GETTING THERE
took 11 years, but in 1787 The American Constitution was signed here too. Spend time examining the hows and whys of American government.
FOR ART’S SAKE
They say Philadelphia lacks New York’s glamour and the edginess of Chicago but she certainly has a few aces to be proud of. Right in the heart of Center City on Walnut street is America’s first opera house (The Academy of Arts). Nearby on Society Hill there is Philadelphia Museum of Art arguably the most famous film location in the world. Tourists gather here to imitate Sylvester Stallone by running up the 72 “Rocky Steps” to the east entrance of the museum. Once at the top you will get a great view of the city, including Benjamin Franklin Parkway, City Hall and its rooftop statue in bronze of William Penn. There’s a life-size statue of Rocky’s character at the bottom of the steps, which serves as monument to a celluloid hero
Inside this Parthenon-styled building is the world’s most important collections of Impressionist, Post- ON July 1, British Airways (www. ba.com) introduced its Boeing 787 Dreamliners for daily flights from London Heathrow Impressionist and early Modern paintings. And African sculpture can be seen here. No other museum has more works by Renoir and Cézanne but there are also works by Van Gogh, Matisse and Picasso. And there are beautiful grounds worthy of a romantic stroll, not just because of its pool and fountain, but also because it has one of the world’s most familiar sculptures: The Thinker.
THERE’S JEWISH HISTORY TOO
The National Museum of American and Jewish History does what it says on the door over its five floors. It’s current exhibition, Chasing Dreams, examines the integral role that baseball has played in the lives of immigrant groups seeking to understand and express American ideals. The essence may be captured in a quote by Jackie Robinson — he asked nothing more of government than he asked of baseball: “Neither sympathy nor entitlement, but equal opportunity and a level playing field.” The exhibition continues until October 2014. www.nmajh.org
TAKE THE TOUR
See the world’s largest collection of outdoor public art during an official Mural Arts Program tour. There are 3,600 of them in all sizes, some fun and some with a serious message. This started in 1984 to curb graffiti by inviting offenders to join artists in beautifying the city in an enormous folk art project. Tours explain the murals, the