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IT’S ALL ABOUT ROMANCE IN THE CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE

If you are looking for a romantic destination to whisk your loved one away to in 2022, look no further than Philadelphia. The City of Brotherly Love offers plenty of options for romantic love with luxurious hotels, picturesque gardens, intimate restaurants and so much more.

Snap and Smooch

A visit to Philadelphia is not complete without a stop at the famous LOVE Park, located in the heart of the city. Formally known as John F. Kennedy Plaza, the park is now affectionately referred to as LOVE Park thanks to Robert Indiana’s LOVE statue, where couples flock to get an iconic selfie. The quintessential public art piece has been there since 1976 and is one of the most photographed spots in the city.

Like its LOVE Park counterpart, the AMOR statue is another great backdrop to a photo of you and your love. Located in Sister Cities Park, the six-foot-tall sculpture translates to “love” in both Spanish and Latin.

Romantic Art

Philadelphia is known as the Mural Capital of the World, with these large scale works of public art displayed on walls throughout the city.

One of the city’s most popular mural projects is Steve Powers’ A Love Letter For You. Composed of a series of 50 rooftop murals, these works can be collectively perceived either as messages from a lover to their partner, or as odes to the city itself. The series of pieces can be explored via a two-hour Love Letter Train Tour by nation’s largest public art program, Mural Arts Philadelphia. They also offer a special Valentine’s Day tours of the Love Letter murals in early February each year.

Romantic Strolls

With 37 public gardens, arboreta, and historic landscapes all located within 30 miles of Philadelphia, the region has more gardens in close proximity than anywhere else in the United States.

Couples can walk hand-in-hand through more than 1,000 acres of beauty at Longwood Gardens in nearby Kennett Square, plus there are tropical gardens and waterfalls to explore in the four acres of glass-enclosed conservatories. In Northwest Philadelphia, Morris Arboretum is a 92-acre garden that offers an ever-changing landscape of colourful gardens, champion trees, winding paths and water features. 30 minutes west of downtown you will find Chanticleer, which is known as pleasure garden, a 35-acre contemporary and imaginative botanical garden within a historic setting.

Something different

Fairmont Park’s Whispering Benches allow couples a unique way to whisper sweet nothings to each other. Seated on benches at opposite sides of the Smith Memorial Arch, when they whisper into the monument, the bench carries the voice to their partner on the other side.

The Clay Studio offer a fun date experience with an evening of pottery-making by candlelight, complete with food and champagne. Once finished guests can explore the rotating exhibitions of ceramic works in the Studio’s galleries and browse the gift shop to find an assortment of handmade items including mugs, artwork, gifts and more.

The Food of Love

Philadelphia’s The Love restaurant is named to entice lovers. Just steps away from beautiful Rittenhouse Square, this bilevel sanctuary features an exciting drinks menu inspired by personal travels to vineyards, breweries and cideries in the region, and the creative cuisine is equally as enticing.

Harp & Crown offers a fun date night experience, with an upscale American restaurant by critically acclaimed chef and restaurateur Michael Schulson, offering a varied menu and exciting cocktails, plus an intimate bowling alley in the basement.

For something a little different, Double Knot is a Japanese speakeasy, also by Michael Schulson. The secret izakaya in the basement of a coffee shop offers sushi & robatayaki meats.

Romantic Stays

The luxurious Rittenhouse Hotel – a prestigious hotel located in the city centre, boasts a spa, indoor heated pool and sun terrace. For dining, Lacroix at The Rittenhouse is an award-winning restaurant that serves progressive international cuisine.

Located in the heart of downtown Philadelphia, the Notary Hotel is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has decor inspired by the 1920s. Offering a compelling blend of historic architecture and modern luxury with bedrooms that are warm and welcoming including luxurious beds and marble bathrooms.

Soaring high above the city skyline, the Four Seasons Philadelphia at Comcast Centre offers luxury accommodations with uninhibited views of the city. For romantic pampering couples can have the Night Spa experience where they get to enjoy a couple’s massage on the city’s most coveted pool deck accompanied by champagne and a bouquet of roses, and then a dip in a private infinity-edge pool whilst soaking in the views.

Perfect for those that like a modern self-catering option, Lokal Hotel Old City is an “invisible service” boutique hotel, offering bright and airy rustic style apartments complete with kitchens and living areas, flat-screen TVs and iPads. There is even a grocery delivery service available so you don’t need to shop for provisions.

For more information on romantic Philadelphia click here.

For current travel resources to Philadelphia, including details about the city’s COVID-19 vaccine rate and guidelines, plus tips on travelling to and exploring the city click here.

ENDS

For Further Press Information, please contact:
Anna Watt
anna@gregevansconsultancy.com
07815 898995

About Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), www.discoverPHL.com, a private non-profit membership corporation, is the official Tourism Promotion Agency for the City of Philadelphia globally, and the primary sales and marketing agency for the expanded Pennsylvania Convention Centre. The PHLCVB competes with its counterparts worldwide for convention and tourism business. The organisation has divisions dedicated to the multicultural, sports, and life sciences markets

EXPLORE NEW JERSEY ON SCREEN

The US state of New Jersey has attracted film crews for decades with its diverse landscapes providing the perfect backdrop for any film genre, from vibrant cities to serene suburbs, wide sand beaches to dense forests, farm land, rambling rivers, mountains, historic buildings, botanical gardens and everything in between. Add to the fact that its location is served conveniently by air and road, the state offers film and television production tax credit and it boasts state of the art studio space and it’s the ideal choice of location, something recently highlighted in Variety Magazine.

There is a long list of great movies and TV shows filmed in New Jersey and fans can experience the locations their favourite show or films were set in when they visit. Here we take a look at just a few of the blockbusters filmed in the Garden State:

Steven Spielberg’s highly anticipated new movie West Side Story was released in UK cinemas last week (10th December). An adaptation of the 1957 musical, West Side Story explores forbidden love and the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two teenage street gangs of different ethnic backgrounds. Many of the filming locations were in the state of New Jersey, including Paterson, Newark and other parts of Essex County NJ.

New Jersey is well known as being the setting for the popular TV series The Sopranos, which follows Tony Soprano, an Italian-American mafia head who struggles to manage his family and criminal life. The series started in 1999 and ran until 2007. Fans flock to the show’s locations including the Soprano’s mansion, Asbury Park boardwalk, which appeared in Tony’s dreams and flashbacks and even the Bada Bing strip club, these any many other recognisable locations can be visited independently or on an organised tour. Read more here.

The Many Saints of Newark, The Sopranos prequel was released in September this year, follows a young Anthony Soprano growing up in 1960’s Newark, one of the most tumultuous eras in the city’s history. The movie was shot in Newark itself, as well as other Jersey towns such as Bloomfield, Jersey City, and Paterson, however several spots in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Yonkers stood in for 1960s Jersey.

In the 2019 movie The Joker, starring Joaquin Phoenix, New York and New Jersey locations are knitted together to create fictional Gotham City. Newark’s Market Street plays a prominent role in the opening scene and Loew’s Jersey Theatre in Jersey City’s Journal Square and William J. Brennan Courthouse on Newark Avenue can also be spotted in the film.

Bruised, is the highly-anticipated female-led movie starring and directed by Hollywood legend Halle Berry tells the story of a failed MMA fighter who has one last shot at redemption when the young son she left behind comes back into her life. Filmed entirely in New Jersey, namely in Atlantic City and Newark, the movie launched on Netflix on 24th November this year.

Nominated for two Oscars, 2008 movie The Wrestler stars Mickey Rourke as a retired wrestler and was filmed throughout New Jersey in locations including Asbury Park, Elizabeth, Rahway, Garfield, Hasbrouck Heights, Linden, Roselle Park and Dover.

80’s comedy classic Big, starring Tom Hanks has many locations in New Jersey. The carnival that houses the mystical Zoltar was in New Jersey’s historic film town, Fort Lee. The school, drugstore and the houses of Josh and Billy are all located in Cliffside Park.

The 2002 emotional and Oscar-winning drama A Beautiful Mind based on the life of the American mathematician John Nash, staring Russel Crowe, Ed Harris and Jennifer Connelly, was filmed at Princeton University and Fairleigh Dickinson University in Madison. Scenes were also filmed in Jersey City, Belleville, Newark and East Orange.

For more information or to start planning a New Jersey holiday, visit www.visitnj.org

Follow the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube for more events and news throughout the state.

ENDS

About New Jersey
New Jersey provides a wide variety of experiences to visitors all year long. Travellers can enjoy outdoor adventures, renowned culinary offerings, educational opportunities, and a strong arts and cultural scene. With numerous state and national parks, beaches, skiing, tax-free shopping, historic sites, museums and more, New Jersey blends together its rich history and exciting present. Home to the nation’s first beach resorts and the birthplace of major inventions, New Jersey offers picturesque escape opportunities for all ages. For more information, explore VisitNJ.org.

PR Contact:
Greg Evans Consultancy
Anna Watt, PR Director anna@gregevansconsultancy.com 07815 898995

 

FAMILY FUN IN PHILADELPHIA

Families looking forward to returning to the US following the November 8 border reopening could consider Philadelphia as a top option. The city has a multitude of attractions and events to offer each member of the family, no matter their age or interest. However long you have to explore the city, you will wish you had more time as the options are seemingly endless.

Attractions

The region offers plenty of family-friendly theme parks, zoos and aquariums to fill you days and thrill any age.

The city is home to America’s first zoo- Philadelphia Zoo which has nearly 1,300 animals, and boasts a first-in-the-world animal travel system, Zoo360, which enables primates and big cats to move above and across the main visitor pathway.

Above- Philadelphia Zoo

Sesame Place is the only theme park in the world dedicated to the beloved children’s TV show. Wowing crowds with kid-friendly roller coasters, water rides and amusements, it is located a short drive north of the city.

Also a short drive from downtown Philadelphia, Crayola Experience is well worth the hour drive from Centre City. The crayon-inspired experience has multiple levels of arts and craft fun, including areas where you can melt crayons into sculptures, create spin art designs and make and name your own crayons.

Above- Crayola Experience

Museums and Galleries

For children who love to press every button, flick every switch, and pull every lever, Philadelphia’s Please Touch Museum is a must visit. Located in Fairmount Park West, the vast space is home to more than 12 permanent and temporary hands-on exhibits to help children discover the power of learning through play.

Above- Please Touch Museum

Founded in 1812, the Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University is the first natural sciences institution in the Americas. Dinosaur fans will find it hard to leave Dinosaur Hall which has more than 30 species represented, about half of which are full skeletal mounts. You can also view dinosaur eggs, footprints, sculptures, palaeontologist tools, a life-size model showing the internal anatomy of a Stegosaurus, and a green-screen video studio where they can project their own images into a world full of dinosaurs.

At the museum’s Permian Monsters exhibit, which runs until January 17th 2022, visitors can explore what the world looked like before the dinosaurs and step back 290 million years to when bizarre-looking creatures dominated life on land and sea.

The Franklin Institute is one of America’s most celebrated museums and is known for its all-ages, hands-on exploration of key science concepts, including a giant walk-through heart, planetarium, immersive brain exhibit and more.

In early 2022 the Harry Potter Exhibition will have its world premier at the Franklin Institute. This ground-breaking exhibition will celebrate the iconic moments, characters, settings, and beasts as seen in the films and stories of Harry Potter and the Wizarding World using best-in-class immersive design and technology.

Outdoors

With one of the largest city-owned urban park systems in the world there is plenty of space for your littles ones to run around and let off steam. Families can stay active on land or water, with and walking and cycling trails throughout the city.

The city has as much to explore outdoors as it does in its numerous museums and galleries. Philadelphia has in fact been called the world’s largest outdoor art gallery, most famous for its however the city’s is similarly rich, with genres including textile art, stickers, mosaics, tiles and wheatpasting.

To explore the famous Philadelphia murals join Mural Arts Philadelphia for a walking, trolley, or train tour of the nation’s largest public art program to learn more about the engine behind a citywide movement that has resulted in over 4,000 colourful murals in neighbourhoods throughout the city.

Above- Mural Arts Tour

Morris Arboretum is a 92-acre arboretum that is bursting with year-round greenery and plenty of kid-approved activities, including a 50-foot-high canopy walk and the Garden Railway. You can download activity cards

Dining

The fantastic dining experiences in Philadelphia are well renown and visitors of all age are sure to leave with satisfied and full bellies.

For families that can’t agree on what to eat, Reading Terminal Market is the place to head to. One of America’s largest and oldest public markets, housed since 1893 in a National Historic Landmark building, the Market offers a huge choice of dishes to choose from including Asian, Middle Eastern, Pennsylvania Dutch and Philadelphia classics, you are sure to find something to pleases even the fussiest of eaters. Feast on an incredible selection of locally grown & exotic produce, locally sourced meats and poultry, plus the finest seafood, cheeses, baked goods, chocolates, ice cream and other crave-worthy confections.

Above- Reading Terminal Market

Craft Hall opened as a new experiential dining destination. Created as a maker’s space, the open concept highlights how the dishes are made, providing a unique experience and better understanding of the craftsmanship that goes into creating them. Located near the Delaware river in Northern Liberties, Craft Hall offers food and activities that the whole family can enjoy and was voted the “Best Bar for Parents” by Philadelphia Magazine, there is a pirate themed play area for the kids to enjoy whilst the adults sample the craft beer brewed on site.

For more information on family friendly dining in Philadelphia click here.

Festive Philadelphia
Philadelphia over the festive period is not to be missed and there are a host of fantastic Christmassy things to do that will please all the family.

Dilworth Park within the city centre gets a dramatic seasonal transformation with the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute Ice Rink, the Deck the Hall Light Show, Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market and Rothman Orthopaedic Institute Cabin.

Above- Made in Philadelphia Holiday Market

LumiNature returns to the Philadelphia Zoo, featuring dozens of illuminating, animal-themed displays and Franklin Square will host a festive mini golf course, charming carousel, and the popular Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show, which features over 100,000 lights throughout the park that are accompanied by Christmas music.

Above- LumiNature at Philadelphia Zoo

Philadelphia Christmas Village is a Philadelphia holiday tradition which takes place in LOVE Park and the northern part of City Hall. The pop-up market will feature over 110 local artisans and makers selling hand-crafted goods out of traditional German wooden shopping stalls. Popular kids’ attractions within the Village include the Ferris Wheel and Kids Train and a two-tier holiday carousel plus there are daily live performances and themed weekend activities.

A Philadelphia tradition since 1956, the Macy’s Christmas Light Show in the historic Wanamaker Building features whimsical holiday scenes made of over 100,000 LED lights, including a 34,500-LED tree, that dance along to classic tunes from the Wanamaker Organ (the largest playable instrument in the world).

For information on these and more family friendly festive fun click here.

The Philadelphia Convention and Visitor Bureau has produced a series of suggested itineraries for short stays in the city. Click here for a three-day family itinerary.

For current travel resources to Philadelphia, including details about the city’s COVID-19 vaccine rate and restrictions plus tips on travelling to and exploring the city click here.

ENDS

For Further Press Information, please contact:

Anna Watt
anna@gregevansconsultancy.com
07815 898995

About Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), www.discoverPHL.com, a private non-profit membership corporation, is the official Tourism Promotion Agency for the City of Philadelphia globally, and the primary sales and marketing agency for the expanded Pennsylvania Convention Centre. The PHLCVB competes with its counterparts worldwide for convention and tourism business. The organisation has divisions dedicated to the multicultural, sports, and life sciences markets.

    ENJOY A WONDROUS WINTER ESCAPE TO PHILADELPHIA

    Philadelphia, the first World Heritage City in the U.S and the City of Brotherly Love, is home to American history, chef-driven cuisine, abundant outdoor space, and an unparalleled arts and culture scene. It is a fantastic destination for a fun filled winter break offering a multitude of things to see and do throughout the festive season and into 2022.

    Philadelphia boasts a number of pop-up Christmas markets including one of the largest in the United States, several Ferris wheels, carousels and ice rinks, multiple must-see holiday light displays, and dozens of other festive experiences. Combine this with the fact you can take advantage of tax-free shopping as well as cheaper accommodation and flights than to other major US cities, means it is a great choice all round.

    Yuletide highlights include the Christmas Village In Philadelphia which returns to LOVE Park and City Hall until 24th December. Featuring over 110 local artisans and makers selling hand-crafted goods out of traditional German wooden shopping stalls, colourful fairground rides, a food court and beer garden.

    Just a few steps from the Christmas Village you will find a host of other festive treats at Dilworth Park which has been transformed into a winter wonderland. These include a Cabin, beautifully decorated with elements reminiscent of a rustic ski chalet where you can enjoy cocktails around a firepit, Wintergarden on the Greenfield Lawn, where you can enjoy a stroll through the gorgeous reindeer topiaries and seasonal plantings and the city’s much loved Rothman Orthopaedics Ice Rink.

    A Philadelphia tradition since 1956, the Macy’s Christmas Light Show in the historic Wanamaker Building features colourful holiday scenes made of over 100,000 LED lights, including a 34,500-LED tree. The light show is voiced by legendary actor Julie Andrews and features the “The Nutcracker” and “Frosty the Snowman” backed by the sounds of the world-famous Wanamaker Organ (the largest playable instrument in the world). For 2021, the holiday show will be performed once a day at 10:30 a.m. from 1st to 24th December, and at 11:30 a.m. from 26th to 31st December.

    For top festive suggestions in and around the city click here.

    The Philadelphia Convention and Visitor Bureau has recently launched its new 2021 Holiday/ Winter Official Visitor Guide, with hints and tips on what to see and do in the city between now and March 2022. Highlighting festive activities plus essential events, attractions, restaurants and shops in each neighbourhood, as well as exciting new experiences throughout the city as well as suggestions on where to go for the ultimate Instagram photo.

    Top exhibits include the world premiere of Harry Potter: The Exhibition, which comes to the Franklin Institute from 18th February and the critically acclaimed retrospective of iconic American Artist Jasper Johns: Mind/ Mirror at the Philadelphia Museum of Art which is running until 13th February.

    Foodies will enjoy exploring some of Philadelphia’s new restaurant options which include LMNO, a Baja-Mexican venture from acclaimed restaurateur Stephen Starr, which is also part book store, part music venue and part art gallery. Traditional Low country Southern cuisine is now being served at Rex In The Royal which is inside the historic Royal Theatre, once a central piece of Black culture in Philadelphia in the early 20th century.

    The guide can be viewed and is available for download here.

    For current travel resources to Philadelphia, including details about the city’s COVID-19 vaccine rate and restrictions plus tips on travelling to and exploring the city click here.

    ENDS

    For Further Press Information, please contact:
    Anna Watt
    anna@gregevansconsultancy.com
    07815 898995

    About Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau
    Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), www.discoverPHL.com, a private non-profit membership corporation, is the official Tourism Promotion Agency for the City of Philadelphia globally, and the primary sales and marketing agency for the expanded Pennsylvania Convention Centre. The PHLCVB competes with its counterparts worldwide for convention and tourism business. The organisation has divisions dedicated to the multicultural, sports, and life sciences markets.

    EXPLORE THE FOODY HIGHLIGHTS OF ANTHONY BOURDAIN’S HOME STATE OF NEW JERSEY

    newjersey

    New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism has launched a new sample itinerary taking in the culinary roots of late celebrity chef, bestselling author and TV personality Anthony Bourdain, who spent most of his childhood growing up in the state.

    The trail spotlights 10 New Jersey restaurants featured on Bourdain’s Emmy Award-winning TV series ‘Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown’, including Fort Lee institution Hiram’s Roadstand- Bourdain’s “happy place” and Donkey’s Place in Camden which serves cheesesteak he claimed “should be a national landmark”.

    The trip Itinerary is a tribute to Bourdain’s childhood growing up in Leonia, New Jersey, and summers spent at the Jersey Shore. It features every trail stop as well as destination highlights and must-do activities along the way. It can be downloaded at https://visitnj.org/anthony-bourdain.

    New Jersey is known as the Garden State, named by Abraham Browning in 1876, who said the “Garden State is an immense barrel, filled with good things to eat and open at both ends, with Pennsylvanians grabbing from one end and New Yorkers from the other.”

    With 130 miles of coastline, the state is a seafood lover’s dream, but it is also among the leaders in many forms of agricultural production. For example, New Jersey ranks 5th in the US for blueberry production, 3rd in cranberry production, 3rd in spinach, 3rd in bell peppers, 4th in peach production. With such an array of great foods, dining out in New Jersey can be a delicious, multi-culinary experience.

    For more information or to start planning a New Jersey holiday, visit www.visitnj.org

    Follow the New Jersey Division of Travel and Tourism on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and YouTube for more events and news throughout the state.

    ENDS

    About New Jersey

    New Jersey provides a wide variety of experiences to visitors all year long. Travellers can enjoy outdoor adventures, renowned culinary offerings, educational opportunities, and a strong arts and cultural scene. With numerous state and national parks, beaches, skiing, tax-free shopping, historic sites, museums and more, New Jersey blends together its rich history and exciting present. Home to the nation’s first beach resorts and the birthplace of major inventions, New Jersey offers picturesque escape opportunities for all ages. For more information, explore VisitNJ.org.

    PR Contact:

    Greg Evans Consultancy

    Anna Watt, PR Director anna@gregevansconsultancy.com 07815 898995

    Plan Ahead For Three Phenomenal New Cultural Experiences In Philadelphia This Autumn

    There is no better time to start planning ahead for a future visit to the city of Philadelphia, with exciting new offerings beginning this Autumn from celebrated arts and cultural institutions ready to welcome back UK travellers. Continue reading →

    Philadelphia Expands Impressive Cultural Offering With Four New Museum Experiences In 2021

    Philadelphia is already home to an impressive number of cultural activities, indoors and out, and the opening of four new museum experiences this year brings even more choice to travellers planning a visit to the City of Brotherly Love.

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    Philadelphia Welcomes Four New Hotel Developments In 2021 Catering To All Travellers

    Philadelphia continues to add to its extensive collection of hotels this year, making it easy for future travellers to Pennsylvania’s largest city to find something that suits their travel needs and budget – from luxurious hotels to cosy neighbourhood boutiques.

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    Discover the Outdoor Hidden Gems of Philadelphia’s Walkable Downtown City Centre

    With open-air experiences and wide-open spaces likely to remain popular once international travel returns, Philadelphia CVB has put together a list of outdoor hidden gems that future travellers to the East Coast city can experience when walking around Philadelphia’s Downtown City Centre.

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    PHLCVB Helps Parents to Entertain Children at Home with Creative and Educational Philadelphia-Themed Experiences

    For families looking for ways to keep children entertained at home during the school holidays, PHLCVB has come to the rescue with a selection of interactive creative and educational Philadelphia-themed activities, suitable for all ages and abilities.

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