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BETSY ROSS HOUSE
239 Arch St. • 215-627-5343 • Visit the home of the woman credited with sewing the first American flag. Colonial-style (18th century restored home) house with some of Betsey Ross’ personal possessions, period furnishings, plus garden with fountain. Open 10am - 5pm daily •Donations suggested; $1, children 50 cents.
BOATHOUSE ROW
Twelve Tudor-style structures built in the mid-19th century house the “Schuylkill Navy” and rowing clubs whose members can be seen in their long, slender boats almost year-round. Observed from across the river at night, the houses outlined with hundreds of white lights form one of the city’s most famous views. Kelly Drive.
EASTERN STATE PENITENTIARY
22nd Street and Fairmount Ave. • 215-236-3300 • This 19th century historic landmark prison was once the most famous and expensive prisons in the world. Its vaulted, sky-lit cells held many of America’s most notorious criminals, including Willie Sutton and Al Capone. Tours include the cell blocks, the central rotunda, the solitary exercise yards anddeath row. Open Sat. and Sun. with tours every hour on the hour from 10am to 4pm * $7; $5 students and seniors; $3children ages 7-17; children under 5 are not admitted. Castle-like stone walls and crumbling cell blocks.
NEW JERSEY STATE AQUARIUM AT CAMDEN
1 Riverside Drive, Camden • 609-365-3300 or 800-616-JAWS • www.njaquarium.org • Wonders of the sea live in a 760,000-gallon saltwater tank. Ongoing exhibits. Shark petting tank. Visitors can view shark feedings every Tues., Thurs., and Sun. Open daily 9:30am to 5:30pm. • $11.95; $10.45 seniors and students with ID; $8.95 children ages 3-11; free for children 3 and under. (I chg’d a little).
CAMDEN CHILDREN’S GARDEN
Delaware River, Waterfront Camden, New Jersey609-365-3300 or 800-616-JAWS This all-new, four-acre interactive playground serves as a special place for people of all ages to explore the wonders of the natural world. This attractions is part of the New Jersey State Aquarium. Admission is included withentry to the aquarium.
PHILADELPHIA VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL
Located at Penn’s Landing, Spruce St. and Christopher Columbus Blvd. 215-535-0643 Dedicated on October 26, 1987,the names etched into this outdoor amphitheater of black granite panels honor the 643 Philadelphians killed in the Vietnam War.
THE PHILADELPHIA ZOO
3400 West Girard Ave. • www.philadelphiazoo.org • 215-243-1100.America’s first zoo is a Victorian-landscaped, 42-acrearea housing more than 2,000 animals in naturalistic habitats. Special attractions include a Children’s Zoo, walk-through treehouse, bear country and rare white lions and blue eyed lemurs. Reptile house and a recently opened primate house. The zoo sponsors full and half-day camp programs fro children ages 4-13 years. • $10.50; $8 seniors and chilren ages 5-11; $5 children ages 2-4; free for members and children under 2; .
QVC STUDIO TOURS
1200 Wilson Dr., West Chester • 800-600-9900 • www.qvctours.com • “Behind the Screen” walking tours of the QVC broadcasting studio include a visit to the observation deck overlooking the 20,000-square-foot broadcast area.Tours are offered daily, every hour on the hour, 10am to 4pm • General admission $10 ($2.50 rebate); $7.50 forQ-members; $5 for children 6-12 (not recommended for children under 6). Reservations not required.
SCHUYLKILL CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
8480 Hagy’s Mill Rd. • 215-482-7300 • Six miles of hiking trails, a wetlands area, bird blinds, a community organic garden and a butterfly house and garden are some of the attractions at this nature preserve. Call for a listing of this month’s special programs and classes. Open Mon. - Sat. 8:30am - 5pm, Sun. 1pm - 5pm • $3; $2 for children 2-12; free for members.
UNITED STATES MINT
Fifth and Arch Sts. • 215-408-0114 • See money being made at the largest mint in the world. A self-guided tour leads visitorsto a glass-enclosed gallery that overlooks the factory, through two levels of exhibits and a souvenir store. No camera or videoe quipment allowed in the building. No coin production on weekends, but visitors can walk through. Mon. - Fri. 9am - 4:30pm. Free
VALLEY FORGE NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK
610-783-1077 • Site of the 1777-1778 winter encampment of General Washington’s army. Check in at the visitor center, where and 18-minute film provides an introduction, then tour the park by car, bike or on foot along the trails. See reconstructed huts, memorials and monuments. Buildings and visitor center open 9am - 5pm. Admission $2 to visit Washington’s Headquarters, payable at visitor center.
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ACADEMY OF NATURAL SCIENCES
19th St. and Ben Franklin Pkwy. • 215-299-1000 • www.acnatsci.org America’s oldest natural history museum. The museum’s new Dinosaur Hall houses huge skeletons, interactive exhibits, and state-of-the-art video technology. Ongoing: Butterflies-Liveand in Color, a tropical exhibition. A population of mammals, reptiles and invertebrates inhabit the Live Animal Center. Mon. - Fri. 10am - 4:30pm; Sat., Sun., and holidays 10am - 5pm * $8.50; $7.75 seniors; $7.50 children 3-12; free for agest 3 and under.
AMERICAN HELICOPTER MUSEUM AND EDUCATION CENTER
American Blvd., Brandywine Airport, West Chester, • 610-436-9600 • The country’s only helicopter museum offers guided tours as well as programs to educate visitors on the histroy, heritage, science and development of rotary-winged flight. Sit in on a film, take the controls while seated in a Bell 47-J, or climb inton the only state-of-the-art Bell/Boeing V-22 Tiltrotor Osprey. Museum open Wed. - Sat. 10am - 5pm., Sun. 12pm-5pm • $5; $4.50 students and seniors; $3.50 children.
CIVIL WAR LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
1805 Pine St. • 215-735-8196 • Oldest chartered Civil War institution in the United States, founded in 1888, with paintings and memorabilia from the Civil War. Tues. - Sat. 11am - 4:30pm • $5; $4 seniors and AAA members; $3 students with ID; $2 children 3-12; free for children under 3.
THE FRANKLIN MINT MUSEUM
Rte. 1 near Media at Franklin Center • 610-459-6582 • Museum featuring fine quality collectibles. Open Mon -Sat. 9:30am-4:30pm., Sun.1pm-4:30pm.
INDEPENDENCE SEAPORT MUSEUM
211 S. Columbus Blvd. at Penn’s Landing • 215-925-5439 • Maritime museum with interactive exhibits and boat-building demonstrations. Just outside, visitors can tour the USS Olympia and the World War II submarine USS Becuna. Open daily 10am - 5pm * $5; $4 for seniors; $2.50 for children ages 6-12; free for children 5 and under.
NATIONAL LIBERTY MUSEUM
321 Chestnut Street • 215-925-2800 • www.libertymuseum.org • America’s new Home for Heroes. Honors 350 outstanding men, women and young people of every ethnic heritage using interactives, videos, exhabits and art, including a 20-foot “Flame of Liberty” by Dale Chihuly • Open 10am - 5pm; Spring & Summer open every day; Winter closed Mondays; call to confirm holdiay hours • Admission $5 adults; $4 seniors; $3 Students; Children under 6 free. Group tours available. Call for reservations.
PHILADELPHIA DOLL MUSEUM
2253 N. Broad St. • 215-787-0220 • More than 300 dolls from the early 19th century are housed in the country’s first black doll museum; collection includes European dolls and reproductions by Leo Moss.Open Thurs.-Sat 10am-4pm,Sun.12pm-4pm • Ad. $4; $3 for seniors and children under 12.
PHILADELPHIA MUSEUM OF ART
26th St. and Ben Franklin Parkway • 215-684-7500 or 215-763-8100 • www.philamuseum.org Major works of fine anddecorative art from all over the world, including a wing housing European galleries with art from the Renaissance to 1850.Tues. - Sun. 10am - 5pm; Wed. until 8:45pm; Closed Mondays and major holidays. “Rocky” steps; the city’s crown jewl; more thatn 5000,000 pieces; French Cloister; Indian Temple and Japanese houe and Garden.
PLEASE TOUCH MUSEUM
210 N. 21st St. • 215-963-0667 • A hands-on science, art, and humanities wonderland for young children, with interactive exhibits and performances for kids in the Virginia Evans Theater. Professional entertainers conduct work shops each month through the artis-in- residence program. Open daily 9am - 4:30pm * Admission $6.95 for children 1 and over and adults, free for children under 1.
THE PRETZEL MUSEUM
211-13 N. Third St. • 215-413-3010 • Twist your own pretzel and munch on a free sample at this soft pretzel bakery and museum. Open Mon. - Fri. 8:30am - 5:30pm. Call for Saturday hours. Tours Mon. - Fri. 10am - 3pm Admission $1.50, free for children under 2 years
RODIN MUSEUM
22nd St. and Benjamin Franklin Pkwy • 215-763-8100 or 215-568-6026 The largest collection of the sculptor’s work outside of Paris, including casts of The Thinker and The Gates of Hell. Suggested donation $3. Tues. - Sun. 10am-5pm.
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA MUSEUM OF ARCHAEOLOGY AND ANTHROPOLOGY
33rd and Spruce Sts. • 215-898-4000 • www.upenn.edu/museum • Internationally acclaimed collection of archaeologicaland anthropological artifacts and materials from all over the world. Hightlights include a 12-ton sphinx, Egyptian mummiesand clay cuneiform tablets with the oldest writing in the world. Permanent exhibition : Canaan and Ancient Israel. Open Tues. - Sat. 10am - 4:30pm, Sun. 1pm - 5pm • $5; $2.50 students and seniors; free for children 6 and under.
CRYSTAL CAVE
Between Allentown and Reading, Near Route 222, Kutztown • 610-683-6765 A national attraction, the well known crystal cave was discovered in 1871, now the oldest operating cave in Pennsylvania. An exquisite display of Crystal radiance carved exclusively by nature throughout the ages. 45 minute tour with a trained guide. Additional features: playground, nature trail, authentic Amish Buggy, real Indian Totem Poles, tree plantation and picnic park. Other facilities include Miniature Golf, Theatre, Rock Shop,Museum, Ice Cream Parlor and Fast Food Facility • Open every day beginning March 1st thru November 30th. Closed December thru February.
MORRIS ARBORETUM & GARDENS
100 Northwestern Ave. • 215-247-5777 www.upenn.edu/morris Experience nature at its best. Over 12,000 plants from around the world located on 92 acres of Victorian landscape and gardens. The arboretum is also an educational institution, dedicated to the art and science of plant life. Open 10am - 4pm daily; weekends 10am - 5pm April through October. Closed Thanksgiving and the last week of the year. Free guided tours Saturdays and Sundays at 2pm. Available for wedding, meeting and party rentals. • Call for admission fees.
LIGHTS OF LIBERTY, PHILADELPHIA
A presentation by PECO Energy. Lights of Liberty is a spectacular sound and light show that transports a viewer to the American Revolution with 3-D audio headsets, laser images 5-stories tall and special effects. Call 1-877-GO-2-1776
IMPORTANT PHONE NUMBERS
Convention of Visitors Bureau 215 636-3300
Philadelphia Visitors Center 16th St. & JFK Blvd. 215-636-1666
Travelers Aid Society 215-546-0571
Public Transportation
PHILADELPHIA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT INFO. 215-937-6937
Amtrak (trains) 30 & Market Streets 800-USA-RAIL
Greyhound Lines Inc. (buses) 1001 Filbert Street 800-231-2222
Philly PHLASH shuttle (local bus tours) 215-474-5274
SEPTA (busses, streetcar, train and subway) 215-580-7800
NJ Transit (trains to NJ) 215-569-3752
RiverLink Ferry (to Camden, NJ) 215-925-LINK
HANDICAPPED ACCESS transportation 215-686-2798
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