Top 6 Gardens In The Heart of Philadelphia

a Traditional Japanese Garden with Pagoda

With spring approaching, flowers are blooming and America’s own Garden Capital is ready to blow your mind with the best of its flora and fauna. Offering everything from traditional Japanese gardens to the Morris Arboretum of the University of Pennsylvania, there’s much to learn from the following gardens at the heart of Philadelphia. 

No, you don’t need to be a gardening expert or have a green thumb to enjoy the spellbinding fields and arboretums in Philadelphia. Tens of thousands of people from all around the world have come to experience the tranquility of Philly's tranquil gardens, oftentimes referring to them as their ‘little getaways’. Entrance fees and classes are affordable so, you don’t have a bust a budget during spring break. Just gather the kids, family, and friends and you’re ready to have a relaxing weekend outdoors in the manicured garden of your choice.

1. Shofuso Japanese House and Garden

Lansdowne Dr & Horticultural Dr, Philadelphia, PA 19131
(215) 878-5097
www.shofuso.com 
Clock into this amazing traditional Japanese garden and you’ll feel as if you’ve stepped right out of the Philadelphia charter bus and into a whole new different era. Gifted by Japan to American as an act of friendship, the garden symbolizes the post-war peace between the two countries. At the time of its construction, it was the first to showcase such a deep combination of Japanese contemporary art against an American backdrop. Small as it may be, it is a relaxing respite from the hustle and bustle of downtown Philly. There are guides available to take groups around the attraction and much is explained throughout the tour. The traditional 17th-century Japanese house and garden in Fairmount Park serves well over 30,000 visitors annually, while its Nio-Mon Temple Gate, also known as the ‘Japanese Pagoda’ and lotus pond, are absolute show-stealers. If you’re keen, the establishment offers garden workshops, lessons on tea-drinking and ceremonies, Taiko lessons for kids and adults, and classical Japanese dance lessons are also available all year round.

2. Bartram’s Garden

5400 Lindbergh Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19143
(215) 729-5281
www.bartramsgarden.org
John Bartram was a well-known botanist, explorer, plant collector and the founder of Bartram’s Garden; the garden and home are strategically located off of the alluring west banks of Schuylkill River. Bartram went on to develop both the home and garden as a part of his hobby and lifestyle, and the garden, today, is the oldest surviving botanic garden of its kind in the United States. The garden offers free admission for all and is open all year round except for City-observed holidays. Apart from reliving history through the tours, there are special events like its annual spring plant sale, Mother’s Day event, and greens sales held at its 46-acre grounds. The guides would happily share nuggets of information about the garden, history of the Bartram family and Philadelphia, while you unwind with a walk along Schuylkill River. During warmer weathers, patrons can sign up for a river cruise to the Bartram’s Garden to and from Philly city center. 

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Best Spring Events in Philadelphia in 2014

With the wild weather that is currently slowly calming down, it is time to get out the summer gears and have some fun at festivals and other yearly events held throughout spring and summer when you are in Philadelphia. If you have few ideas about where to go and what to do despite having the luxury of being driven around in a large, comfortable charter bus, you can definitely take a cue from some of our Philadelphia charter bus rental customers who are more than happy to share their thoughts, ideas and feedback with you.

Celebration of Black Writing (CBW)

May 1 to May 31

It has been 30 years since the event was first introduced to the local Philadelphia folks and this year,CBW 2014 is ready for more action and participation. The event is held throughout the month of Mayat varying locations and time. The best you can do is to check their official website (artsanctuary.org) to keep abreast with new programs and activities.

Read more here

Unique Museums in Philadelphia

Love history and all things musty, moldy and with a story? Then there are some unique museums in Philadelphia you need to visit when you travel to this lovely historical state. There are lots of museums located in Philadelphia, and with the guidance of your charter bus, you can be sure to enjoy as many of these museums as you can possibly visit in your holiday to Philly.

The Palestra, for the Basketball Fan

As a historic arena and home gym of the University of Pennsylvania, the Palestra is known for its rich college basketball history as a museum of Philadelphia Big 5 programs. These programs are:-

• La Salle
• Penn
• Saint Joseph’s
• Temple
• Villanova

Read more here...

Popular Religious Buildings in Philly

You don’t have to be religious in order to enjoy the beauty and architecture of these buildings. In Philadelphia, there are many religious places to visit, not just for worship but for its ornate and interesting architecture. Many of these religious places are part of the National Historic Landmark and rightfully so as they are built a long time ago and is part of Philadelphia’s history. You can hop on and off your Philly rental bus to get to these places.

If you would like to see the only synagogue designed by the famous architect Frank Lloyd Wright, then you should head over to the Beth Shalom Congregation, a Conservative synagogue located in the suburb of Elkins Park in Philadelphia. Did you know that Beth Shalom actually means House of Peace in Hebrew? If you take a look at the architecture, you would notice that despite being built in 1953, the synagogue has a very modern look to it. It has inclined walls which are pretty steep and its translucent look comes from the fiberglass and plastic materials made to build it. During the day, the translucent walls are lighted by natural sunlight, while in the night, the entire building glows from the inside out by artificial lighting. Right in front of the synagogue, you will find a laver which is a fountain worshippers use to wash their hands before a sacrifice or service.

On the east side of Logan Circle in Philadelphia, you will find an impressive Roman Catholic cathedral called the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul. This is the head church of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese in Philly and designed by Napoleon LeBrun. Built from 1846-1864, this is the largest Catholic church in Pennsylvania and is also listed in the US National Register of Historic Places. This cathedral is a sight to behold from afar. Modelled after the Lombard Church of St Charles in Rome, the cathedral features a grand facade and a vaulted dome, with ornate main altar and oversized apse of stained glass and red antique marble.

Moving over to Appletree Street, you will find Saint Clement’s Church, a Episcopal church designed by John Notman. Another two churches designed by the same man stands within a few blocks from each other - the Church of the Holy Trinity and Saint Mark’s Church. Although these three churches are designed by the same man, they are built and designed differently. Both Saint Clement’s Church and the Church of the Holy Trinity features a Romanesque Revival style and made entirely of brownstone, while the Saint Mark’s Church was built in the Gothic Revival style. So, do go by this area to view all three churches to see the differences in style and architecture, all designed by the same man.

Fun Fall Philly Events

There is always a sprinkling of fun to be had in Philly when fall arrives. The weather is fantastic in October and this year, it is no different. Heading out means getting the chance to enjoy cool and crisp air all around where there will be plenty of seasonal fresh fruits and vegetables freshly picked from farms and plantations around the city. Fall also means more festivals and outdoor events too, so, you will be really spoilt for choice if you are coming over this month with a rented charter bus Philadelphia vehicle. Renting out a reliable charter bus for your trip means you will get to enjoy all the festivals and events without having to worry about driving, finding your way, parking and traffic.

The hues of brown, green and orange is abound at these events simply because this is the color of fall. Tens of thousands of people come in from different parts of the country and the world just to enjoy the phenomenal atmosphere at these Philly events and we think you are blessed to be given the chance to enjoy them too.

In October, one of the events that will be rolling out will be the Harry Potter Weekend where people from all walks of life, whether they are Harry Potter fans or not, get to indulge in a fantasy of their own, something that they have only read and heard about in books, films and online. Aside from the Harry Potter weekend, visitors can also look forward to the colorful and enchanting Philadelphia International Dragon Boat Festival where these uniquely designed ancient Chinese sea vessels hash it out at sea while supporters and visitors will cheer them on in the bright display of sportsmanship.

And it is, after all, October and it would be weird if Pumpkinfest didn’t happen. This year, the event’s been pulled up earlier than thought, on October 5, but the events remains to be fun and entertaining all the same. The event will roll out on 6th and Race Street so, if you are keen to be a part of that fun, remember to put it into your calendar. The event is also a fund-raising yearly event for the maintenance of Philadelphia’s parks, and we all know how passionate Philly locals are about protecting their green lungs.

Another fun Philly event some of our charter bus PA customers are really looking forward to would be the Hawthorne’s Ales for Tails Block Party which is said to be set for October 12th. The 11th Street will be closed and shut off for the awesome breweries to showcase their best drinks while raising money for PAWS.

Christ Church, Philadelphia

While you are on a vacation in Philadelphia, Christ Church is a beautiful place for you to consider visiting – especially if you already have the service of a Philadelphia bus rental company. And if you are looking to visit a few places while you are in PA, don’t forget to make a trip to the Christ Church as part of your “to visit” list.

Alternatively, you can also opt to walk (if you don’t want the PA bus driver to send you, that is) to the Christ Church grounds after your visit to the Independence Hall, as it is walking distance from there. Christ Church is a beautiful building with an amazing history. As you enter into the church, you will notice that they have a small gift shop where you can purchase some unique and memorable items to bring home with you. You will not be at lost when you are in the church itself because they have many volunteers inside who are ever ready to speak to you and share with you the history of the church as well as some of the things or questions that you may have about the bible or God. The volunteers make you feel warm and welcome as they take you around the church and share stories of the church with you.

Inside the church, you will also see a beautiful organ and a bell that some will tell you that it could even pre-date the Liberty Bell. Find out where George Washington and Benjamin Franklin used to sit when they came for the church services into this very same church that you are visiting and sit on the pews where they sat. Christ Church is not just a tourist spot; they are also serving the congregation on Sundays – with two sessions, one at 9 o’clock in the morning and another at 11 o’clock in the morning. And if you happen to be visiting on a Sunday, it would be a great idea to join in their worship celebration too. They are open for visitors to visit from Mondays to Saturdays, from 9am till 5pm. However, they are closed on Mondays and Tuesdays in the months of January and February, January 1, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving and Christmas days. Hence, as you plan your visit to Philadelphia in a rented bus and want to include a visit to the Christ Church, do take note of the dates and days that they are closed, so that you will not be disappointed when you arrive at the grounds of the church only to find that the doors are closed.

Cycling in Philadelphia

Philadelphia has a number of tourist attractions that attract rental bus visitors, from Independence Hall, where the first Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence, to the Art Museum, made famous in the movie 'Rocky,' and the Liberty Bell, now housed in the National Constitution Center. However, the City of Brotherly Love has plenty of room in its heart for cyclists as well, and professional cyclists will feel at home in Philadelphia. Plan a trip to Philadelphia during cycling season with a bus, coach bus, party bus, mini bus, passenger coach or school bus rented from Bus Rentals Philadelphia. 

In 2012, the city celebrated the 28th Philadelphia International Championship. The course of the 156-mile race winds through some of Philadelphia's most iconic places, as cyclists pass the Art Museum on the Ben Franklin Parkway and challenge themselves to the steep inclines in the Manayunk neighborhood, a portion of the race affectionately called the Manayunk Wall. The day also includes a 57-mile course for professional female cyclists. Philadelphia rental bus visitors may remember the race by its original title, the CoreStates Bike Race, named after its corporate sponsor. Sponsorship has changed hands several times over the years.

The Gran Fondo Philadelphia takes brings the tradition of Italian cycling to Philadelphia with its long-distance events that are open to thousands of riders. Many professional cyclists take part in the race, but it is also open to skilled hobby cyclists, many of whom opt to use a rental bus as a support vehicle. There are three loops, so registrants can choose between courses stretching 108, 73, and 33 miles. All riders wear a timing chip to ensure accurate scoring results.

Professional-grade racing bikes are available in a number of Philadelphia-area cycling shops. These shops almost always do maintenance and care as well, as these bikes cost thousands of dollars, so riders want to keep them in top form. Companies like Performance Bicycle, Elite Bicycles and Trophy Bikes sell well known brands of racing bikes, but also cater to other interests as well, like mountain biking and commuting. Several shops also have bicycles for rent to rental bus visitors.

Philadelphia has cold, sometimes snowy winters that make races difficult to hold from about November through March, so expect most events to take place spring through fall, and plan your rental bus trip accordingly. Also, most races for both professionals and amateurs take place rain or shine. However, rain can make the route slick and dangerous, so even if you lose your registration free by not participating, it is better to opt out than do a course in conditions that you feel will compromise safety.

A rental bus from Bus Rentals Philadelphia is a great way to visit Philadelphia during cycling season. Bus Rentals Philadelphia can accommodate any rental bus group transport need, whether it to visit a race, or transport an entire cycle race team in a rental bus.