Things To Do
National Constitution Center
Walk or Uber from your hotel. Experience the performance that Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor called “the best 17-minute civics lesson in the country.” Freedom Rising is a stirring 17-minute journey from the founding of our nation to the present. This vibrant, theatrical production features 360-degree multimedia and a live narrator who tells the story of the U.S. Constitution—from its creation during the 1787 Constitutional Convention to the amendments and court decisions that continue to make the Constitution “the most powerful vision of human freedom ever expressed.” Freedom Rising is performed hourly in the National Constitution Center’s Sidney Kimmel Theater when the museum is open.
Philadelphia Museum of Art
The museum houses significant works by renowned artists such as Monet, Renoir, and Van Gogh. It features a strong collection of American art, particularly from the 18th and 19th centuries, including the most important collection of Thomas Eakins’ works. Many visitors find the museum engaging, even those who typically do not enjoy art museums.
Masonic Temple
A National Historic Landmark in the heart of Philadelphia, the Masonic Temple at One North Broad Street is home to the Masonic Library and Museum and the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania. The building features a Norman-style exterior which ushers visitors inside, where stylistic references to the Middle Ages give way to a fantasy of Renaissance-inspired neoclassicism in the corridors and stairs and to 19th Century “eclectic revivalism” in the lodge rooms. Oriental Hall and the neoclassical Library and Museum, the Grand Ballroom, the Grand Master’s Suite and offices share the first floor. Norman, Egyptian, and Ionic Halls share the second floor with Corinthian and Renaissance Halls. The third floor houses Gothic Hall. Two ornate corridors and stair halls complement and connect every room. The temple is a very short walk from your hotel.
Old City Historic Walking Tours
"The tour was excellent, and our guide was both informative and funny. We learned a lot in an hour and a half about the original old city of Philadelphia."
Rittenhouse Row
Along Rittenhouse Row’s busy sidewalks — many with seating for alfresco dining and drinking in the warm months — residents and visitors find high-end stores; locally owned boutiques; small galleries; bargain stores; theaters and entertainment; cafes; beer, wine and cocktail bars; and restaurants of all kinds, from petite BYOBs to crowd-pleasing chains. Surrounded by more than 200 dining, retail and cultural establishments, this is Philadelphia’s High Street shopping neighborhood, stretching from the Avenue of the Arts (Broad Street) to 21st Street, between Spruce and Market Streets. Rittenhouse Row is brimming with locally owned boutiques, national retailers, specialty shops, luxurious spas and salons, restaurants, and cafés. Shoppers looking for a bargain, a bauble or a baguette can find it here.