Tag Archives: Fairmount Park

Fall Activities, Festivals and Events in Philadelphia

The Autumn months are a wonderful time to visit Philadelphia with the colour changes of nature evident in the tree lined streets and urban parks, many fantastic fall and harvest events, the party atmosphere of the city’s many Octoberfest events and of course Halloween, which Philadelphia goes all out for.

Oktoberfests
Philadelphia has been at the heart of German American culture since the first immigrants settled in Pennsylvania, and the beer is certainly flowing in the many authentic Oktoberfest celebrations that take place throughout the city.

The 15th annual South Street Oktoberfest takes place on September 16th on the 700 block of South Street. With a covered seating for over 1,000 people, live Oompah music all day, German dancers, the litre lift competition, a dozen German beers, signature Bavarian dishes and much more.
23rd Street Armory Oktoberfest which takes place on 13th and 14th October claims to be the most Authentic Oktoberfest experience outside of Munich. Taking place in a 16,000 foot tented venue which can fit up to 1,400 people and features live German Oompah music, cultural German dance performances, original festival food, and of course, plenty of German beer.

Philadelphia has a thriving craft beer scene, and during Oktoberfest, many breweries create special beers inspired by German traditions. This is a chance to explore the local craft beer offerings with an Oktoberfest twist.

Above: Photo courtesy of Brauhaus Schmitz

Fall and Harvest Events

As the air grows crisp the smells of autumn and spectacular foliage of red, yellow, and orange signal a season of incredible events in Philadelphia.

To experience the stunning fall foliage head to city’s parks, such as Fairmount Park, one of the largest city-owned urban park systems in the world and Wissahickon Valley Park which has 1800 acres and 50-plus miles of trail

Take a trip to The Countryside of Philadelphia – just a short drive from the Centre City – for more scenes of vibrant red, orange, and yellow leaves which make for great photo opportunities.

Philadelphia hosts a variety of seasonal events. At Fall Fest, which takes place at Morgan’s Pier, you can sip cider and carve pumpkins whilst enjoying stunning views of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. Northern Liberties Night Market allows visitors to sample the vibrant neighbourhood’s best food trucks, shop from local vendors, and enjoy live music and street performances.

Philadelphia has a variety of farmers’ markets that come alive with the colours and flavours of the harvest season. You can find fresh produce and seasonal goodies to enjoy or take home with you.

Above: Morgan’s Pier Fall Fest. Image courtesy of Morgan’s Pier

Halloween
There is a flurry of Spooktacular Halloween events in Philadelphia, from family-friendly activities to more intense haunted experiences, you’ll find something for everyone.

Eastern State Penitentiary’s Halloween Nights takes place on select nights from 22nd September to 11th November is an immersive experience featuring five thrilling haunted houses, museum exhibits, themed lounges, live performances, and more, all inside

Philadelphia is home to America’s first zoo, which hosts Philadelphia Zoo’s Boo at the Zoo during the three weekends leading up to Halloween. Visitors of all ages can explore the zoo’s grounds for special treats, photo opportunities, and a not-so-scary extinction graveyard.

If you’re more interested in unexpected experiences, tour reportedly haunted sites and attractions during a Ghost Tour of Philadelphia when costumed guides will lead you to some of the city’s most historic sites, including Independence Hall and Washington Square.

To read more about fall activities in Philadelphia click here.

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For Further Press Information and high-resolution images, please contact:

Anna Watt – Philadelphia UK Office
Tel: 07815 898995
Email: [email protected]

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 organization has divisions dedicated to the multicultural, sports, and life sciences markets.

 

 

Healthy Philadelphia

If you are looking for a healthy and active city break, look no further than Philadelphia, a very outdoorsy city boasting a huge urban park system and extensive walking, running, and cycling trails.
Many of Philadelphia’s attractions and much of the city’s magnificent collection of outdoor public art can be reached by foot so you can keep to your daily step target whilst enjoying all there is to see and do throughout the city.
If the weather isn’t playing ball, head inside to break into a sweat at one of the many hotel and public gyms. When hunger strikes, your health regime is not at risk, with many choices of healthy food options to be found.

Outdoors exploration
Philadelphia boasts one of the largest city-owned urban park systems in the world. Taking up over 2,000 acres, Fairmount Park incorporates more than 60 individual parks, as well as more than 200 historic buildings, an impressive collection of public art and the country’s first zoo and more, all within its borders.

Above: Fairmount Park Boxer’s Trail. Photo courtesy of Fairmount Park Conservancy

An extensive system of trails winds throughout the city, making it easy to get around without the need for transportation.

For more information on Philadelphia’s outdoor spaces click here.

Running

Philadelphia is built for runners, with a huge number of running trails throughout the city which you can explore alone at your own speed. Alternatively, you can join a group run, these are organised by one of Philadelphia’s many running clubs and take place most weekdays and weekends. Most are free to join and no advance reservation is required.

Philadelphia Marathon is one of the top 10 marathons in the U.S. and includes a full marathon, half marathon, 8K and kids fun run. This year’s events take place between 17th and 19th November.

Above: Philadelphia Marathon

For more information in running in Philadelphia click here.

Running tours
Visitors can enjoy an informative tour of the city whilst at the same time doing cardiovascular exercise.

SeePhillyRun’s tours pair fitness with history, as tour groups follow the guide on all-levels running trails throughout the city, stopping along the way to learn more about historical sites, cultural institutions, and public art. No running tour would be complete without an obligatory run up the “Rocky Steps” – the 72 steps leading up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art made famous by fictional character Rocky Balboa during his training in the movie “Rocky.”

Above: Running Tour. Photo courtesy of SeePhillyRun

Cycling

Indego is Philadelphia’s affordable and convenient bike share program. Offering more than 130 stations throughout the city with both classic and electric bikes available.

Above: Philadelphia bike share. Photo courtesy of Indego

At Fairmount Park you can cycle on or off-road for miles. Don’t miss Belmont Plateau in West Fairmount Park where you can take in amazing views of the Philadelphia skyline.

The Schuylkill River Trail is a paved scenic trail ideal for cycling. It stretches along the river for 25 miles from South Philadelphia to Manayunk and winds past Boathouse Row along Kelly Drive into the Countryside of Philadelphia.

Click here for some suggested Philadelphia bike itineraries.

Skating
Lace up your skates, stretch out your legs, and enjoy some fresh air at one of Philadelphia’s popular outdoor skating rinks. Skate beside Philadelphia City Hall at the Rothman Orthopaedics Rink in Dilworth Park, at the heart of the city. Starting in the spring, usually in April and continuing into the summer through July, the rink offers daily roller-skating sessions. Then, during the winter months – typically from November through February – the rink transforms into an ice-skating rink where visitors are encouraged to embrace the cooler temperatures and warm up with a skating session.

Above: Roller skating at City Hall

For another rink option, head to Independence Blue Cross RiverRink along the Delaware River Waterfront, a 12,000-square-foot riverside rink which offers ice skating during its annual months-long Winterfest and roller skating during its annual months-long Summerfest.

Hotels with gyms

Many hotels in Philadelphia have gyms so guests can start or end their day with a workout:

• The Bellevue Hotel

A stay at this historic city centre hotel gives you access to the massive 93,000-square-foot Sporting Club at the Bellevue fitness facility which even includes an NBA-sized basketball court.

• The Rittenhouse

The Rittenhouse Spa & Club, where you’ll find a heated indoor pool, fitness facility which features top scale equipment including RealRyder and Peloton indoor cycling bikes, an outdoor fitness deck, indoor pool plus sauna and steam rooms.

• Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia

Hotel guests can enjoy panoramic sky-high views of Philadelphia whilst swimming in the city’s premier Infinity Edge Pool.

Above: Pool at the Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia. Photo courtesy of Four Seasons

• Kimpton Hotel Palomar

The hotel encourages guests to be active as much as possible, with a 24/7 fitness centre equipped with state-of-the-art cardio equipment and yoga mats provided in each room. Guests also have free use of the hotel’s custom-designed bikes and for kids there are Micro Kickboard scooters available.

Healthy food
A Philadelphia cheesesteak makes for a great treat on your cheat day, but lighter, healthier options are available at plenty of restaurants.

• Vegan and Vegetarian

Vedge, which has been ranked as one of Thrillist’s 33 Best Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in America, offers elegant dining with an internationally-inspired, vegan, seasonal menu which features dishes made with fresh, locally-sourced vegetables,

Primary Plant Based, a casual vegan restaurant in the Fishtown neighborhood offers very reasonably priced, seasonal dishes made with local ingredients from a globally-inspired menu.

Charlie Was A Sinner is a cocktail bar that specializes in drinks made with fresh fruit juice and organic alcohol. Healthy vegetarian small plates are available, including charred shishito peppers or avocado toast topped with radishes and red onions.

• Sushi

Hiroki is a fine dining restaurant offering unique sushi options focusing on tradition and technique.

At Morimoto you can enjoy creative and delightful twists on Japanese staples, like tofu created fresh at your table, and seafood tobanyaki cooked and served in its own hot plate and red miso broth.

For a luxurious sushi dining experience, consider Omakase by Yanaga. This relatively newer restaurant in Philadelphia offers an exclusive, luxurious 25-course dining and sake pairing experience.

Above: Omakase by Yanaga, photo by J.Ryan for PHLCVB

  • Farm to Table

The pioneer of farm to table cuisine in Philadelphia, Fork serves seasonally focused contemporary American cuisine.

Talula’s Garden offers a healthy and delicious inventive spin on farm-to-table classics.

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For Further Press Information and high-resolution images, please contact:
Anna Watt – Philadelphia UK Office
Tel: 07815 898995
Email: [email protected]

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 organization has divisions dedicated to the multicultural, sports, and life sciences markets.

 

Unexpected Philadelphia

You may know Philadelphia for its iconic sites such as the Rocky Steps, Liberty Bell, LOVE sculpture, and Reading Terminal Market, but did you know you can also see a piece of Einstein’s brain, marvel at 19th century robotics Maillardet’s Automaton and take a stroll down the oldest residential street in America? These and many more curiosities and unexpected gems are ready to be explored in the City of Brotherly Love.

Mutter Museum

Philadelphia’s Mutter Museum is one of the most unique and interesting museums in the country, featuring collections of fascinating scientific discoveries about the human body , along with antique medical equipment, anatomical and pathological specimens and much more. Visitors to the Mutter Museum are able to view the conjoined liver of Siamese twins Chang and Eng Bunker, slides of Albert Einstein’s brain, and the mystery surrounding the famous “Soap Lady.”

The Museum’s Historical Medical Library is now open to the public for the first time in its 200-plus year history. Weekend visitors to the museum can now head upstairs to view rare artwork and books in a historic library which was previously only accessible to researchers with appointments.

www.muttermuseum.org/

Above: Mutter Museum, Photo by K. Huff for PHLCVB

Wagner Free Institute of Science

This natural history museum is a rare example of a Victorian era scientific society, with a museum, research centre, library, and educational facilities. The Wagner Free Institute of Science boasts more than 100,000 specimens including fossils, shells, minerals, mounted animal skeletons and skins displayed in original wood and glass cabinets.

www.wagnerfreeinstitute.org

 

Above: Wagner Free Institute of Science. Photo by Rob Cardillo

The Franklin Institute

The Franklin Institute’s innovative exhibits, films, and hands-on experiences demonstrate how fun and interesting science can be. One of the most famous and popular museums in Philadelphia, it houses some fascinating gems including a theremin, a prototype synthesizer which is controlled by movements of the player’s hands without any actual physical contact with the machine. Another fascinating museum curiosity is Maillardet’s Automaton, an early mechanic ‘robot’, that mimicked human behaviour. Built by 18th-century Swiss clockmaker Henri Maillardet, Maillardet’s Automaton was programmed to write out three poems and draw four sketches via mechanical means.

www.fi.edu

Above: Maillardet’s Automaton at The Franklin Institute, photo courtesy of The Franklin Institute

Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum

Racing fans will be in seventh heaven at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum which houses the world’s greatest collections of racing sports cars. The museum’s collection consists of approximately 75 racing sports cars and has been assembled over more than 50 years by Frederick A. Simeone, a retired neurosurgeon and native of Philadelphia.

www.simeonemuseum.org

Above: Simeone Foundation Museum. Photo courtesy of Simeone Museum

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens

A mesmerizing mosaic labyrinth created by artist Isaiah Zagar covers an indoor and outdoor space equivalent to half a city block. Zagar has devoted himself to beautifying the South Street neighbourhood since the late 1960s. In 1991 he started decorating the walls of vacant lots near his studios with mosaic. When the owner of the lots wanted to remove his work and sell the land, the local community rushed to support Zagar. The artist’s creation quickly became incorporated as a non-profit organization, was saved and opened in 2008 to the general public.

www.phillymagicgardens.org

Above: Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens. Photo by M.Zugale for PHLCVB

Laurel Hill Cemetery

A 78-acre National Historic Landmark and America’s second oldest cemetery, Laurel Hill was the first architecturally designed cemetery in the country and is laid out on a series of winding paths above the Schuylkill River.

There are some wonderfully aesthetic tombstones and mausoleums to explore, including the William Warner tomb which shows the soul coming out of the tomb in a puff of smoke.

Above: Lauren Hill Cemetery. Photo by K. Huff for PHLCVB

Fairmount Park

Fairmount Park is one of the country’s largest park system in the U.S, with more than 2,000 acres of parkland featuring miles of trails, biking and hiking paths, an orchard, greenhouses, multiple playgrounds, the country’s oldest zoo, and the city’s iconic Boathouse Row.

www.myphillypark.org

Above: Fairmount Park. Photo courtesy of Fairmount Park Conservancy.

Elfreth’s Alley

This 32-house alley is America’s oldest residential street, going back over 300 years. The quaint cobblestone alley is lined with traditional red brick homes with old-fashioned flower boxes and shutters, beautifully preserved by the Elfreth’s Alley Association which was founded in 1934.

Visitors can tour 126 Elfreth’s Alley, which is now the Elfreth’s Alley Museum, here you can learn about dressmakers, shoemakers, and other artisans who lived in the house, as well as about the larger history of the Alley.

www.elfrethsalley.org

Above: Elfreth’s Alley. Photo by K Huff for PHLCVB

The Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau has come up with a suggested itinerary taking in the very best of Unexpected Philadelphia. Click here to read more.

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For Further Press Information and high-resolution images, please contact:
Anna Watt – Philadelphia UK Office
Tel: 07815 898995
Email: [email protected]

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 organization has divisions dedicated to the multicultural, sports, and life sciences markets.

SUSTAINABLE PHILADELPHIA SHINES

There are a number of ways visitors to Philadelphia can enjoy a more sustainable experience, whilst still enjoying the very best that the City of Brotherly Love has to offer. As the post-pandemic world moves to an ever more eco-conscious one, many still want to travel but look to reducing their impact on the environment as much as they can once they are at their chosen destination.

Philadelphia has a number of direct services from the UK and Ireland. American Airlines has two daily flights from London Heathrow and one daily flight from Dublin, British Airways offers one daily flight from London Heathrow and Air Lingus presently has a flight that runs from Dublin six times a week.

Explore on two feet

Philadelphia boasts one of the most walkable downtowns in the United States so there really is no need to rely on either taxis or public transport to explore.

WeVenture offers walking tours guided by local residents that focus on different themes, including history, art, and food sustainability. Other tours invite you to explore reimagined spaces, Philadelphia’s Countryside, or Rocky movie locations to see where the iconic film was made.

Local tour company SeePhillyRun offers sightseeing tours for those looking to keep active. Tours include Philadelphia Highlights where you can run all of Philadelphia’s main attractions whilst tapping into themes like liberty, inclusion, reinvention, pop culture and many American Firsts. On the Rocky Run you run through Old City, the Italian Market, South Philly, and up the Art Museum Steps while hearing unique Philly stories about Rocky and what it means to be an underdog.

SeePhillyRun Art Museum Run. Photo Courtesy of SeePhillyRun

Explore on two wheels

Philadelphia’s affordable and convenient bike share program, Indego, offers more than 170 stations throughout the city with both classic and electric bikes available allowing you to pedal through neighbourhoods or along the Schuylkill River Trail.

Photo courtesy of Indego

Click here for an interactive online map which highlights various bike lanes and trails throughout the city. There are also some custom Philadelphia bike itineraries as well as a guide to biking in the city.

The great outdoors

There are countless opportunities to enjoy the fresh air in Philadelphia, home to seemingly endless trails, riverfronts, parks and outdoor opportunities that are waiting to be explored, in fact the city boasts 10,000 acres of parks, squares, and recreation sites, making its urban park system one of the world’s largest.

Fairmount Park, at over 2,000 acres, is one of the country’s largest parks, consisting of 63 individual parks as well as more than 200 historic buildings, an impressive collection of public art, the country’s first zoo and more, all within its borders.

Shofuso Fairmount Park. Photo by Kyle Huff PHLCVB

The Delaware River Waterfront is a vibrant area to explore year-round. Opening on 6th May, Spruce Street Harbor Park has colourful hammocks, floating gardens, beautiful trees adorned in technicoloured lights, local craft beers, and delicious food from some of Philadelphia’s most popular restaurants. Cherry Street Pier is a mixed-use public space converted from a historic pier, which hosts pop-up markets, art installations and a garden complete with tasty food and drink.

Cherry Street Pier. Photo courtesy of Kate Kelly

To read more about ways to explore Philadelphia’s outdoor spaces click here.

Eco friendly accommodation

Kimpton Hotel Palomar Philadelphia is the city’s only hotel certified by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement. Hotel Sofitel Philadelphia is working with Planet 21 in order to form a commitment to the planet, in order to help with environmental efforts, the hotel has implemented actions in regard to health, nature, carbon, innovation, and local purchases. Other options are the Radisson Plaza-Warwick and Sheraton Philadelphia University City Hotel which have both been awarded from the Green Key Eco-Rating Program.

Plant-based eating

There is an abundance of plant-based eateries throughout the city. HipCityVeg offers fast food inspired vegan menu items made with organic non-GMO soy ingredients sourced locally, Bar Bombon serves vegan Puerto Rican flavours, at The Tasty you find vegan versions of breakfast staples and you can try a vegan version of Philadelphia’s iconic cheesesteak at Blackbird Pizzeria or Campo’s Philly Cheesesteaks. For a more elevated dining experience Vedge has been ranked as one of Thrillist’s 33 Best Vegetarian and Vegan Restaurants in America.

Kimpton Palomar. Photo by E.Cunnicelli for PHLCVB

Eco Eats

Farm-to-table menus where restaurants source responsibly from local farms and producers to create unique regional meals are not hard to come by in Philadelphia. One of the first restaurants in the city to adopt this methodology is White Dog Café, which uses environmentally sustainable, organic and local foods sourced from farms within 50 miles. Talula’s Garden, Fork and High Street Philly also prioritise local ingredients whilst Elwood also uses classic cooking techniques to showcase the culinary history of the Philadelphia region. At Urban Farmer Steakhouse they build personal relationships with local farmers, ranchers, fisheries, and foragers, considering everything from the diets and treatment of animals to land use, in addition they have a zero-waste mission, where they use the whole animal – from steak cuts and sausages to bone broth and stocks.

Duck 2 Ways at Fork. Photo courtesy of Neal Santos

Sustainable sips

Many of Philadelphia’s craft breweries offer work with eco production methods. Triple Bottom Brewing Company is Pennsylvania’s first Certified B Corporation brewery, meaning it meets the highest verified standards of social and environmental performance, transparency, and accountability. Philadelphia’s original craft brewery, Yards Brewing Company, has been in operation since 1994 and is also the first brewery in Pennsylvania to be 100% wind-powered, it now also features solar panels placed on the roof of their 70,000-square-foot brewery and taproom.

Photo courtesy of Triple Bottom Brewing

To read more about Philadelphia’s top sustainable experiences 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 and high-resolution images, please contact:
Anna Watt – Philadelphia UK Office
Tel: 07815 898995
Email: [email protected]

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 organization has divisions dedicated to the multicultural, sports, and life sciences markets.