We are only 24 hours away from the first day of spring!

Imagine that … No more winter coats, shoes, or shovels. Just the sight of blooming cherry blossoms, short sleeve t-shirts and free water ice. And with a forecast of 65 degrees planned for tomorrow, why not spend it sightseeing in Philadelphia?

Here are just some ways to enjoy the first day of spring.

Breakfast with Ben - Join Ben Franklin every Saturday morning for a hearty breakfast buffet served with a generous side of history. He’ll tell you about everything from his swim fins to his bifocals, shake hands with the children (and answer all their questions) and even pose for a complimentary photo for yours to keep.

Big Bus Tours- Everything looks better from up top. Enjoy a 90 minute guided tour all over Philadelphia on an authentic London Double Decker bus. Hop on/ hop off from over 20 stops including the Philadelphia Zoo ,Independence Hall , and the Philadelphia Museum of Art.

Steaks on South- Winner of our first- ever “Philly Steak Out� , our visitors chose their cheesesteak as the best in Philly. Stop by the hippest street in town,South Street , to enjoy finely chopped rib eye steak, fried onions and American cheese served in long roll and served with fries and drink make that the perfect Philadelphia tradition.

Rita's Water Ice- Nothing says spring like free water ice. For the last 17 years, locals and visitors alike have sampled the sweetest treat in Philadelphia on the first day of spring- absolutely free! Simply visit any Rita’s Water ice for a complementary regular sized Italian ice. Spring never tasted so good!

Ghost Tour of Philadelphia- And wrap up the evening with a candlelight ghost tour throughout historic Philadelphia. Costumed guides bring history back to life with visits to Washington Square, Independence Hall, City Tavern , and more. Be sure to grab a friend, no one wants to wander the streets alone!

We have so many fun activities to share. Stop by our visitor desk for your own personalized itinerary. The warm temperatures are here to stay. So come out and enjoy the City of Brotherly Love.

With Love, Philadelphia.
XOXO

It was only a matter of time before the ducks would fly back east! Laugh, learn, and quack in this 70 minute land and sea adventure tour throughout Philadelphia. Crafted from a WWII DUKW, this amphibious vehicle provides a hilarious and musical journey guaranteed to leave you in feathers.

Your fearless captain will en-tour-tain you with stories of our rich history, our role in films and sports and of course, the food. Attractions include Independence Hall , the hippest street in town, South Street ,the Betsy Ross House and so much more.

Now ready for the best part? After spending 50 minutes on dry land, the duck takes you for a splash in the beautiful Delaware! See all of Philadelphia on this quacktaular adventure.

It is guaranteed fun for the whole family. So are you ready to shake your tailfeather?

To learn more and get tickets, stop by our visitor desk. And remember, we are now open till 6pm. We’re here to serve you.

With love XOXO

Philadelphia

Did you think Ben Franklin ever sported tights and a cape? Hmm. Could Mother Teresa fly? I would think not. But who says real heroes need a cape, or a costume, for that matter? They save the world with the tools everyone has… their head, their heart and their hands.

Some people have done amazing things with their liberty. What do you do with yours? The answers lie in the new exhibit- Heroes of Character at the National Liberty Museum .

In case you’ve never been, the National Liberty Museum is the home to heroes.
Only two blocks from the birthplace of Independence , you’ll find four floors with over 200 interactive exhibits and works of art that celebrate American democracy as a “work in progress.�

Armed with your own personal hero code, embark on four animated adventures including trekking through a jungle of decisions to help determine what you stand for. You can even take a photo with your favorite hero!

To learn much more about the exhibit and the museum itself, stop by our visitor desk. We’d love to chat with you.

With Love, Philadelphia
XOXO

Officially, spring doesn’t bloom till Saturday March 20th.

But try saying that to the thousands of people in town this week for the 2010 Philadelphia International Flower Show at the Pennsylvania Convention Center . Considered the largest indoor flower in the world, it’ll be quite easy to lose yourself in 10 acres of glorious gardens. This year’s theme, Passport to the World, is a journey around the globe, with breathtaking stops in India, Brazil, the Netherlands, South Africa, New Zealand and Singapore. With live performances, a bustling marketplace and a wine and spirits garden, you’ll forget there even was a winter!

Be sure to stop by our visitor desk for Flower Show tickets, restaurants reservations and even more ways to say goodbye to winter and hello to Spring. R

With Love, Philadelphia
XOXO

The 2010 Philadelphia International Flower Show
Now through March 7
PA Convention Center
Purchase tickets at the concierge desk!

As the saying goes, Rome wasn’t built in a day but neither was the United States. From the building of a republic down to the “bun� hairstyle, Ben Franklin certainly wasn’t crazy when he was pictured wearing a toga. We owe a great deal to the Romans as proclaimed in the world premiere exhibition“Ancient Rome & America�, debuting today at the National Constitution Center .

Featuring more than 300 artifacts from Italy and the United States, it begs to answer the question-What enduring lessons does Rome have for America today ? The similarities are frankly uncanny.
• Our use of myths/ heroes to develop society
• The Importance of the Census
• Dividing the republic into three branches of government and many more.

Highlights include: the very tea leaves collected from the Boston Tea Party, a playbill for “Our American Cousin�- the night Abraham Lincoln was assassinated, and signed letters by Abigail Adams to her husband John addressing herself as Portia- the wife of Brutus (the Senator opposed to Julius Caesar).

I’ve really only scratched the surface. For more information on this fascinating exhibit and to get tickets, click here . After all, when in Rome, do as the Romans.

Real Philly, Real Easy.

Ancient Rome & America
February 19- August 1, 2010
National Constitution Center
6th Arch Streets

The story of George Washington Carver goes far beyond peanuts. From a traveling school to the use of organic materials, Carver’s green ideas are the model of how society operates today.

Discover the amazing life of George Washington Carver at the Academy of Natural Sciences . On display till February 28, the exhibit follows his beginnings as a slave where a severe illness would unknowingly give him the chance to trade “men’s duties� for women’s work- aka, needle and thread to his contributions as a scientist harnessing the power of nature in order to better serve the poor.

Highlights include:

• More than a 150 of his personal artifacts: table cloths, artwork, agricultural bulletins including the famous 105 ways of growing and preparing the peanut for human consumption.

• A life-size reproduction of the horse drawn Jesup Wagon, Carver’s idea of a traveling school to bring his ideas to farmers in the field and homemakers in the home.

To learn more about Carver and to purchase tickets, check out our visitor page. Real Philly, Real Easy.

Don’t miss the final days of Skin and Bones: Tattoos in the Life of the American Sailor @ the Independence Seaport Museum.

This original exhibit created by the museum’s curator Craig Bruns features modern and traditional tattooing tools, a rich archive of photos behind the artists, their work, and even a “tattoo-tron� where you can get dear old mom tattooed on your forearm.

Believe me; you won’t feel a thing!

To purchase your tickets, click here
. The exhibit was extended to February and ends this Sunday, the 7th! Time to get inked!

Real Philly, Real easy.

Hard to believe that you are turning 304 years old! Why, you don’t even look a day over 200! Although your birthday isn’t technically till Sunday Jan 17th, we figured celebrating a few days earlier wouldn’t hurt.

Tomorrow, Friday, January 15, will be the city-wide celebration in your honor. The festivities begin at Franklin Hall (how appropriate!) with a free seminar exploring the concept of American Character featuring panelists from the University you founded!

We then continue with a procession that departs from the American Philosophical Society and ends up at Christ Church burial ground; hundreds of your admirers will be joining in the parade to give their respects!

A luncheon follows soon after with the Franklin Founder Award being given out toSheldon Hackney, Ph.D. But the celebration doesn’t end there…

At 9:00 am this Saturday, there will be a full breakfast buffet, and a few dozen of your closest friends, in our Liberty View Ballroom! There will be pictures taken, stories shared, and delicious food to be eaten.

For all the details about Ben’s birthday celebration, stop by our Visitor Desk. Real Philly, Real Easy.

On January 2nd, Betsy Ross will be celebrating her 258th birthday!

Boy, that’s a lot of candles. Enjoy storytelling from the birthday girl, balloon artists, craft making and of course, yummy birthday cake.

For more info about our most famous flagmaker, log on here

Betsy Ross Birthday Bash
Saturday Jan 2, 2010
11am - 3pm
239 Arch Street
215-686-1252