Discover Philadelphia

DAY 1

With a robust history and a variety of vibrant arts and culture institutions, a day trip to Philadelphia is not enough time to fully experience everything the City of Brotherly Love has to offer. Make the most of your visit and plan to discover Philadelphia over three full days.

Start your day in the birthplace of the nation, in America’s most historic square mile visiting iconic institutions like the Liberty Bell Center and the Betsy Ross House. Pose and snap a photo with life-size statues of the Signers of the Constitution at the National Constitution Center all before lunch!

Take your students for a yummy lunch break at group-friendly restaurants like Campo’s or Philly’s Gourmet Steaks. Continue your group’s history lesson by discovering how faith played a role in shaping the nation at the Faith and Liberty Discovery Center.

Don’t forget to go see General Washington’s tent at the Museum of the American Revolution.

After a full day of history, strike out the day with your students at South Bowl for a fun night of bowling. Head back to your group’s hotel to rest up before another jam-packed day.

DAY 2

For day two, begin the morning by exploring the Philadelphia Zoo, America’s first zoo and home to more than 1,700 rare and endangered animals. Afterwards, have a step-on guide join your group’s bus to give an insider’s perspective on the city and learn more about the history lessons from the day before.

On your return to the city, bring your students to Reading Terminal Market, one of America’s oldest public markets. With some 80 merchants, there’s a variety of options to accommodate all palates.

Once your group has refueled, take your students to explore Philadelphia’s many museums. Explore the cell blocks at Eastern State Penitentiary and discover a world beyond our own at “Wondrous Space” at The Franklin Institute, a new exhibit dedicated to the science and careers of space exploration.

Close the day with a tour of the University of Pennsylvania combined with a visit to the Penn Museum, where students can unearth history with an after-hours scavenger hunt and dinner.

DAY 3

On day three, immerse your group in Philadelphia’s vibrant art scene. Begin your journey at the top of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway with the iconic Philadelphia Museum of Art. Explore renowned art collections with students before taking a run up the “Rocky Steps.” At the museum’s 200 galleries, visitors will find art that spans from antiquity to the present, including more than a dozen masterpieces from Monet. The museum offers tours designed to serve as interactive lessons for K-12 students.

The African American Museum in Philadelphia is the first institution funded and built by a major municipality to preserve, interpret and exhibit the heritage of African Americans. AAMP offers a variety of programs and learning opportunities for visitors of all ages, including guided tours, film screenings, and hands-on arts and crafts activities. Continue your morning with a visit to the Rodin Museum, where the famed “Thinker” is surrounded by a captivating sculpture garden.

After lunch, delve into the Barnes Foundation’s exceptional post-impressionist and modern art collection. Follow this with an engaging Mural Arts Tour, discovering the works of the nation’s largest public art program that has resulted in thousands of colorful murals in neighborhoods throughout the city.

Uncover the many colorful, wonders of Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, a mosaic art experience created by artist Isaiah Zagar, where students can explore the indoor and outdoor galleries filled with intricate mosaic installations.

End your group’s stay in Philadelphia with a show on the Avenue of the Arts. The arts and culture hub is home to some of the city’s most notable performing arts institutions, including Ensemble Arts Philly, the Philadelphia Ballet, and the Walnut Street Theatre, which has children’s productions as part of its performing arts season.

Philadelphia is more than just your ordinary tour, with educational adventures that make student groups want to visit again and again. For more information about Philadelphia and other great destinations for student travel, be sure to Subscribe to Student Planning Guide for FREE.