Exploring Philadelphia’s Public Art
Phantastic Public Art
Philadelphia has a pretty fantastic art museum. But if it is a beautiful day outside, you don’t have to spend it inside a museum to see some pretty amazing art. That’s because Philadelphia is overflowing with public art scattered throughout its parks, plazas and neighborhoods. Free to experience and always on the way to something else, you can spend a day just walking the streets of the city taking in a variety of artistic expressions.
Yo – Adrian!
Cinematic son Rocky Balboa’s statue resides near the bottom of the Art Museum’s front steps – the training ground for the blue-collar boxer. After running up the steps yourself you are rewarded with sweeping views of the city below.
The Art Isn't Just On The Inside
The top of the Art Museum is something to behold in and of itself. Griffins, ornaments and pediments tell stories all their own.
Words To Battle By
Behind the Art Museum is the William M. Reilly Memorial, a green walkway lined with sculptures of Revolutionary War figures connecting the museum to the Schuylkill River and Fairmount Park. I particularly like General Nathanael Greene’s tenacity.
All You Need Is Love
The John F. Kennedy Plaza is located in the heart of downtown and features the iconic LOVE statue, using the beautiful fountain and Benjamin Franklin Parkway as a backdrop.
Game On
For fans of board games, the Municipal Services Building Plaza has the Your Move installation of game pieces scattered everywhere – from Monopoly to Dominoes, Chess to Bingo and of course, Sorry. For more whimsical art, there is a giant clothespin nearby.
Learning The Legacy
The Lincoln Legacy Project displays the largest glass tile mosaic in the city speaking of the battle for and freedom from slavery. Using tile from France and Italy and a creative collaboration with public schools, artists and inmates this mammoth display on Chestnut Street is a highlight of Center City’s Mural Mile.
All About The Benjamin
Between Ben Franklin’s gravesite and Betsy Ross’ house in Old City sits the sculptured bust of Ben himself entitled Keys to the Community, featuring his lifelike head in bronze and casts of old fashioned keys collected by local schoolchildren.
Powerful Memorial To Irish Struggles
Located in Old City by the entrance to Penn’s Landing, the Irish Famine Memorial is a massive sculpture that is lifelike and stirring, honoring those who perished in Ireland and the journey that millions made to our shores as a result.
Community Studies
Community Heroes
The Mapping Courage mural on bustling South Street tells the story of Philly’s 7th Ward and the local Engine 11 fire station – both important chapters in local African American history.
It isn’t just the mass of public art available. It is the way the works all meld together – amusing, educational and serious memorials intertwine and offer something for everyone’s interest. So when you tire of lines of tourists at Independence Hall – pick your head up and look around. You never know what kind of public art the city is featuring for your pleasure.
- http://muralarts.org/tour – Print maps and download podcasts for free self-guided tours or purchase tickets for intimate guided tours of popular city murals
- http://www.philamuseum.org/visit/20-565-454.html – Guided and ticketed Schuylkill Stroll tours of sculpture along Boathouse Row in Fairmount Park
- http://www.philamuseum.org/podcast/ – Download free podcast of Sculpture Garden tour outside the Art Museum at Fairmount Park
- http://www.fpaa.org/fpaa_map.html – Interactive map and listing of photos and facts about public art throughout the city
Post by and all photos credited to Molly G. @The Bumbles Blog
Disney’s Hollywood Studios is Where it’s AT-AT
Something wicked this way comes…
Yes, that is an AT-AT, and yes, it’s cool as all get out. I’ll wait while you jealous.
This piece of Star Wars awesomeness is outside the queue for the Star Tours ride at Disney’s Hollywood Studios at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. As we’ve mentioned before, the Star Tours ride is reportedly closed for a complete overhaul, but hopefully they’ll keep this outside theming. It was a hit with the boys. Also, the dad.
For more family-friendly travel photos visit DeliciousBaby’s Photo Fridays
Photo by Tricia Honea
Choo Choo BBQ Finds a New Home on Burnt Church Road
The Choo Choo BBQ Xpress found a new home in Bluffton Wednesday despite concerns a landscaped buffer between the site and a nearby house might be inadequate.
Off-Season Strategy For The Wizarding World of Harry Potter
As an Orlando local, I’ve been waiting for the off-season for the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. In the summer I visited an hour or two before closing, especially when a good, cleansing rain earlier in the day had chased people out along with
What Will Legoland Florida include?
LEGOLAND® Florida, in Winter Haven just outside Orlando, will be the biggest LEGOLAND® Park ever at opening and will offer a unique mix of more than 50 rides, shows and attractions, including spectacular LEGO® models and other interactive
Pemaquid Point, Maine
Pemaquid Point Lighthouse, Maine
I’m taking a brief break in my epic Amtrak Adventure Series (the latest of which you can read here) to extoll upon the virtues of my New Favorite Place on the Planet.
Pemaquid Point is located in the town of New Harbor. The Pemaquid Point Light, pictured above, is perched on a high granite promontory overlooking the Atlantic. Visitors can explore the keeper’s house, which contains a Fishermen’s Museum with photos and artifacts from the history of the lighthouse and the surrounding fishing and lobstering communities. The tower is open to the public and provides a great perspective for taking panoramic pictures. The landscaped grounds are maintained by the town of Bristol, and parking is only two dollars.
Pemaquid Point, New Harbor, Maine
Something I didn’t know about during our visit, is that the second floor of the keeper’s house available for weekly rentals, May through October, at $950 a week. I don’t know about you folks, but I’ve always DREAMED about staying at a lighthouse. I mean, how wonderful would it be to wake up every morning to that view?
As it was, my husband and I spent several hours wandering among the rocks, and just sitting and gazing out at the waves. The area possesses an abundance of peace; something this planet is sorely lacking.
If you’re in the area (and it does take a bit of determination to get to it), you really should not miss it.
Photo credits (all): Tiffany Joyce.
A Day At The Park in New Smryna Beach
New Smyrna Beach, Florida
I’ve lived in Central Florida for three years and have visited New Smyrna Beach dozens of times, but I just recently discovered the fun and convenience of the 27th Avenue Park.
The way my family enjoys the Atlantic coastline may be forever changed.
Free Public Beach
When we normally visit New Smyrna Beach, we take advantage of being able to drive and park on the beach. Parking on the beach is convenient if you’ve packed a cooler, beach chairs, umbrella, sand toys and multiple beach bags loaded with supplies for a family of four. However, the parking spots on the beach are a good (safe) distance from the water, which means choosing between setting up camp away from your vehicle or taking multiple trips back and forth between the ocean and your supplies. If you have very young children, you also need to be particularly mindful of the traffic on the beach.
Another alternative is to park your vehicle for free at the 27th Avenue Park, located at 27th Avenue and South Atlantic Boulevard. Parking and admission to this beach-front park is free and available from sunrise to sunset.
Because you’ll be parking and walking to the sand, you should consider leaving the bulk of your beach supplies at home. Of course, if you’re vacationing in the area, you probably don’t have much more than swimsuits and towels anyway. Our recent trip with three adults and two children required just two beach bags loaded up with towels, sunscreen, cameras and a few dollar bills.
At the park, you’ll find a playground, easy access to the beach, restrooms, covered picnic areas (including grills) and outdoor showers. While the outdoor showers did not prevent the need for a trip to the car wash, we were all considerably less sandy than we usually find ourselves after a trip to the beach.
Playground at 27th Avenue Park
Public Restrooms and Showers
Picnic at the Beach
If you don’t have a cooler, a food trailer is just a few steps down the beach. You can find reasonably priced drinks, sandwiches, hot dogs and ice cream. Because what’s a trip to the beach on a hot sunny day without ice cream?
Treats at New Smyrna Beach
If you’re vacationing in the Orlando, Florida area and have set aside time to see the ocean, the 27th Avenue Park in New Smyrna Beach is a convenient and cost effective place to spend the day. There are restaurants nearby if you want hardier fare prepared by someone else, as well as plenty of hotels if you decide to spend the night.
All photos by Britt Reints
Amtrak Downeaster Adventure – Woburn, MA
The Train Station in Woburn, MA
The Amtrak Downeaster Rail begins in Portland, Maine and ends in Boston, Massachusetts. In between there are stops in Old Orchard Beach ME, Saco ME, Wells ME, Dover NH, Durham NH, Exeter NH, Haverhill MA, and Woburn MA. For this series of articles I will expound upon the merits of each stop along the Downeaster Amtrak tour.
We’re nearing the completion of our adventure! Woburn Massachusetts is the only stop left before the end of the line in Boston. The town was settled in 1640, and is a popular commuter town for those folks working in Boston. The area features several wooded conservation areas; the Horn Pond Reservation, Forest Park, and Shaker Glen. Each feature easy hiking and attractive benches and lawns for picnicking. At just ten miles outside of Boston proper, Woburn is a great lodging option when you don’t want to stay in the bustling city.
Wedge Pond in Woburn MA
The 1790 House (also called the Joseph Bartlett House), and the Baldwin House, both located in Woburn, are lovely examples of colonial architecture. Both are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The town of Woburn is just a very short drive to nearly all of the historic sights that Massachusetts has to offer. I personally recommend the Adams National Historic Park in nearby Quincy. It often gets overlooked because it’s not part of the Freedom Trail, but history buffs are guaranteed to love it.
Past articles in this series:
- Amtrak Downeaster Adventure – Overview
- Amtrak Downeaster Adventure – Portland, ME
- Amtrak Downeaster Adventure – Old Orchard Beach, ME
- Amtrak Downeaster Adventure – Saco, ME
- Amtrak Downeaster Adventure – Wells, ME
- Amtrak Downeaster Adventure – Dover, NH
- Amtrak Downeaster Adventure – Durham, NH
- Amtrak Downeaster Adventure – Exeter, NH
- Amtrak Downeaster Adventure – Haverhill. MA
Photo Credits (in order of appearance):
- “Anderson RTC” by Fuzzcat on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “Wedge Pond in Woburn MA” by Clive Watson on Flickr Creative Commons.
How To Visit New York City For $60 A Day
New York City on the cheap?
Whether you’re moving in or just in town for a visit, New York City isn’t known for being budget friendly. But with a little creativity, you can take a big bite out of the Big Apple without spending a fortune.
I know, because I did it.
I was recently in New York City for a conference and extended my stay to enjoy a little time away with my husband. We were in New York City for six days, and I spent $350 (not including air fare and hotel, which were paid for ahead of time). For those of you keeping track at home, that’s less than $60 per day. How did I do it?
7 Ways I Saved Money In New York City
1. Use public transportation.
I saved almost $40 before I even arrived at the hotel by taking the train from JFK. Yes, the train. And yes, I had luggage. But the trip into midtown Manhattan was surprisingly stress free. I utilized the free HopStop app on my iPhone to tell me which stop was closest to my hotel, cutting down on the distance I had to walk through Manhattan with luggage, and took advantage of the $5 ride on the AirTran.
I continued to use the HopStop and my unlimited-rides-for-a-week Metro card for the duration of my stay. The card cost me $27 and I saved a small fortune not having to use cabs. I probably could have saved even more if I would have paid per ride, because I’m not sure I took 13 subway rides while I was in town. However, it was nice to have all of my transportation needs taken care of with one purchase.
2. Eat free food when you can.
Eating Cheap in New York City
I was in town for a conference, so some of my meals were provided for me (although I didn’t eat a single meal at the conference). However, I also took advantage of free breakfast provided by the hotel. And by took advantage, I mean I ate the cereal and through the plums in my purse for an afternoon snack. I also took advantage of New York’s amazing tap water by refilling my water bottle each day before leaving my hotel room. And of course I got my coffee fix from the free supplies in my room instead of the overpriced Starbucks in the lobby.
These little freebies might not seem like much, but I saved at least $20 a day by not having to purchase a mid-day snack (because it almost always turns into a meal when you do that) or drinks on the go.
3. Take advantage of the street food!
Eating street food in New York City is a rite of passage for travelers and a great way to save money. Check out Halal carts for the best bang for your food buck. For $7 you can get a heaping serving of rice, meat and vegetables large enough to share for lunch (or scarf down yourself when you’re starving at dinner). Of course, you can’t beat a good old fashion hot dog, but you’ll probably need more than one to feel satisfied.
4. Find a local deli.
shop the deli for cheap food in NYC
In other places, a deli is a place that serves cold cuts and pasta salads. In New York City, you can buy everything from coffee and a bagel to beer. I think the deli across the street from my hotel might have even sold shampoo. While I frequented the “gourmet deli” right outside my hotel, you might save a little more money if you find a deli that is catering to locals instead of tourists.
5. Save money on Broadway shows.
Enjoy Broadway on the cheap!
The most expensive thing I bought on my trip was a ticket to a Broadway show, and it was worth every penny. It was, however, worth twice as many pennies as I paid for it. We took advantage of deep discounts by purchasing our tickets on the same day of the show through TKTS in Times Square. I stood in line for about an hour, but saved almost $100 per ticket.
6. Comparison shop your booze.
Find cheap drinks in New York City
You can pay a ridiculous amount of money on a night out in Manhattan – or you can pay $5 for a mixed drink. The trick is to watch for drink special signs and ask around. We took advantage of drink specials at the Pig ‘N Whistle a few blocks from our hotel and had a great time listening to live Irish music.
Don’t assume that the price of a drink in one place is indicative of the price of drinks everywhere. Even in our hotel there was a drastic difference in price from one bar to another. Many people end up overspending in New York City simply because they think they are supposed to or have no other alternatives.
7. Check out local festivals.
The souvenirs I purchased came from a street fair in Hell’s Kitchen. My last afternoon in the city was spent watching a parade two blocks from my hotel. There is always something going on in New York City and much of it doesn’t require an admission fee. Do a search before you leave for events going on in neighborhoods you’re interested in visiting. Time Out NYC is a great resource for activities that will give you an authentic taste of NYC culture.
New York City is a great place to experience and one of the best ways to do it is just by walking around. Good news is, walking is still free – even in NYC!
All photos by Britt Reints
Amtrak Downeaster Adventure – Exeter, NH
Squamscott River, Exeter, New Hampshire
The Amtrak Downeaster Rail begins in Portland, Maine and ends in Boston, Massachusetts. In between there are stops in Old Orchard Beach ME, Saco ME, Wells ME, Dover NH, Durham NH, Exeter NH, Haverhill MA, and Woburn MA. For this series of articles I will expound upon the merits of each stop along the Downeaster Amtrak tour.
The town of Exeter has a very long history. The town was incorporated in 1638, and today hosts a wide variety of well preserved historic buildings. The American Independence Museum is located within walking distance of the Amtrak station, and boasts two rare drafts of the U.S. Constitution as well as an original Purple Heart, awarded by George Washington to soldiers demonstrating extraordinary bravery. History buffs will truly enjoy a tour of the museum, the 18th century Ladd-Gilman House, and Folsom Tavern.
A stone church in Exeter.
The extraordinarily beautiful Exeter Inn, built in 1932, features the renowned Epoch Restaurant and is a truly upscale and classy way to spend the night in the Exeter area. Patrons can indulge in a short walk to the center of downtown Exeter to enjoy such entertainments as the historic Bandstand, a variety of shops and restaurants, and museums. Adjacent to the bandstand is the Inn by the Bandstand, another historic establishment built in 1809 and featuring nine antique furnished guest rooms.
Exeter is yet another excellent jumping-off point to enjoy all of the sights of the New England coast as you continue along your Amtrak Downeaster Adventure.
Past articles in this series:
- Amtrak Downeaster Adventure – Overview
- Amtrak Downeaster Adventure – Portland, ME
- Amtrak Downeaster Adventure – Old Orchard Beach, ME
- Amtrak Downeaster Adventure – Saco, ME
- Amtrak Downeaster Adventure – Wells, ME
- Amtrak Downeaster Adventure – Dover, NH
- Amtrak Downeaster Adventure – Durham, NH
Photo Credits (in order of appearance):
- “Squamscott River Exeter, New Hampshire” by sskennel on Flickr Creative Commons.
- “Exeter stone church” by RGallant on Flickr Creative Commons.