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| PHILADELPHIA |
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| The eastern Pennsylvania countryside is said to resemble the English Cotswold area. Our ideal weekend trip combines the beauty of the countryside with the sophistication of the city. Let's start winding down the week with a drive just outside of Philadelphia. | ||||
Friday Afternoon
• Lunch at Stokesay Castle, Reading
A replica of a 13th century Norman castle complete with dungeon and wine cellar. Built in 1931 as a honeymoon cottage, it closely duplicates the original Stokesay Castle built in 1240 in Shropshire, England. Now a full service restaurant with a menu ranging from pasta to Chateaubriand.
Hours: Luncheon and dinner Phone/Address: Hill Road & Spook Lane, Reading, PA (800) 480-4586, (610) 375-4588
• Glencairn Museum and Castle
This Romanesque masterpiece is often visited by scholars from Europe who want to see first-hand what a castle must have looked like in its early years, before centuries of weather and man have worn it away. Located North of Philadelphia, but inside the turnpike, be sure to make a reservation for the wonderful tour (a very European thing to do) since Glencairn is primarily open by appointment. Try to schedule a visit next door at the Bryn Athyn Cathedral around the same time. See more detail about Glencairn in the TOP 15 listings.
Hours: Mon-Fri, 9 -5 Phone/Address: 1001 Cathedral Road, Bryn Athyn, PA 19009 (215) 938-2600
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• Lunch at Stokesay Castle, Reading
A replica of a 13th century Norman castle complete with dungeon and wine cellar. Built in 1931 as a honeymoon cottage, it closely duplicates the original Stokesay Castle built in 1240 in Shropshire, England. Now a full service restaurant with a menu ranging from pasta to Chateaubriand.
Hours: Luncheon and dinner Phone/Address: Hill Road & Spook Lane, Reading, PA (800) 480-4586, (610) 375-4588
• Glencairn Museum and Castle
This Romanesque masterpiece is often visited by scholars from Europe who want to see first-hand what a castle must have looked like in its early years, before centuries of weather and man have worn it away. Located North of Philadelphia, but inside the turnpike, be sure to make a reservation for the wonderful tour (a very European thing to do) since Glencairn is primarily open by appointment. Try to schedule a visit next door at the Bryn Athyn Cathedral around the same time. See more detail about Glencairn in the TOP 15 listings.
Hours: Mon-Fri, 9 -5 Phone/Address: 1001 Cathedral Road, Bryn Athyn, PA 19009 (215) 938-2600
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• Check-in Hotel Bellevue and have tea
The historic Bellevue (1904) will get you in the right mood for your weekend. Even though it's been lovingly restored, you can almost see the ghost of Thomas Edison personally installing the light fixtures. For a theatrical experience, take tea in the elegant Barrymore Room.
Phone/Address: 1415 Chancellor Court, Philadelphia, PA (215) 893-1776
Friday Evening
• Dinner at The Bards, Irish pub & restaurant
The owners convey warm and authentic Irish hospitality in a country cottage setting. Full Irish menu and bar next door.
Hours: Open every day. Lunch/Brunch 11:30-4; Dinner: 5-10 Sun-Thurs, 5-11 Fri & Sat Phone/Address: 2013 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA (215) 569-9585
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The historic Bellevue (1904) will get you in the right mood for your weekend. Even though it's been lovingly restored, you can almost see the ghost of Thomas Edison personally installing the light fixtures. For a theatrical experience, take tea in the elegant Barrymore Room.
Phone/Address: 1415 Chancellor Court, Philadelphia, PA (215) 893-1776
Friday Evening
• Dinner at The Bards, Irish pub & restaurant
The owners convey warm and authentic Irish hospitality in a country cottage setting. Full Irish menu and bar next door.
Hours: Open every day. Lunch/Brunch 11:30-4; Dinner: 5-10 Sun-Thurs, 5-11 Fri & Sat Phone/Address: 2013 Walnut St., Philadelphia, PA (215) 569-9585
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Saturday Morning
Let's stay in downtown Philly today. If you were in England you would probably be walking more than usual and taking public transportation everywhere. Today's entire tour is about 5 miles, but feel free to hop a bus or cab back to the hotel at the end.
• Breakfast at Hotel
• Stroll by Saint Mark's Church (1848)
Recognized as one of the best examples of the Gothic Revival style commonly used in England in the late 13th and 14th centuries. Listen for its authentic English bell "change-ringing" during the weekend. Hours: Services various hours on Sun, and Mon-Fri Phone/Address: 1625 Locust St, (215) 735-1416
• Philidelphia Museum of Art
In addition to the Kretzschmar von Kienbusch Collection of Armor and Arms and fine European paintings, this world-class museum houses rare pieces of Victorian and Edwardian furniture, medieval sculpture, and stained glass.
Hours: Closed Mon and legal holidays. Tues-Sun, 10 -5; Wed and Fri eves until 8:45 p.m. Phone/Address Benjamin Franklin Pkwy & 26th Street, (215) 763-8100
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Let's stay in downtown Philly today. If you were in England you would probably be walking more than usual and taking public transportation everywhere. Today's entire tour is about 5 miles, but feel free to hop a bus or cab back to the hotel at the end.
• Breakfast at Hotel
• Stroll by Saint Mark's Church (1848)
Recognized as one of the best examples of the Gothic Revival style commonly used in England in the late 13th and 14th centuries. Listen for its authentic English bell "change-ringing" during the weekend. Hours: Services various hours on Sun, and Mon-Fri Phone/Address: 1625 Locust St, (215) 735-1416
• Philidelphia Museum of Art
In addition to the Kretzschmar von Kienbusch Collection of Armor and Arms and fine European paintings, this world-class museum houses rare pieces of Victorian and Edwardian furniture, medieval sculpture, and stained glass.
Hours: Closed Mon and legal holidays. Tues-Sun, 10 -5; Wed and Fri eves until 8:45 p.m. Phone/Address Benjamin Franklin Pkwy & 26th Street, (215) 763-8100
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• Mount Pleasant House - Fairmount Park
Fine example of the traditional Scottish interpretation of the Georgian style. If you have time, check out two of the other amazing historic houses in Fairmount Park: Solitude and Sedgeley. John Penn designed Solitude based on the Brothers Adam style of architecture and it was the first of its kind in America. Sedgeley, c.1799, was designed by Benjamin H. Latrobe and is considered the earliest Gothic country residence in America.
Hours: Tues-Sun, 10-5 Phone/Address: (215) 684-7922
• Lunch
The Art Museum has several options for eating, but try to find something "take away" and eat just outside along the river in Fairmount Park. There is also Lloyd Hall Café on Kelly Drive in the park, with outside dining facing the beautiful view of the river.
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Fine example of the traditional Scottish interpretation of the Georgian style. If you have time, check out two of the other amazing historic houses in Fairmount Park: Solitude and Sedgeley. John Penn designed Solitude based on the Brothers Adam style of architecture and it was the first of its kind in America. Sedgeley, c.1799, was designed by Benjamin H. Latrobe and is considered the earliest Gothic country residence in America.
Hours: Tues-Sun, 10-5 Phone/Address: (215) 684-7922
• Lunch
The Art Museum has several options for eating, but try to find something "take away" and eat just outside along the river in Fairmount Park. There is also Lloyd Hall Café on Kelly Drive in the park, with outside dining facing the beautiful view of the river.
<<< previous