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Don’t Skip These Kid-Friendly Attractions in Philadelphia

August 13, 2015 by

Philadelphia is a very family-friendly city, provided that you know the right places to take the little ones. Kids of all ages will love these exciting, fun-filled attractions, and the adults might even enjoy them just as much.

Please Touch Museum
Few museums are as hands-on as Philadelphia’s Please Touch Museum, which invites children to build, drive, climb on, and explore every exhibit. The museum is centered around the idea that kids learn best through play, and it features exhibits like mazes to teach special reasoning, an interactive neighborhood, and even a Flight Fantasy exhibit that teaches balance and coordination.

Smith Memorial Playground
This historic playground is located in Philly’s East Fairmount Park, and it is targeted toward children ages 10 and younger. The park spans 6 ½ acres and hosts more than 50 pieces of safe, age appropriate playground equipment to offer children the opportunity for creative and social play. Better still, entry to this Philadelphia institution is free.

Philadelphia Zoo
Tiny animal lovers and their parents will both enjoy spending a day at the Philadelphia Zoo. This expansive zoo is 42-acres large and is home to more than 1,300 exotic animals, many of which are rare or endangered. The zoo includes a KidZooU area that is specifically designed for children, including child friendly gates, accessible restrooms and more. This area teaches children about animals in a way that they can understand, and it even offers education about the zoo’s conservation and recycling initiatives.

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Popular Fine Restaurants in Philadelphia

March 26, 2015 by

Philadelphia’s food scene may be best known for its cheesesteaks, but the City of Brotherly Love also has a number of fine dining restaurants to offer. Try one of these impressive, upscale Philly eateries for your next special occasion.

Morimoto
You’ll feel as if you’ve stepped into the future as soon as you enter this artistically decorated restaurant, which features abstract sculptures, a futuristic lounge area, and a main dining room furnished with colorful, lighted walls and modern tables. Chef Morimoto, star of television’s popular Iron Chef series, creates the restaurant’s upscale Japanese fare with his signature creative style. The best way to get the full experience is by choosing the Omakase, a multi-course tasting menu with thoughtful beverage pairings.
723 Chestnut St. Philadelphia, Pa. 19106; (215) 413-9070

Barclay Prime
Located in the historic Barclay Building in Rittenhouse Square, Barclay Prime is a luxury steakhouse with an old-school feel. The restaurant itself is decorated with traditional furniture and bright pops of neon colors and modern accents, and it contains a bar, lounge area, and spacious dining room.
237 S. 18th St. Philadelphia, Pa. 19103; (215) 732-7560

Vetri
This Italian restaurant is known as one of the best in the country, and after your first bite of fresh fish or homemade gnocchi, you’ll likely understand why. The six-course tasting menu is personalized to each diner’s unique preferences, and the dishes frequently change depending on which ingredients are in season and the mood of talented Chef Vetri. Vetri only seats 30 guests, which makes for a truly intimate dining experience.
1312 Spruce St. Philadelphia, Pa. 19107; (215) 732-3478

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Learn About the National Natural Landmarks Program

March 19, 2015 by

Developed by the National Park Service, the National Natural Landmarks Program aims to conserve sites that contain particularly outstanding biological and geological resources, both public and private. They are selected for their condition, rarity, value to science and education, and a number of other factors. Here are some facts about the program:

1) There are more than 600 landmarks in the National Natural Landmarks Program.
The landmarks span from the continental United States to the American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

2) The National Parks Service runs the program.
It's the service’s job to protect these designated areas and act as an advocate to raise awareness about U.S. natural heritage. They partner with both public and private landowners to solve problems with these sites and attempt to conserve them.

3) The National Natural Landmarks Program offers a number of initiatives each year.
The NNL’s biennial report provides an overview of the program’s efforts for the previous two years as well as information about project successes and new landmarks. Their annual photo contest showcases photos of the landmarks in a wall calendar, and the Natural Landmarks Directory offers a map of the locations of each landmark.

National Natural Landmarks Program [National Park Service]

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Philadelphia’s Most Popular Vegetarian Restaurants

July 24, 2014 by

In a city whose most famous food is the cheese steak, it may seem difficult to maintain a meat-free lifestyle. Don’t fret, vegetarians, because Philadelphia is home to many more vegetarian restaurants than you may realize. Here are a few favorite spots for veggie lovers.

1) Vedge
This award-winning gourmet vegan restaurant is owned and operated by two renowned vegetarian chefs. The menu includes all-vegetable dishes inspired by cuisines from around the world, though all of the ingredients are locally sourced. Vedge’s handcrafted cocktails and an impressive wine selection also make the perfect additions to any dish.
1221 Locust St. Philadelphia, Pa. 19107; (215) 320-7500

2) HipCityVeg
For a more casual vegetarian lunch or dinner spot, HipCityVeg offers fresh, fast food made without any animal products. Each dish is 100% plant based, and everything from the food containers to the restaurant’s furnishings are recycled and made from energy-efficient materials. Flavorful salads, hearty veggie burgers, and sandwiches stacked high with toppings are all part of HipCityVeg’s tasty menu. Don't miss the eatery's signature Groothie!
127 S. 18th St. Philadelphia, Pa. 19103; (215) 278-7605

3) P.S. & Co.
With an industrial-style, light filled interior that’s just as appealing as its healthy menu, Locust Street’s P.S. & Co. is a must-try spot for Philly vegetarians and carnivores alike. The restaurant prides itself on being entirely organic, gluten-free, vegan, and kosher, but each dish is prepared in such a way that even non-vegetarians will love the taste. Breakfast includes yogurts and porridges, while lunch and dinner soups, salads, and wraps will fill you up and make you feel good about what you’re consuming.
1706 Locust St. Philadelphia, Pa 19103; (215) 985-1706

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Explore the Country’s Most Visited National Parks

May 14, 2014 by

Looking for adventure? Challenges, education, and exploration await at our country's 401 national parks— 84 million acres' worth, with at least one park in every single state across the U.S.! Here are the country's three most-visited National Park Service sites and reasons why you should visit:

1) Great Smoky Mountains National Park: 9,354,695 visitors in 2013
Straddling the North Carolina-Tennessee border, the Great Smoky Mountains National Park offers 800 spectacular miles of trails over 521,490 acres. In addition to hiking, visitors can camp, picnic, bicycle, explore historical sites, or fish the park's 700 miles of streams. (See a full list of to-dos here.) Watch your step: A trip to this national park might put you within range of a black bear, elk, or white-tailed deer.

2) Blue Ridge Parkway: 12,877,368 visitors in 2013
Awe-inspiring mountain passes are the hallmark of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a scenic 469-mile drive that connects Virginia's Shenandoah National Park with North Carolina's Great Smoky Mountains National Park. A good old-fashioned road trip along the Parkway promises pit stops way better than your standard fuel-up: Expect scenic overlooks, hiking trails that lead to secluded waterfalls, and plenty of native flora and fauna. Check out suggested itineraries here.

3) Golden Gate National Recreation Area: 14,289,121 visitors in 2013
America's most visited national park site, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area comprises 24 attractions in and around San Francisco, California. These include Alcatraz, the Muir Woods redwoods forest, and of course, the Golden Gate Bridge. Read more about the Golden Gate National Recreation Area here.

Ten Most Visited Parks [National Parks Conservation Association]

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Let Freedom Ring: 4 Fun Facts About the Liberty Bell

March 20, 2014 by

The Liberty Bell is a symbol of our nation’s independence, and it dates all the way back to the late 1700s. This beautiful icon is rich with American history, and even non-history buffs will appreciate its inspiring story. Here are a few key facts about the Liberty Bell.

The bell was originally cast in 1751.
The Pennsylvania colonists were so pleased that William Penn gave them the freedom to choose their own religion that the Speaker of the Pennsylvania Assembly ordered the bell for the State House.

The original bell cracked and had to be replaced.
The first bell was cast in England, but cracked soon after arriving in Philadelphia. Two local craftsmen cast a new bell in 1753 out of metal from the original.

The Liberty Bell traveled around the country on tours.
In the late 1800s, the bell was such a symbol of freedom that it traveled around the U.S. to fairs and expositions to help unite the people after the Civil War. It returned to Philadelphia in 1915.

The bell weighs approximately 2,000 pounds.
It is made of 70% copper, 25% tin, and traces of lead, gold, silver, zinc, and arsenic. It still uses its original yoke, which is made of American elm and weighs 100 pounds.

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