The Barnes Foundation 300 N. Latches Lane Merion, PA 19066 610-667-0290
www.barnesfoundation.org
About five miles from Center City, in Philadelphia's suburbs, is one of the world's art treasures: the former home of Dr. Albert Barnes, who in the early 20th Century collected Picasso, van Gogh, Renoir, Matisse, Cezanne and other masters. Today, the Barnes Foundation is at a crossroad. It has billions of dollars worth of art, but little in the way of operating cash. In coming years, the collection will be moved to a new site near the Philadelphia Museum of Art. For now, visitors can still see the artwork the way Dr. Barnes hung it on the wall. And, while reservations must be made well in advance and the hours are quirky, it's still just $5 for admission.
Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Rocky Steps 26nd Street and the Ben Franklin Parkway Philadelphia, PA 19130 215-763-8100
www.philamuseum.org
On picturesque Eakins Oval, the museum is a striking landmark on the Philadelphia landscape. It is the juncture between the city and PhiladelphiaÃs vast Fairmount Park. Inside, it is home to a collection of 300,000 works of art spanning 2,000 years. Outside, its steps facing Center City have become famous from the scene in ìRockyî when Sylvester Stallone culminates his training run through the city by sprinting up the long Art Museum steps. Today, a statue of Rocky is at the bottom of the steps and visitors from all over the world are photographed doing the ìRockyî cheer at the top.
Philadelphia Phillies, Citizens Bank Park One Citizens Bank Way Philadelphia, PA 19148 215-463-5000
Located at 11th St. and Pattison Ave.
www.phillies.com
Home of the Major League Philadelphia Phillies since 2004, Citizens Bank Park is a modern stadium with an old-fashioned feel, a ballpark with hitter-friendly outfield wall and natural-grass field. The park is great on a warm night. There are many night games but also business persons' daytime games. Food stands feature local favorites like hoagies, cheesesteaks and soft pretzels.
Franklin Institute Science Museum 222 N. 20th St. (at Ben Franklin Parkway) Philadelphia, PA 19103 215-448-1200
www.fi.edu
On Philadelphia's Ben Franklin Parkway, the Franklin Institute is the granddaddy of museums. Nearly every fifth grader who grows up in Philadelphia has toured through the museum's giant, fiberglass human heart. But the Franklin Institute has made itself indispensable by also offering some of the cityÃs biggest attractions, including the King Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs and Body Worlds of the past and, this year, blockbuster exhibits on ìStar Wars: Where Science Meets Imagination."
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site 2124 Fairmount Ave. Philadelphia, PA 19130 215-236-3300
www.easternstate.org
When Eastern State opened in 1829, it was considered a model for how to deal with prisoners, visited by international notables like author Charles Dickens. Over the years, until the prisonÃs closing in 1971, it declined into one of the nationÃs most depraved and legendary prisons, housing criminals like bank robber Willie Sutton and gangster Al Capone. Now, it's open to the public for tours that run year round, but are increased at key times, particularly Halloween.
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