Things To Do
Getting to Phily
It is a 20-30 minute ride by car into Center City. It's about 50 minutes on SEPTA train from Langhorne Station. Trains stop at several stations in the city; choose the one closest to your destination: 1) Jefferson Station (Market Street between 10th and 12th Streets) – closest to the historic district 2) Suburban Station (16th Street and JFK Blvd) – closest to City Hall 3) Gray 30th Street Station (30th and Market Street) – closest to the Art Museum
Independence Mall
Take in the major sites at “America’s most historic square mile” - Independence National Park Independence Hall - where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were debated and adopted (520 Chestnut Street; best to buy tickets online in advance to avoid lines) Liberty Bell - a very important bell! (526 Market Street) Congress Hall - home of the U.S. Congress from 1790-1800 (Chestnut and 6th Street) Carpenters Hall - host of the First Continental Congress, and continuously operated by the Carpenters’ Company, the country’s oldest craft guild (320 Chestnut Street)
Historic Philly
The National Constitution Center - the world’s only museum dedicated to the U.S. Constitution (525 Arch Street) Museum of the American Revolution - explores the dramatic, surprising story of the American Revolution and its enduring legacy (101 South 3rd Street) Weitzman Museum of American Jewish History - celebrates the vibrant and varied stories of American Jewish life from the dawn of our nation to the present day (Market and 5th Streets) Christ Church - attended by Founding Fathers including George Washington. Christ Church Burial Ground serves as the final resting place of Benjamin Franklin, George Ross, and other American luminaries (20 North American Street) Elfreths Alley - the oldest residential street in the United States, featuring 32 buildings in Georgian and Federal styles Betsy Ross House - the 18th-century house where Betsy Ross purportedly lived, examine artifacts from her life and meet a costumed Betsy Ross impersonator (239 Arch Street)
Near the Historic District
Head northeast to the heart of Old City, home to art studios, boutiques, and warehouses converted to residences (2nd and 3rd Streets, between Arch and Race Streets) Head southeast to the Korean War Memorial Park and Vietnam Veterans Memorial at Front and Spruce Streets. Then cross Columbus Blvd. to Spruce Harbor Park and stroll along the Delaware Waterfront to Penn’s Landing (roller skating and amusements), the Independence Seaport Museum, and Cherry Street Pier (art studios and exhibition space)
Center City
City Hall - the world's largest free-standing masonry building and the world’s tallest habitable building upon its completion in 1894 (Market and Broad Streets) Reading Terminal Market - Famous indoor farmer's market offering diverse fare, housewares & area specialties since 1893 (1136 Arch Street) Walnut Street - walkable shopping district between 15th and 18th street Rittenhouse Square - a treelined park perfect for picnics or a stroll (1800 Walnut) Masonic Temple - the 150-year-old meeting place for The Grand Lodge of Free & Accepted Masons of Pennsylvania, comprised of seven meeting halls that transport tour-goers to different countries, in different eras through a series of stunning architectural feats and decorative embellishments (1 North Broad Street)
Cultural Philadelphia
Modeled after the Champs Elysees, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway between City Hall and the Philadelphia Museum of Art, is lined with parks and museums (including The Academy of Natural Sciences, Franklin Institute, Barnes, Rodin, Museum of Art and more!) Love Park - home to Robert Indiana’s famous LOVE sculpture and the entrance to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway (15th Street and JFK Blvd) Sister Cities Park - a welcoming space featuring a café, boat pond, educational garden and commemorative fountain; more importantly, where Jacob popped the question (18th Street and Benjamin Franklin Parkway) Walk past the art museum onto Anne d’Harnoncourt Drive and Kelly Drive to Boathouse Row, the largest collection of boathouses in a single location; these historic 19th-century buildings remain the homes of local rowing clubs (whose members won two gold medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics!)
Bucks County
Sesame Place - If you have little ones with you (or are a little one at heart), this is a must! They will never forget a day at this Sesame Street themed amusement and water park! (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne) Parx Casino - features slot machines, along with 188 live table games (2999 Street Rd, Bensalem) Neshaminy State Park - home to PA's only estuary and 4 miles of trails passing historical buildings and overlooking the bank of the Delaware River (3401 State Rd., Bensalem) Andalusia Historic House, Garden and Arboretum - the ancestral home of the Biddle family, a stately presence on the Delaware River for more than 225 years, boasting preserved native woodlands and spectacular gardens (1237 State Road, Andalusia) Peddler’s Village - a storybook village with charming colonial-style buildings, award-winning gardens, shopping and dining (100 Peddlers Village, Lahaska) New Hope - a scenic small town, home to eclectic shopping, riverside restaurants and cultural attractions
Head to NJ
Only about 20 min away Grounds for Sculpture, a 42-acre sculpture park and museum (80 Sculptors Way, Hamilton Township, NJ) Princeton University - hosts walking tours of its outdoor sculptures and its art museum is open to the public. Check out the Office of Community and Regional Affairs Newsletter