Philadelphia

Day Trips

Your day will begin with an early morning departure from Times Square in Manhattan, where you’ll be greeted by your bilingual tour guide for the day. After 4-5 hours, your first destination will be the nation's current capital, Washington, DC. Once there, visit the Iwo Jima Memorial and the Lincoln Memorial. During the tour, stop for a classic outside view of the White House, home and office of the U.S. President, and the Capitol Building, home of the U.S. Congress. Your visit to Washington concludes with free time for lunch on your own. Your next destination, after a 3-hour journey, will be the first-ever U.S. capital, Philadelphia, PA. Visit its historic Old City neighborhood and the Independence National Historical Park where your guide will lead you on a brief walking tour. Then, ascend to the top of the Rocky Steps before returning to Times Square in Manhattan.

Enjoy a unique day in historic Philadelphia and Lancaster County, home to Pennsylvania’s Amish community. You’ll travel from New York through New Jersey on your way to Philadelphia, the City of Brotherly Love. On your guided tour of Philadelphia you’ll see Elfert Alley, which is the oldest inhabited street in America. You’ll visit the Liberty Bell and Constitution Hall, and have the opportunity to run up the famous Rocky Steps at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Following your sightseeing in Philadelphia, the tour heads to Lancaster County, home to Pennsylvania’s Amish community. Explore the Amish market and enjoy some country cooking at lunch. After lunch at the Amish market you’ll go on an authentic Amish buggy ride through farm country and learn how the Amish live without the benefit of modern technology. Imagine no electricity, no running water, no telephones, and no appliances!

The Valley Forge encampment is a hugely important part in the story of the foundation of the United States. After retreating from the Battle of Brandywine, General Washington moved his army to the high ground at Valley Forge in December of 1777. Over the next 6 months, battling the cold, disease, desertion, and famine, the army amazingly grew in numbers and strength and, with the help of Baron von Steuben, was transformed into a well-trained fighting force that ultimately went on to win the war against the British. The drive out from the city takes about 30 minutes depending on traffic. The tour includes a drive around the Valley Forge National Historic Park, which today is a beautifully kept and landscaped, natural setting filled with deer and birds. Regimental monuments dot the drive as well as recreations of the huts used by the men (and women) who camped here. You’ll have many chances to get out and wander among the huts, take photos across the park, and visit the site of George Washington’s headquarters and the Washington Memorial Chapel built in the early 1900s to commemorate this unique part of history. Your tour guide will regale you with many stories and then take you to the Visitor Center, where you can see a short movie about the encampment, browse in the store, and visit the museum area.

Looking for a way to turn Philadelphia into a giant game board?   Urban Adventure Quest has created an interactive scavenger hunt that combines the fun of the amazing race with a three-hour sightseeing tour of Philadelphia.  Guided from any smart phone, groups make their way among well known and overlooked gems of the city, solving clues and completing challenges while learning local history.   The adventure begins in the heart of the historic center of town and will take you on a journey among amazing iconic sights, famous houses, cool murals and other secret spots of the city. Using a smart phone as “the guide” allows participants to start when they want and determine their own pace of play. Stop for lunch and grab a Philly Cheese Steak or grab a refreshing drink and go at your own pace. Offered at a fixed price for a group vs. per person pricing, this city tour/game offers a great value to those on a budget. Points of Interest Washington Square Independence Hall Liberty Bell President’s House US Mint Betsy Ross House Efreth’s Alley Christ Church

Discover the highlights of Philadelphia on a guided tour from New York. Explore one of the oldest cities in America and learn about its historical importance. Your experience starts with pickup from selected hotels in New York. After a 2-hour transfer, arrive in Philadelphia city and visit the Liberty Bell. Enter the Independence Hall to see where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were created. Pass by Congress Hall and the Christ Church cemetery, where the tomb of Benjamin Franklin is located. See the house of Betsy Ross, who designed the first US flag. Wander along Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest street in the country, lined by 32 Georgian houses. Visit Parque del Amor in the city center, and enter the City Hall. Pass the State Penitentiary where famous prisoners such as Al Capone and Willie Sutton were held. Stop at the Philadelphia Museum of Art to see the stairs where Rocky was filmed, before returning to New York.

Get ready for the most memorable way to appreciate the landscape of scenic Chester County. Choose a private or shared 1-hour hot air balloon ride and take in the majestic scenery. Meet the crew before your flight and participate in the set up of your hot air balloon experience. Get breathtaking views of tree-covered rolling hills, the Schuylkill River and its tributaries, the Philadelphia skyline, and the little towns and villages that make up the backdrop of Southeastern Pennsylvania countryside during your flight. You might even see into New Jersey, Delaware, and/or the Delaware Bay on a clear day. After your flight, you’ll return to your launch point in a comfortable air-conditioned van and be treated to a light snack and champagne toast. You’ll also receive an official flight certificate suitable for framing, the perfect way to remember your trip through the skies of Chester County.

Discover the beautiful rolling countryside of Brandywine Valley, sitting 40 miles outside the city of Philadelphia. Visit some of the area's most popular attractions, including the stunning Longwood Gardens, the fascinating Winterthur Country Museum and Estate, the Brandywine River Museum, and the beautiful Nemours Mansion among others. Alternately, pay a visit to some of the wonderful wineries of the region, including Chaddsford Winery which provides regular tours and tastings. Because the tour is private, it can be customized to suit your needs and desires, allowing you to choose the attractions you are most interested in as well as the duration of your visit to them. You guides are also happy to take you around the Brandywine Battlefield site, or to drop you off at one of the fabulous local restaurants for a leisurely lunch.

Begin your day with early morning pickup at a location of your choice between Lower Manhattan and 125th St. Be greeted by your professional, bilingual tour guide, then travel for around 4–5 hours to Washington, DC, the current capital of the United States. Upon arrival, visit the Iwo Jima Memorial, which honors the US Marines raising the American flag in a famous photograph at the battle of Iwo Jima, Japan. Continue to the impressive Lincoln Memorial dedicated to the president who promoted the abolition of slavery in the United States. Washington D.C. is the center for all 3 branches of the U.S. government. During this tour, stop for a classic outside view of the seat of two of them: the White House and the Capitol Building. Conclude the Washington leg of your tour with free time for lunch on your own. Your next destination is the first-ever U.S. capital: Philadelphia, PA. Re-board your comfortable motorcoach for an approximate 3-hour journey. Arrive directly in Philadelphia's historic Old City neighborhood. Make your first stop at the Independence National Historical Park where your guide will lead you on a brief walking tour. Enjoy the opportunity to see some of the main historical sites such as the Liberty Bell, the famous symbol of America's independence, and Independence Hall, the birthplace of the United States. Your visit to Philadelphia concludes with a stop at the Rocky Steps, in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Have an opportunity to re-enact the famous scene from the 1976 movie by ascending to the top of the steps. At the end of the day, relax on board your motorcoach for the return to New York.