Historic Philadelphia

This morning we depart for a journey back in time to Historic Philadelphia. Upon arrival, lunch is included, before we meet our local guide. Experience history where it actually happened. No visit to Philadelphia is complete without seeing the sites in the most historic square mile in the United States such as the Liberty Bell, Congress Hall, Franklin Court, Carpenters’ Hall, the Betsy Ross house, Christ Church, and Elfreth’s Alley. Later this afternoon, we will check into our hotel for the next two nights, the 4-Star Kimpton Hotel Monaco Philadelphia, located across the street from the Liberty Bell! Tonight dinner is included.  (L,D)

Following breakfast, we visit the Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site. Once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, the sky-lit cells once held some of America’s most notorious criminals, such as Al Capone and ‘Slick Willie’ Sutton. After our tour we will travel over to One Liberty Observation Deck. Lunch is on your own before we take the tour to the top. Located in the heart of the city, you will want your camera as you travel 57 stories up, to view the ‘City of Brotherly Love’ from Philadelphia’s tallest enclosed observation deck. Tonight, dinner is included at City Tavern where we will be joined by a few local townspeople from 1776. From dinner we proceed over to Independence Hall for an exclusive nighttime tour. We might even walk in on Ben Franklin, Thomas Jefferson and John Adams discussing the Declaration of Independence!  (B,D)

After breakfast, we make our way over to the National Constitution Center. The Museum of We The People has three signature attractions: Freedom Rising, a short theatre production that connects you with the US Constitution and its ongoing role in our lives; The Story of We The People, a hands on exhibit on America’s constitutional history; and Signer’s Hall, where you can sign the Constitution alongside 42 life-size bronze statues of the Founding Fathers. Our final stop will be at the Reading Terminal Market, one of America’s largest and oldest public markets, housed since 1893 in a National Historic Landmark building, the Market offers an incredible selection of locally grown & exotic produce, locally sourced meats and poultry, plus the finest seafood, cheeses, baked goods, and confections. You’ll find everything you need, from cookbooks, to table linens, to kitchenware, to fresh cut flowers, and more. Plus the widest variety of restaurants under one roof. Find it all here at Philadelphia’s historic public market! This afternoon we depart for home with an approximate arrival of 8:30p.  (B)