ABOVE PHOTO: Fairmount Water Works in foreground and Philadelphia Museum of Art in the background. (Jon Bilous/Shutterstock)
DNCPHL.com
• GoPhillyGo is a new multimodal trip planner for the Philadelphia region. You can read the full details on how it works or get all the details about the website, but here are a few quick tips for how to make getting around Philadelphia easy:
• Visit GoPhillyGo.org and select either to “explore nearby locations” (featured destinations in the region) or “help me find directions” (point to point directions).
• Toggle on/off which modes (foot, bike, transit – or a combination!) that you’d like to take, and hit the arrow to go to the map!
On the map, use the legend to turn on and off bike share locations and bike routes. Click “more options” to change your time of day; whether you’d like a faster, flatter, or safer bike route; or how far you are willing to walk.
Just because you didn’t bring a bike with you to the DNC doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of Philadelphia’s bike infrastructure. Using a credit card you can rent an Indego Bike Share all over the City, pay by the hour, and return it wherever you are going. Detailed tips on riding the bike can be found on Indego’s website.
While you are out exploring Philadelphia, pair #DemsinPhilly + #GoPhillyGo for cool giveaways!
National Constitution Center (Photo Credit: Visit Philly and J. Smith)
GoPhillyGo’s River to River Itinerary
Whether it’s your first time to this city, or you’re a seasoned Philadelphian, we’ve put together an itinerary to introduce you to this great city.
Start your morning at the Fairmount Water Works, located behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art on the Schuylkill River Trail (SRT). Water Works is the nation’s first urban water supply system, active from 1815-1909. Since opening its doors in 2003 as an environmental education center, it has worked to educate more than 500,000 visitors of all ages on how to become better water resource stewards.
Walk around to the front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art to “Rocky run” (or walk) your way up the steps for a beautiful view of the city. Located nearby is the iconic Rocky statue. Head north on the SRT, recently named the Best Urban Trail in America by USA Today, towards East Falls to see Boathouse Row, or travel south and you will find yourself amidst the skyscrapers of Center City.
Head south from Fairmount Water Works on the SRT and you will find Locust Street, a choice route to take east towards the Delaware River. Locust is a beautiful tree-lined street that takes you around Rittenhouse Square, one of the five original open-space parks planned by William Penn. Grab a bench and you might even catch some street performers.
From Rittenhouse, keep heading east on Locust St. to take a stroll through the Gayborhood and to see the Rainbow Crosswalks at 13th and Locust Streets. The Historical Society of Pennsylvania, where many PoliticalFest events are happening, is located in that intersection as well.
From the Schuylkill River Trail, it’s about 1.5 miles to Old City.
Further east on Locust, you will enter Old City, America’s most historic square mile. Here, William Penn and the Quakers first settled, and the Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence. Enjoy the shade of Washington Square, attend PoliticalFest events at the National Constitution Center, make a pit stop to play mini golf at Franklin Square, and don’t miss Elfreth’s Alley, America’s oldest continuously inhabited residential street.
After Old City, continue east to end up on the Delaware River. Here you will find the Independence Seaport Museum, one of the largest maritime collections in North America, combining more than 25,000 artifacts with hands-on exhibits and large-scale ship models. The Museum features the J. Welles Henderson Archives and Library and a 530-seat concert hall, home to the Penn’s Landing Playhouse.
From Old City, it’s about 3/4 of a mile to the Delaware River Waterfront where you will find the Independence Seaport Museum and Spruce Street Harbor Park.
John Heinz Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum
Have some time before your flight out? Head over to the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge at Tinicum, just one train stop before the Philadelphia International Airport. John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge is the nation’s first urban refuge, and preserves, restores and develops the natural area known as Tinicum Marsh. Visitors can see wildlife in their native habitat – you might even spot a bald eagle!
If that’s not enough for you to take in during your stay, here are some other places to plan trips with GoPhillyGo:
Italian Market: Located just south of Center City, the Italian Market is an iconic part of Philadelphia’s culture. You can find delicious meats and cheeses at Claudio’s or DiBruno Brothers, streets lined with produce sales, and Philadelphia’s other great culinary contribution to the world – the roasted pork sandwich at Paesano’s. Use GoPhillyGo to plan a walking, transit, or Indego trip (there’s a station at 840 South Darien Street).
Betsy Ross House: Around the corner from many of the PolitcalFest locations, and in the heart of Old City, sits the Betsy Ross House which is a must see for history buffs. Loop this stop into your walking tour to learn about America’s most famous seamstress. Bikeshare locations at 2nd and Market and at the Race Street Pier make planning a trip with GoPhillyGo easy.
Cheesesteaks: If you’re looking for the classic South Philadelphia cheesesteak you’ll want to go to Pat’s and/or Geno’s just below the Italian Market. If you’d rather stay closer to Old City, Jim’s is a fine alternative. (Bonus cheesesteak destination: try Govinda’s at Broad and South for the vegetarian version of this Philadelphia classic – it might be better than the real thing!)
South Street: South Street acts as the border between South Philadelphia and Center City. With over 300 shops and more than 60 bars and restaurants, it’s no wonder South Street is always bustling. Using the Indego Bikeshare feature on GoPhillyGo makes it easy to get around, with several stations located on South Street. We recommend taking a scenic stroll around Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, which is teeming with recycled treasures.
DNC and PoliticalFest
If you are just planning your way around the various PoliticalFest and big DNC events, GoPhillyGo has you covered for that, too. Here are some of our favorites:
The Philadelphia History Museum includes everything from William Penn’s original plans for the city to valuable Philadelphia sports memorabilia. The Museum is filled with exhibits that capture the imagination, and will leave you looking at the city in a whole new light.
The Library Company of Philadelphia is a free, educational way to spend the day. Founded in 1731 by Benjamin Franklin, The Library Company has acquired 500,000 books, including the very first edition of Moby Dick! PoliticalFest special exhibitions will include a life mask of George Washington and a death mask of Abraham.
The National Liberty Museum is dedicated to preserving America’s heritage of freedom. The Museum’s featured exhibit, “Life at the White House,” is definitely one you want see. Displays will include First Lady dresses, Presidents’ footwear, and photographs of first families with their pets.
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