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The Philadelphia Insider
covers Philadelphia's top sights
and museums.
From world-class attractions (like Independence
Hall and the Betsy
Ross House)
to the hidden treasures often overlooked
by other guide books, The Insider
has it all. Our insider travel
tips help you cope with
some of the everyday hassles you might
encounter as well as offering budget travel ideas (and these days, who doesn't need a way to save a little money?). Traveling to Philly and need hotel, car
rental or air travel
reservations? We can help with that, too.
Philadelphia
Tip for :
Love it or hate it (and folks always seem to feel one way or the
other), the City
Hall building in Philadelphia is here to stay. But things are looking up for those who
appreciate the building's history, architectural style, and
plentiful ornate statues. A recent cleaning has erased decades of
soot and dirt, revealing a white marble and granite
facade. Efforts are also underway to restore interior rooms as
well. The best way to learn more about this unusual
building is to take a tour -- in
person or online.
Highlights:
FAIRMOUNT
PARK
One of our favorite
places to hang out in Philadelphia is Fairmount Park, which features (among other things) a
zoo, historic houses, and plenty of places to go hiking and
walking (after all, Fairmount
Park's 8,500 acres make it the largest landscaped city park in
the world). We love the azaleas in the Spring, the outdoor
concerts in the Summer, the Sculpture Garden in the Fall and the
twinkling lights of Boathouse Row in the winter. Season after
season, there's no place like it!
PHILADELPHIA'S
HIDDEN TREASURES
The city has plenty
of wonderful gems tucked away -- you just
have to know where to find them. Here are
some of Philly's special secrets:
There is a beautiful
glass mosaic by Louis Comfort
Tiffany in the lobby of the
Curtis Center, an office building
on Washington Square.
College Hall, an
administration building at the University of
Pennsylvania, is said
to be the inspiration of the
house in Charles Addams' The
Addams Family cartoons.
- Boathouse
Row is made up of 11 Victorian
buildings that house the "Schuylkill Navy" --
rowing clubs that practice on the
nearby river. Tiny white lights
that outline each of the
buildings create a wondrous sight
every night throughout the year.
- The Philadelphia Art
Alliance, housed in an
elegant mansion off Rittenhouse
Square, has wonderful galleries
that are open to the public.
FIRST FRIDAYS
Remember that on the first
Friday of each month, more than 40 art
galleries and shops in Old City stay open
late for receptions and shows. It's like
an elegant, traveling cocktail party.
Call 215-592-7752 for details.
The Philadelphia Insider Directory:
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