For those planning a visit of three or more days to Philadelphia, consider making a day trip to one of the many interesting destinations below. Most of the trips below will require a car, except where noted. Valley Forge Area For history buffs, a visit to Valley Forge National Park, is worth the 30-40 minute drive from Center City. http://www.nps.gov/vafo/ The park is also reachable by SEPTA bus #125. www.septa.org Shoppers may be interested in the nearby King of Prussia Mall (King of Prussia, PA) or Philadelphia Premium Outlets (Limerick, PA). The King of Prussia Mall can be reached on SEPTA bus #124 or #125. Brandywine River Valley Take a day trip to one of many wonderful attractions here including Longwood Gardens, Winterthur (Delaware), Brandywine River Museum, and Chadds Ford Winery. http://www.brandywinecvb.org/ Another fun place to visit is the QVC studio in West Chester, PA. Lehigh Valley Places of interest include Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom (Allentown), Crayola Factory (Easton), Sands Casino (Bethlehem). In the summer, you can go rafting on the Lehigh River. http://www.lehighvalleypa.org/ New Hope, PA Charming town on the banks of the Delaware River. http://www.gophila.com/C/Things_to_Do... Doyelstown, PA This quaint suburban town is home to the Mercer Museum and Fonthill Mansion. http://www.mercermuseum.org/ PA Dutch Country Many visitors to Philadelphia want to see how the Amish live in nearby Lancaster County, PA. Attractions for kids include Dutch Wonderland and the Strasburg Railroad. Consider making this an overnight by staying on a bed and breakfast farm. http://www.padutchcountry.com/ If you are without a car, some companies offer tours. http://www.phillytour.com/serviceamis... Hershey Hershey Park and Chocolate World http://www.hersheypa.com/ New Jersey Shore In the summer consider a visit to one of these NJ shore beaches: Cape May, Ocean City, Wildwood. Head to Atlantic City for casino gambling. New York City, Baltimore, and Washington DC can be done as day trips using Amtrak's northeast corridor train service. Catch the train at Philadelphia's 30th Street Station.

This is really cool and it won't cost you a cent - unless you're into purchasing artwork, that is! Philadelphia's art scene is happening and alive on every first Friday of every month, one of Philly's most vital and signature cultural events. Go to Old City and wander through the 40+ galleries (some will even have free eats and drinks) and soak in the diverse atmosphere. Most galleries are found between Front and Third and Market and Vine Streets.

Many of Philadelphia's historical attractions are free, including Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Christ Church, Elfreth's Alley, Franklin Court, and the Edgar Allen Poe House. The U.S. Mint is also free. Check out this listing of the best free summer activities in Philadelphia, compiled by the tourist board http://www.gophila.com/C/Things_to_Do... Other free activities include: First Sunday of the Month: Pay as you Wish at the Philadelphia Museum of Art www.philamuseum.org Sundays Only: During summer, The National Liberty Museum www.libertymuseum.org is offering free Sunday admission. This small museum, located near Independence Hall, celebrates the concepts of freedom, diversity and nonviolence, and displays some interesting glass sculptures. Free Self-Guided Walking Tours http://www.theconstitutional.com/tour... Free Pod-Cast Tours http://www.gophila.com/soundabout/ Free Festivals at Penns Landing http://www.delawareriverwaterfrontcor... First Fridays Every First Friday of the month from 5-9pm, it's free to roam the many art galleries in Olde City is a fun way to hang out with friends and socialize, and the best part , its all within walking distance to many restaurants and bars to relax after roaming the galleries. The Settlement Music House 416 Queen Street in Philadelphia http://www.smsmusic.org/calendar/inde... has a great calendar of free music concerts. What's terrific about the school, too, is the thousands of students who are assisted financially by the school. The best and brightest of the young musicians can find their way to the Philadelphia Orchestra by sheer talent alone. This is worth a listen to the professionals who play at the school, for free, as a donation to the community. Concerts include events such as "An Intimate Evening of Music for Cello and Piano," as a typical type of event.

Independence Hall was constructed between 1732 and 1756 to house the provincial government of Pennsylvania. The original central section was augmented by wings as the needs of government increased. The frequently imitated iconic tower originally housed the Liberty Bell, which presently stands in its own pavilion north of the Hall. Both the interior and exterior has been restored to its late 18th century appearance. A very curious architectural feature is the stone "grandfather's clock" that stands on the western side of the central block. The building served as the location for the great debates leading to the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Within the Hall are precious relics of these events including "Rising Sun Chair" of the presiding officer and the silver inkstand used for the signings. The Hall serves as the centerpiece of the Independence National Historic Park which contains a number of important structures. By the 1960s, these buildings had become engulfed by deteriorated commercial structures that were swept away for the park. As the modest size of Independence Hall cannot accommodate the many visitors, timed tickets are issued in advance for tours. Please note the security restrictions given on the website.

Philadelphia has a vibrant performing arts scene.. The newly-constructed Kimmel Center is the home of the world-renowned Philadelphia Orchestra, The historic Academy of Music, just a few blocks away, hosts performances of Broadway shows, the Pennsylvania ballet, and the Opera Company of Philadelphia. The Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on the Penn campus offers an array of music, dance and theatre performances. See more details on the performing arts scene below. A good place to find out what's happening during your visit is the Arts page at Philly.com Classical Music Click this link for upcoming music performances at the Kimmel Center and Academy of Music Music lovers can also enjoy concerts and free recitals at the Curtis Institute located at 1726 Chestnut St in Center City. During the summer, check out the Mann Music Center, an outdoor summer performing arts center. The Mann is the summer home to the Philadelphia Orchestra, and also holds a wide array of jazz, rock & roll, and dance performances, in a large, wide-open amphitheater in the middle of the park. The Settlement Music House 416 Queen Street in Philadelphia http://www.smsmusic.org/calendar/inde... has a great calendar of free music concerts. What's terrific about the school, too, is the thousands of students who are assisted financially by the school. The best and brightest of the young musicians can find their way to the Philadelphia Orchestra by sheer talent alone. This is worth a listen to the professionals who play at the school, for free, as a donation to the community. Concerts include events such as "An Intimate Evening of Music for Cello and Piano," - Brahms - as a typical type of event. Well worth checking out the performance calendar as there are often free master classes, music talks, and evening chamber music concerts of superb quality. Popular, Folk & Indie Music Philadelphia hosts all the top featured rock & roll, hiphop, country, and soul bands that tour the country. In arenas like the Wachovia Center in Philadelphia near the stadiums, the Susquehanna Bank Center across the river in Camden, and at Festival Pier at Penn's Landing, fans can always count on their favorite performing artists visiting Philadelphia. Every summer, the Philadelphia Folk Festival attracts lovers of folk music for a 3 day fest in late August. Lots of singing, dancing, banjo-picking, and even workshops. Check out the World Cafe Live for an eclectic mix of live music performances. Dance Philadelphia hosts the Pennsylvania Ballet, which is notable for its beautiful production of the Nutcracker during the winter holiday season. Modern dance troupes include Philadanco and others. see this link for more info on the contemporary dance scene. http://www.gophila.com/C/Things_to_Do... Theater The Walnut Street Theater is the oldest continuously operated theater in the country and stages a lively season of locally produced musicals and plays. Broadway at the Academy brings touring productions of Broadway musicals to the stage at the Academy of Music. Other local theater companies of note include: The Philadelphia Theater Company, The Wilma Theater , The Arden Theater . Smaller theater companies include The Lantern Theater and the Interact Theater Company. Film Philadelphia also holds two annual film festivals: the Philadelphia Film Festival and Cinefest(for two weeks every April) and the Philadelphia International Gay and Lesbian Film Festival (held in July). Both bring features, documentaries, and shorts and animations from every corner of the world. Independent and foreign films are screened year round at the Ritz Theaters in Old City. Fringe Philly is also home to the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival and Philly Fringe, held for two weeks every year starting Labor Day. From contemporary artists to independents and self-produced alternative performers, this is a lively, innovative festival with performances held in multiple locations around the city.

You won't believe this place. Truly. It's unique and so very, very Philly. It's got about 100 vendors under one roof - fresh produce, Amish specialties, ethnic foods galore, great hoagies, handcrafted pottery and jewerly from around the world, seafood, meats, exotic cheeses, cookware - that and more - it's all here under one roof. It's a super-sized farmers market and then some. If you leave here hungry, it's your own fault. If you can get a seat, go have breakfast at the Dutch Eating Place - for delicious pancakes as big as your the plate and delectable apple dumplings, you can't beat this place for breakfast and it's reasonably priced. Or discover your own piece of culinary heaven while you're there - this is definitely a must-visit while in Philadelphia.

Dating from 1793, the Philadelphia Mint is the oldest and largest of the six facilities operated by the United States Mint. The present structure is a modern style factory located a few blocks north of Independence Hall on 5th Street between Arch and Race. From a glass enclosed corridor, visitors look down upon the massive machinery that produces vast numbers of coins of all denominations. Visitors are strongly urged to consult the website for current hours and regulations. Strict security measures are in place which prohibit photography and require photo identification for entry.