Top Regional Attractions

Philadelphia

American Philosophical Society Museum 104 S. 5th St.; 215-440-3400. www.apsmuseum.org. Dialogues With Darwin - First-edition volumes, vibrant illustrations from Darwin's South American travels & the handwritten title page of 'On the Origin of Species'. Closes 10/17/10. Donations accepted. 10 am-4 pm Fri.-Sun.

American Swedish Historical Museum 1900 Pattison Ave.; 215-389-1776. www.americanswedish.org. Featuring exhibits dedicated to Swedish American history, Swedish arts & culture. Anders Zorn - 12 figurative copperplate etchings. Closes summer, 2009. Colony to Community: The Story of New Sweden - Rare objects & historic images of the early Swedish settlement. Closes 12/4. $6; $5 seniors & students; free for children under 12. Tue.-Fri. 10 am-4 pm, Sat.-Sun. noon-4 pm.

Atwater Kent Museum 15 S. Seventh St.; 215-685-4830. www.philadelphiahistory.org. Museum closed for renovation until 3/1/10. For info on continuing programs, see website.

Bartram's Garden 54th St.; 215-729-5281. www.bartramsgarden.org. America's oldest living botanical garden & the pre-revolutionary home of naturalist, botanist & explorer John Bartram. Botanical Illustration Meet-Up - Opportunity to draw from nature & share ideas with other artists. $5. 7/11 10 am-1 pm. Volunteer Day - Help beautify the garden & enrich the historic landscape. 7/11 9 am-noon. Grounds: Daily 10 am-5 pm. Tours: noon-4 pm.

Betsy Ross House 239 Arch St.; 215-686-1252. www.betsyrosshouse.org. Playball! - Examines the history of baseball in the City of Brotherly love. Closes 10/31. $3; $2 seniors, military & children under 13. Daily 10 am-5 pm.

*FREE* Christ Church 20 N. American St.; 215-922-1695, ext. 30. www.christchurchphila.org. Georgian architectural treasure attended by founding fathers; heritage is well documented by an extensive collection of artifacts as well as archival & library materials. Rector's Forum - A forum on varied topics of discussion is held each Sunday in the Neighborhood House. Donations accepted. Mon.-Sat. 9 am-5 pm; Sun. 1-5 pm.

Christ Church Burial Ground 5th & Arch Sts.; 215-922-1695, ext. 30. www.christchurchphila.org. Final resting place of Benjamin Franklin & 4 other signers of the Declaration of Independence. Guided tours on the hr., last tour at 3 pm. $2; $1 students; $10 groups up to 25. Mon-Sat. 10 am-4 pm; Sun. noon-4 pm.

Eastern State Penitentiary 22nd St. & Fairmount Ave.; 215-236-3300. www.easternstate.org. The vaulted, sky-lit cells of this prison once held many of America's most notorious criminals, including bank robber Willie Sutton & Al Capone. Bastille Day Festival - 15th annual event featuring live music, children's activities, exhibit tents, staging of the storming of the Bastille & more. 7/11 2-6 pm. $12; $10 seniors; $8 students & children 7-12. Children under 7 cannot be admitted to the site. Daily 10 am-5 pm.

*FREE* Edgar Allan Poe National Historical Site Spring Garden St.; 215-597-8780. www.nps.gov/edal. Home of the noted author from 1843-44. Wed.-Sun. 9 am-5 pm. 9 am-5 pm Wed.-Sun.

Elfreth's Alley 2nd St.; 215-574-0560. www.elfrethsalley.org. $2; $1 children 6-18. Mon.-Sat. 10 am-5 pm, Sun. noon-5 pm.

*FREE* Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia 100 N. 6th St.; 866-574-3727. www.philadelphiafed.org. Money in Motion - History of banking, money & Federal Reserve; interactive displays on currency circulation, counterfeit detection, country's monetary policy & currency collection with rare bills. Mon.-Fri. 9:30 am-4:30 pm. Closed bank holidays. Open weekends thru 8/30.

Fort Mifflin Fort Mifflin Rd.; 215-685-4167. www.fortmifflin.com. American War of Independence - Features articles from the American War of Independence. Closes 12/1. $6; $5 seniors; $3 veterans & children 6-12; free for children 5 & under. Wed.-Sun. 10 am-4 pm.

The Franklin Institute 222 N. 20th St.; 215-448-1200. www.fi.edu. Exhibits include Amazing Machine!, The Franklin Air Show, Giant Heart, Sir Isaac's Loft, Space Command, Sports Challenge, The Train Factory & more. Rittenhouse Astronomical Society Meeting - 2nd Wed. 7:30 pm. Race: Are We So Different? - Biological, cultural, historical & contemporary points of view about race & racism in the U.S. Closes 9/7. Galileo: The Medici & the Age of Astronomy - Exhibit on how Galileo & contemporaries impacted science & the world. Includes a number of instruments used by the astronomer. Closes 9/7. $20.75; $19.75 seniors; $14 children. STAR TREK: The Exhibition - Featuring sets, props & costumes from the Star Trek television series & feature films. Closes 9/20. $12-$23.75; $11-$22.75 seniors; $9.50-$15.50 children 4-11. Sci-Pass: $14.25; $13.25 seniors, students & military; $11.50 children. IMAX & other permanent exhibits open daily 9:30 am-5 pm.

Franklin Square 6th & Race Sts.; 215-629-4026. www.onceuponanation.org. Philly Mini Golf - Features a miniature version of Philadelphia & some of the city's most beloved sites. $8; $6 children. Philadelphia Park Liberty Carousel. $3; $2 children 3-12; free for children under 2. Daily 10 am-9 pm.

Independence Hall Chestnut St.; 215-597-8974. www.nps.gov/inde/independence-hall-1.htm. Guided Tour - Explore this historic example of Georgian architecture. Daily 9 am-5 pm.

Independence Living History Center 115 S. Third St.; 215-629-4026. www.onceuponanation.org. 1776: The Movie-Musical - Interactive movie-going experience complete with sing-a-longs & props. Ends 9/4. $15; $12 students, seniors & military; $10 children 12 & under. Colonial Kids' Quest - Search for clues to solve the mystery of a missing copy of the Declaration of Independence. Sat. thru 9/5. $16. Turmoil & Treason: The Path to Independence - Guided tour where you'll encounter 18th-century townspeople with strong feelings on both sides of the Declaration debate. Sat. thru 9/5. $20; $18 seniors, students & military; $15 children 12 & under. Once Upon a Nation: Independence After Hours - 3-course meal at historic City Tavern, evening tour of Independence Hall & Lights of Liberty Show. Tue.-Sat. 5:30 pm thru 10/24. $70; $64 seniors, military & students; $50 children 12 & under ($10 extra for optional Lights of Liberty show). Tippler's Tour - Guide shares stories of tavern life in Colonial Philadelphia. Sample drinks at colonial & modern day taverns in Old City. Thu. 5:30 pm thru 10/29. $35; $30 seniors, military & students. $15; $12 students, seniors & military; $10 children 12 & under.

Independence National Historical Park 6th & Markets Sts.; 215-965-2305. www.nps.gov/inde. Once Upon a Nation: Storytelling Benches - 13 one-of-a-kind storytelling benches scattered all over the historic district. Closes 9/7. Most sites free. Daily 8:30 am-5 pm.

Independence Seaport Museum 211 S. Columbus Blvd. & Walnut St.; 215-413-8655. www.phillyseaport.org. Ongoing exhibits include What Floats Your Boat?, Coming to America, & more. Skin & Bones: Tattoos in the Life of the American Sailor - Uses & significance of tattoos in American sailors' lives & how the art has spread through society. Closes 1/3. $12; $10 seniors; $7 children/students/military; free for children under 2. Daily 10 am-5 pm.

Independence Visitor Center N. 6th St. & Market St.; 800-537-7676. www.independencevisitorcenter.com. Mural Arts Program Public Trolley Tours - Guided tour to experience some of the area artwork. Closes 11/1. Open daily 8:30 am-6 pm.