Philadelphia Hotels

Philadelphia Kennet Square Mushroom Festival - Courtesy www.gophila.com

The approaching season offers a smörgÃ¥sbord of events inviting you to experience Philadelphia’s charms. Its going to be an exciting time with the city reinventing itself to welcome the season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, guaranteeing you every bit of fun! Watch out for the line up of festive fare.

The cool crisp air hinting at Fall should get you started to explore Philadelphia’s upcoming events. Forthcoming occasions mark out some wonderful entertainment along with special programs scheduled for the year end trimester. These events may give you even more reasons to fall in love with Philadelphia.

Here’s a round up on Philadelphia happenings about to take place. Besides doing museums and performing arts discover the fun of several inbred programs focussed on events exclusive to Philadelphia. For instance, with Halloween just around, the haunted attractions may get you going green in Philadelphia!

Philadelphia Thanksgiving Parade - Courtesy cache.daylife.com

But seriously, certain events have the typical Philadelphia flavor hard to ignore. For instance every September Kennett Square, known as the Mushroom Capital of the World, has been holding the annual Mushroom Festival for the past two decades. More mushrooms grow in Chester County than anywhere else in the U.S., and over 100,000 visitors join each year to enjoy this two-day culinary event.

Typically the Manyunk Annual Antique and Collectibles Festival is a gathering of around 250 dealers from across the U.S., offering antiques and collectibles, covering all genres. This event takes place in Philadelphia in late October. Apart from organizing traditional gaiety the city holds other special events, music and theater attractions, kid friendly events, seasonal soirées and more Philly fun than you can imagine. Take your pick.

The second Sunday in October is to showcase the much awaited Columbus Day Parade when Philadelphia celebrates with the legendary parade along Broad Street. All you need to do is find a good vantage point for yourself on the route and enjoy the fun focussed on unabashed merry making.The Philadelphia College Festival to be held in mid-November for one week, includes events like College Day on the Parkway, a concert and an expo. The event organized by Philadelphia Museum of Art will feature eleven of the City’s top arts and cultural centers.

September 24 should see you tasting the Real Wine of Germany if you happen to be in the mood for it when Expressive Dry Riesling is to present the finest produce from Rhineland. If this finds you in happy spirits you can be game for the Tutored Tasting of German Wines to be held later on September 30 at Sheraton Hotel. Also on would be the Harvest Dinner Celebrations at Longwood Gardens on September 26 as also the Garden Fair at Winterthur Museum and Country Estate on the same day. Make your choices!

German Wines in Philadelphia - Courtesy www.gophila.com

Certainly not to be missed by connoisseurs or foodies would be the Beer Tasting and Arts Appreciation on Sunday, October 19 by Philadelphia Brewing Company and the Art Alliance. The twosome are to partner in the launch of popular signature beers along with extended gallery hours for photographs of Southwest Alaska - A World of National Parks and Wildlife Refuges along with BioForms on display. The tasting event would anticipate such brews as Kenzinger, Rowhouse Red, Walt Wit, and Newbold IPA.

Oktoberfest on until October 20 creates the pre-Halloween festive spirit in the air drifting over from Oktoberfest celebrations! Everyone is going to be grabbing on to their Steins and donning Lederhosen to bring out their Bavarian spirits. From September until October you can check out the German-American Day events that will provide you some great entertainment, like Dora the Explorer, International Car Show, face painting for kids, car corral, car rally, and German food and beer.

Trick or treat events at Haunted Halloween Bash will have you partying the night away. Halloween kick starts with the Eastern State Penitentiary’s Terror Behind the Walls- Haunted House as prequel to the Halloween festivities, to last well until November 2. Perfect for Halloween is the Eastern State Penitentiary. This Gothic prison is the backdrop to haunted attractions like Terror Behind the Walls, Intake, Night Watch, Lock Down, 13 Rooms and The Experiment.

Philadelphia is known to celebrate life and living to the full. The Annual Thanksgiving Parade is the oldest in US that got started since the 1920’s. If you happen to be in Philadelphia during that time you would witness thirteen marching bands, floats, balloons, 1,000-member youth choir, tap dance troupe, and many popular cartoon characters that will make a memorable impression.

The December Holiday Light Show is a stellar occasion thats also been on since a long time. Now a multi-media holiday light show unfolds with water fountains, organ music and much more in the Grand Court at Center City. So you can well see that starting with the Thanksgiving Parade and ending with the Holiday Festival, myriad events throughout the period make this time of year especially entertaining in Philadelphia. With so much happening you might as well plan ahead by booking on line with Philadelphia Hotels for some well deserved rest after the revelry is all over. So whats going to be your pick for the good times ahead?

September 23rd, 2008 | Category: Events-Enertainment | Leave a comment

Tiger cubs at Philadelphia Zoo - Courtesy laelaps.files.wordpress.com

Little did I imagine that I would enjoy a trip to the zoo as much as I did when the family decided to give little Sandra, all of six, her first visit to the zoo. The parents were keen to include the grandparents hoping to make it memorable for the moppet. The family outing to watch all creatures great and small was too alluring to ignore. So the missus and I joined in to visit the legendary Philadelphia Zoo after a gap of about twenty years or so.

Philadelphia Zoo is really old. First Zoo of United States it was set up way back in 1874. Located on the west bank of Schuylkill river and spreading across 42 acres it remains open all year round except on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New year. Home to nearly 2000 animals that include mammals, amphibians, reptiles and birds its been drawing visitors from all over the country and even from abroad, we hear. Our reservations through Philadelphia Hotels site over the net for the weekend-getaway was a comforting thought.

Red Panda at Philadelphia Zoo - Courtesy laelaps.files.wordpress.com

Parking would have been a bit of a hassle had we not taken on the Zoo membership. But even with the free parking that was part of the deal finding space got tighter by the minute. Which is why perhaps many visitors from the city opt for the hourly shuttle, I guess. Moving on inside the zoo it became clear that the earmarked terrain still adhered to the planned natural habitats housing various species. This included well defined areas like African plains, Big Cat Falls, Bear Country, Bird Valley, Rare Animal Conservation Center, Lemur Island, Avian Center, Pachyderm House, Reptile and Amphibian House among others.

The zoo truly connects you to nature and her wonderful creations of the wild that both children and adults seem to be enjoying all around us. Enveloped with a sense of adventure we circumvented the creatures harbored in close-to-natural settings. We were in for delightful surprises one after the other. Stopping by the Children’s Zoo we joined in with the kids to feed the sheep, goats and ducks. Moving on we caught the pandas feasting on bamboo, the amazing kangaroos, bears snacking up and pelicans gulping fishes. Bats, hornbills, penguins, tortoise, lemurs, mongoose, hippos and condors all had us in a real tizzy.

Sea Otters at Philadelphia Zoo - Courtesy laelaps.files.wordpress.com

As family pictures were taken it was the oohs and aaaahs of the kids all around that was really more delightful. What was even more interesting along with the variety of animals that we saw was the chance to experience other things. Like the balloon ride or paddle boating in the lake that was so much fun. I have not enjoyed more on a lake as much as I did that day paddling for Sandra. It was also fun watching grown up kids having a good time with the interactive educational exhibits that made them learn while playing. While even the grown ups appeared to be in awe of the rare species here, like the white lions, red pandas, polar bears and the country’s only giant river otters.

It was a full long day that had us enjoying all that the place had to offer. But if you are in the mood for a unique experience then you may go in for the overnight programs that are held here, I am told. I am sure young ones would just love to spend a night at the zoo. There are a great many fun and educational programs that the zoo provides. Also periodic special events add to the entertainment experiences. Best of all appeared to be the school workshops for children programmed in line with their curriculum.

Pachyderm Enclosure at Philadelphia Zoo - Courtesy laelaps.files.wordpress.com

The Channel 6 Zooballooon tethered 400 feet up in the air offered a birds eye view of the Zoo, the Schuylkill River, and the Philadelphia Center City skyline. We did enjoy climbing aboard the helium balloon for a soaring-safari that took us above the treetops of the Zoo to look down on the giraffes and zebras. We were told there were evening rides also besides the daytime ride that we took. The view of Fairmont Park from above was also special. For us it was a joyous 10 minutes but our little grandchild had to be carefully hand held all the time.

There is always something new and exciting taking place at the zoo. As animals change, grow and adapt to the seasons the zoo constantly evolves to field special programs for visitors. All this to keep visits appealingly refreshing. Its always a good idea to check the calendar of events for Philadelphia Zoo to make the most of your visit. October is going to be fun filled with exciting activities. Major events include the popular costume party for the whole family called Boo at the Zoo, scheduled for October 25-26, 2008. Come out for plenty of treats and sweets with candy stations throughout the Zoo. Storytelling, games and music make Boo at the Zoo Philadelphia’s most festive Halloween destination.

Also every weekend in October would be sporting the Beast Festival in line with the Halloween spirit. Watch out for October 11-12 for Croctober Weekend that is to celebrate the zoo’s favorite crocodiles. Kids will get to learn all about the fascinating reptiles, as well as their other scaly friends. Why we were already planning to come back again for more fun! Best of all we were happy to learn that the animals would be getting special harvest treats. For Beast Feast they are to get choice produce from local farms as part of the zoo’s Buy Local conservation campaign. Yes that sounds good. I am already looking forward to join in the next family outing to Philadelphia Zoo!

September 22nd, 2008 | Tags: Add new tag | Category: Zoos | Leave a comment