Philadelphia Attractions

No bones about it: this "intimate" 1828 "cornerstone" of Center City's Museum Mile is one of "the best dinosaur museums anywhere", appealing to "science buffs" "young and old" who "dig" all things prehistoric; so "return to your childhood" via "entertaining shows and talks" by an "informed staff" plus a live animal center, a tropical butterfly house and two Egyptian mummies – not to mention all that "cool", "esoteric" stuff hanging from the ceilings.

Cruise Martin Luther King Jr. Drive along the west bank of the Schuylkill River for a "postcard"-perfect "drive-by" view of the Victorian Gothic "gingerbread" boathouses "spectacularly" outlined in twinkling LED lights; by day, you can "take your rollers" or a bike to the east bank to navigate the waterside path or head to the greenery of Fairmount Park for a "picnic" lunch while "watching the sculling" of the regattas and other boat races.

There's "all you need" for "an amazing introduction to Philadelphia" at this "huge" green space spanning the city east and west of the Ben Franklin Parkway; it offers "lots of ball fields" and "unmanicured grass" and is a "fantastic place to fish, bike, hike, picnic" or partake in "any other outdoor activity"; plus, there are "amazing vistas" along the "picturesque" Schuylkill River and "loads of historic houses" to boot; P.S. just note that it's "safer before dark."

"Wanna be a scientist?" – then visit this "rainy day" "treasure", set in a 1934 Fairmount building, which offers "world-class" "geeky fun" that "brings physics, astronomy and medicine to life"; so sit in the "great planetarium" or feel your pulse quicken as you walk through the "giant" replica of a "beating [human] heart" – just don't forget to "wear comfy shoes" as you'll need them to "dodge" the "busloads of children" on school days.

"No visit to Philadelphia is complete without a stop" in Old City to see "the birthplace of the Constitution and home of the Liberty Bell", where "history books come alive" and the sights and sounds are "amazing", "important" – and free; America's Founding Fathers didn't have to put up with "post-9/11 construction barriers", "horrendous" "summer lines" or timed tickets, but 21st-century citizens can "relish" a "beautifully done visitor's center", "informative guides" and "costumed characters", so "eat your heart out, Boston."

For "multiethnic" South Philly "realness", head to the nation's largest open-air marketplace, a "shopping destination" where "foodies" brave the "seedy", streetside "hustle and bustle" in search of "all the bad things you aren't supposed to eat" (including "whole pigs" from "the friendliest man covered in blood you will ever meet"); a "must" if you're "into olive oil and pasta", it's also a source for some of the "cheapest fruits and vegetables" around.

We the people agree you'll "learn more than in any history class" about "one of our country's most sacred documents" at this "clean, well-lit" museum in Old City that "doesn't shy away from controversy"; the multimedia show is a "fascinating reminder of what it means to be a citizen" (enough to "bring tears to the eyes"), and those who've always longed to run the country can even get "sworn in as president" as part of an "enthralling" interactive experience.

Legions of film fans know it for "the famous steps Rocky ran up", but this "top-notch" art museum in Center City is "even more impressive" for what it contains: a "beautiful and diverse collection" ranging from "a room of armor" to a "Japanese teahouse" to "important" modern art (including a large Marcel Duchamp collection), all in a "gorgeous" neoclassical building with "sculptures strewn" outside and a Sunday policy of pay-what-you-wish; N.B. a new art deco building across the street houses more galleries and a library.

"Nothing can beat" "cavorting" at this "compact" 42-acre animal "escape" just a few miles from Downtown in historic Fairmount Park; "pack a lunch" to avoid the "expensive, limited" concessions, then take a camel ride or board the "tethered" Zooballoon for "awesome views"; just remember that despite a "face-lift", "easy parking" and "efforts to reach out to the community", "America's first zoo" is as "long in the tooth" as its eldest residents; N.B. snow leopards, pumas and jaguars gambol in the new Big Cat Falls habitat.

A "cross between Greenwich Village and a state fair", Philly's somewhat "seedy" but always "funky shopping street" is where "all the hippies" hang out among the "odd shops" and "good restaurants"; it's favored by teens and the just-legal, particularly on the stretch below Eighth Street, so if you're unnerved by "dyed hair", "body piercings" and "weirdos who come out at night", you may want to bring "an escort."