Philadelphia is known worldwide as a fabulous food city, and the Italian restaurants here live up to that reputation. When visiting, check out a few of these great Italian restaurants in Philadelphia that serve up a variety of delectable classic and modern favorites.

GIUSEPPE & SONS

Featuring a casual and bustling luncheonette on the main floor and a stylish restaurant downstairs, Giuseppe & Sons is one of the newer establishments to join the Italian dining scene. Developed by award-winning chef Michael Schulson and his wife, Nina Tinari, this destination creates an array of Italian classics with a modern flair. Both the main floor and rooms downstairs have full bars with a robust menu of craft cocktails. Note: If you’re simply craving something sweet, you can purchase fresh Italian pastries at the counter.

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Originally published on Trip Savvy

Philadelphia’s vibrant Chinatown area is a bustling, yet gritty neighborhood with a variety of great restaurants, most of which are unassuming. Located on the eastern side of Center City, Chinatown is a pocket of Philly that’s bordered to the north by Vine Street and to the south by Arch Street. It’s a fun dining destination all year long as there are plenty of diverse eateries that feature an array of specialties. Each restaurant offers a different choice of ambiance and offerings, and it’s not uncommon for this district to attract after-hours diners. Check out these favorites when you’re choosing a place for your next Chinatown meal.

Penang

Penang is a sprawling restaurant with an industrial feel and high-ceilings that serves up a wide variety of flavorful Malaysian-style specialties from the country’s northwest coast. With an open kitchen, lively crowd, and raucous ambiance, Penang is all about the quick service and sizzling hot food.

First-timers will appreciate the helpful servers who happily describe the different dishes and assist customers in making their meal decisions. A few popular items are the Penang fried chicken wings wrapped in pine leaves; beef satay; vegetable spring rolls; and their signature lobak, which features a succulent combination of spicy pork roll, shrimp, and tofu all in one dish.

Rangoon

As the only Burmese restaurant in Philadelphia, Rangoon attracts customers who return again and again for their unique, zesty, perfectly presented plates. Open for more than 25 years, this neighborhood staple has been serving up authentic dishes like their tangy firecracker lentil fritters, flavorful Burmese wontons, and overstuffed crabmeat dumplings. A big favorite that draws a lot of attention is their award-winning crispy watercress salad, which is tossed with a delectable dressing that intermingles flavors of Thai basil, fresh lemon juice, and coriander.

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Originally published in Trip Savvy

When you’re visiting Philadelphia, you don’t need to dive into the ocean to learn about the vibrant and exciting life that exists under the waves: There’s an abundance of fascinating marine species just over the Benjamin Franklin Bridge in Camden, New Jersey. Located on Camden’s Waterfront, across the river from Philly’s Center City, the Adventure Aquarium is a truly wonderful educational destination for adults and children who wish to explore the world down below.

Background

The beautiful and award-winning Adventure Aquarium first opened its doors in 1992, and has hosted millions of visitors over the years. Home to the largest number of sharks on the Eastern Seaboard, as well as more than 15,000 other aquatic species, it’s the only major aquarium in the Philadelphia region. Here you’ll find a variety of intriguing exhibits, 3-D films, and an assortment of unique opportunities for guests to get up close with some of the animals who reside here.

What to See and Do

A visit to the Adventure Aquarium is a fun, full-day experience for the entire family. In addition to the exceptional shark tanks, some of the more popular exhibits include penguins, stingrays, hippos, tropical fish, and the recent addition of two-toed sloths.

Here are a few of the Adventure Aquarium’s current highlights:

Ocean Realm

This expansive area features a soaring salt water tank with more than 700 gallons of seawater. It’s also site of the aquarium’s famous Shark Bridge and Shark Tunnel, where you can catch a great view of zebra, leopard, and hammerhead sharks, plus many more creatures of the deep.

Caribbean Currents

This area showcases 15 separate exhibits relating to the Caribbean Sea and the interesting creatures who live there. It features an abundance of colorful tropical fish of all kinds, including seahorses, jellyfish, and sea turtles of all sizes.

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Originally published in Trip Savvy

The city of Philadelphia boasts a large number of parks situated throughout its many neighborhoods. These parks are all unique destinations and range from sprawling areas, with plenty of wooded areas and scenic trails, to compact downtown spots that take up the space of a city block. Whether urban and busy, or rural and somewhat secluded, these parks are all scenic, interesting, and fun places to visit.

Rittenhouse Square

You’ll find the lively and picturesque Rittenhouse Square park in the middle of the city’s posh center city neighborhood of the same name. As you meander around the paved diagonal and circular walkways, you’ll admire trees, flowers, plants, and plenty of green, grassy spaces for sunbathing. There are also several beautiful fountains and sculptures here. In the warmer weather, be sure to snag a spot on one of the many benches that line the pathways—you’ll find it’s a great place to enjoy a snack, read a book, or people-watch.

Valley Forge National Park

Just outside of Philadelphia is the historic Valley Forge National Historical Park, filled with many fascinating sites associated with the Revolutionary War. It’s famous for being General George Washington and the Continental Army’s base during the legendary winter of 1777. This park is lovely—with rolling hills, wooded areas, and sprawling meadows. It attracts over a million visitors annually with many monuments, historical sites, and nearly 30 miles of picturesque trails. You can book a tour in advance or do a self-guided visit to this must-see destination.

Spruce Street Harbor Park

If relaxing along the river sounds like an idyllic way to spend the day (or evening), check out Philadelphia’s Spruce Street Harbor Park in the summer. Situated on the Delaware River in Philadelphia’s scenic Penn’s Landing area, Spruce Street Harbor Park offers great views of the Benjamin Franklin Bridge and the city skyline. The park is known for over 50 colorful hammocks, floating gardens, and a boardwalk along the riverfront (and plenty of things to do, too!). Visitors to this breezy and laid-back destination can also enjoy some casual fare and beverages at the on-site café.

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A fascinating and delightful wonderland for art lovers, Grounds for Sculpture is a picturesque oasis in an off-the-beaten-path location in Hamilton, New Jersey. Colorful gardens, sculptures, rolling hills, water features—and an upscale restaurant are all found at this world-class 42-acre massive art destination in Southern Jersey. Just a few miles outside of the city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, it’s a quick drive and a memorable destination for adults and children.

It’s also conveniently located next to the Hamilton, NJ train station (New Jersey Transit). Visitors can easily spend an entire day exploring the art throughout this intriguing sculpture park that features beautiful, sprawling outdoor spaces (and some indoor, too)! 

Grounds for Sculpture history and background

What’s the background of Grounds for Sculpture? This fabulous outdoor oasis was founded by artist Seward Johnson in the early 1990s.

Grounds for Sculpture is situated on the former New Jersey State Fairgrounds and site had been deserted for years, was abandoned and in a state of disrepair. Johnson’s vision was unique — and he developed a lovely space for guests of all ages to admire and learn about contemporary art within a beautiful and tranquil setting.

It required several years of work and construction to transform the neglected space into the stunning destination that it is today. Over 2,000 plants and trees were added, including several rare species, and there are currently over 300 contemporary sculptures on display.

Since the opening, nearly 1,000 artists have showcased their work at this unique location, and the park has welcomed over 3 million guests. Several notable artists include Beverly Pepper, Kiki Smith, Isaac Witkin, Joyce J. Scott, Anthony Caro, and many others. The organization supports new and up-and-coming artists as well. Every year, contemporary artists are invited to create unique sculptures for the gardens.

Things to See and Do at Grounds for Sculpture

Grounds for Sculpture offers a great deal of natural beauty combined with fascinating artwork. There are many intriguing and surprising areas of this magical destination, and visitors are encouraged to spend as much time exploring this unique and art-filled park.

• Rat’s Restaurant: This upscale French restaurant may have a surprising name (it’s named after the character in “Wind in the Willows”) has been referred to as one of the most scenic restaurants in the United States, as it overlooks some of the most breathtaking scenery in the gardens. It’s open for lunch and dinner (and brunch on weekends), serving up gourmet specialties. It offers indoor and outdoor seating (weather permitting). Reservations are required, and often this restaurant is booked for months.
• Rat’s Pond: This picturesque, colorful koi pond features a waterfall, water lilies, weeping willow trees, and cherry trees.
• Monet Bridge: Adjacent to the patio at Rat’s restaurant, the Monet Bridge was envisioned to replicate Monet’s well-known painting, Bridge over a Pond of Water Lilies. (The actual bridge still exists today in Giverny, France).
• Forest of the Subconscious: This collaboration with famous fashion designer Gloria Vanderbilt opened in 2008 and showcases artwork among lovely pathways with weeping white pine trees and weeping Norway spruce trees.
• Water garden: This tranquil area is located next to the Domestic Arts Building and shines a spotlight on small sculptures among complex water features above and below the surface.
• Bamboo observation tower: Offering a jaw-dropping view three stories above this expansive property, the observation tower in the Eastern Garden allows guests to see the area from 20 feet above.
• Red maple allee: One of the most popular spots in the park for photos, this meandering pathway is lined with two rows of beautiful Japanese Maple trees. The colors are exceptionally brilliant in the autumn when the leaves turn shades of bright red.
• The orchard: This area features two types of crab apple trees that bloom in April and May, showcasing dozens of pink and white flowers each spring.
• Lotus pond and gazebo: As one of the first areas of the park to be landscaped, the lotus pond and gazebo are considered the “heart of the garden.” In the summer, the gazebo is transformed into a snack bar, offering ice cream and treats and beer and wine.
• Acer Courtyard and Bamboo Courtyard: These two courtyards are shady, out-of-the-way locations in the park that allow guests to sit and rest while contemplating the artwork here. The Acer courtyard is surrounded by Japanese Maple trees, while the Bamboo includes several species of the bamboo plant.
• Picnics in the park: In the summer months, you can pre-order a picnic basket from the onsite café and enjoy a tasty meal outdoors among the sculptures.

How to Visit Grounds for Sculpture

For an optimal visit, it’s best to purchase your tickets for this unique park in advance. Grounds for Sculpture also offers annual memberships if you plan to visit more than once.

If you’re an art fan, it’s a good idea to do some preliminary research and check out the Grounds for Sculpture website in advance and read about the artwork and brief biographies of the artists who created the pieces.

You will also want to be aware of any installations (or upcoming exhibits you will want to experience).

Always check out the Grounds for Sculpture website before your visit and to purchase timed tickets in advance.

Summary for Grounds for Sculpture

Grounds for Sculpture is an outdoor destination, and it’s best experienced in fair weather. Also, be aware of how much time you need to truly enjoy Grounds for Sculpture. For example, if you wish to explore the sculpture gardens before dinner at Rats Restaurant, be sure to give yourself enough time to appreciate them.

You can easily spend several hours exploring the expansive property and meandering around the trails and hidden walkways. (Keep in mind that it’s not a quick 15-minute visit before dinner). You’ll want to admire the art installations and the entire property at a leisurely pace.

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History

As one of the prettiest neighborhoods in the city, Rittenhouse Square is situated on the west side of Broad Street. Anyone who has spent time here knows that the real heart of this area is a leafy green public park of the same name that stretches between Walnut Street and Rittenhouse Square South and is bordered by 16th and 18th Streets to the East and West.

Considered one of the first urban parks in the United States, the picturesque park is one of the original five green spaces throughout the city that were planned by the founder of Philadelphia, William Penn, in the 17th century. (His statue is currently perched atop the City Hall building nearby on Broad Street). Early on, this park was called “Southwest Square,” and the name was later changed to honor David Rittenhouse, a notable astronomer, instrument maker, and leader in the country’s revolutionary efforts. 

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