Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

Those interested in indulging in a few days of luxury and pampering should consider Philadelphia, where living the high life is easier to obtain and more affordable than ever. A host of bargains, from prix-fixe dinners at elegant restaurants to overnight stays in five-star hotels to shopping deals at designer consignment boutiques, means visitors can save and still see the city and surrounding countryside in style. Below are just a few suggestions for a first-class visit to Philly:

High-Value Eats:

• At Rittenhouse Square’s Audrey Claire, guests experience an intimately set, open-air Mediterranean bring-your-own-bottle (BYOB) restaurant without breaking the bank.

Philly may be best known as the City of Brotherly Love, but sisters from Center City to New Hope have plenty of reasons to celebrate the gay nightlife scene for women. An exclusive nightclub and monthly parties have put Philly on the map for lesbian life. Here’s a look at where gay women come out to play and where they stay after the festivities end:

Venues:

• Sisters – Philadelphia’s longtime lesbian nightclub attracts women of all ages Tuesday through Sunday with live entertainment, DJs, karaoke and some of the best happy hour specials in the Gayborhood. The tri-level club

Historical Sites & Attractions:

• Wannabe sailors can spend the night in the nation’s most decorated battleship, the Battleship New Jersey, and take tours of the officers’ and crew’s mess halls, communications center and high-tech command center. 62 Battleship Place, Camden, (856) 966-1652, battleshipnewjersey.org
• America’s most famous flag maker greets guests in her interactive 18^th-century upholstery shop at the Betsy Ross House. Visitors learn about Betsy’s life and legend from the lady herself. Summer brings a free Once Upon A Nation storytelling bench in the courtyard and the annual Flag Festival. Also, every morning at 10:00 a.m. in

New Museums Add Even More Cultural Cred
This summer, the Barnes Foundation’s Philadelphia campus marks its first full season on the culturally rich Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Home to one of the world’s greatest collections of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and early Modern paintings, the Barnes Foundation’s new building combines the vision of original owner Dr. Albert Barnes with a contemporary and green execution. In view of the Barnes, the Rodin Museum will reopen this summer after a major renovation and welcome visitors to stand in awe of The Thinker, The Kiss and The Gates of Hell, plus wander around the beautiful outdoor

This winter, whether visitors are spending the night in Philadelphia for a family-friendly weekend, a romantic getaway or a trip that tempts the tastebuds, there are hotel packages fitting for all itineraries. With hotels offering deals that include a free night’s stay, $50 hotel credits or seats at some of Philly’s most renowned restaurants, there’s no better time to be in Philadelphia and The Countryside®:

Winter Family Escape Package:
Hotel: Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn’s Landing
Package Overview: Guests who book this package enjoy waterfront activities, including complimentary tickets to the Blue Cross RiverRink and discounted admission to the

This is a Philadelphia Museum of Art press release.

When visitors from around the country and beyond arrive in Philadelphia to see Van Gogh Up Close—the highly-anticipated international loan exhibition for which the Philadelphia Museum of Art is the only U.S. venue—they will have their choice of four exclusive hotel packages that combine a premier overnight experience with tickets to the post-Impressionist feast for the eyes at the Museum, as well as 15% off Amtrak tickets, 10% off in the Museum Store, and a special celebratory van Gogh dessert in the Museum’s Stephen Starr-operated Granite Hill restaurant.

Travelers can

Philadelphia, aptly dubbed the City of Brotherly Love, caters to lovers looking to re-energize their relationships at cultural sites, romantic eateries, outdoor attractions and other swoon-worthy spots. Couples can make it a weekend—or longer—by booking special hotel packages, some of which are romantically themed, on visitphilly.com/hotels. One popular deal, the Philly Overnight® Hotel Package comes with two nights and free hotel parking.

Here are a few suggestions for embracing the region’s romantic side:

Cozy Cuisine:

• Tucked in a corner brownstone a few blocks off Rittenhouse Square, Friday Saturday Sunday has long been a local favorite of amorous couples craving

Nothing compares to a getaway to Philadelphia: The United States’ first great city is chock full of historical attractions, arts and cultural treasures, four centuries of architecture, delectable dining—and hotels that know how to pamper. A lavish $8,000 hotel package? The Rittenhouse Hotel awaits. A concierge who can make dreams come true? AKA Rittenhouse Square’s staff can arrange private trapeze lessons, cooking lessons, art instructions and more. Here are just a few of the hotel indulgences that virtually sparkle with grandness:

• Dreams do come true at the modern boutique hotel that is AKA Rittenhouse Square. Just steps from the city’s

Guests of the inns and hotels of Philadelphia and The Countryside® can now expect more than superlative service and historic trimmings. Increasingly, they can also avail themselves of in-room massages, customized facials, herbal body treatments and day-long day-spa escapes—without ever leaving the property. Such on-site luxuries are now standard, providing much-needed relaxation after traveling and rejuvenation before exploration. Here are some spas to visit before or after spending a night or two:

In-Room & In Luck:

• Guests at the new, contemporary boutique hotel AKA Rittenhouse Square can order up gentle to intense in-suite massages and guided relaxation therapies. They

Pet lovers are crazy about their animal companions and spend more than $40 billion a year in the U.S. on pet services and accoutrements to prove it. For those who love to spoil their pet but hate to leave him behind while traveling, the Philadelphia region proves to be the “purr-fect” getaway. Pet-friendly hotels, restaurants and retail shops welcome visitors and their animal companions in all sections of the city and its suburbs. From canine-friendly parks to VIP (Very Important Pet) hotel programs, the Philadelphia region makes it easy for visitors to bring their furry friends along for the ride.

2012 is a year to look backward and forward in the Philadelphia region. In a nod to the past, several of the region’s cultural institutions will showcase globally revered treasures from the worlds of religion and art that date from antiquity to the 20^th century. But with eyes focused on the future, the region is also embracing some of the most modern interpretive artwork ever commissioned. Plus, a number of the city’s museums are unveiling major renovations that will enable them to thrive for many years to come. Here are just 12 reasons to visit in 2012:

Relocations, Redesigns,

Gay and lesbian travelers have plenty of options when choosing gay-friendly hotel accommodations in the Greater Philadelphia region. More than a dozen hotels have identified as gay-friendly, letting gay and lesbian travelers know they are welcome and can be assured friendly service. With chic accommodations and budget-friendly options, the Philadelphia region is the perfect place to Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay. Here’s a look at some of the great gay-friendly hotels in town:

Gayborhood:

• Alexander Inn: Nestled in the heart of Washington Square West, popularly known as the “Gayborhood,” The Alexander Inn is one of Philadelphia’s

From the coziest bed and breakfasts to the most international of corporate chains, hotels in the Philadelphia region work hard to provide their guests and employees with amenities and programs that reduce their environmental footprint on the planet. Philadelphia hotels use low-flow shower heads and energy-efficient lighting; clean with supplies that aren’t toxic; recycle old batteries, lightbulbs and office equipment; donate used fryer oil to farmers to use as bio-diesel fuel; and provide guests with the option to reuse their sheets and towels for the duration of their stay. Here is a look at some of the hotels that are

Waking up to weekend brunch is the ultimate luxury, and the inns and hotels of Philadelphia and The Countryside® make it especially memorable for their guests and residents. From buffet tables laden with caviar, French patisserie and chocolate fountains to à la carte poached egg concoctions from the area’s hottest chefs, brunch time is the ideal time to visit Philly’s hotels. Here are just a few ideas for getting the day started:

Bountiful Buffets:

• Bucks County’s Black Bass Hotel offers a value-laden $35 brunch complete with champagne, omelets, pates, salads, fruit, dessert and more—all served up with enchanting river

Philadelphia residents and visitors eager to unwind after a long day of work or an exciting day of touring can take respite in a Center City hotel, where enticing Happy Hour specials make it easy to kick back. Bargain-priced beers, award-winning wines and half-price bites are among the feel-good offerings. Here’s a look at some hotels making it very easy to get happy:

• High atop the tower of Center City’s Hyatt at The Bellevue, XIX’s (Nineteen) dramatic setting offers stunning views that helped it once nab Philadelphia magazine’s coveted Best of Philly Happy Hour nod. Couples and coworkers crowd the

Philadelphia, which recently marked the 40^th anniversary of its vibrant Gayborhood, continues to come out as one of the nation’s top travel destinations for gay and lesbian visitors. As reflected in its award-winning Philadelphia – Get Your History Straight and Your Nightlife Gay® campaign, the region has become the place to learn about America’s past by day and to experience a little of the party life by night. Philadelphia is now tied for the #9 spot on the list of most-visited gay and lesbian destinations on Community Marketing, Inc.’s annual LGBT Tourism Study, and it’s tied for #2 among

Only three months into the new year, Greater Philadelphia’s restaurants, hotels, events, beer and more are racking up all kinds of accolades from major national publications, websites and blogs. Calling the city “romantic” and “underrated,” Philadelphia has won praise for its top-notch children’s museum (Please Touch Museum®), its must-see annual events (Philadelphia International Flower Show), its mouth-watering sandwiches (Koja and Paesano’s) and much more. Here’s a look at 14 accolades making headlines so far this year:

The City Itself:

1. In its March issue, Travel + Leisure listed Philadelphia in its “World’s Most Underrated

In 2011, Philadelphians benefited from the creation of two public green spaces so visually, recreationally and environmentally significant that they transformed the city’s eastern and western riverbanks.

First, the former Pier 11 reopened as the Race Street Pier, a tree-lined park split into two levels. The upper level boasts an expansive sky promenade, and the lower terrace supports a lawn with generous seating and social space. Penn Park, an urban open space being built by The University of Pennsylvania, debuted along the Schuylkill River in the fall. The 24-acre park added athletic venues and areas for informal outdoor recreation and

This winter, visitors to Philadelphia and The Countryside® can take advantage of a super-sized version of the popular Philly Overnight® Hotel Package. A fan favorite, the two-night package includes even more added-value items than usual, including Blue Cross RiverRink passes and combo tickets for the Betsy Ross House and Liberty 360 3-D show. Here are the details:

PACKAGE AVAILABILTY DATES: Check in any day of the week, based upon availability, from February 1 through March 6, 2011.

HOTEL PACKAGE RATES AND ELEMENTS: Rates for the Philly Overnight® Hotel Package start at around $198 for both nights. Package elements include:

• Two-night

With the annual Philadelphia International Flower Show (March 6-13, 2011) and the first-ever Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts (April 7-May 1, 2011) both themed around Paris this year, Philadelphia continues its longstanding love affair with all things French. While in town for these not-to-be-missed events, visitors can inspire their inner Francophile by exploring the region’s many cultural, gastronomic, architectural and fashion French connections.

Here’s how to explore the City of Lights right here in the City of Brotherly Love:

Fabulous Façades:

• Benjamin Franklin Parkway – Paul Philippe Cret (1876-1945), an émigré from Lyon, planned this wide avenue lined