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.
Travel across state lines for a journey under the sea. Adventure Aquarium features 8,000 aquatic animals from all over the world living in their semi-aquatic, freshwater and marine habitats. Explore the exhibits and attractions and see the beauty of the ocean, including a large coral reef tank, as well as some of the most gorgeous, exotic, endangered and dangerous creatures found in the water.
Take a walk along the waterfront at Penn’s Landing and you may find some of the best shows and entertainment in the city, from Screening Under the Stars to the Olympic-sized RiverRink. This landmark site provides a perfect music and festival venue that hosts several concerts and performances throughout the year.
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.