Adrienne and David
May 28, 2016
Philadelphia
MARRIED
are getting
PHILADELPHIA
Center City
Many of our guests (including those of you staying at the Westin) will likely stay in Center City. Built around City Hall, this area is known for its vibrant culture, shopping, and of course, great restaurants. Those who really want the Philly experience should check out Reading Terminal Market, a train station that has been converted into a market with hundreds of food vendors and shops.
Other Areas of Interest
Northwest (15 minute walk) of Center City, you will find the Museum District (see below) and Logan Square Park.
Farther northwest (drive, cab/rideshare, or take the 38 bus) is Fairmount Park, the largest urban park in the country. It is home to the Philadelphia Zoo, the Please Touch Museum, as well as the Horticulture Center and the Shofusu Japanese House and Garden. (Also, the Barn at Ridgeland! Shuttles will go between Center City and the venue for the wedding.)
North (15 minute walk) of Center City is Philadelphia's Chinatown.
Northeast (15 minute walk) from Center City, you will find Franklin Square, a family-friendly park with a carousel and mini golf, and the Constitution Center, a museum dedicated to a pretty important document.
Update: The Philadelphia Chinese Lantern Festival will be going on in Franklin Square the week and weekend of the wedding. If your trip extends to Thursday or Sunday night, it looks amazing! And if not, you can check out some of the attractions during the day for free.
East (17 minute walk) of Center City is Old City (see below), an area history buffs won't want to miss!
Old City
Many of Philadelphia's most famous attractions, including the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall (where the Declaration of Independence was signed), are located in Old City. A good starting place is the Independence Visitor Center, which is central to many of these sites.
A bit farther north, you will find the National Constitution Center, Ben Franklin's grave, and the Betsy Ross House.
A bit farther south is the Society Hill area (old houses and industrial buildings, some of which are now museums and galleries) and Washington Square Park.
All of these sites are along the Market-Frankford line (as is the Ben Franklin Yacht, the location of Friday's pre-wedding celebration).
The Museum District
The Philadelphia Museum of Art (left) is probably the city's most famous museum, to fans of art and Rocky alike. There are many other fantastic museums in the area, too, particularly if you're interested in art (the Barnes Foundation, the Rodin Museum) or science (the Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences). Also a short walk from the Art Museum is the Eastern State Penitentary, once the world's most famous prison and now a museum that shows how problematic incarceration was--and continues to be.
