Photo courtesy of the Wikimedia Commons
Downtown Magazine editors love every aspect of big city living. However, every now and then, we need a change of pace. Throughout the summer we will be releasing our ‘Editors Picks’ for great day trip or get-away destinations that are fun for the whole family.
Just in time for the Fourth of July, our Downtown Magazine Lifestyle and Family Editor recommends the historic “City of Brotherly Love,” also known as Philadelphia, as a go-to destination for the whole family.
Philadelphia is a great city to explore by walking. Families will have a chance to visit an incredible amount of historic sites within close proximity to each other. Visitors can get a close encounter with the famous Liberty Bell and the Betsy Ross home offers a kid-friendly tour. The Benjamin Franklin Institute, a museum full of dinosaurs, mummies, and other historical oddities; has current exhibits of interest that include the limited time Genghis Khan and The Art of the Brick Lego® exhibit. Other favorites include Independence Hall, The Fireman’s Hall Museum, the carousel at Franklin Square, and Reading Terminal Market for the vast array of delicious food and artisanal wares. And no trip to Philadelphia would be complete without a visit to the Philadelphia Museum of Art for a chance to snap a photo with the fictional star of the 1980 movie “Rocky.” The character was immortalized in bronze and the star of the film, Sylvester Stallone donated the real-life monument to the City of Philadelphia.
Our Little Apple Editor also recommends the Independence After Hours tour. The tour brings history to life, allowing visitors to witness re-enactments of famous Revolutionary era scenes, such as the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The After Hours tour also includes a free authentic Colonial-style dinner at the historic City Tavern. Menu highlights include Paillard of Salmon, which is citrus-marinated, pan-seared fish, with sauce Béarnaise, mashed potatoes, vegetable of the season. They also offer a special children’s option of Cornmeal Crusted Chicken Tenders Served with honey mustard and pommes frites, and a full bar for the grownups.
Philadelphia can easily be reached by train from Penn Station to Philadelphia’s 30 Street Station in less than 2 hours. Bus travel is less than 3 hours. It can also be reached by car or Zipcar or traditional rental car, if driving isn’t an option.
To learn more about Philadelphia destinations, please visit: http://gophila.com
-By Denise Courter and Alyssa Bajek
