Things to do / Travel Guide
Philadelphia
Upon arrival in Philadelphia, one way to get acquainted with the layout of the town is by taking a narrated bus tour. This will get you oriented with this large and busy city where the sheer number of historical sites can be daunting.
For a narrated bus tour at your own pace, you can buy a moderately priced all-day pass and ride a Victorian-style trolley along a route with 20 stops covering the top attractions. Board or disembark at any stop, including the Pennsylvania Convention Center, the Liberty Bell, the Historic Area, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the Avenue of the Arts (South Broad Street), Fairmount Park, the Philadelphia Zoo, the Eastern State Penitentiary, and Penn's Landing. The full route takes about 1½ hours to complete and passengers can hop on and off as they desire
Another colorful option is to tour Philadelphia in the Ducks, amphibious sightseeing vehicles that take you through the heart of the Historic Area and then for a relaxing cruise along the Penn's Landing waterfront. Enjoy a scenic journey through the Old City, the Historic Area, and along lively South Street before this unique vehicle drives right into the Delaware River for a floating tour of the riverfront. The non-stop tour lasts about 80 minutes, 20 minutes being on the Delaware River. Sites include the Betsy Ross House, Ben Franklin's Grave, Society Hill, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and the Ben Franklin Bridge. Tours run seven days a week, from March-November, and are relatively inexpensive.
There are also plenty of guided walking tours of Philadelphia, such as the “Poor Richard's Walking Tour,” which is led by graduates of the University of Pennsylvania. Poor Richard's Walking Tour has many different tours that, for instance, can focus on African American, Colonial, Jewish, or literary sites throughout the city. More information about these walking tours is available at Phillywalks.
Other tours include guided bus tours, in both double-decker and open buses, from short, introductory historic tours to specialty tours that include museums, meals, concerts, or special events. If you book a guided tour, be sure you understand what's included in the price, as many of the historic sites are free; so the guide may only be making a reservation.
A good place to book tickets for Historic Area sites is the Independence Visitors Center (on Sixth Street between Arch Street and Market Street) or you can order in advance by phone or online.
If you choose not to take a guided or package tour, you can make a significant savings on entrance fees, especially to museums and attractions that are not free, by purchasing a discount pass. If you're traveling with children, be sure everyone in the party is up to all the tours included; otherwise you may go home with unused coupons.
You can purchase a CityPass, which offers a discount on admission to popular attractions, saving you up to 50%. The CityPass booklet of tickets is valid for nine days and provides free admissions, helps you avoid long waits in lines and gives helpful information and tips. The attractions included are the Independence Seaport Museum, National Constitution Center, Philadelphia Zoo, Philadelphia Trolley Works, The Academy of Natural Sciences, and The Franklin Institute or Science Museum. The CityPass can be bought at any of these sites.
If you're planning to be in Philadelphia for several days, you have the option to purchase the Philadelphia Pass, the most comprehensive pass, which grants admissions to more than 30 sites. Passes can be purchased for $35 and up, depending on how long you're staying in the area, and include a guidebook, maps, and other useful information. Passes can be purchased at the Visitor Center Information Desk (on the corner of Sixth Street and Market Street), or contact the Independence Visitor Center.
Outside Philadelphia
There is a wide spectrum of guided tours from Philadelphia to all parts of the central, south, and southwest areas of eastern Pennsylvania. For example, there are numerous day trips to Pennsylvania Dutch Country which combine trains and bus, and include shopping and dinner. Wine tasting bus tours to the Brandywine River Valley wine country are also popular. Special interest tours, such as Civil War battlefield tours, historical sites, and antique shopping tours are also available to suit most budgets and tastes.
Package tours of the region's northern mountain area for hiking, camping, or other outdoor activities often originate from airports serving that region, but such tours are also available from Philadelphia. There are also package chocolate tours to Hershey out of Harrisburg or Philadelphia.
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