Pennsylvania Highlights - America As You Like It

Pennsylvania
Highlights
Philadelphia
The Countryside of Philadelphia
Lancaster and the Amish
Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Flower Show and Longwood Gardens
A Long Weekend in Philadelphia
(4 nights)
Prices from £705 per person, including flights and accommodation
Day 1
Fly to Philadelphia from the UK and transfer to your hotel for four nights.
Spend three days enjoying the city. Take a tour of the murals, a walking tour of the city, or visit
the Barnes Foundation to view the wonderful collection of paintings. Run up the ‘Rocky’ steps in front of the
Philadelphia Museum of art; made famous in the Sylvester Stallone films. When you feel hungry go to the
Reading Terminal Market Place where you can find a wide selection of cafes – you must try Philly Cheese Steak!
Days 2 – 4
Philadelphia is a historic city where the Declaration of Independence was signed, the Liberty Bell rang out and
people such as Ben Franklin, Betsy Ross and John Hancock helped shape America.
Try an alternative city tour by Segway or bicycle, or take a food tour.
Day 5
Day at leisure before returning to the airport for your flight to the UK.
Philadelphia, The Philadelphia Flower Show and
Longwood Gardens (5 nights)
Prices from £785 per person, including flights, car hire and accommodation
The Philadelphia Flower Show is an annual event at the Pennsylvania Convention Centre which runs
for approximately 9 days at the beginning of March. It is the world’s largest and oldest indoor flower
show and features large-scale gardens, elaborate landscapes and floral creations. Visitors are treated to
fabulous design, live entertainment, culinary demonstrations, workshops and lectures by experts.
Day 1
Fly to Philadelphia and transfer to your hotel for four nights.
Day 2
Enjoy the Flower Show.
Explore Philadelphia and discover the history of the city with a visit to the Liberty Bell and
Independence Hall. Take a walking tour or culinary tour or relax at your hotel.
Days 3 & 4
Pick up your car and drive to Valley Forge (approx. 25 miles). Tour Longwood Gardens where there
is an annual orchid exhibition in the four acre conservatory.
Day 5
Time to do some tax-free shopping at the King Of Prussia Mall, the largest retail shopping complex
on the East Coast before driving to the airport to drop off your car in time for your flight to the UK.
Day 6
recommended stays
Philadelphia
Deluxe
The Rittenhouse
From £225
Located in Rittenhouse Square, the Rittenhouse is
one of the most prestigious in Philadelphia. It is a
luxury hotel with beautiful rooms with private bathrooms
and is within easy walking distance of museums,
cultural attractions, shopping, restaurants and the
business district.
Four Seasons Deluxe Hotel Palomar,
A Kimpton Hotel First Class from £115
Hotel Monaco,
A Kimpton Hotel First Class from £105
Philadelphia
Marriott Downtown First Class from £75
Penns View Hotel First Class from £95
Wyndham Philadelphia
Historic District Moderate from £70
Hampton Inn from £80
Moderate from £165
The Countryside of Philadelphia
Chester County’s Brandywine Valley has a variety of attractions and shopping together with lovely cuisine, wineries, charming small towns,
stunning gardens and art. The area is home to many world-class gardens, earning the title “America’s Garden Capital”. Some of the most important
are listed below. The best time of year to visit is April to June or September and October.
Amidst Brandywine Valley’s rolling hills are beautiful horse farms and American
historic sites. Enhance your stay by visiting the Brandywine Battlefield (site of the
largest Revolutionary War engagement), watch matches and more at the
Brandywine Polo Club or explore the nearby Valley Forge National Historical Park.
Welcoming accommodation include charming Bed and Breakfasts, Inns and
full-service hotels.
The town of Valley Forge is west of downtown Philadelphia and is most often
remembered as the site of George Washington’s winter encampment of 1777-1778
where the army was based when they won the American Revolution. The King of
Prussia Mall is the largest shopping complex on the East Coast and has fantastic
tax-free shopping. A visit to Philadelphia Premium Outlets in Limerick is also a must.
Gardens
Longwood Gardens, created by Pierre S. du Pont in 1906, is an international centre of
horticultural excellence covering 1,050 acres. The conservatory is the largest planted
area of glass in the world and was styled after the glasshouses at Kew, being split
into different climate zones. Inside the conservatory you will find a lush world of exotic
flowers, cacti, bromeliads, ferns and bonsai. Each season brings a different pleasure
– spring magnolias and azaleas, summer roses and water lilies, fall foliage and winter
camellias, orchids and palms. Explore the Italian Water Garden, Flower Garden Walk,
aquatic display gardens, Pierce’s Woods and many more. There are also tours of the
Pierre du Pont residence.
Morris Arboretum was created by John and Lydia Morris and is on the National
Register of Historic Places. It became the Morris Arboretum in 1933 and has over
12,000 plants from North America, Europe, the Mediterranean, China, Japan and
Korea with a focus on Asian temperate species. Some of them are among the largest
of their kind in North America while others are exceedingly rare. Significant plant
groups include maples, magnolias, azaleas, roses, hollies and conifers.
Chanticleer is also known as A Pleasure Garden, and one of the most romantic and
imaginative in America. Visit the house and grounds – enjoy the tropical plants at the
Teacup Garden, the hardy perennials of the Pond Garden and the shady areas of the
Asian Woods or Bells Woodland.
Nemours Mansion and Gardens was the country estate of Alfred L du Pont. A French
style mansion built in the 18th century with exquisite gardens.
Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library was founded by Henry Francis du Pont.
The museum is one of the finest for American decorative arts and there is a beautiful
60 acre garden.
The Tyler Arboretum is one of the oldest and largest arboreta in the America.
Open year round, Tyler encompasses 650 acres and 17 miles of hiking trails.
The Countryside of Philadelphia,
Gardens & Wine
(7 nights)
Prices from £1070 per person, including flights, care hire and accommodation
Fly to Philadelphia. On arrival pick up your car and drive to Valley Forge (approx. 25 miles) for one night.
Day 1
Enjoy tax-free shopping at the King of Prussia Mall before driving through the
countryside of the Brandywine Valley (approx. 30 miles). Spend three nights in Chadds
Ford or West Chester.
Day 2
Days 3 & 4 Visit some of the beautiful gardens - Longwood, Chanticleer, the Morris,
Tyler and Jenkins Arboretums. Sample the latest vintage and tour the nationally acclaimed
Chaddsford Winery – all amid the rolling hills of the Brandywine Valley.
Return to Philadelphia drop off your car and spend three days exploring this
vibrant city. Take a guided tour or visit some of the many historical and cultural attractions
that the city has to offer.
Day 5
Days 6 & 7
Day 8
Philadelphia at leisure.
Day at leisure before returning to the airport for your flight to the UK.
recommended stays
Chester County
Inns
Faunbrook Bed & Breakfast, Chadds Ford
From £135
An elegant 1860 grand manor, once owned by a Civil War era Congressman. Six warmly
decorated guest rooms, including two suites with fireplaces, sprawling, comfortable
common rooms and delicious breakfasts.
Pennsbury Inn and Gardens, Chadds Ford
From £96
Set in 8 acres of landscaped gardens, the inn has seven bedrooms with private
bathrooms, a large living room with huge open fireplace, library and music room.
Breakfast is included.
The Jenkins Arboretum & Gardens has a diverse collection of rhododendrons and
azaleas from around the world.
Hilton Garden Kennett Square Moderate from £100
Hagley Museum and Library is where the du Pont’s fascinating story begins, and is
set along the Brandywine River in 235 scenic acres.
Valley Forge
Valley Forge Crowne Plaza First Class from £105
Wine and more
Valley Forge Casino Resort First Class from £115
The Brandywine Valley Wine Trail is made up of six beautiful estate vineyards and
wineries where you can enjoy tasting the delicious wines – there are wine tastings
at Black Walnut Winery, Borderland Vineyard, Kreutz Creek Vineyards, Paradocx
Vineyard, Patone Cellars and Penns Woods Winery.
Valley Forge Hampton Inn Moderate from £85
Lancaster and the Amish
Explore the simple beauty of Amish country and discover more about the people who favour simple living and seclusion as opposed to the
modern 21st Century life-style. Enjoy their traditional crafts, including quilting, take a buggy ride and sample some hearty home cooked food,
all to a backdrop of rolling Pennsylvania countryside. Our Holiday Idea is designed to show you some of the history of this quiet community,
but will bring you back to the modern world and city excitement with a few days in Philadelphia.
We have also included a Holiday Idea focusing on the Lancaster Quilting Show which is for quilters, a fabulous experience.
Pennsylvania’s
Dutch Country
(7 nights)
Lancaster Quilting
Show
(7 nights)
Prices from £1045 per person, including flights,
car hire and accommodation
Prices from £905 per person, including flights, car
hire and accommodation
Fly from UK to Philadelphia, pick up your
car and drive into Pennsylvania’s Dutch Country
(approx. 80 miles). The Lancaster area will be your
base for the next four nights. The town itself is
steeped in tradition.
The Lancaster Quilting Show is held annually in
Lancaster in February/March and is one of the best
in North America.
Day 1
Days 2 – 4 Visit Lancaster’s Central Market, the
oldest operating farmers’ market in the U.S. Wander
around this charming downtown with its many
interesting shops and boutiques or shop for some
great bargains at one of the outlet shopping malls.
Remember, there is no sales tax on clothing and
shoes in Pennsylvania. For an in-depth look at daily
Amish life, visit The Amish Village near Strasburg. Its
guided tour of an 1840 Amish Farmhouse provides
accurate information about the Amish. Wander
through the lovely countryside towns of Intercourse
and Bird In Hand, take a ride on a buggy through
serene Amish farms, stop at one of the roadside
stands, visit craft and quilting shops and sample the
home cooked food at a variety of local restaurants.
Lancaster to Philadelphia (approx. 80 miles).
On your way back to Philadelphia, stop off at
Longwood Gardens, there is a restaurant the gardens
where you will can enjoy lunch. On arrival in
Philadelphia drop off your car and stay for
three nights.
Day 5
A great way to discover Philadelphia
is to take a trolley tour, you can get off at the spots
where you would like to spend more time – the
Liberty Bell, Independence Hall or one of the many
museums or galleries. Enjoy tax-free shopping on
clothing and shoes, restaurants and nightlife abound
and there are several distinct neighbourhoods to
enjoy such as the Historic District, Rittenhouse
Square or the Fairmont Park Area.
Days 6 & 7
Day 8
Return to the airport for your flight home.
Fly to Philadelphia, pick up your car and drive
to Lancaster (approx. 80 miles). Stay four nights in the
Lancaster area.
Day 1
Day 2 & 3
Enjoy the quilting show.
recommended stays
Lancaster area
Inns
The Carriage Corner Bed and Breakfast
From £65
Located in the village of Intercourse within easy reach
of all attractions. It is a 10 minute walk from the shops
and galleries of Intercourse. There are five rooms all
with queen size beds, and private bathrooms. A full
breakfast is included in the rate.
The Inn and Spa at Intercourse Village
From £105
Visit the interesting Amish Towns and enjoy
shopping for essential quilting materials. We will
provide you with a list of the best shops to visit.
Located on Main Street in Intercourse, this charming
inn has 12 rooms and suites and a full breakfast is
included each morning. All rooms are decorated with
Amish furniture and quilts on the beds.
Drive to Valley Forge (approx. 55 miles) and
stay one night – enjoy tax-free shopping at the King of
Prussia Mall and Philadelphia Premium Outlets.
First Class
Day 4
Day 5
Drive to Philadelphia (approx. 25 miles),
drop off your car and explore Philadelphia for the next
two days. There are some excellent quilting shops as
well, and we can let you have details of these.
Days 6 & 7
Day at leisure before returning to the airport for
your flight to the UK.
Day 8
Lancaster Arts Hotel
From £120
Taking a cue from its past as an historic tobacco
warehouse that now is home to a beautiful boutique
hotel filled with original works of art from local
Pennsylvania artists. The hotel is centrally located to
downtown Lancaster and Amish Country attractions.
Breakfast is included featuring local culinary favourites.
Hampton Inn Lancaster Moderate from £95
Pennsylvania
Highlights
From the highways that lead through cities full of history and
alive with an emerging cultural scene, to country roads that pass
through quiet towns and over picturesque covered bridges, there
are endless ways to explore Pennsylvania. With 2.1 million acres
of forest and 83,000 miles of wild rivers and streams, the state
is a must for those who love the outdoors. Being home to such
diversity as Andy Warhol, Hershey’s Chocolate and Harley Davidson
Motorcycles and seen as the centre of America’s cultural and social
development, Pennsylvania’s nickname of the Keystone State
seems fully justified.
America As You Like It brings you some of the highlights of Pennsylvania, whether it
be the culture and excitement of Philadelphia, the living Amish history in rural Dutch
Country, or the gardens and outdoors of the Brandywine Valley, or a combination of
all three. Our Holiday Ideas are designed to showcase what these areas have to offer,
and we can also tailor make any of the holidays to suit exactly what you are looking
for. Just let us know what you would like to do and we will be happy to help. There
are also additional holiday ideas on our website at www.americaasyoulikeit.com.
Philadelphia
You will be captivated by this vibrant renaissance city where you will be able to
immerse yourself in America’s old and new world. The city is in the centre of it all,
everything is within walking distance from downtown – rivers, shops, public art,
restaurants and museums. The city is home to Independence Hall, the birthplace of
the US Constitution, and the Liberty Bell. Located just 1 hour and 20 minutes from
New York and 1 hour 45 minutes from Washington DC by train, Philadelphia is a
great choice for a long weekend or as part of an extended tour or fly-drive combining
the surrounding countryside with its wonderful gardens as well as a visit to the
Amish area around Lancaster.
For art lovers, The Barnes Foundation sitting alongside the Philadelphia Museum of
Art and the Rodin Museum make Philadelphia one of the premier art destinations
in the world. The Barnes Foundation holds one of the finest collections of Post
Impressionist and early modern paintings with extensive works by Renoir, Cezanne,
Matisse and Picasso. The city is a place where young artists congregate and
international artists are drawn to engage with its mural arts phenomenon, the
largest community art initiative in the world. There are more than 3,500 murals,
sculptures and mosaics that can be seen all over Philadelphia.
Live music can be found throughout the city to suit all tastes – The Philadelphia
Orchestra, jazz, hip hop, R&B and pop – and a vibrant nightlife, not to mention an
endless variety of restaurants, bars and cafes and of course tax-free shopping!
Make the most of your Pennsylvania Highlights holiday:
When to visit
Getting there
Pennsylvania has a cool temperate climate fairly similar to the UK, with warm summers, cold winters and snow in higher inland areas.
Philadelphia is great at any time of the year and there is always something happening with exhibitions and events going on. Spring, summer and autumn are all good months to travel whether you are looking for blossoms and buds in spring, long warm summer days, or fall foliage and festivals.
There are daily direct flights from London Heathrow and Manchester to Philadelphia and from May to October you can also fly
direct from Glasgow. You do not need a car in Philadelphia itself and there are regular bus and rail links from the airport into the city. When you are ready to explore further afield we have competitive rates for car hire and a wide range of vehicles.
Places to stay After each Holiday Idea we have listed some of our recommended stays, and more information and alternative properties can be found on our website at www.americaasyoulikeit.com. We have carefully selected some unique small inns and
boutique and historic hotels which offer great personal service and local flavour, and are ideal if you are looking for something special. These properties will give you a different experience in every location and a truly unique stay.
Book online at www.americaasyoulikeit.com or call 020 8742 8299
2 Oxford House, 24 Oxford Road North, London W4 4DH
Tel: (020) 8742 8299 Fax: (020) 8747 4331
e-mail: sales@americaasyoulikeit.com www.americaasyoulikeit.com
© America As You Like It 2014. All rights reserved.
Photo credits: Philadelphia CVB, PA Dutch Country, Chester County CVB and Valley Forge CVB