Burn Clean

Set aside some time to visit the oldest surviving botanical garden in the United States. Bartram’s Garden covers 46 acres in Fairmount Park, and is open to the public for free admission. Try taking a tour inside the historic garden area (the original 8-acre garden begun in 1728), the historic stone house, through the elaborate grove and the largest variety of North American plants in the world.

Take a photo with one of the country’s founding fathers! No trip to Philadelphia is complete without seeing the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial, located in the Franklin Institute’s rotunda. This Pennsylvanian landmark and attraction honors Benjamin Franklin, Philadelphia’s most famous citizen, with a colossal 20-foot-tall statue made of white marble.

Listen to and watch some of the best, unfiltered performances at the Philadelphia Live Arts Festival & Philly Fringe. These two events feature a collection of the world’s best contemporary performing artists showcasing works in theater, dance, music and everything in between. Short on cash? Take advantage of the free events and shows during these 16-day festivals.

Take in the marvelous works at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, one of the largest art museums in the country. Known as the Parthenon on the Parkway, this enormous museum features a quasi-Greek Revival design. Within its 200 galleries you can find over 225,000 objects showcasing the creative evolution of the Western world from the first century onwards.