Philadelphia and the Countryside - Press Room

Historical Sites & Attractions:

• Wannabe sailors can visit the nation’s most decorated battleship, the Battleship New Jersey, and take tours of the ship, ride the 4-D flight simulator, climb into the onboard helicopter and sleep in the sailors’ bunks as part of its award-winning Overnight Encampment program. 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 weeklong, annual Flag Fest celebration with free events every day. Also,

Philadelphia is brimming with historical riches, and the sites and attractions that show off the city’s historic side are constantly evolving to create richer experiences for modern-day visitors. This year brings upgrades, expansions and exhibitions designed to shine a new light on Philadelphia’s well-established historical attractions.

Renovated & Renewed:

• The Pearl S. Buck Museum reopens after the completion of its eight-year interior restoration project on June 26, which would have been the Pulitzer Prize-winning writer’s 121^st birthday. Tours of the national historic landmark home feature increased access to collections, including clothes that she wore, tableware and linens that

For those visitors who like to stray off the beaten path, Philadelphia is bursting with attractions that pay homage to the unusual. The region boasts a slew of delightfully quirky spots, including a bench that seems to contradict the laws of sound, the country’s largest bug museum, an anatomical model made of a human nervous system and more. Here’s a look at some of the Philadelphia-area attractions that make the region just a little delightfully weird:

Collections Of A Natural Kind:

• There’s an unsettling site at the entrance to the bookstore at Drexel University College of Medicine’s East Falls

The Calendar of Events is organized as follows:

May 2013
June 2013
July 2013
August 2013
September 2013
October 2013
November 2013
December 2013
January 2014
February 2014
March 2014
April 2014 

MAY 2013

Through May 5, 2013
PERMENANT COLLECTION. Inspired by events at Philadelphia’s Barnes Foundation, this gripping play at the Interact Theatre Company explores the controversy that arises when a suburban museum’s newly appointed Executive Director puts forward a proposal to change the permanent collection. The show is a part of Interact’s 25^th anniversary season. (215) 568-8079, interacttheatre.org

Through May 12, 2013
STARGIRL. In this world

Philadelphians love their festivals. Whether it’s local artisans and craftspeople sharing their wares in West Philadelphia, a traditional Yoruba-style street fair on South Street, a craft beer party on East Passyunk Avenue or a re-enactment of the storming of the Bastille in Fairmount, there’s always a reason to celebrate in the authentically Philly neighborhoods outside of Center City. The following are some mark-the-calendar happenings for 2013:

Fishtown & Northern Liberties:

• Lining the cobblestone street with artists of all stripes and genres, the Trenton Avenue Arts Festival includes the storied Kensington Kinetic Sculpture Derby, a quirky competition for the most

The warm-weather months sizzle with fun, exploration and intrigue in Philadelphia thanks to a slew of new exhibitions, museum openings and special events on tap for summer 2013. Visitors can discover the new and super green KidZooU at the Philadelphia Zoo, unravel the secret world of espionage while touring Spy: The Secret World of Espionage at The Franklin Institute and admire the work of contemporary artist Ellsworth Kelly at the year-old Barnes Foundation.

Here’s a look at what’s new and notable in Philly this summer:

New & Renewed Attractions:

• Ben is back. After an 18-month revitalization, the new Benjamin

Philadelphians love their festivals. Whether it’s local artisans and craftspeople sharing their wares on Penn’s Landing, a celebration of the fall season in Midtown Village, a traditional Yoruba-style street fair on South Street or a craft beer party on East Passyunk Avenue, there’s always a reason to celebrate in neighborhoods in and around Center City. The following are some mark-the-calendar happenings for 2013:

CENTER CITY

Benjamin Franklin Parkway:

• For the third year running, the Philadelphia Science Festival will unleash 10 days of exploratory exhibitions, lectures, debates and hands-on activities on campuses, museums and other venues around the city, culminating

When it comes to visiting Philadelphia, some of the best things to see and do are free—or close to it. For families and budget travelers eager to explore the region, that’s great news. Check out the city’s many low-cost or no-cost attractions, including historic Independence Hall, free student recitals at the Curtis Institute of Music, the hi-tech production line of Herr’s Potato Chip Factory and the always-colorful Mummers Museum.

Historical Sites:

• Snuggled behind the east wing of Independence Hall is Philosophical Hall, a brick building erected in the late 1780s that was the nation’s first museum, national library and

New Year’s Day is about celebrating, and there’s no better place to fete than at the Philadelphia’s Mummers Parade, a 113-year-old tradition in which 10,000 men and women dressed in colorfully lavish costumes twirl, sashay, pirouette and strut up one of the city’s main streets. An unforgettably wild ritual, the parade and subsequent performances are all family friendly, yet exciting enough to entertain everybody. While a carnival-like atmosphere welcomes anyone who decides to stop by at the last minute, a little advance preparation guarantees a clear view. Better still, spending the night in the city ensures an early start to

Hotels throughout the Philadelphia region are offering packages to promote popular attractions and activities both indoors and out this winter season. Couples can get in on the New Year’s Eve action at various hotels, families can take advantage of an offer that includes tickets to the BlueCross RiverRink and girlfriends can get cozy with a package that nabs them a 20% discount at The Bellevue’s haute shops. Here’s a look at some of the offers available this holiday season and beyond:

Hoilday Packages:

Philadelphia Holiday Package
Hotel: Omni Hotel at Independence Park
Package Overview: Guests enjoy deluxe accommodations, valet

Major openings and exciting events and exhibitions offer plenty of reasons for travelers to add Philadelphia to their must-visit list in 2013. For animal lovers, there’s the Philadelphia Zoo’s new children’s zoo and education center. For history buffs, the opening of the Benjamin Franklin Museum—formerly Franklin Court—will be big. For fashionistas, it’s the 30 dresses featured in the Come See About Me: The Mary Wilson Supremes Collection exhibition that are sure to dazzle. And for culture vultures, the return of the Philadelphia International Festival of the Arts is sure to please.

Here are 13 reasons to visit Philadelphia in

The perfect Mother’s Day weekend awaits mothers, daughters and granddaughters who visit Philadelphia this spring for a tour of the Come See About Me: The Mary Wilson Supremes Collection exhibition, featuring more than 30 gowns worn by The Supremes, on view at The African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP) from January 25 through August 18, 2013. The exhibit explores Mary Wilson’s journey to self-actualization as part of an internationally renowned female group whose music crossed over to mainstream audiences and broke racial barriers during a tumultuous time in U.S. history. Making its debut in Philadelphia, the display features the iconic

Art lovers, garden enthusiasts, film connoisseurs and sports fans keep coming back year after year for festivals, athletic events, art shows, parades and cultural events in Philadelphia. Here’s what’s going on in the region in 2013*.

January:

• Thousands of decorative strutters kick off the New Year by marching up Broad Street in the festive day-long Mummers Parade that ends with the Fancy Brigade Finale at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. January 1, 2013. phillymummers.com
• The region gets revved up in the 2013, thanks to the Philadelphia Auto Show. The Pennsylvania Convention Center transforms into a car lover’s dream, with 700

Long a pioneer in the environmental movement, Philadelphia is attracting increasing global attention for its efforts to establish itself as a leader in urban sustainability. Across the city, eco-programs abound—from the implementation of the Philadelphia Water Department’s Green City, Clean Waters program to greenscape previously impervious surfaces, to Mayor Nutter’s program to give 300,000 trees to city residents for planting, to the Philadelphia School District’s recent designation by The Center for Green Schools as the greenest in the nation. Not to be outdone, the region’s service amenities and modes of transportation are also advancing the green revolution. Here’s a look

* Note: Attractions listed in alphabetical order in each section.

Historical Sites & Attractions:

1. While exploring the Battleship New Jersey Museum and Memorial, visitors can enjoy exhibitions that display artifacts from the ship’s past and play an interactive role as they follow the tour route. America’s most decorated battleship also hosts many special events and overnight encampments. 62 Battleship Place, Camden, NJ, (866) 877-6262, battleshipnewjersey.org
2. While historians debate Betsy Ross’ role in making the first American flag, the Betsy Ross House offers an excellent portrayal of a working-class woman’s life in Colonial America. Visitors can tour the home of

Families vacationing in Philadelphia and The Countryside® this summer can easily add a round of miniature golf to their fun-packed itinerary. Courses at 30th Street Station, the King of Prussia Mall and Franklin Square mean people don’t have to venture far to enjoy the classic game. Visitors of all ages can improve their short game or just putt around in Philadelphia this summer at these venues:

• The Porch at 30^th Street Station hosts free miniature golf during the month of July. At the public space located just outside of the train station, the nine-hole course also offers golfers a

This is a Wawa Welcome America! press release.

Whether it is July 4, 1776 or July 4, 2012, Philadelphia is the only place to celebrate America’s birthday. People of all ages are invited to the City of Brotherly Love to make lifetime memories at Wawa Welcome America! -- the nation’s largest, free 4th of July festival -- from June 25 to July 4, 2012. With 10 patriotic days packed with free, family fun, Philadelphia rolls out the “red, white and blue” carpet to area natives and visitors from the Greater Philadelphia region and across the nation.
A detailed event schedule

In Philadelphia and The Countryside®, more and more people—especially those with children—have developed an interest in understanding where their food comes from and finding ways to get involved in the local food scene. Whether they want to buy fresh food for their family, get a taste of new local flavors or teach their kids that milk comes from a cow not a carton, a growing number of visitors and locals are finding answers through agritourism—agricultural activities on or sponsored by farms.

Here’s a look at some of the region’s family-friendly offerings:

Easy Pickins:

• Active Acres Farm, located just north

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) today announced a partnership with the Philadelphia Phillies that offers ticket holders and tour takers the chance to have their photo taken with a spectacular 10’ x 22’ 3-D work of art featuring Citizens Bank Park, the Phillie Phanatic, the Philadelphia skyline and a With Love, Philadelphia XOXO® letter. The With Love 3-D Art will be on display at the Left Field Entrance Gate at Citizens Bank Park beginning on July 8 and continuing throughout the 2011 regular season.

Phillies ticket holders can check out the artwork and pose for a free photo