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.
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.
You may need a day to explore the entire 130 miles of the Schuylkill River Trail in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Or, you may choose to conquer sections of this multipurpose recreation trail one at a time. The Schuylkill River Trail in Philadelphia runs parallel to Kelly Drive for almost 10 miles, providing a smooth surface for walking, running, cycling and rollerblading.
While you may not sail the great blue seas, you can explore the history they played in Philadelphia’s development at the Independence Seaport Museum. A museum dedicated to the maritime history of Philadelphia, the Delaware Valley and Pennsylvania, the Independence Seaport Museum is suitably located along Penn’s Landing, the historic site where William Penn first docked when he arrived in America.