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24 Hours in Philadelphia Explore the rich culture and history of Pennsylvania’s largest city. NIGHTTIME: Get right into the action with a live performance such as a jazz concert at Philadelphia Clef Club of Jazz & Performing Arts or a stand-up comedy act at Helium Comedy Club. NEXT DAY: For breakfast, fill up on Amish specialties such as apple cinnamon French toast at Dutch Eating Place or hand-rolled doughnuts at Beiler’s Donuts and Salads. Then, walk to the nearby Liberty Bell Center (free admission) to see an iconic symbol of freedom. At the Museum of the American Revolution, learn about the Revolutionary War and see the latest exhibit Black Founders: The Forten Family of Philadelphia (Feb. 11–Nov. 26, 2023). For lunch, order an award-wining cheesesteak from Sonny’s Famous Steaks and ice cream from The Franklin Fountain before wandering to Independence Seaport Museum, home of the cruiser Olympia, the world’s oldest floating steel warship. Then, lounge in a hammock at Spruce Street Harbor Park on the Delaware River waterfront. In the evening, explore the trendy Fishtown neighborhood with farm-to-table American dishes at Front Street Cafe and creative brews at Evil Genius Beer Company, or nosh on flavorful chargrilled meats and veggies at the Israeli Laser Wolf, named one of the best restaurants in the world of 2021 by Condé Nast Traveler, located in the adjacent Olde Kensington neighborhood. Add a Day Trip Longwood Gardens In Kennett Square, explore gardens, meadows, and fountains at this 1,077-acre botanical retreat. Fonthill Castle & The Tileworks Head to Doylestown to see the former estate of ceramicist Henry Chapman Mercer, and then tour his nearby historic tile factory. King of Prussia Mall Shop to your heart’s content at this mega-mall complex in King of Prussia, where you’ll find 450 stores, plus eateries of all kinds. More Places to Explore in This Region iFLY Indoor Skydiving State-of-the-art vertical wind tunnel for indoor skydiving sensation. King of Prussia Wharton Esherick Museum Studio and residence of American artist and woodworker Wharton Esherick. Malvern Elmwood Park Zoo Dozens of wild and endangered animals, plus the Treetop Adventures course. Norristown Spring Mountain Adventures A year-round spot with skiing/ snowboarding in winter and mountain biking in summer. Schwenksville Ringing Rocks Park A park with a massive boulder field with rocks that ring like a chime when struck. Upper Black Eddy Kennett Underground Railroad Bus Tours Family-friendly bus tours that visit documented Underground Railroad sites. Kennett Square Peddler’s Village Dozens of boutiques, plus annual events, in a colonial-style village with brick pathways. Lahaska Linvilla Orchards A 300-acre farm with a farm market, playground, fishing, hayrides, and seasonal events Media Baldwin’s Book Barn A bookstore housed in an 1822 barn that carries rare, antique, and hard-to-find books. West Chester Chanticleer Romantic botanical garden on the grounds of the Rosengarten estate. Wayne Peter Wentz Farmstead An 18th-century Pennsylvania German house museum and working farm with free tours. Lansdale Art, Wine, & Countryside Retreat Enjoy life’s simple pleasures at idyllic gardens, vineyards, and galleries just outside Philadelphia. DAY 1 Explore contemporary works of local artists at New Hope Arts and then grab a light lunch at one of New Hope’s many quaint eateries. Continue to Buckingham for wine tasting at the scenic Buckingham Valley Vineyards & Winery. In Doylestown, see the latest exhibits and an extensive collection of preindustrial tools at the Mercer Museum, plus artwork by Pennsylvania impressionists at Michener Art Museum. DAY 2 See what’s in bloom at Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens in Devon. In nearby Chadds Ford, explore the exhibits, nature trails, and historic artist studios of N.C. and Andrew Wyeth at the sprawling campus of the Brandywine River Museum of Art, and then have a glass of award-winning wine at Penns Woods Winery. Spend the night at The Inn at Grace Winery in Glen Mills, where you can tour the winery and enjoy a gourmet three-course dinner. Peek Into the Past Sprawling estates and notable historic sites will take you on a journey into PA’s history. Experience the grandeur of the Gilded Age when you go on a guided tour of the Beaux Arts country house of Cairnwood Estate in Bryn Athyn. Continue to Perkasie to the Pearl S. Buck House—former home of Pulitzer and Nobel Prize-winning author—a stately stone farmhouse with gardens. Stroll through historic structures of a 1771–1883 “iron plantation” at Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site in Elverson and spend the night at the centuries-old Great Valley House of Valley Forge, a bed-and-breakfast in Malvern. In the morning, venture to Valley Forge National Historical Park in King of Prussia, where the newly renovated visitor center features accessible display panels and immersive exhibits on the Continental Army encampment in the winter of 1777–78.
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