Top 5 Travel Attractions in Philadelphia

Guest Post by Lisa Fantino

Visiting Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love, is historic, artistic, scientific all rolled into one and here’s a Top 5 list of must-see attractions.

1. 1. The historic triumvirate/Christ Church, Independence Hall (a UNESCO World Heritage site) & the Liberty Bell Center.  In the city where the United States was born, no visit would be complete without seeing the church where Ben Franklin prayed as a boy, along with George Washington, the nation’s 1^st President; the room where the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776 and the Liberty Bell itself, which stands as a symbol of the country’s fight for freedom.
      
   2. Franklin Institute – was founded in 1824 by the first professional organization of mechanical engineers and draftsmen in the U.S.  Today, it houses interactive exhibits on everything from space to ancient and modern medicine, giving children and adults alike a hands-on explanation.  Visitors can walk through a giant heart along the path of blood flow and climb aboard a steam locomotive.  There’s an IMAX theater and planetarium as well. The Institute also features rotating exhibits and is currently showcasing an exhibit on Cleopatra, the last Queen of Egypt, through January 2, 2011.
      
   3. Philadelphia Museum of Art – is one of the largest art museums in the US and sits atop Ben Franklin Parkway. Its collections are quite impressive and span 2,000 years, everything from the masters to ancient temples have a home in its walls.  It’s the perfect rainy day retreat if weather hampers your outdoor plans and if you go on Friday evenings you can listen to cabaret music and grab a bite to eat.  Its grand center steps have become known as the Rocky Steps, having played a huge role in the Oscar-winning movie.
   4. Eastern State Penitentiary – the nearly 200 year old former maximum security prison contained seven cellblocks and housed some of the nation’s most notorious prisons including mobster Al Capone and bank robber Willie Sutton.  Today, its crumbling walls, death row block and empty guard tower echo the voices the inmates left behind.  There are daylight tours but venture near Halloween and experience one of the most terrifying haunted houses anywhere, Terror Behind the Walls.
      
   5. Love Park – no visit to Philly would be complete without a visit to Love Park which sits catty-corner to the city’s magnificent City Hall building.

Lisa Fantino is an award-winning journalist and attorney and the Italy travel consultant and creative force behind Wanderlust Women Travel.   She recently launched the Amalfi wedding site, Wanderlust Weddings.  Her love of Amalfi has also inspired her to gather sterling silver jewelry and gifts inspired by the blues of the region at Amalfi Blu. In her spare time, she writes travel features for MNUI travel insurance and blogs as Lady Litigator.

About The Author

Cecil Lee

The author is an avid traveler and photography hobbyist who loves to share with others his travel and photo-taking experience in many popular tourist destinations around Europe, Asia and Australasia. Read the exciting stories with many photos captured on his journeys.