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Oct 29 2008

12 Reasons To Visit Philadelphia This Winter

Winter’s The Season For Great Exhibitions, Holiday Fun, Dining And More In Philly

Winter may be chillier, but Philadelphia is just getting warmed up with a dozen new reasons to explore the five-county region. This season, visitors can walk through an interactive Chronicles of Narnia exhibition at The Franklin, view Cézanne’s masterful paintings at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and pay homage to iconic historic attractions without the wait. Add the just-reopened Please Touch Museum® in Fairmount Park, swanky new steakhouses, some enticing hotel packages and the season’s long holiday weekends and visitors have the makings of a fun-filled family trip or romantic getaway. Here’s what’s in store for winter 2008-2009:

Museums & Exhibitions:

  1. After three years of renovation, the Please Touch Museum® recently reopened its doors in its new Memorial Hall location in Fairmount Park. The $88 million project includes three times the kid-centric museum’s original exhibition space, plus a fully restored 100-year-old carousel. Families can plan a vacation around the must-see museum and take advantage of a special Play & Stay Hotel Package that includes overnight accommodations, free parking at both the hotel and museum, four VIP tickets with a “Speed Pass” to skip the lines, discounts at the Please Taste Café, four carousel rides and special seating at the museum’s theater shows throughout the day. The package is available November 1, 2008 through January 31, 2009 and bookable at gophila.com. 4231 Avenue of the Republic, (215) 581-3181, pleasetouchmuseum.org
  2. Step into the magical world of The Chronicles of Narnia at The Franklin, on view from November 28, 2008 through April 19, 2009. The interactive exhibition, based on the Narnia books and movie, is a walk through the magical world of lions, witches and wardrobes with original props from the actual stage set. Along with glittering special effects, the exhibit delivers an important message about the environment. 222 N. 20th Street, (215) 448-1200, www2.fi.edu/
  3. A legendary artist and his rippling influence on modern art is the subject of Cézanne and Beyond, in residence from February 26 through May 31, 2009 at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The exhibition will showcase 60 works created by Cézanne alongside works by successors Georges Braque, Pierre Bonnard, Jasper Johns, Pablo Picasso and many others. 26th Street & the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 763-8100, philamuseum.org
  4. A celebration of nearly 500 years of African and African-American contributions to the U.S., the groundbreaking exhibition America I AM kicks off its national tour at the National Constitution Center on January 15, 2009. Presented by Tavis Smiley, the exhibition features 12 galleries with more than 150 artifacts culled from all periods of American history, along with an interactive video component that allows visitors to record their own “imprints.” Through May 3, 2009. 525 Arch Street, (215) 409-6700, constitutioncenter.org

History & Family Fun:

  1. January marks the 200th year since the birth of literary master Edgar Allan Poe, and Philadelphia will celebrate with a brand-new exhibition at his one-time home. Fans of his thrilling works have always enjoyed touring the Edgar Allan Poe National Historical Site, the Philadelphia residence where he penned many of his famous lines. After closing on December 1, 2008, the site will reopen on January 17, 2009 with a brand-new exhibition entitled Edgar Allan Poe: His Life and Work, which delves deep into the world of the icon. 530 N. 7th Street, (215) 597-8780, nps.gov/edal
  2. Old City’s historic attractions are open and free to visitors year round, but the lines are shorter during the cooler months, making it the optimum time to explore legendary sites like the Liberty Bell, which was installed as a symbol of William Penn’s original constitution and civic legacy; and Independence Hall, the birthplace of the United States and its Declaration of Independence and Constitution. Liberty Bell Center, 501 Market Street, (215) 965-2305; Independence Hall, Chestnut Street between 5th & 6th Streets, (215) 597-8974, nps.gov/inde

Events:

  1. Anyone who’s spent the holiday season in Philadelphia knows it’s an especially magical time filled with well-loved rituals, including decorative displays on City Hall and the Holiday Light Show at Macy’s in Center City, plus Longwood Gardens’ glorious fountain shows, The African-American Museum in Philadelphia’s Kwanzaa festivities and the Latkepalooza Hanukkah celebration at the Gershman Y. Then, of course, there’s the dazzling, always-raucous Mummers Parade on New Year’s Day. gophila.com/holidays
  2. Visitors from across the country flock to the city each year for the Philadelphia Flower Show, the largest indoor event of its kind in the world. Presented by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the 33-acre expo features elaborate floral and landscaping displays—this year showcasing an Italian theme—plus lectures, special events, culinary presentations and a vendor marketplace. March 1-8, 2009. Pennsylvania Convention Center, 12th & Arch Streets, (215) 988-8899, theflowershow.com
  3. Now in its second year, Philly Beer Week is fast becoming a local tradition, attracting microbrew lovers and Yuengling aficionados alike. Ten days of tastings, lectures, beer-pairing dinners and other events celebrate the city’s lively brewing culture and history. March 6-15, 2009. phillybeerweek.org

Dining:

  1. This winter, Philly residents and visitors will be eating steak and lots of it with three brand new steakhouses making the city a destination for all-things meaty. Styled to resemble steakhouses of yore, Stephen Starr’s Butcher and Singer, which opened its doors in October, serves up hefty steaks, tableside-tossed Caesar salad and the creative handcrafted cocktails that have been the hallmark of Starr’s local restaurant empire. In November, the high-end Southern chain Del Frisco’s Double Eagle lands in Philly’s Packard condominium building with a two-story glass wine tower and “double eagle”-size (26-ounce) steaks. Union Trust, located in what was once a grand Independence Park area jewelry store, will offer vertical meat tastings and an 18,000-bottle wine cellar when it opens on February 2, 2009. Butcher and Singer, 1500 Walnut Street, (215) 732-4444, butcherandsinger.com; Del Frisco’s Double Eagle, 111 S. 15th Street, delfriscos.com; Union Trust, 717 Chestnut Street, (215) 925-6000, uniontruststeakhouse.com

Long Weekends:

  1. There’s too much to see in the Philadelphia region to cover it all in a weekend. Winter’s long weekends, Martin Luther King Day and President’s Day, give visitors an extra day and extra incentive to explore the city and surrounding countryside.

Hotel Package:

  1. Need another reason to visit? Consider the Philly Overnight® Hotel Package, a value-laden hotel package that includes two nights in a choice of participating hotels, free parking, a Macy’s discount pass and a Philly’s More Fun™ teddy bear. The package is available for any two consecutive days of the week. gophila.com

The Greater Philadelphia Tourism Marketing Corporation (GPTMC) makes Philadelphia and The Countryside® a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases business and promotes the region’s vitality.

For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit gophila.com or uwishunu.com, where you can build itineraries; search event calendars; see photos and videos; view interactive maps; sign up for newsletters; listen to HearPhilly, an online radio station about what to see and do in the region; book hotel reservations and more. Or, call the Independence Visitor Center, located in Historic Philadelphia, at (800) 537-7676.

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Tagged: Events, Holidays, Museums & Attractions, Winter

Attached Media

Please Touch Museum®

Please Touch Museum®

Even though it’s housed in Memorial Hall, a National Historic Landmark, kids call the shots at Please Touch Museum®. Once they lay their eyes on the wacky Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, just one of the must-see museum’s fun activities, they’ll want to spend the whole day playing croquet with the...

Credit: Photo courtesy of Please Touch Museum®

Tags: Family-friendly, Museums & Attractions