star and AAA Five Diamond awards, Center City’s Le Bec-Fin has been a Philadelphia landmark since 1970. The restaurant’s recently remodeled interior is graced with regal chandeliers, rich gold and red tones and dark woods, all reminiscent of a 19th century Parisian dining salon. Menu selections include escargot persillade with almonds, roasted bell peppers and capers, English pea risotto with sage emulsion, roasted organic duck with white asparagus and plum fricassee, as well as grilled hamachi with dried mulberries, onion compote and balsamic vinegar and champagne emulsion. Le Bec-Fin’s famed double-tiered dessert cart features more than 25 delicious treats, including the Le Caradou, a caramel and chocolate mousse layered between hazelnut daquoise discs, and the signature Gâteau Le Bec-Fin, which consists of layers of chocolate genoise soaked in rum and chocolate mousse and then topped with chocolate fans. Le Bec-Fin’s private mezzanine Garden Room can seat 15 to 30 guests, while the semi-secluded entrance to the main dining room can seat up to 20 guests.
Le Bec-Fin is open Monday through Thursday from 6 to 9 PM and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM and 6 to 9:30 PM. Dinner entrees range from $19 to $72. Reservations are strongly recommended. For more information: 215-567-1000
Morimoto
One of Philadelphia’s most upscale dining establishments, Morimoto is owned by famed Iron Chef Masaharu Morimoto. Located just one block from Independence Hall in the Historic District, the award-winning Morimoto serves cutting-edge, contemporary Japanese fare. The restaurant’s chic interior blends traditional Japanese design with modern geometric booths, glass dividers, dark bamboo floors and a curvy ceiling that soars up to 22 feet high. The restaurant’s raw bar serves Bumamoto oysters, Blue Point oysters, king crab and osetra caviar, while entrees include Arctic char, Ishi Yaki kobe on rice prepared tableside, as well as seafood Toban Yaki with king crab, shrimp, scallops, New Zealand mussels, baby bok choy and yuzu butter. Morimoto offers full sake and wine menus and specialty drinks including the cilantro gimlet and pomegranate lemonade. Morimoto’s private, candlelit room seats up to 15 guests. Morimoto serves lunch Monday through Saturday from 11:30 AM to 2 PM and dinner Monday through Thursday from 5 to 11 PM, Friday and Saturday from 5 PM to midnight and Sunday from 4 to 10 PM. Reservations are strongly recommended.
For more information: 215-413-9070
Moshulu
Moshulu offers the closest waterfront dining possible, as the restaurant is located on the world’s largest four-mastered sailing ship, permanently docked at Philadelphia’s Penn’s Landing. The ship was once a floating warehouse, as well as a passenger ship, and made voyages across the Pacific to Australia and the Philippines during World War I. Operating as a restaurant since 2003, Moshulu features contemporary American fare with an exotic twist. The restaurant’s interior resembles a South Seas vacation destination, complete with exotic plants and tropical colors throughout its main dining room, two private rooms, captain’s table and multi-level Bongo Bar and Deck, which offers unparalleled views of the waterfront and cityscape. Menu favorites include Long Island duck breast with a Grand Marnier reduction, a scallop BLT and a New England clam chowder emulsion. Dessert selections include the delicious marscapone cheesecake and roasted pear strudel with champagne sorbet. Moshulu can accommodate private parties of 10 to 2,500 guests among its private rooms and outdoor decks, and offers wi-fi capability for business functions.
Moshulu serves lunch daily from 11:30 AM to 3 PM and dinner Monday through Saturday from 5:30 to 10:30 PM and Sunday from 5 to 9 PM. Moshulu serves brunch Sunday from 11 AM to 3 PM. Lunch entrees range from $16 to $20 and dinner entrees range from $27 to $39. For more information: 215-923-2500
Pod
The wildly futuristic, sleek restaurant Pod is known for its one-of-a-kind seating and sumptuous Pan-Asian dim sum and sushi. The 160-seat restaurant, located in the University City district, features all-white decor, including acrylic tables and foam chairs on a concrete floor. The restaurant is named after its dining “pods,” or wrap-around white upholstered banquettes for parties of six, eight and 12 people. Once inside their dining pod, guests can choose from nine colors to illuminate their private dining space. Pod also offers a 16-seat communal table and 34-seat counter at the sushi conveyer belt bar. Menu favorites include spicy tempura shrimp with grilled pineapple and candied walnuts, wasabi-crusted filet mignon, macadamia chicken stir-fry and crab fried rice, and signature cocktails include a sake mojito, Pod green appletini and guava margarita. Pod’s 44-seat private pod-shaped room enclosed by a curtain of pink and clear plastic tubes and its 50-seat bar and lounge area are available for group accommodations. Pod is open Monday through Thursday from 11:30 AM to 11 PM, Friday from 11:30 to 12 AM, Saturday from 5 PM to 12 AM and Sunday from 5 to 10 PM. Reservations for pod-seating are recommended.
For more information: 215-387-1803
Philadelphia Nightlife
32°
The stylish 32° lounge, located in the Philadelphia nightspot of Old City, has enjoyed an extensive celebrity following since its 2002 opening. Its DJ-spun, high-energy music, premium cocktails and bottle service, vintage champagnes and rare cognacs make 32° the place to see and be seen. Decorated in deep reds and dark woods, with tucked-away booths and supple leather seating, the lounge is anything but ordinary, and, true to its name, the drinks are served in glasses made of ice. 32° is open Thursday through Saturday from 9 PM to 2 AM. Dress is fashionable.
For more information: 215-627-3132
Continental
Since its 1995 opening, the Continental Restaurant and Martini Bar has been a mainstay in Philadelphia’s fashion-forward Old City neighborhood. In fact, it is the city’s first martini bar and the place to be seen to this day. The Continental’s hip atmosphere is complemented by its extensive specialty martini menu and global tapas selections. A restored stainless steel 1960s-themed diner accented with punches of yellow, the Continental is easily recognizable by its oversized olive-shaped halogen lamps pierced with huge toothpicks. All martinis, in flavors such as mojito, white chocolate Arctic melo and espresso, are served in personal shakers. The Continental also features an impressive international beer selection. An extensive selection of tapas, including shrimp and crab Thai curry noodles, lobster mashed potatoes and cheesesteak eggrolls, pair well with its signature cocktails. The bar is open daily until 2 AM.
For more information: 215-923-6069
Denim
Nestled in Philadelphia’s upscale Rittenhouse Square neighborhood, the popular Denim lounge is a posh, upscale locale known for its designer crowd. Patrons take a denim-upholstered elevator to the second-story lounge, location of the metallic fringed bar with electric blue panels and private VIP rooms swathed in deep reds and blues. Denim’s DJs spin diverse music tracks, ranging from Latin, swing, big band, lounge, 80s, old-school hip hop and trip hop, often all in the same evening. Denim features Nuevo Latino/Asian tapas, including red snapper ceviche with grape tomatoes and garlic, as well as scallops with togarosh-lime-burre blanc sauce with sweet sticky rice. Denim is open Thursday through Saturday from 9 PM to 3 AM. Guests should expect to pay up to $15 for a martini, Denim’s drink of choice. All tables are bottle service only after 10 PM. Dress is fashionable, though jeans are permitted.
For more information: 215-735-6700
Devil’s Alley
An ideal spot for happy hour, Devil’s Alley in Rittenhouse Square is a narrow, cement-walled space that does indeed resemble an alley. Lit by glowing red lamps, the bar’s sleek, dark atmosphere is accented by hanging plants and an open-air balcony overlooking busy Chestnut Street. Devil’s Alley specializes in regularly-changing local microbrews, extensive wine selections, specialty cocktails with names such as Mischief Night and Diabolique. Its hearty barbeque selections include burgers, ribs, wings and the popular grilled bread pudding of shiitake, spinach and gruyere cheese. The renowned Devil Alley’s happy hour offers $2 Yuengling drafts, $3 house wines, $4 well drinks and $5 and under appetizers Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 PM.
For more information: 215-751-0707
Family Activities in Philadelphia
Adventure Aquarium
Located fewer than one mile away from Center City Philadelphia in New Jersey, the Adventure Aquarium features 200,000 square feet of marine and wildlife exhibits. The aquarium opened in 2005 after a massive $53 million renovation and expansion of the original New Jersey State Aquarium. Jaw-dropping exhibits include the West African River Experience, where guests can come face-to-face with crocodiles and hippos, as well as Shark Realm, a 40-foot-long tunnel located underneath a 550,000-gallon shark tank. The aquarium’s Irazu Falls is a massive rainforest waterfall that drops two stories into a freshwater pool filled with Amazon fish. Penguin Island is home to 20 African penguins. The kid-friendly Interactive Inlet lets guests touch shrimp, jellyfish, freshwater stingrays and lobsters, while the Touch-a-Shark tank features Pacific brown-banded, white-spotted bamboo and smooth dogfish sharks.
The aquarium is open daily from 9:30 AM to 5 PM. Admission is $14.95 for children ages 2-12 and $17.95 for adults. Admission for children under 2 is free. Parking is available adjacent to the aquarium. For more information: 866-451-2782
The Franklin Institute Science Museum
Philadelphia’s Franklin Institute Science Museum is Pennsylvania’s most-visited museum. Its innovative, hands-on exhibits captivate kids and adults alike. Visitor favorites include the Great Heart, a 5,000-square-foot giant walk-through heart that details heart anatomy and physiology among its winding paths and stairwells. The Space Command exhibit is an impressive simulated space research station with an 8-foot-tall telescope and authentic spacesuits, while the 5,500-square-foot sports Challenge stadium – complete with Astroturf and a jumbotron screen – explains the science behind athletics with virtual reality games and attractions. The Franklin Institute also features a fully-equipped weather station, exhibits on electricity and a hall dedicated to Benjamin Franklin himself.
The museum’s Tuttleman IMAX Theater is a movie experience unlike any other. Guests can watch films on the 70-foot-wide, 180-degree domed screen that is four-and-a-half-stories tall, backed by 50 high-quality speakers. The Fels Planetarium, constructed in 1933, is the country’s 2nd oldest planetarium, attracting more than nine million visitors each year. The planetarium features a 60-foot diameter dome and remarkable surround sound. The Franklin Institute can be reserved for private parties.
The Franklin Institute is open daily from 9:30 AM to 5 PM. The IMAX theater is open Sunday through Thursday from 10 AM to 6 PM and Friday and Saturday from 10 AM to 9 PM. Base admission, which includes access to all exhibits, is $11.50 for children ages 4-11 and $14.25 for adults. Admission for children under 3 is free. Tickets for an IMAX show are $9 per person. Combination ticket packages are available. Public parking is available adjacent to the museum. For more information: 215-448-1200
The Philadelphia Zoo
The first zoo chartered in the United States, the Philadelphia Zoo has delighted guests since its 1859 opening – in fact, more than 1.1 million people visit the zoo each year. Located just two miles from Center City in Fairmount Park, the 42-acre zoo is home to more than 1,600 animals and 500 plant species. The zoo features several animal habitats, including African Plains, Bear Country, Monkey Junction and Tortoise Trail. The new Big Cat Falls exhibit, which brings guests face-to-face with 16 endangered big cats including pumas, tigers, snow leopards and jaguars, is a visitor favorite. Philadelphia Zoo also features numerous rides and interactive attractions, including camel rides, pony rides and the ever-popular Channel 6 Zooballoon experience, where up to 30 guests at a time are lifted up to 400 feet above ground in the gondola of a helium-filled, tethered-to-the-ground balloon. The Philadelphia Zoo grounds and facilities are available for private event rentals.
Philadelphia Zoo is open daily, March to November, from 9:30 AM to 5 PM. It is open daily, December to February, from 9:30 AM to 4 PM. Camel Rides run April to October. March to November admission is $14.95 for children ages 2-11 and $17.95 for adults. Winter admission is $12.95 for children and adults. Admission for children under 2 is free year-round. The zoo offers plenty of on-site parking and is accessible by public transportation. For more information: 215-243-1100
Please Touch Museum
Operating since 1976, the Please Touch Museum is Philadelphia’s award-winning experience designed for kids ages 1 to 7. The museum is dedicated to creating learning opportunities through play. Permanent exhibits feature oversized props and hands-on activities that provide high-energy, engaging interaction, such as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Story Garden, The Supermarket and Move It!, where kids can sail a mini-boat and take the wheel of a real bus. The Please Touch Museum also features daily music, folklore and puppet shows in the museum theater.
The museum is open daily from 9 AM to 4:30 PM. Admission is $10.95 per person. Admission for children under 1 is free. Several parking lots are within walking distance of the museum, as are metered street parking and public transportation stops. For more information: 215-963-0667
Sesame Place
Sesame Place, located just 30 minutes north of Philadelphia, is the country’s only theme park based on the popular children’s show Sesame Street. The 14-acre Sesame Place, geared towards children ages 2 to 13, features an expansive water park, rides and live stage shows. Popular attractions include the kid-friendly Vapor Trail roller coaster, Ernie’s Big Bounce, Cookie Mountain and Sesame Neighborhood, a life-size replica of the show set. Big Bird’s Rambling River, a favorite among kids and adults alike, is a 1,000-foot-long lazy waterway that takes innertube riders past geysers, waterfalls and palm trees with water-filled tipping coconuts. Sesame Place features a sunny day guarantee – if it rains for a continuous hour or more during a visit, guests receive free admission to come back any other day during the current operating season. Sesame Street is open daily, May to October, from 10 AM to 5 PM. Admission is $47.50 per person. Admission for children under 23 months is free.
For more information: 215-752-7070
Recreation and Outdoors in Philadelphia
Fairmount Park
The country’s largest landscaped park, Philadelphia’s 9,200-acre Fairmount Park covers 10 percent of Philadelphia’s land. Fairmount Park is comprised of 63 regional and neighborhood parks and is the perfect locale for relaxing picnics, off-path biking and everything in between. The park features 215 miles of recreation trails, 139 picnic sites, 34 miles of waterways and six golf courses, as well as 368 athletic fields and courts. Visitors can play baseball, softball, soccer, football, rugby, cricket, basketball, tennis, bocce and even disc golf on park grounds. Other Fairmount Park highlights include the 25-mile paved Schuylkill River Trail, as well as the Horticulture Center, which features display gardens, a reflecting pool and butterfly garden. The park is open daily from sunrise to sunset. The gateway to Fairmount Park is found at the John F. Kennedy Plaza, otherwise known as LOVE Park. Located at the intersection of 16th Street and JFK Boulevard, LOVE Park is the home of the world-famous LOVE sculpture.
For more information: 215-685-0096
The Japanese House and Garden (Shofuso)
Shofuso, tucked away in Philadelphia’s West Fairmount Park, is a recreation of a 16th century traditional Japanese house and garden. Made of strong, lightweight hinoki wood with no structural nails, the house consists mostly of removable wood and paper screens that allow a flexible floor plan and optimal views of the beautiful surrounding garden. The house also features a traditional kitchen with wood and dirt floors, as well as a wood-fired cooking stove. Shofuso’s garden is lined with a stepping-stone pathway that winds among Japanese maples and azaleas to a koi-filled pond, bamboo grove and stone pagoda. Visitors can walk across Shokuso’s wooden bridge to find an intimate teahouse designed for three to five guests. Shofuso’s grounds have housed Japanese landscaping since the 1876 Centennial Exposition. Shofuso was built in 1933 and then underwent extensive repairs in 1976 as a gift from the Japanese government in honor the U.S. Bicentennial. Today, guests visit the house and grounds to soak in its tranquil surroundings and unparalleled beauty. Private tours and facility rentals are available.
Shofuso is open Tuesday through Friday, May to October, from 10 AM to 4 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 11 AM to 5 PM. Admission to Shofuso is $6 per person and includes an optional 30-minute tour of the house. For more information: 215-878-5097
Morris Arboretum
The University of Pennsylvania’s Morris Arboretum is a 92-acre Victorian landscape garden that features more than 13,000 labeled plants of 2,500 types. Serving as the official arboretum of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Morris Arboretum represents plants and trees from North America, Asia and Europe and is home to classical English landscape structures and sculpture gardens. Visitor favorites include the formal rose garden and fernery, which is the only Victorian freestanding fernery of its kind in North America. Visitors are encouraged to see the arboretum March to September, as the spring months bring witchazels, winterhazels, magnolias, cherries, crabapples and rhodedendrons, while hydrangeas, butterfly bushes and golden-rain trees flourish from July to September.
The arboretum operates on a seasonal schedule. Grounds are open Monday through Friday, April to October, from 10 AM to 4 PM and Saturday and Sunday from 10 AM to 5 PM. Grounds are open Thursday, June to August, until 8:30 PM. The arboretum is open daily, November through March, from 10 AM to 4 PM. Admission to the Morris Arboretum is $5 for children ages 3-18 and $10 for adults. Guided weekend tours are included in admission price. For more information: 215-247-5777
Philadelphia Tours
The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia
The Constitutional Walking Tour of Philadelphia is a guided tour that takes visitors to 20 sites over a 75-minute, 1.25-mile-long tour. Award-winning tour guides tell the story of Philadelphia at stops such as Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Betsy Ross House, National Constitution Center, Carpenters’ Hall and Franklin Court. Private tours are available with advance reservations. Several daytime tours are offered daily, Memorial Day to Labor Day, and weekends during the spring and fall. Tickets are $12.50 for children ages 3-12 and $17.50 for adults.
For more information: 215-525-1776
Philadelphia in the Movies Tour
Philadelphia is a popular destination for filming major movies and shows, including such blockbusters as The Sixth Sense, Rocky, National Treasure and - of course - Philadelphia. The Philadelphia in the Movies Tour explores 38 sites representing 25 movies and shows that have been filmed in the city. Guests board a luxury bus equipped with large screen TVs to view more than 50 clips filmed at the exact locations visited along the two-and-a-half-hour tour. The Philadelphia in the Movies Tour is also a great way to see various Philadelphia neighborhoods, including Center City, Old City, Queen Village, South Philadelphia, Parkway Museum District and Fairmount Park – all from the comfort of a luxury bus. Filming locations visited include the Italian Market, 30th Street Station, Rittenhouse Square Park, City Hall and St. Augustine’s Church. Private tours are also available.
Tours leave Independence Visitor Center Saturday, June to October, at 10 AM. Tickets are $30 for children under 12 and $35 for adults. Each bus holds 21 passengers. For more information: 215-686-3663
Ride the Ducks
The Ride the Ducks tour is a one-of-a-kind experience that allows guests to tour the historic streets of Philadelphia and cruise along the Delaware River, both on the same vehicle. The Ride the Ducks vehicle functions as both a bus and a boat. Guests hop on the bus at Independence Visitor Center and enjoy an hour-long historic driving tour, driving by such sights as Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Philadelphia Mint, Betsy Ross House and Benjamin Franklin’s grave. The bus then makes its way to Penn’s Landing and slides right into the Delaware River for a 20-minute river cruise. Operating for nearly 30 years, the Ride the Ducks tour is both fun and informative, and has served more than 10 million guests among 500,000 tours.
Tours operate daily, March to November, with several tours leaving from morning through late afternoon. Tickets are $15 for children ages 3-12 and $25 for adults. Tickets for children under 3 are free. Each vehicle holds up to 36 people and reservations are recommended. For more information: 877-887-8225
