Destination Guidebook for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Independence National Historical Park is probably the most popular reason to visit Philadelphia. The park includes not only the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Declaration House but also Franklin Court, Benjamin Franklin's home, where the exhibits offer a view of his life. A city of firsts (first capital of the new nation, first hospital, first zoo, even the first insurance company), Philadelphia and its suburbs are infused with history: historic homes, churches, museums, graveyards and gardens.
It will come as no surprise that Philadelphia, with its proud history, has a number of beautifully restored neighborhoods, including Rittenhouse Square, Washington Square, Old City and Society Hill. Be sure to stroll through at least one of these picturesque sections of town. But the city's history is only one reason to visit. Philadelphia has a wealth of cultural attractions, including a wonderful assortment of museums, with specialties ranging from art to insects to medical artifacts. The city also has Fairmount Park, the country's largest urban landscaped park.
All manner of wildlife is on display at the Philadelphia Zoo, the country's first zoo. Visitors will find more than 2,000 mammals, birds and reptiles housed in natural habitats. The Insectarium has thousands of living and preserved specimens. The Adventure Aquarium, although not in Philadelphia proper, is just a ferry ride across the Delaware River. Kids will love the Academy of Natural Sciences, the natural-history museum, with its "Dinosaurs Galore" exhibit and, on weekends, a chance to "dig" for fossils.
Using CityPass, visitors can get half-price admission to six of the area's most popular cultural and entertainment attractions: the Franklin Institute Science Museum, the Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia Trolley Works, the Academy of Natural Sciences, Independence Seaport Museum and the National Constitution Center. Purchase CityPass at the first attraction you visit or online. It's valid for nine days after the first use. US$47 adults, US$33 children. Toll-free 888-330-5008. http://www.citypass.com.
The Philadelphia Pass offers admission to more than 30 top attractions, discounts up to 20% at 11 restaurants and retailers, one round-trip on the RiverLink ferry, and lots more. Passes are available for one, two, three and five days, and they can be purchased by phone or online. One-day: US$39 adults, US$35 children. Toll-free 888-567-7277. http://www.philadelphiapass.com.
For one of Philly's most entertaining diversions, visit the 13 storytelling benches featured in the Once Upon a Nation program. Betsy Ross liked to spin tales in front of her house on Arch Street (between Second and Third); this enterprising gal not only sewed a flag, she made ammo for Colonial soldiers and knew the best gossip in town. At the bench outside Christ Church (on Second Street between Market and Arch), you might hear stories about brave women who fought the system even in colonial days, and preachers who betrayed the Crown. For bench locations and hours—and to hear a story online—go to http://www.onceuponanation.org. | Historic Sites | Top  |
Legend has it that in 1776, Betsy Ross crafted the first U.S. flag in this now-restored home, furnished with period furniture. Daily 10 am-5 pm; closed Monday October-March except holidays. Suggested contribution of US$3 adults, US$2 children. 239 Arch St. (at Bread Street), Philadelphia. Phone 215-686-1252. http://www.betsyrosshouse.org. You can sit in pews once occupied by George Washington, Ben Franklin and other patriot leaders. The original eight bells, which proclaimed independence from England in 1776, still ring once a week. Open Monday-Saturday 9 am-5 pm, Sunday noon-5 pm. 20 N. American St. (at Church Street), Philadelphia. Phone 215-922-1695. http://www.christchurchphila.org. This is the final resting place of more colonial and Revolutionary War leaders—including Ben Franklin and four other signers of the Declaration of Independence—than any other nonmilitary cemetery in the country. As a nod to Franklin's proverb "a penny saved is a penny earned," you'll find his grave strewn with pennies that people have tossed there for good luck. Open Monday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm, Sunday noon-4 pm (weather permitting). Guided 35-minute tours are available. US$2 adults, includes tour. Arch Street (between Fourth and Fifth streets), Philadelphia. Phone 215-922-1695. http://www.oldchristchurch.org. Built at the geographical center of William Penn's original plan for Philadelphia, this building was nothing short of a masterpiece when it was completed in 1901. From the six-story spiral staircases to the immense chandeliers that illuminate the mosaic floors, it remains the largest city hall in the country, with nearly 700 rooms. The exterior is also rich with sculptures by Alexander Milne Calder, including the monumental statue of Penn that stands on top. The building affords a terrific view of the city. An elevator makes the ascent to the top of the tower every 15 minutes Monday-Friday 9:30 am-4:15 pm. Tours of the interior are available Monday-Friday at 12:30 pm. Tours are free, but donations are accepted. Broad and Market streets, Philadelphia. Phone 215-686-2840. Resembling a medieval castle, this prison opened in 1829 as a state-of-the-art penitentiary. Its hub-and-spoke floor plan was designed to minimize contact among prisoners. Well-known "guests" included Al Capone and bank robber Willie Sutton. Closed in 1970, it reopened for guided tours in the mid-1990s. During the fall, a popular Haunted House tour is available in the evening. Open Wednesday-Sunday 10 am-5 pm. Closed December-March. US$9 adults, US$4 children ages 7-12 (children younger than 7 not admitted). 22nd Street at Fairmont Avenue, Philadelphia. Phone 215-236-3300. http://www.easternstate.org. The oldest continuously residential street in the U.S., Elfreth's Alley celebrated its tercentenary in 2002. This small block offers a charming stroll past 33 tiny row houses built in the early 18th century by blacksmith Jeremiah Elfreth. Originally occupied by artisans and seamen, many today are private homes. The alley is also celebrated for its art galleries. Stop by the Mantua Maker's Museum House at No. 26 to see artifacts and exhibits that chronicle the street's past. Open Monday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday noon-5 pm; closed Monday-Wednesday November-March. US$5 adults, US$1 children. Second Street (between Arch and Race streets), Philadelphia. Phone 215-574-0560. http://www.elfrethsalley.org. Twelve historic landmarks are located within and around this 1-sq-mi/1.5-sq-km area. Because it's a national park, most of the guides are park rangers. It's a lot to take in; give yourself at least an afternoon to see it all. Begin your visit at the Visitor Center for tickets to tours, maps and advice. Daily 8:30 am-6 pm. All sites are free, but timed tickets are necessary to visit Independence Hall. From Race to Walnut streets (Visitor Center is at Sixth and Market streets), Philadelphia. Phone 215-965-2305. Toll-free 800-537-7676 for the Visitor Center. http://www.independencevisitorcenter.com. Built in 1773 by the Carpenters' Company, this rather small brick building was the meeting place of the First Continental Congress, where grievances against King George III were heavily debated. Among those in attendance were George Washington, John Adams, Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry (Benjamin Franklin was out of town). Visitors still can see eight lovely Windsor chairs that the delegates used. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-4 pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday January and February. Free. 320 Chestnut St. (between Third and Fourth streets), Philadelphia. Phone 215-925-0167. http://www.carpentershall.org. This is where the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives met 1790-1800, when Philadelphia was the nation's capital. The recently restored Senate (Upper House) is filled with the seals of the original states. There are also portraits of Marie Antoinette and Louis XVI, gifts from the French government. The House of Representatives (Lower House) is where John Adams was inaugurated in 1797. Open daily, but hours vary by season. Chestnut Street at Sixth Street, Philadelphia. Phone 215-965-2305. http://www.nps.gov/inde. Also known as Graff House, this is where Thomas Jefferson, the Virginia delegate to the Second Continental Congress, rented a room and began drafting the Declaration of Independence. See the 10-minute film, Portrait of a Patriot, that chronicles Jefferson's involvement (screened upon request). Daily noon-2 pm, but call ahead for hours since they vary by season. 701 Market St. (at Seventh Street), Philadelphia. Phone 215-597-8974. http://www.nps.gov/inde. A steel "ghost structure" outlines the spot where Ben Franklin's house once stood. There's also an 18th-century printing office and an operating post office. Underground is a museum with displays, interactive exhibits and an excellent film that highlights Franklin's many careers and contributions. You can see some of his widely diverse inventions and browse his pithy comments about almost any subject. You can also pick up a phone to listen to what John Adams, Harry Truman and other historic figures had to say about Franklin. Daily 9 am-5 pm. Free. 318 Market St. (between Third and Fourth streets), Philadelphia. Phone 215-597-8974. http://www.nps.gov/inde. This hall is where the Declaration of Independence was adopted and much of the U.S. Constitution written. You'll feel that you're in the presence of George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin and other delegates from the 13 original states when you tour these halls and meeting rooms. You can also see an original draft of the Constitution in the West Wing, as well as the original inkstand used for signing it. Open year-round, but hours vary by season. Free, but timed tickets are required. Starting at 8:30 am, same-day tickets are available at the Visitor Center at Sixth and Market streets. Chestnut Street (between Fifth and Sixth streets), Philadelphia. Phone 215-965-2305. http://www.nps.gov/inde. Start in the circular theater to see Freedom Rising—a show depicting U.S. history that is played every 15 minutes. From there, go to the exhibit hall where you can step into voting booths to vote for your all-time favorite president, take the Presidential Oath of Office, try on a Supreme Court robe and even see a pair of Franklin Delano Roosevelt's leg braces. Open Monday-Friday 9:30 am-5 pm, Saturday 9:30 am-6 pm, Sunday noon-5 pm. US$12 adults, US$8 children. 525 Arch St. (between Fifth and Sixth streets), Philadelphia. Phone 215-923-0004. http://www.constitutioncenter.org. The U.S. Supreme Court met in this Georgian building 1791-1800. (The court heard its first case in August 1791.) Along with such restored furnishings as the prisoner's dock and the jury box are a number of smaller items from the period—spit boxes for those jurists who chewed tobacco, for example. Open daily; hours vary seasonally. Chestnut Street at Fifth Street, Philadelphia. Phone 215-965-2305. http://www.nps.gov/inde/old-city-hall.html. Modeled after the Parthenon in Greece, this building features dozens of portraits of famous Americans, many of which were painted by Charles Willson Peale, the most famous American portraitist of that time. Daily 11 am-5 pm. 420 Chestnut St. (at Fifth Street), Philadelphia. Phone 215-965-2305. http://www.nps.gov/archive/inde/second-bank.html. Relocated to the Liberty Bell Center in 2003, the cracked bell is one of the nation's most hallowed symbols of freedom and independence. Commissioned in 1751, the 2,000-lb/900-kg bell first hung in the tower of Independence Hall, where it rang out 8 July 1776 to summon citizens to the first public reading of the Declaration of Independence. Its infamous crack was made during its initial testing in 1773. Foreign-language information tapes are available. Daily 9 am-5 pm, but hours can vary by season (you can always see it through the windows in the evening, however). Free. Market Street (between Fifth and Sixth streets), Philadelphia. Phone 215-597-8974. http://www.nps.gov/inde/liberty-bell-center.htm. The temple houses the oldest congregation in Philadelphia and the second-oldest in the U.S. Founded in 1740, with financial assistance from Benjamin Franklin and others, it remains unchanged in its traditions and welcomes visitors to its Sephardic services. After several moves over the centuries, the temple relocated not far from its original location on Cherry Street. It's in the same building as the National Museum of American Jewish History. Open daily, but call for times. There are guided tours in July and August. 44 N. Fourth St. (between Market and Arch streets), Philadelphia. Phone 215-922-5446. http://www.mikvehisrael.org. At the nation's first hospital, visit the original surgical amphitheater, where sawdust covered the floor to absorb body fluids and surgery was performed by sunlight entering through the domed ceiling. Pick up a brochure at the welcome desk and take a self-guided tour. Open Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm. Guided tours are given by appointment. 800 Spruce St., Philadelphia. Phone 215-829-3970. http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/paharc. The battleship New Jersey, the most decorated U.S. battleship, is now a floating museum on the Delaware River. Many of its guides served in active duty on the ship and love to share their personal experiences. Open January and February Friday-Monday 10 am-3 pm; March and October-December daily 9:30 am-3 pm; April-September 9 am-5 pm. US$15 adults, US$10.50 children. Guided tours US$17 adults, US$12 children. On the Camden Waterfront (across from Penn's Landing and near the Adventure Aquarium), Camden. Phone 856-966-1652. http://www.battleshipnewjersey.org. Dinosaurs, tropical butterflies, dioramas, a hands-on live-animal center, and various special exhibits abound at this museum. Open Monday-Friday 10 am-4:30 pm, Saturday, Sunday and holidays 10 am-5 pm. US$10 adults, US$8 children. 1900 Ben Franklin Parkway (at 19th Street), Philadelphia. Phone 215-299-1000. http://www.ansp.org. Filled with more than 500,000 artifacts, including dolls, costumes, photographs, folk art and furnishings, this museum is one of the top cultural institutions in the U.S. devoted to African-American history. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday noon-5 pm. US$8 adults, US$6 children. 701 Arch St. (at Seventh Street), Philadelphia. Phone 215-574-0380. http://www.aampmuseum.org. Founded more than 60 years ago as the city's history museum, this repository of Philadelphia's past finds contemporary relevance in historic artifacts, from dolls to baseball memorabilia. The museum also includes a full collection of reproductions of artist Norman Rockwell's Saturday Evening Post covers. Open Wednesday-Sunday 10 am-5 pm. US$5 adults, US$3 children. Some exhibits cost extra. 15 S. Seventh St. (near Ranstead Street), Philadelphia. Phone 215-685-4830. http://www.philadelphiahistory.org. This national memorial to Benjamin Franklin is the most-visited museum in Pennsylvania. It includes the Science Center, Fels Planetarium, Mandell Futures Center and the Tuttleman IMAX Theater. The museum pioneered hands-on science shows and walk-through exhibits, such as a giant model of the human heart with passages through the various chambers. Watch the huge pendulum in the lobby, which hangs through five stories from ceiling to basement; it moves with the rotation of the Earth. Daily 9:30 am-5 pm. The IMAX Theater is open till 9 pm on Friday and Saturday. US$13.75 adults, US$11 children for a Sci-Pass, which includes admission to most exhibits, live science demonstrations, the 3-D Theater and one show in the Fels Planetarium. IMAX is an additional US$5 for both adults and kids. 222 N. 20th St. (between 20th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway), Philadelphia. Phone 215-448-1200. To reserve tickets, phone 215-448-1200. http://www.fi.edu. Enter the interactive exhibit Home Port: Philadelphia by walking below a three-story replica of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Other attractions include the USS Olympia, flagship of Adm. George Dewey in the Spanish-American War, and the World War II submarine USS Becuna. Daily 10 am-5 pm. US$9 adults, US$6 children. 211 S. Columbus Blvd. (Penn's Landing at Walnut Street), Philadelphia. Phone 215-925-5439. http://www.phillyseaport.org. Since 1976, this museum has celebrated the extravagance of Philadelphia's New Year's festivities. Costumes are on display with videotapes of the city's New Year's Day parades—complete with fancy feathered brigades and strutting string bands. May-September, free outdoor string-band concerts are held on Tuesday evenings at 8 pm, weather permitting. Take your dancing shoes to join the dancers teaching the "Mummers Strut." Open October-April Tuesday-Saturday 9:30 am-4:30 pm, Sunday noon-4:30 pm; May-September Tuesday 9:30 am-9:30 pm, Wednesday-Saturday 9:30 am-4:30 pm, Sunday noon-4:30 pm. US$3.50 adults, US$2.50 children. 1100 S. Second St. (at Washington Street), Philadelphia. Phone 215-336-3050. http://www.mummersmuseum.com. As one of the few pathological- and medical-artifact museums in the world, the Mutter Museum allows visitors to view medical mysteries dating back to 1750. Home to more than 20,000 objects, such as 900 fluid-preserved specimens and 10,000 medical instruments, the museum also includes an exhibit on conjoined twins, a tumor removed from U.S. President Grover Cleveland's jaw, the Soap Lady (a woman whose body—after death—turned into a fatty wax similar to lye soap), the original iron lung machine, boxes teeming with things that people have swallowed and lots of other truly bizarre exhibits. Not for the squeamish. Monday-Thursday, Saturday and Sunday 10 am-5 pm, Friday 10 am-9:30 pm. US$12 adults, US$8 children. 19 S. 22nd St. (at Chestnut Street), Philadelphia. Phone 215-563-3737. http://www.collphyphil.org. Considered the "American Home for Heroes," this museum celebrates the nation's ideals of freedom by honoring more than 1,000 outstanding individuals of all backgrounds. Visitors can stroll through eight galleries such as Exceptional People, which is the first exhibit honoring those who have achieved great success despite extreme physical challenges, and the moving Heroes of September 11—a three-story tribute that includes photographs and video footage. Art glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly and other artists are also a highlight. Daily 10 am-5 pm. Closed Monday, Labor Day-Memorial Day. US$5 adults, US$1 for children accompanied by an adult. 321 Chestnut St. at Fourth Street, Philadelphia. Phone 215-925-2800. http://www.libertymuseum.org. This organization is in the midst of a project to build a landmark museum dedicated to the history and contributions of Jews in the U.S. throughout the last 350 years. The five-story, glass-and-stone building will house interactive galleries and exhibition halls, a state-of-the-art resource center, and an auditorium for films, lectures and performances. It is set to open in 2010. The museum's temporary housing is open Monday-Thursday 10 am-5 pm, Friday 10 am-3 pm, Sunday noon-5 pm. US$4 adults, US$3 children. 55 N. Fifth St. (at Market Street), Philadelphia. Phone 215-923-3811. http://www.nmajh.org. The first art museum and school in the U.S. celebrated its bicentennial in 2005. The museum is a magnificent National Historic Landmark that houses American masterpieces, old and contemporary, including those by Andrew Wyeth, Jamie Wyeth and Thomas Eakins. The Art-at-Lunch series (every Wednesday) offers lectures by scholars and artists (US$3). Free guided tours are given Tuesday-Friday at 11:30 am and 12:30 pm and Saturday and Sunday at noon and 1 pm. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Sunday 11 am-5 pm (free admission Sunday 3-5 pm). US$7 adults, US$5 children. 118 N. Broad St. (at Cherry Street), Philadelphia. Phone 215-972-7600. http://www.pafa.org. Modeled after the Louvre, the Philadelphia Museum of Art is among the largest and most important art museums in the U.S. Amid the more than 300,000 artworks and objects dating from the Middle Ages through the present, there's a wonderful collection of Asian art that contains objects as old as 3,000 BC, a Japanese ceremonial teahouse and a Chinese palace hall. The European collections include medieval masterpieces, a 13th-century French cloister, Renaissance masterpieces and superb impressionist and postimpressionist works. Its modern and contemporary art galleries feature work by such artists as Marcel Duchamp, Jasper Johns and Cy Twombly. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-5 pm (Friday till 8:45 pm). US$13 adults, US$10 children (pay what you wish on Sunday). 26th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia. Phone 215-763-8100. http://www.philamuseum.org. This museum features hands-on science, art and humanities for children younger than 7, with interactive exhibits such as the wonderful Sendak fantasy world (celebrating the author of Where the Wild Things Are). Outside, on the huge lawn of the neighboring Franklin Institute, is the CoreStates Science Park—a collaboration between both museums and filled with all kinds of high-tech structures, including a wonderful maze and lots of optical illusions. Please Touch is opening its new facility at Memorial Hall in Fairmount Park in the spring of 2008. Open Labor Day-June daily 9 am-4:30 pm; July-Labor Day 9 am-5 pm. US$9.95. 210 N. 21st St. (at Race and 21st streets), Philadelphia. Phone 215-963-0667. http://www.pleasetouchmuseum.org. This museum, administered by the Philadelphia Museum of Art, hosts the largest collection of Rodin's sculptures and drawings outside Paris, including The Thinker and Gates of Hell. It is certainly worth a visit on its own or as part of an excursion to the nearby Philadelphia Museum of Art. Free tours are offered Sunday at 1 pm, Tuesday and Thursday at 11 am, and the first and third Saturday of each month at 1 pm. Open Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-5 pm. US$3 suggested donation. 22nd Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia. Phone 215-763-8100. http://www.rodinmuseum.org. In an 1860s town house, visitors will find a treasure trove of rare books, manuscripts, paintings and more. Some might argue that James Joyce's handwritten manuscript for Ulysses is this museum's highlight, but others would claim the honor goes to the 10,000 original drawings by Maurice Sendak or the first edition of Cervantes' Don Quixote. Open Tuesday and Thursday-Sunday 10 am-5 pm, Wednesday 10 am-8 pm. Guided tours every hour 11 am-4 pm, with an additional tour at 6:30 pm on Wednesday. US$8 adults, US$5 children. 2008 Delancey Place (between 20th and 21st streets), Philadelphia. Phone 215-732-1600. http://www.rosenbach.org. This remarkable collection of French impressionist and modern art is displayed densely and idiosyncratically in accordance with the will of Dr. Albert Barnes. The 181 Renoirs, 69 Cezannes, 60 Matisses and 44 Picassos, among others, are housed in a mansion on a beautifully manicured estate with an arboretum. The galleries are kept cool, so consider taking a light jacket or sweater. The collection is scheduled to move to a new gallery on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway sometime in the future, despite legal efforts to keep it in its original home. Open July and August Wednesday-Friday 9:30 am-5 pm; September-June Friday-Sunday 9:30 am-5 pm. All visitors must reserve in advance—make individual reservations at least a month in advance, because group tours are given first priority. US$10 adults and an additional US$7 for the extensive audio guide. Parking is US$10 and can be reserved in advance. 300 N. Latch's Lane (off Old Lancaster Road), Merion. Phone 610-667-0290. http://www.barnesfoundation.org. Founded on Penn's campus in 1890, this museum is one of the most complete of its kind in the country, with more than 30 galleries displaying objects from ancient cultures and artifacts such as ancient cuneiform texts, pre-Columbian gold and bronzes from Benin. Don't miss the Egyptian mummy or the Sumerian collection from the royal tombs of ancient Mesopotamia. Open Tuesday-Saturday 10 am-4:30 pm, Sunday 1-5 pm. Closed Sunday before Memorial Day and Labor Day. US$8 adults, US$5 children. 3260 South St. (33rd and Spruce streets), Philadelphia. Phone 215-898-4000. http://www.museum.upenn.edu. | Neighborhoods & Districts | Top |
Along Broad Street between York Street and Washington Avenue, this district is home to nearly 40 cultural organizations, including the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts. And the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the Academy of Music (the oldest opera house in the U.S.), the New Freedom Theater (the nation's largest African-American theater), the Philadelphia Doll Museum, the Uptown Theater and more than 50 outdoor murals are just a short list of what else can be found there. Just north of historic Old City, Northern Liberties is fast emerging as one of Philly's hottest neighborhoods. Bounded roughly by Girard Avenue, Spring Garden Street, Front and Sixth Streets, this old industrial section is home to some of the city's most popular jazz clubs, taverns, casual restaurants and galleries, many set in late-Victorian buildings with lots of architectural detail. Bounded loosely from north to south by Spring Garden and Pine streets and east to west by the Delaware River and Eighth Street, this is Philadelphia's first commercial area and home to two of the city's most popular tourist attractions: the Betsy Ross House and Elfreth's Alley. You'll find a lively mix of historic buildings, theaters, trendy boutiques, popular restaurants and more than 50 art galleries. And don't forget to pack your dancing shoes: Waterfront clubs are filled with live music and DJs who spin great mixes. It's also where you can catch the RiverLink Ferry to the Adventure Aquarium. Home to some of Philadelphia's most acclaimed cultural institutions, this district is also home to Logan Circle—one of William Penn's five original public squares. Pope John Paul II celebrated Mass in 1979 from an enormous platform above Alexander Stirling Calder's Swann Memorial Fountain. You'll also see the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, internationally famous for the majestic front staircase that Sylvester Stallone ran up in the movie Rocky. Between Market and South streets along the Delaware River waterfront is where William Penn first came ashore in 1682. Docked there as part of the Independence Seaport Museum's Historic Ship Zone are several historic ships: the USS Olympia, Adm. George Dewey's flagship during the Spanish-American War; the USS Becuna, a World War II submarine; the Niagara, a brig built for the War of 1812; and the Gazela, a 177-ft/55-m sailing ship built in 1883. Penn's Landing is also home to the International Sculpture Garden, with its monument to Christopher Columbus. If you like to ice-skate (March-November), check out RiverRink, Philadelphia's only outdoor skating rink. One of William Penn's original squares, it was called Governor's Woods until it was renamed in 1825 for the prominent Philadelphia astronomer and mathematician David Rittenhouse. Originally a game-filled, wild tangle of trees and brush, the square and its surrounding houses, restaurants and shops have gradually evolved into one of Philadelphia's toniest neighborhoods. Between 18th and 19th streets and Walnut and Locust streets, Philadelphia. Though the society for which it was named is now defunct, this neighborhood is still a favorite. Its serpentine walkways and tiny alleys are bordered by colonial row houses (many of which display plaques identifying them as homes on the National Register of Historic Places), whose window boxes overflow with colorful blooms. Along its brick-paved streets—shrouded in cherry trees—everything seems as if it has been perfectly preserved for the past 200 years. Pennsylvania Hospital, the nation's first, opened in 1751 on Eighth Street and remains in operation today. The area is loosely bordered by Front, Walnut, Lombard and Ninth streets. Both the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel University are just west of 30th Street Station. With them comes a burgeoning academic community with offices, bars, students, copy centers and an ethnically diverse collection of popular eateries. Bounded by the Schuylkill River, 50th Street, Woodland Avenue and Spring Garden, University City is home to some of the city's most impressive residential architecture, engaging cultural activities and diverse ethnic populations. | Parks & Gardens | Top |
The oldest botanical garden in the U.S. is located on a pastoral 18th-century homestead surrounded by the urban bustle of Philadelphia and just minutes from Washington Square. The historical garden of American native plants—not to mention the wildflower meadow, river trail and farm buildings overlooking the Schuylkill River—will make you feel as if you're miles/kilometers from the city itself. House tours (45 minutes) are offered March to mid-December daily, noon-4 pm. Open daily 10 am-5 pm. Admission to the grounds is free. House tours are US$5. 54th Street and Lindbergh Boulevard (off Woodland Avenue), Philadelphia. Phone 215-729-5281. http://www.bartramsgarden.org. These magnificent gardens were established in 1912. Visitors can see thousands of colorful blooms carpeting the grounds, stunning orchards of flowering trees and courtyards filled with unusual combinations of flowers and vines. Open April-October Wednesday-Saturday 10 am-5 pm; May-August Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday 10 am-5 pm, Friday 10 am-8 pm. US$5 adults, free for children younger than 16. 786 Church Road (off Brook Road), Wayne. Phone 610-687-4163. http://www.chanticleergarden.org. One of the largest city parks in the world, Fairmount Park covers 8,000 acres/3,725 hectares and a network of 62 neighborhood parks. It stretches from the heart of the city via the broad Benjamin Franklin Parkway to Philadelphia's northern boundaries. Fairmount contains beautiful recreational complexes and some of the city's greatest historical and cultural treasures, including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Zoo, the Mann Music Center and a fine collection of authentic early-American houses. Known as the Fairmount Park Houses, they have been elegantly restored and furnished and are overseen by the Museum of Art. Many wealthy Philadelphians built these homes to escape the yellow-fever epidemic in the late 1700s. Don't miss the Fairmount Water Works, whose classical architecture looks like so many Greek temples and which provided water to the city for most of the 19th century. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The houses and their gardens are generally open Tuesday-Sunday 10 am-4 pm. Admission is US$3 per house. Trolley tours leave from the Philadelphia Museum of Art Wednesday-Sunday at 10:45 am and 1:45 pm. US$20. Phone 215-684-7863. http://www.phila.gov/fairpark. This charming Victorian park, located between Pine and Panama streets, is named after the city's first mayor, Edwin Fitler. The square is filled with bronze sculptures, a wonderful Victorian fountain and a handful of shaded benches that are perfect for simply enjoying the neighborhood's ambience. There are a number of annual events worth checking out, such as the Spring Fair, the Christmas-tree lighting and a farmers market. http://www.fitlersquare.org. Highlights at this square include the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Jewelers Row and the historic Walnut Street Theater, the oldest playhouse in the U.S. Since 2004, the Square also has been home to Washington Square—The Restaurant, opened by Philly restaurant guru Stephen Starr and whose chic interior includes a tile mural by hip New York designer Todd Oldham. | Zoos & Wildlife | Top |
Exhibits at Adventure Aquarium include the West African River, which features two friendly hippos along with crocodiles, porcupines and 20 species of African birds in a free-flight aviary. Shark Realm takes you through a 40-ft/12-m tunnel surrounded by the massive predators. For an extra US$115, you can swim with the sharks. The Jules Verne Gallery is home to undersea oddities such as translucent jellyfish, giant spider crabs and even a giant Pacific octopus. A 4-D theater offers daily shows of underwater-themed films. Outside, you'll find penguins and a large seal exhibit. Daily 9:30-5 pm. US$17 adults, US$14 children. 1 Aquarium Drive (between Federal Street and Mickle Boulevard), Camden. Toll-free 800-616-5297. http://www.adventureaquarium.com. This 4-acre/2-hectare interactive garden features a year-round butterfly house, a carousel and Storybook Gardens, which is populated by characters from The Three Little Pigs and Alice in Wonderland. Open Saturday and Sunday 10 am-5 pm. US$5 adults, US$3 children ages 3-11. 3 Riverside Drive (between Federal Street and Mickle Boulevard), Camden. Phone 856-365-8733. http://www.camdenchildrensgarden.org. This museum is replete with insects—thousands of mounted and live specimens—as well as interactive exhibits. Children love it and fear it at the same time—especially the hissing Madagascar cockroach, the working beehive and "Arachnid Alley." Open Monday-Saturday 10 am-4 pm. US$6. 8046 Frankford Ave. (at Rhawn Street), Philadelphia. Phone 215-338-3000. http://www.insectarium.com. Set among Victorian gardens in Fairmount Park, the first zoo in the U.S. houses more than 2,000 mammals, birds and reptiles. Its many natural habitats include Bear Country, African Plains and Carnivore Kingdom. The zoo's newest attraction is the Zooballoon, a 15-minute hot-air-balloon ride that offers amazing aerial views of the animals and the city skyline. Open February-November daily 9:30 am-5 pm; December and January daily 9:30 am-4 pm. Late March-October: US$16.95 adults, US$13.95 children; November-late March: US$12.95 adults and children. Zooballoon is an additional US$10. 3400 W. Girard Ave. (at 34th Street), Philadelphia. Phone 215-243-1100. http://www.philadelphiazoo.org. Since it encompasses 62 neighborhood parks, it's no surprise that, at more than 8,000 acres/3,237 hectares, Fairmount Park is the center of most outdoor recreation for Philadelphians. From horseback riding to fishing, in-line skating, jogging, rowing, birding and disc golf (a popular form of miniature golf played with Frisbees), Fairmount Park is the recreation destination. Locals and visitors also follow the Delaware River into Bucks County, an hour north of the city, and west into Montgomery and Chester counties to relax at any of a long list of state parks and local green spaces. Head to Lloyd Hall on Boathouse Row for rentals through Breakaway Bikes. US$10 per hour, US$30 per day. Paths follow Kelly Drive along the Schuylkill River, Philadelphia. Phone 215-685-3936. | Boating & Sailing | Top |
In Philadelphia, "rowing" almost always refers to sculling—oarsmen (and, increasingly, women) in light, narrow boats, alone or on a team, often racing down the Schuylkill River. Each October, about 6,000 high-school and college competitors participate in the Thomas Eakins Regatta, the world's largest one-day rowing event, which draws more than 10,000 spectators to Fairmount Park. Anyone older than 23 looking for rowing lessons, a coach or friends to row with can join the Masters Rowing Association. ("Master" in the title is to indicate age, not rowing ability.) Those beyond school age can enter the Quaker City Masters Regatta, held in August. 4 Kelly Drive, Boathouse Row, Philadelphia. Phone 215-232-4768. Toll-free 877-769-4644. http://www.mastersrowing.org. It's definitely not your father's bowling alley. You could easily include Strikes on your list of Philly nightspots, because it's a full-service restaurant and watering hole (with billiards) for the twentysomething and thirtysomething crowds. You never knew bowling could be this cool. Games rates are US$3-$5. Shoe rentals US$3. 4040 Locust St., Philadelphia. Phone 215-387-2695 (387-BOWL). http://www.strikesbowlinglounge.com. There are some 34 mi/55 km of waterways through Fairmount Park, including Wissahickon Creek, stocked with trout and a popular location for fishing. You might also hook a sunfish or a rock bass on your line. Forbidden Drive in North Philadelphia is a great location for access to the creek. License necessary. Phone 215-685-2575. About 6 mi/10 km from Center City, this is one of the area's better public courses. Greens fees range US$31-$46 (including cart), depending on tee time and day of the week. 72nd Street and Landsdowne Avenue (in Fairmount Park), Philadelphia. Phone 215-877-8707. Just about 7 mi/11 km over the state line with New Jersey, this 18-hole, par-70 course is a favorite for golfers. There's a pro shop and a restaurant by the 18th hole. Greens fees US$37. Cart fee is US$17. 3800 Haddonfield Road (off Route 644 South), Pennsauken. Phone 856-662-4961. http://www.twp.pennsauken.nj.us/ginfo.html. This is a short but very challenging and beautifully maintained 18-hole, par-70 municipal course in a suburban area. Daily dawn-dusk. Greens fees US$32 Monday-Friday, US$43 Saturday and Sunday; cart included. 400 W. Sproul Road (near West Woodland Avenue), Springfield. Phone 610-543-9860. | Spas and Health Clubs | Top |
Workouts here are vigorous but fun in the "Burn It Up" class, where participants dance off the calories to Broadway show tunes. Not as easy as it sounds. Just try it—you'll work up a great sweat. 204 S. 12th St., Philadelphia. Phone 215-985-4092. http://www.12streetgym.com. For US$25, visitors have access to this well-known club in Center City—including enrollment in any scheduled class. 220 S. Fifth St. (below Market Street), Philadelphia. Phone 215-592-8900. http://www.mysportsclubs.com. | Hiking & Walking | Top |
A beautiful hike-and-bike trail follows Wissahickon Creek to Valley Green, just north of Fairmount Park. The entrance is on Ridge Avenue, just east of Manayunk (a beautiful Philadelphia suburb). It's a popular place for a nice walk or jog. Another good option is Fairmount Park, which contains 75 mi/120 km of walking trails. For a pleasant hike, especially in spring when the cherry blossoms and azaleas are in bloom, make your way up the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, past the museums, along the Schuylkill River on the east side (Kelly Drive) as far as the end of Boathouse Row, or along the west side (Martin Luther King Drive). You will see runners jogging along the Schuylkill River year-round, as well as bikers and sponsored runs.
The Schuylkill River Trail offers an 11-mi/15-km walkway, which is also great for rollerblading and biking. It follows the north bank of the Schuylkill River from Fairmount Park to Valley Forge. Phone 610-666-5371. http://www.montcopa.org/parks/schuylkillrivertrail.htm). The city's only outdoor skating rink hosts a number of great events, including Skate with Santa, the February Chocolate Festival and Kids Fest in January. Open November-February. Hours are Monday-Thursday 6-9 pm, Friday and Saturday 12:30 pm-1 am, Sunday 12:30-9 pm. US$6 for two hours. Skate rentals US$3. Festival Pier at Penn's Landing, Philadelphia. Phone 215-925-7465. http://www.riverrink.com. | In-Line Skating | Top |
This shop rents skates and offers lessons. 2601 Pennsylvania Ave., Philadelphia. Phone 212-232-7368. Head for Lloyd Hall on Boathouse Row for rentals. There is a 7-mi/11-km loop along the Schuylkill River, across the Strawberry Mansion Bridge to the art museum. Martin Luther King Drive (formerly West River Drive) is closed to car traffic till 5 pm on weekends April-September. Rental is US$8 per hour. Phone 215-685-3936. | Tennis & Racquet Sports | Top |
Free public tennis courts are available in most of the city's municipal park systems. Tennis clubs, which are open to the public for a fee, are another option. Try the park-based Friends of Chamounix Tennis Club, 50 Chamounix Drive (at Ford Road). Phone 215-877-6845. http://www.fairmountpark.org/courts.asp. | Other Options | Top |
The popularity of this game is rising, and Fairmount Park offers two locations to play. Visit Marconi Plaza at Broad and Oregon streets or Vine and Daggett streets and perfect your bocce game. http://www.fairmountpark.org/courts.asp. Philadelphia's restaurant renaissance, which started around the time of the 1976 bicentennial celebration, also ushered in the idea that the city should not close up its sidewalks at 9 pm. New nightclubs and other nightspots continue to proliferate, especially on the waterfront, in Old City and on South Street. Some of the slickest spots in town are the city's hotel bars.
Generally, most clubs remain open until 2 am, but call ahead for specific hours. | Bars, Taverns & Pubs | Top |
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