|
 |
 Find Philadelphia Travel Deals
Philadelphia for Seniors, Couples and Kids
Get Our Best Travel Deals and Tips!
 Visit the Mid-Atlantic Message Board
 Philadelphia is best known for its colonial history. The city, founded in 1682, can rightly be credited as the site of America's birth -- the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were created here. So was our first American flag. And over the past decade, the city has spiffed up its heritage appeal with the launch of the National Constitution Center and a new home for the Liberty Bell.
But to think Philadelphia's only attraction is its historic sites is to miss out on the latest "revolution" here. Among some of the relatively new entrants onto the scene: a retro-designed sports stadium (the Philadelphia Phillies' Citizens Bank Park), the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center (an eco-educational center) and the thriving -- but not over-commercialized -- waterfront, Penn's Landing, which features everything from historic ships-cum-restaurants to summer-long festivities.
Philadelphia, which lies at the confluence of the Delaware and Schuylkill River, also has amazing green spaces -- of particular note is Fairmount Park, one of urban America's largest parks. And just outside the city limits are whole other worlds to explore, from the country's most prominent Amish settlement to the battlefields of Gettysburg and the Atlantic beaches of South Jersey.
What to See
 The National Constitution Center (525 Arch Street) chronicles all things related to the U.S. Constitution, and its interactive exhibits make that era come alive. These days, the center is the diamond in the center of Philadelphia's most important "birth of America" sites.
Nearby, Independence National Historical Park is home to Independence Hall (Chestnut Street between 5th and 6th Streets), considered the birthplace of America. Tours are free, but for most of the year you'll need a timed ticket to enter. More information on how to get tickets is available at the National Park Service Web site.
The Liberty Bell (Market Street between 5th and 6th Streets) is another symbolic Philadelphia classic, full of legends relating to America's early days (in fact, the bell was hidden away in nearby Allentown to keep it from falling into British hands during the Revolutionary War).
Beyond the usual Independence Mall attractions, the Old City neighborhood features a number of other sights to see, including the Betsy Ross House (239 Arch Street), Christ Church (20 N. American Street) and the United States Mint (151 N. Independence Mall East).
Adjacent to the gorgeously picturesque streets and houses of historic Society Hill (home to Philadelphia's wealthy in the 18th century) is Penn's Landing, Philadelphia's waterfront on the Delaware River. The highlight here is Independence Seaport Museum (211 S. Columbus Blvd.), displaying numerous maritime artifacts as well as the cruiser Olympia, a flagship that served in the Spanish-American War.
In Center City, don't miss a stroll through Chinatown (centered at 10th and Race Sts.) or the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, which showcases a fabulous collection of American masterpieces.
Enjoy one of Philadelphia's loveliest neighborhoods: Rittenhouse Square. This urban park is surrounded by most of Philadelphia's hippest, trendiest and chic-est restaurants and boutiques (the park is plenty nice, too). Aim for Walnut and Sansom and explore from there.
 Art lovers shouldn't miss the Philadelphia Museum of Art (26th St. and Benjamin Franklin Parkway), which houses the city's most stellar collections and visiting exhibits. It's also got the famous set of steps featured in Sylvester Stallone's "Rocky." Just down the Benjamin Franklin Parkway is the Rodin Museum, a smaller museum that showcases the largest collection of the French sculptor's work outside of Paris.
You'll find two other popular museums right on the Parkway. Our favorite thing to do at the Franklin Institute (222 North 20th St.) is to walk through the bigger-than-life human heart (trust us, you've got to be there) -- but it offers a wealth of creative and informative exhibits on science. The Academy of Natural Sciences (19th St. and Benjamin Franklin Parkway) is another favorite for its fun collections of dinosaur bones and other wonders of natural science.
A fun option for families is the Philadelphia Zoo (3400 West Girard Ave.), America's first zoo, which in addition to the usual animal suspects also has a fantastic "Zooballoon." The region's only passenger-carrying helium balloon, it rises to 400 feet and offers wonderful views over the city.
Just across the Delaware is the city of Camden, New Jersey, which is experiencing a rebirth of its own. Major attractions include the recently renovated Adventure Aquarium (1 Riverside Dr., Camden) and the Battleship New Jersey (62 Battleship Pl.), America's most decorated battleship. To get to Camden from Philadelphia, board the Riverlink Ferry at Penn's Landing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
Share This Page:
E-Mail
Print
RSS
Save
|
