Remarkably, the Philadelphia Zoo first opened its doors in 1859, making it the oldest zoo in the country and is today considered a leader in the nation with approximately 1,800 animals and 42 acres. Having just celebrated the 150th anniversary of the zoo there are new on the horizon. In 2009 the $17.5 million McNeil Avian Center will open to the public and invite guests to stroll through the lush natural-like habitats of more than 100 birds from around the world, many of these birds are rare or endangered so this may be your only chance to catch a glimpse of them. In addition to this new exhibit there are several habitats that have been delighting visitors for more than a century.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of the largest museums of its kind in the United States. The collections housed within this magnificent building extend across two millennia and six continents. It seems as though the collections are ever changing at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and they do have some regular rotation, but it’s the shear quantity of art that makes this museum feel continuously fresh. No matter how often you visit you’re sure to discover a little something you never noticed before. The museum is currently undergoing a renovation to the Perelman Building which is claimed to be bringing great advances in modernization to the museum. It’s quite possible that you can breeze through the entire museum in one day but a true art lover could also spend a whole day examining just one piece of artwork. No matter what your style, if you love art you’ll love it here.
Be forewarned that Philadelphia is so full of exciting things to do and see that you could easily go broke trying to cram everything in. So, to save a little money along the way, consider purchasing a Philadelphia Pass. The prices of passes vary but they all offer incredible deals including free entry to more than 30 attractions, line skipping privileges, you’ll save over $350 worth of entrance fees and there are additional benefits throughout the year.
Photo credit: micholitzii
