Outdoor adventure in and around Philadelphia

Description:

A haven of privacy and elegance with luxurious comfort. Formerly the Rittenhouse Square Bed & Breakfast, this meticulously renovated 1900's carriage house has the refined style, charisma and sophistication that make it an internationally sought after oasis. With twenty-three (23) guest rooms, the entire property often becomes the exclusive temporary residence of an entourage of out of town VIP's or business people searching for a tranquil, yet first-class, cosmopolitan location to rest while attending an event. The cafe features a continental breakfast each morning. The staff continuously pampers its guests with plush robes, marble bathrooms, triple sheeting, nightly turndown service with bottled water. The staff invites you to enjoy a glass of white wine in the drawing room every evening from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. All rooms have large Plasma Flat Screen TV's, CD players, IPOD hookups, wireless access, telephones, voicemail and more! Located on a small quiet street in the very heart of Philadelphia's most fashionable district, Rittenhouse 1715 is within walking distance of many of the city's world class restaurants, cafes, museums, unique shops and historical attactions.

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Our Local Expert Says:

Absolutely beautiful historic garden. Definitely worth a visit!

Description:

Considered to be the progenitor of American horticulture, Bartram's Garden is an 18th Century wonder on the banks of the Schuykill River. Established in 1731, the home of John and William Bartram, the first American botanists, the gardens stand prominently on an estate of 44 acres with a view of the city skyline in the background. This site is home to aspiring scientists to discover the bevy of new species in the Americas.

Our Local Expert Says:

There's never a shortage of sights at the Italian Market. Come here to buy meat, cheese, vegetables, and delicacies, or come just to observe the sounds and smells of the crowded marketplace. Don't leave without sampling some cheese at DiBruno's and a fine Italian dessert from Isgro's.

Description:

As the name suggests, this tour takes you through the stalls and shops of the oldest ethnic market - the Italian Market. Get acquainted with Italian cold cuts like Sopresseta and Prosciutto and sample Italian savories. Guests receive discount cards for shopping and authentic, traditional Italian recipes. Find cheeses, oils, and other imported items displayed in a riot of colors. Students and groups receive discounts. Reservations are necessary. Tour groups must have at least four people.

Description:

Philadelphia has been an important seaport town since the 1600s. The Seaport Museum traces this history through exhibits, demonstrations, and several ships on display, including a World War II submarine and the USS Olympia, Admiral Dewey's flagship in the Spanish-American War. The auditorium at the museum is also used for chamber music concerts.

Description:

A former "Best of Philly" winner, Rock Lobster is known by locals and tourists alike who enjoy delicious seafood, a variety of great music, and a wonderful crowd of people. The appeal of Rock Lobster can partially be attributed to the atmosphere of New England. Charming, quaint, and unpretentious, Rock Lobster succeeds because it exists above the realm of trend. As the management states, "we are innovative within the box." They offer a vast menu of classic seafood for both lunch and dinner. Some items may change, but the traditional staples remain. Live entertainment at Rock Lobster changes nightly and ranges from salsa night on Sundays complete with lessons for the beginners, to Jazz bands and DJ's.

Our Local Expert Says:

There's never a dull moment at this zoo. Watch sea otters play, giraffes graze, and lion cubs learn from their parents.

Description:

The Philadelphia Zoo, in operation since 1874, is the oldest zoo in the United States. Frank Furness designed the beautiful Victorian gates and gatehouses, still standing grandly at the entrance. The zoo has nearly 1500 animals in various habitats, including a small mammal house, a reptile and amphibian house, a prairie dog field, and "African Plains." Kids and parents will enjoy the children's zoo with animals to pet, a ride on a camel's back in the African Plains, and a trip around the zoo on the monorail.

Our Local Expert Says:

This is a beautiful place to spend an afternoon, taking in the scenes of Fairmount Park and touring the serene Japanese house and garden.

Description:

Since 1979, the Horticultural Center has augmented the variety of its botanical life by collecting seeds from Asia, Europe, and the West Indies. Permanent and seasonal plantings display over 2,000 examples of flora. The center is located in Fairmount Park. On the grounds there is a Shofuzo-a reproduction of a 17th-Century Japanese middle-class house and Japanese garden. A donation of $1 is suggested.

Our Local Expert Says:

Fairmount Park is the nation's largest urban park, spreading throughout much of Philadelphia. It's definitely worth a trip to the historic houses or the Japanese Tea House within the Park.

Description:

This large expanse of grasslands, recreational facilities, streams and historical structures borders the northwest side of Philadelphia. The 8,700 acre ground include day camps, playgrounds, sporting fields, basketball courts and hiking trails. Special events include running events, bicycle and antique car races, walk-a-thons, regattas, and small and large picnics, including the Greek Picnic with over 100,000 participants annually from around the country. Tours are available of the historic mansions in the park. Also, the Horticulture Society maintains a Japanese Teahouse, and conducts tea ceremonies on weekends.

Our Local Expert Says:

While the famous lights of Boathouse Row can only be seen from across the river, the east side of the Boathouses provides an ever-popular path for joggers, bikers, strolling families, picnickers, and others. Half a mile past the boathouses lies a mid-century sculpture garden depicting the history of the U.S. For some exercise (and a view of the lights), follow the Kelly Drive path all the way to the Falls Bridge and head back on West River Drive, completing an 8-mile loop that ends in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Description:

The lights that illuminate the boathouses on Boathouse Row are a classic Philadelphia scene. Numerous painters have painted these lights, which even native Philadelphians stop to marvel at. The only difficulty is getting to a place where you can see the lights; they're on the river side of the boathouses, so they can only be seen from West River Drive or the Schuylkill Expressway (I-76), and only at night. If you have access to a car, try driving West River Drive, crossing the Falls Bridge, and coming back to the city on Kelly Drive. Alternately, the boathouses are quite lovely from Kelly Drive, even without the famous lights. Kelly Drive, which begins at the Art Museum and extends four miles northwest, is an ever-popular place for bikers, joggers, and picnickers.

Description:

When one wearies of discussing the high culture of the sophisticated Rittenhouse Square district and would rather talk batting averages and basketball, the Boathouse Row Bar offers a pleasant sanctuary. A mural of Philadelphia's famous rowing house area, Boathouse Row, sets a sporty tone. The lacquered wood bar and settings are surrounded by walls of trophies, sculls, and a painting of Olympian Jack Kelly. The friendly middle-aged customers come to drink fine cocktails and discuss the athletes of years gone by. Located in The Rittenhouse, don't be put off by the walk through the elegant lobby; this bar is one of the most casual you'll find. Numerous televisions bring patrons international sports. Along with an array of affordable fine beers on tap and full line of spirits, tasty sandwiches and casual American appetizers and entrees are served.

Description:

Known as one of the best Indian food places in the city, Tiffin has one room of seating upstairs, while the entire downstairs is devoted to take-out.

Description:

There is no city in America that is more historic than Philadelphia, and what better time to explore the haunts of this famous city than at night? Join costumed tour guides for a leisurely stroll through Society Hill in America's most historic and most haunted city! This candlelight walking tour is based on the book "Philadelphia Ghost Stories" by Charles J. Adams III. Listen to tales of the unknown as you walk in the footsteps of famous men and women. These ghost stories are sure to delight the entire family.

Description:

A haven of privacy and elegance with luxurious comfort. Formerly the Rittenhouse Square Bed & Breakfast, this meticulously renovated 1900's carriage house has the refined style, charisma and sophistication that make it an internationally sought after oasis. With twenty-three (23) guest rooms, the entire property often becomes the exclusive temporary residence of an entourage of out of town VIP's or business people searching for a tranquil, yet first-class, cosmopolitan location to rest while attending an event. The cafe features a continental breakfast each morning. The staff continuously pampers its guests with plush robes, marble bathrooms, triple sheeting, nightly turndown service with bottled water. The staff invites you to enjoy a glass of white wine in the drawing room every evening from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. All rooms have large Plasma Flat Screen TV's, CD players, IPOD hookups, wireless access, telephones, voicemail and more! Located on a small quiet street in the very heart of Philadelphia's most fashionable district, Rittenhouse 1715 is within walking distance of many of the city's world class restaurants, cafes, museums, unique shops and historical attactions.

As seen on

Description:

The Bicycle Club of Philadelphia sponsors recreational cycling activities, promotes bicycle safety and regulation, and encourages cycling as a healthy alternative to motor vehicle transportation. membership includes regional tours, frequent rides, and bike events. It also entitles you to discounts at many of the area's bike shops. The Bicycle Club welcomes all cyclists, from beginner to expert, and provides a variety of activities at each level. The club's monthly newsletter, "Quick Release," can be sampled online.

Our Local Expert Says:

This square is one of the best places in the city for people-watching. Grab an outdoor table at one of the upscale bar/restaurants lining the Square, and you'll be set for hours. Jane Jacobs even cited this Square as one of the most successful urban green areas in her classic book, The Death of Life of Great American Cities.

Description:

Rittenhouse Square was one of five squares (only four of which exist) in William Penn's original plan for the city, and it has always been the busiest and most happening square. Jane Jacobs wrote about it in The Death and Life of Great American Cities as an example of a truly successful urban green space. There is hardly a time of day or night when Rittenhouse Square isn't packed with nine-to-fivers taking a lunch break, loungers reading a book or newspaper, people watchers, children, dogs, squirrels, and sometimes a juggler or acrobat. Fashionable restaurants, coffee shops, bookstores, and high-end hotels surround the Square; a visitor to Philadelphia will have much to look at and explore in and around the Square.

Description:

A Rittenhouse Square version of Stephen Starr's popular Old City martini bar. This restaurant and bar offers a wide variety of Asian fusion dishes and a creative martini menu. There are two floors inside (including a second-floor balcony with swinging basket seats) and a popular rooftop bar with a modern fireplace.

Description:

This finger-snapping hip café is nestled just around the corner from the Bellevue Hotel and just a few blocks walk from the Convention Center in Center City. It is a perfect stop for relaxing and enjoying live jazz six nights a week. Winner of two "Best of Philly" awards, this is a serious jazz club featuring serious talent-the place jazz musicians go to hear jazz. It also serves an outstanding dinner menu which includes crab cakes and grilled ahi tuna.

Description:

A haven of privacy and elegance with luxurious comfort. Formerly the Rittenhouse Square Bed & Breakfast, this meticulously renovated 1900's carriage house has the refined style, charisma and sophistication that make it an internationally sought after oasis. With twenty-three (23) guest rooms, the entire property often becomes the exclusive temporary residence of an entourage of out of town VIP's or business people searching for a tranquil, yet first-class, cosmopolitan location to rest while attending an event. The cafe features a continental breakfast each morning. The staff continuously pampers its guests with plush robes, marble bathrooms, triple sheeting, nightly turndown service with bottled water. The staff invites you to enjoy a glass of white wine in the drawing room every evening from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. All rooms have large Plasma Flat Screen TV's, CD players, IPOD hookups, wireless access, telephones, voicemail and more! Located on a small quiet street in the very heart of Philadelphia's most fashionable district, Rittenhouse 1715 is within walking distance of many of the city's world class restaurants, cafes, museums, unique shops and historical attactions.

As seen on

Our Local Expert Says:

Philadelphia is famous for its murals. Take an informative walking or trolley tour for a sampling of the city's nearly 3,000 murals.

Description:

Philadelphia may be the world's mural capital, with over 2500 outdoor and indoor murals, most of them done since 1989, when the city's Mural Arts Program began. Mayor Wilson Goode began the program, then called the Anti-Graffiti Network, as an effort to dissuade graffiti artist from tagging and instead encourage them to create murals that would beautify the city. The program took off in the ensuing years, and its artists have painted Philadelphia's walls into modern history. The Mural Arts Program offers trolley tours of different neighborhoods of the city and the murals that beautify those neighborhoods.

Tours and Prices:
Trolley tour: Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesdays at 10 am. Prices are as follows: Adults - $25, Seniors - $23, Children (under10) - $15. There is a daily walking tour at 11:30 priced at $17.

Description:

Regarded as the best farmers' market in America (at least by Philadelphians), the Reading Terminal Market is a terrific place to sample all the culinary grandeur Philadelphia has to offer. Experience the traditional cheesesteak, a custom-made deli sandwich, or an authentic Pennsylvania Dutch hearty home cooked breakfast prepared by Amish farmers. Aside from the prepared foods, over 80 food merchants purvey fresh fish and meats as well as an assortment of exotic and local fruits and vegetables.

Our Local Expert Says:

Valley Forge National Park is a wonderful place for some Revolutionary War history, a challenging bike ride, or a relaxing picnic.

Description:

Valley Forge, 22 miles northwest of Philadelphia, was the site of George Washington's army's winter camp in 1777-1778. The army camped here as they prepared to fight the British, who were threatening to march on Philadelphia, the colonial capital. Visitors can enter the log cabins that sheltered Washington and his men, imagining the cold and wet winter that the army spent there; bike or walk the trails that wind their way through the Park; or enjoy a picnic in the scenic hills of the Park.

Our Local Expert Says:

A see-and-be-seen spot on Philadelphia's stylish Rittenhouse Square. Get a seat by the window or, better yet, a sidewalk table, and you'll be among Philadelphia's oft-envied socialites.

Description:

Located on Rittenhouse Square, the outdoor seating at Rouge offers a fresh environment to dine on French fare and sip a glass of fine wine. Wines of exquisite vintage enhance the delicate entrees of traditional and contemporary French seafood, poultry and beef dishes. Prices tend to be on the high side but are not exorbitant for a restaurant in the Rittenhouse area. Popular day and night, the casual yet elegant Rouge appeals to sophisticates and culture-seekers of all ages for lunch, dinner or drinks. Restaurateur Neil Stein has given locals a hip spot to enjoy the park's greenery.

Description:

Morimoto is a cutting-edge restaurant serving contemporary Japanese cuisine. Chef Masaharu Morimoto of Iron Chef fame prepares traditional dishes with a modern flair. Reservations will be accommodated at the sushi bar or a table; both options are fabulous! Special requests are encouraged but not guaranteed; please call the restaurant to discuss your special requests well before your reservation date.

Description:

A haven of privacy and elegance with luxurious comfort. Formerly the Rittenhouse Square Bed & Breakfast, this meticulously renovated 1900's carriage house has the refined style, charisma and sophistication that make it an internationally sought after oasis. With twenty-three (23) guest rooms, the entire property often becomes the exclusive temporary residence of an entourage of out of town VIP's or business people searching for a tranquil, yet first-class, cosmopolitan location to rest while attending an event. The cafe features a continental breakfast each morning. The staff continuously pampers its guests with plush robes, marble bathrooms, triple sheeting, nightly turndown service with bottled water. The staff invites you to enjoy a glass of white wine in the drawing room every evening from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. All rooms have large Plasma Flat Screen TV's, CD players, IPOD hookups, wireless access, telephones, voicemail and more! Located on a small quiet street in the very heart of Philadelphia's most fashionable district, Rittenhouse 1715 is within walking distance of many of the city's world class restaurants, cafes, museums, unique shops and historical attactions.

As seen on

Description:

This Famous 4th Street Delicatessen has lived up to its moniker by remaining a staple of Philadelphia local cuisine since 1923. This deli is primarily known for traditional Jewish cold cuts and sandwiches like corned beef, roast beef, roasted turkey and brisket. Fish is also available, from lox to gefilte to whitefish. Finish your meal off with an award-winning chocolate chip cookie. Sometimes they give you a cookie as a treat when you're paying your bill. Delivery available. The cookies are also available in the Reading Terminal Market, 13th and Arch streets.

Description:

Within the park boundaries is a small 18th century village which grew up around the site of a mill. Now known as Sycamore Mills, the area had been previously named Bishop's Mill and Providence Mill. The miller's house, the office and library and several small mill workers' dwellings are still in existence as private residences. The park area has been designated as the "Ridley Creek Historic District" on the National Register of Historic Places.The park office is located in the "Hunting Hill'' mansion, built by the Jeffords family in 1914. The mansion was built around a 1789 Pennsylvania stone farmhouse that forms the core of the building and serves as the reception center..

Trails are the main attraction at Ridley Creek State Park. Several of the trails are offered as multi-use trails for mountain bikers and hikers. They are also used for cross-country skiing during the winter. A 4.7-mile equestrian trail, available at area #8, provides stables and horse trailer parking. The stable / concession even offers horses rental, riding lessons, pony rides and an assortment of horse related services..

Ridley Creek State Park is located in the lower southeastern tip of Pennsylvania. One park...

Description:

Scrub, peel and exfoliate those blues away at the radical Rescue Rittenhouse Spa Lounge. Set aside some alone-time, and allow the expert staff to bring out a new, glowing you from beneath that dry skin and those brittle nails. You can choose from a whole host of services-sugar scrubs, a subdermal massage for cellulite, and detoxifying wraps. And after you're done, visit the tea-bar for an Elixir Tonic. Here at Rescue Rittenhouse they go all the way-you can be assured that no half-way measures are taken!

Our Local Expert Says:

The beautiful new home of the Philadelphia Phillies. The stadium offers an intimate baseball experience and an excellent view of the Philadelphia skyline.

Description:

Citizen's Bank Park was completed in April 2004 and boasts state-of-the-art design. With the goals of placing fans closer to the action and maximizing sight lines to the field, architects decided to combine "bowl" style seating with a field that is recessed 23' below street level. It's a design that places fans right above the action. The ballpark seats 43,500.

Description:

Silk City is actually two places joined together. The diner was built by the Silk City company in the 1930s. On the other side of the entrance is the lounge. It opens around 5pm for happy hour, and after 7pm there are DJ parties and the occasional live performance. Latin, hip-hop, 80s, disco; call for schedule. The diner stays open all night on Fridays and Saturdays. Try the grilled cheese, the catfish fingers, the meatloaf, or the pie. Or stay up for an early breakfast of huevos rancheros or eggs and scrapple.

Description:

A haven of privacy and elegance with luxurious comfort. Formerly the Rittenhouse Square Bed & Breakfast, this meticulously renovated 1900's carriage house has the refined style, charisma and sophistication that make it an internationally sought after oasis. With twenty-three (23) guest rooms, the entire property often becomes the exclusive temporary residence of an entourage of out of town VIP's or business people searching for a tranquil, yet first-class, cosmopolitan location to rest while attending an event. The cafe features a continental breakfast each morning. The staff continuously pampers its guests with plush robes, marble bathrooms, triple sheeting, nightly turndown service with bottled water. The staff invites you to enjoy a glass of white wine in the drawing room every evening from 5:30pm to 6:30pm. All rooms have large Plasma Flat Screen TV's, CD players, IPOD hookups, wireless access, telephones, voicemail and more! Located on a small quiet street in the very heart of Philadelphia's most fashionable district, Rittenhouse 1715 is within walking distance of many of the city's world class restaurants, cafes, museums, unique shops and historical attactions.

As seen on