Things to Do in Philadelphia

The Schuylkill River Trail is a riverfront path for joggers, walkers and bikers that runs more than 26 miles, from downtown Philadelphia and through the Valley Forge Historical Park to the town of Phoenixville. This stretch of scenic path offers a perfect way to get outdoors and enjoy the riverfront when the weather is nice. And along the city center section of the trail, the newly built Schuylkill Banks Boardwalk is an extension to the trail that includes four scenic overlooks that offer great views of the city. The trail is also a great option for visitors interested in alternative transportation as they sightsee—you can rent a bicycle to explore along the river from the Rocky Statue and the Art Museum to the cafes of Manayunk.

In the early days of the nation, Philadelphia served as the capital of the United States, and the Philadelphia mansion at 6th and Market streets was the first President’s House. Here George Washington served his entire presidency, and John Adams served three years, until June of 1800 when he moved to the newly completed White House in the District of Columbia. Today, much of the original house is gone—only the side walls and foundation remain. Visitors can walk through the historic site, exploring the footprint of the building. There’s also a a commemorative exhibition called "The President's House: Freedom and Slavery in the Making of a New Nation" located on the grounds.

Families visiting Philadelphia with kids won’t want to skip the Please Touch Museum, which has been the children’s museum of Philadelphia since 1976. The guiding principle of the museum is teaching through play, and it offers a multitude of engaging hands-on activities for young people. The 157,000-square-foot site has six unique zones over two floors, like Wonderland, where kids can have a tea party with the Mad Hatter, and Flight Fantasy, where kids learn about historic and futuristic flying machines. They can even play George Washington, sailing a boat on a mini Delaware River. There are also four areas designated specially for children under 3 years old, making the Please Touch Museum a spot for kids of any age.

One of the country’s largest art museums -- the third largest, to be exact -- the Philadelphia Museum of Art encompasses 10 acres (4 hectares) with more than 300,000 works spanning over 2,000 years. Impressive collections in Renaissance, American, Impressionist and Modern art abound, as well as pieces from cultures around the world and different time periods. In fact, the second floor of the museum holds over 80 period-themed rooms to explore.

While the entire museum is interesting, there are some highlights not to miss. Check out their collection of arms and armor, the second largest in the United States. Explore architecture by visiting a reconstructed Japanese tea house or a Muromachi period Buddhist temple. For some local art culture, peruse the room dedicated to Philadelphia local Thomas Eakins. Outside, the Anne d’Harnoncourt Sculpture Garden features one acre (0.4 hectares) of well-manicured gardens littered with rotating sculptures. Before visiting, check the Philadelphia Museum of Art calendar for current and upcoming exhibitions.

Rocky Balboa fans will also love taking a jog up the museum’s front steps, as this is the same grand staircase Sylvester Stallone ran up in the movie Rocky. Outside the museum are numerous vendors selling Rocky memorabilia, as the steps are commonly referred to as “The Rocky Steps.” Before leaving, have your photo taken next to the two-ton (4,409-pound),10-foot (three-meter) tall bronze Rocky statue.

In the midst of Philadelphia's steel and concrete urban setting lies acres of beautiful green parkland. While relaxing on a beautiful park bench beneath the shade of a tree, you can thank the Fairmount Park for providing you with such a serene sense of nature in a big city.

Fairmount Park is Philadelphia's Park System. With over 9,200 acres (3,723 hectares), it claims 10% of the land in Philadelphia and is comprised of 63 regional and neighborhood parks. The largest of these parks are East and West Parks, Franklin D. Roosevelt Park, Pennypack Park, Poquessing Park, Tacony Creek Park and Wissahickon Valley Park.

Sesame Street comes to life at Sesame Place through whirling rides, water slides, exciting shows, and endless giggles. 

Dance and sing-a-long with everyone’s favorite furry friends in the amazing parade, Neighborhood Street Party.  Learn about letters, numbers and friendship in 3 street-stopping performances that include 11 larger-than-life floats and a night parade that lights up the sky. And celebrate the seasons with our Spooktacular Halloween and A Very Furry Christmas parades! 

Join the fun and celebrate being a kid - or being a kid again! Sesame Place is located just 30 minutes north of Philadelphia and 90 minutes south of New York City.