Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
the tradition of disguise and masquerade. It has an integral role in the famed Mummers
Parade, which takes place here every New Year's Day.
Chinatown & Around
The fourth-largest Chinatown in the USA, Philly's version has existed since the 1860s.
Chinese immigrants who built America's transcontinental railroads started out west and
worked their way here. Now many of the neighborhood's residents come from Malaysia,
Thailand and Vietnam, in addition to every province in China. The multicolored, four-
story
Chinese Friendship Gate
is Chinatown's most conspicuous landmark.
African American Museum in Philadelphia
MUSEUM
( 215-574-0380;
www.aampmuseum.org
;
701 Arch St; adult/child $14/10; 10am-5pm Thu-
Sat, from noon Sun)
Housed in a foreboding concrete building, it contains excellent collec-
tions on African American history and culture.
Penn's Landing
Back in its heyday Penn's Landing - the waterfront area along the Delaware River
between Market and Lombard Sts - was a very active port area. Eventually those trans-
actions moved further south down the Delaware, and today most of the excitement is
866-455-3866;
www.spiritofphiladelphia.com
;
tours from $40)
, for booze cruises, or simply
strolling along the water's edge. The 1.8-mile
Benjamin Franklin Bridge
, the world's
largest suspension bridge when completed in 1926, spans the Delaware River and domin-
ates the view.
Independence Seaport Museum
MUSEUM
( 215-413-8655;
www.phillyseaport.org
; 211 S Columbus Blvd; adult/child $13.50/10;
10am-5pm, to 7pm Thu-Sat summer; )
This interactive riverside museum highlights Phil-
adelphia's maritime history (its shipyard closed in 1995 after 200 years). You can hop
aboard two ships, an 1892 Cruiser and a WWII submarine.
