I had no idea how special this experience was until I finally took the tour, and wow it completely…read morechanged the way I see the city. Id noticed the murals before just passing by, but seeing them as part of a curated journey gives everything so much more meaning. The guide helped point out details I never would've caught on my own, and it added a whole new layer of appreciation. The artwork is powerful, full of emotion, and spread across the city in a way that makes the whole place feel like an open-air gallery. It celebrates the personality of the neighborhoods and captures stories that stay with you long after you're done. What really stood out to me was how much heart is behind each piece. You can feel the intention, the humor, the honesty, and the love woven into every message along the route. It turns a familiar ride into something unexpectedly uplifting. I left feeling inspired and genuinely connected to the city in a new way. Highly recommend this tour to anyone who wants to see a different, more meaningful side of Philly.

I love this. They had an initiative in the early 2000s to have graffiti art just work on art…read moreprojects as part of their community service. I believe this project is part of that circle was to have about 2OOO murals up by the mid-late OOs. By the time that happened they were way more than enough it's always nice to see free art as welll.

WHAT A BLAST. We came here for my birthday kind of ironically because online we saw reels saying it…read morewas the "weirdest museum ever," and thought it would be kind of funny/maybe even creepy. Little did we know it was actually FASCINATING; it was so fun to admire every last piece in the museum. The tram guide was great, the pre-recorded audio is helpful and interesting, and the collection is so varied and extensive that you can't help but love it. The pipe organs - fabulous. The walkable "toy box" collection was great after the tram. Overall, I'd recommend this to anyone - it was soooo fun.

What a fun thing to do! We didn't know what to expect and want to say we all really enjoyed the…read moreexperience! Admission was reasonable and enjoyed the self-guided part while waiting for the next tram departure time. There was everything you could imagine - except one thing! A TELEX MACHINE (which I used to operate). When I asked the staff if they had one none of them even knew what I was talking about (early 20's)! We took the tram tour and really enjoyed it. The tram moved at a nice pace so you could really take in everything. So much to see - everywhere. It was a really fun way to spend a few hours on a rainy day! But I urge you to visit rain or shine!

Came here for a 52 Firsts event during Spring Fest and it ended up being such a fun day. There was…read morea lot going on without feeling overwhelming. Live energy, little activity tables, and a small plant sale that was honestly very tempting. One of the coolest things I learned is that they have what's believed to be the oldest ginkgo tree in both North and South America. That alone made the visit feel a little special. I spent some time walking the trails and made my way around the water too. It's really pretty back there. Lots of flowers in bloom, open space, and quieter areas if you want a break from the crowd. I definitely liked the more shaded, tree-heavy sections the most. Some of the booths were set up fully in the sun and it got a bit intense after a while, so having those cooler, shaded areas made a big difference. Staff were very helpful and the trails are clearly marked, which made it easy to just wander without worrying about getting lost. Only downside is the location can be a little tricky to get to, especially if you're not driving. But once you're there, it's absolutely worth it. Overall just a really enjoyable, laid-back outdoor spot with a lot to explore. I'd come back, especially for another event.

Had a few hours before my flight and was looking for something to do. I came across this garden…read moreand it was beautiful. Well maintained and relaxing. Plenty of trails and benches. The flowers were gorgeous. You get a nice view of the city from the boat dock and parking area. I spent a few hours here. Great if you're solo or with people.

They have birds, and as well, crabs. We came here on a date. Also, there are shells. There are many…read morethings to look at at this establishment. Tapeworms on exhibit!

Seriously underrated science museum with a treasure trove of artifacts! If you can this area for a…read morevisit or an event, I'd strongly recommend it. The staff was kind and knowledgeable. No pictures are allowed upstairs, but there's an array of souvenir items in the gift shop if you'd like to commemorate your time. Looking forward to returning (and maybe with a sketchbook!) since there are so many items to look at.

The science center named for a founding father famous for several notable scientific experiments…read morelives up to his legacy. There is so much to see in one day that one could spend the whole day there. We managed to arrive just in time for a show in the planetarium, which was beautiful with plenty of relaxing seats. This is just outside of the LEGO exhibit where visitors can explore building various things. Down the middle of the institute is a giant pendulum swinging and knocking over some pegs over the course of 24 hours. Other exhibits include space, engineering, body mechanics, etc. Plenty of things to observe and read about, but also many interactive exhibits making it fun for kids (of all ages). All of us enjoyed the giant human heart that you can walk through to explore the various ventricles and atria. Most memorable for me was watching Child #2, who sits still for nothing, be absolutely entranced by the live demonstration of a dissection of a cow's eyeball. He thought it was the coolest, and the guy giving the demo was very patient with all the kids who came up to ask questions afterwards. For anyone who likes Science, this is an absolutely fantastic place to come explore!

I'm from NYC. Many months ago I had planned on visiting Spruce Street Harbor Park on Memorial Day…read moreSaturday. I bought a non refundable round trip ticket on Greyhound. And then a week before my trip, I found out that it would be 55 degrees and raining on Memorial Day Saturday. I wasn't going to flush $60 down the toilet. I thought about indoor activities that I could do in Philadelphia. And then I remembered that one of the episodes of Abbott Elementary took place at the Franklin Institute. I decided to check it out. Overall, I was impressed. The museum is divided into sections based on a specific theme. My favorite section was the space exploration section. There were many exhibits about the universe and advances in space exploration technology. Even if you're not into science those exhibits will pique your interest. Another section of the museum is about human anatomy. Since I get disgusted easily I passed. There was also a section of the museum about mechanical engineering. That wasn't really interesting. My favorite part of the museum is a giant steam engine at the basement. It is so freaking huge. It's bigger than an Amtrak locomotive. In addition to exhibits, the museum has various 20 minute science demonstrations. I watched a demonstration in which a very funny female scientist used a bunch of chemicals to create fire. There's also a liquid air show and an electricity show (I didn't have time to watch those. I will return to the Franklin Institute the next time I visit Philadelphia). In addition, there's a show about dissecting animals (I don't recommend that). $29 is a bit steep, but that's to be expected at a major museum in a big city,

We had never visited a place like this and it was so interesting. The audio tour does a great job…read moreof walking through how it was built, how the prisoners lived and why it's no longer in use. Its very powerful and there are a lot of places to explore on your own.

We saw this was one of the top rated attractions in the Philly area so we visited on a Monday…read moremorning (it's closed on Tuesdays). With our reciprocal museum membership we got free admission. We opted for the self guided tour with their audio headsets. The guide is very informative and if you listened to all of the recording it is 4 hours long! We did the main tour and listed to a few extras. We were there a bit over one hour. Overall it was very interesting and we learned alot about not only this prison but life in this first of a kind place. The place is pretty creepy. It is great that a group has stepped up to save this important piece of history!

Worth the stop as it's always free admission. Admittedly I did not do my research and was unaware…read morehow small the space is. It's two rooms with rotating exhibitions. No permanent gallery. The current exhibition on Shaker furniture was interesting, but I can see how it's not for everyone. I appreciate what they're doing at the ICA, I just wish there was a bigger permanent collection on display. Shoutout to Juno the welcoming cat.

The Institute of Contemporary Art Philadelphia - ICA is a…read morelaunchpad for contemporary art and ideas. ICA is on site at the Univeristy of Pennsylvania. We stopped by on our visit to the University of Pennsylvania to specifically see the Joanna Piotrowska: unseeing eyes, restless bodies We didn't think we would spend as much time as we did here, and I loved both of the exhibits. There are two gallery spaces, the first one held "Where I Learned to Look: Art from the Yard", with the curator and several artist being from Texas. I'm not sure I loved it because there was a Texas connection and also Baltimore screen art, but I really enjoyed art from a yard perspective. Fun contemporary art and a Koons piece. The second story held the second exhibit: Joanna Piotrowska: unseeing eyes, restless bodies. She's a Ukrainian artist, and I really thought it was going to be something different but it was a really cool exhibit. I have never seen carpet and space used this way before and her art evoked both fear and whimsy and awe. I love this museum and the fact that it's really quaint - obviously the experience you're going to have here depends on what exhibits are showing, but I had a great time here overall. It's completely free so if you're ever by the University of Pennsylvania, I highly recommend you stop by.

The center city tour was great! Sandi was great!! We've been center city locals for five years and…read morewe wanted to learn about the murals around us. We hit a bunch of murals in 1.5 hours, and some of them I'd never seen! 10/10 tour service. 10/10 selection of tours. Reasonable cost for the tour. We'll be doing more!

Among other things, Philadelphia is a city of public art. I could not help but spot sculptures and…read morestatues here and there, but it was this particular mural - six stories tall - that really drove it home. There have been plans for an office/mixed use tower in the parking lot that faces this mural but for now, we have the opportunity to take it in entirely. Wow, there's some detail here and a story. If you're passing near, I suggest you stop and check this one out near 150 North Broad Street. [Review 18311 overall - 603 in Pennsylvania - 1833 of 2022.]

Cute library with several different spaces. I enjoyed the civic center and relaxed there for an…read morehour just reading.

Y'all, this place has Charles Dickens' actual writing desk…read more We entered this beautiful building, mouths agape in wonder. One of the security guards told us to head straight up to the 3rd floor -- he compared it to a small museum full of rare things. Intrigued, we took his advice. So glad we did! We happened upon the free guided tour of the Rare Book Department, and spent the next hour happily being shown treasures such as books with special bindings, books with gold leaf, the taxidermied raven named Grip which inspired Edgar Allan Poe's famous work, and yes, Charles Dickens' desk, complete with his scratched-on initials. Later, we came across a giant shoe in one of the reading rooms. This place is fantastically magical. Love the Free Library of Philadelphia.