I absolutely loved the Shofuso. It's not as big as I thought it would be, however it's beautiful…read morenonetheless. We first visited the house no shoes only socks allowed. Outside we were able to feed the koi fish it's $2 for the koi fish. Had a great time.

Such a beautiful place! It changes with the seasons. I missed my group due to work but the woman at…read morethe ticket booth let me in to walk in the garden. The azaleas are starting to bloom! They added color to a dreary day! The pond is surrounded by greenery and flowers. It started to rain. That just brought another dimension of beauty. The house is interesting.I didn't go in this time but You can see some of the rooms from the outside. The space is serene It is perfect to sit and take a minute to breathe. It is a little bit of Japanese culture in the middle of the Park.

We attended a gorgeous wedding here. The setting outside was beautiful and the interior where the…read morereception was held was well organized and allowed for a variety of settings from quiet to loud depending on where you stood in relation to the music. A variety of water features are in the green houses which only add to the atmosphere. The only downside to the place is that the lady's room has only 2 stalls, not enough for a crowd of 100+. Anyway, if you are looking for a place to hold a wedding in Philly, this is a nice place.

Stunning venue - the display garden is truly a one in a million place to get married. We initially…read moreplanned to have our cocktail hour outdoors as we wanted to highlight the reflecting pool but unfortunately the weather didn't permit - we had cocktail hour inside and it was still incredible. The whole team there was impressive and the food was truly delicious. My standards for wedding food are pretty low but it was excellent, and many of our guests commented that it was the best wedding food they've ever had (and they'd eat it again if they could). The whole team was lovely to work with. So, so glad we got married here!!

Ever get the impression that folks knew what they were doing back then, more than they do now…read more Stopping by this 18th Century Garden, you sure get the impression that they knew a lot better than us. The garden was beautiful and meticulously kept.

The garden is part of Independence National Historic Park, and it is free to walk through during…read moremost daylight hours. There are gates that lock during off-hours, however. But its a very interesting experience because it shows off plenty of plants that were grown in Philly during the 1700s. Everything was well-kept and clean, done by volunteers from the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. You'll even find a spot that was dedicated by then-First Lady Lady Bird Johnson in 1965. It's definitely worth taking a stroll through. Be good to all the plants!

This was my first time at the National Liberty Museum and I thought it was a really great museum…read more We came w little kids who usually speed thru museums and even they really enjoyed this space. They loved the liberty bell replica and the man at the desk even rang it for us! (be prepared --it was loud!) The first floor had a section on assembly and a section on sports. Both were great and informative - and the sports section had the vince Lombardi trophy from Superbowl LII on display. The second floor had a section on heroes and it was my fave wing of the museum. I could have spent more time reading and learning about the brave people mentioned on this floor. It was very moving and the kids were into learning about the heroes too. There was also a wing on politics and it really focused on how we aren't as divided and as far apart as people think we are. It was quite thought provoking. Overall it's a really great museum and worth your time to visit.

A poignant museum, especially in today's political and cultural zeitgeist. It tackles free speech…read moreand other topics that some may find provocative, and I'm a huge fan of how boldly it approaches them. Inside, there's even a replica Liberty Bell you can actually touch--something you definitely can't do with the real one. It's also a quieter museum, so you can take photos without the rush and crowds you'd find at the official Liberty Bell site. They even have a famous Chulily chandelier on display. Clean, quiet, reflective, and well worth the visit.

Very happy to see the gardens and inside of the museum…read more The security in the front desk staff were welcoming and so helpful. The weather was perfect for getting to enjoy the outside of the museum. Make sure when you come you get a nice tour from the knowledgeable docent . Of course you can enjoy the museum without one. They had a very nice gift shop! I got a pair very cute green socks ! I heard that one of the pieces was going to be changed out for another, so I was happy to look at each piece today !!! I'd like to come back!

I enjoy Calder's work and was excited to hear he'd get a museum on the parkway. I joined the Barnes…read moreto get early access! The space is beautiful, and once the Gardens fill in it will look so different. It's a place to visit with the changing seasons. I love the art, the building, the gardens. It's a good place to bring visitors. But so much of the layout, the plants and the art is presented without comment. That can be good and bad. As a curious person, I want to know more. I wish there was information or a book with statements from the landscape architect, the building architect, and the curator. Everything seems quite deliberate but I don't understand why.

This is such a fascinating place on many levels. I can't remember how I stumbled upon this (maybe…read moreAtlas Obscura), but I'm glad that I made the effort to search it out. Even some people who have lived in Philly most of their lives have not been here, let alone heard of it! This museum is in a now largely lower-middle class neighborhood, but don't let that deter you from experiencing this gem. Housed in an historic, wooden building, complete with creaky floors and stairs, this is the real deal...a throwback to a different era, unchanged in a hundred plus years, and the intent is for it to remain so. Inside, the main draw is the natural history collection upstairs, in original wood and glass cases, which were made especially for this collection. The signage, as ancient as the collection and the building, is handwritten, in ink now faded, and in a case or two, reflects the name known at that time, but since changed. Here you'll find minerals, shells, skeletons, taxidermied animals, insects, some charts, and for the children (or children at heart), scavenger hunt sheets. Downstairs, on the way to the restrooms, you'll see the fabulous, expansive, original, all wood lecture hall. (I would love to hear anything there!) A small gift shop with some unusual items rounds out the experience. Here, I found a very realistic plastic pangolin (my one souvenir from Philly!). I spent at least 2 hours here, but I'm a natural history nerd, and talked to one of the employees a bit to learn more about the place and its mission.

They have birds, and as well, crabs. We came here on a date. Also, there are shells. There are many…read morethings to look at at this establishment. Tapeworms on exhibit!

The Rodin Museum is one of those places that makes Philadelphia feel unusually rich culturally:…read moreintimate enough to drop into, yet substantial enough to feel transporting every time. We love it for many of the same reasons we love the Barnes next door. However, the mood is completely different: older, more classical, and distinctly European, with the formal garden and beautiful building framing Rodin's work perfectly. I have visited the Musée Rodin in Paris, housed in the extraordinary Hôtel Biron near Saint-Germain, and seeing his work in that historic house is unforgettable; Philadelphia's museum captures some of that same intimacy in its own way. Its location along the Parkway, beside the Barnes and between the Art Museum and Center City, makes this entire stretch one of my favorite parts of Philadelphia. Summer may be when we love the Rodin most, especially during the happy hours in the garden. We come with our kids when the weather cooperates, enjoy delicious food and wine, people-watch, and watch the grounds turn into a relaxed, genuinely social gathering where everyone seems to be having fun. It is spacious enough to feel festive and welcoming enough that bringing young children never feels awkward. We are always proud to bring visitors here because it shows off our city so beautifully. Great art, a magnificent setting, and a summer evening full of people simply enjoying Philadelphia make the Rodin feel like one of the city's great gifts.

There was no way I was going to miss this gem of a museum. I was somehow able to convince my…read morehusband that it's not your typical art museum with hours and hours of gallery walk throughs. It's a large but centralized collection of Auguste Rodin's sculpture at its finest. It's all displayed in one beautiful building that was built to enhance his art in an indoor and garden setting. It's a "Pay What You Wish" museum. It doesn't matter what day you visit. Just keep in mind that it's closed on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. The suggested fee is $15 for adults. You can also take that amount off your admission to the Philadelphia Museum of Art (PMA) by showing the Rodin admission receipt. Basically, the Rodin Museum is included when you purchase a ticket to the PMA. I must admit that the highlight for me was actually outside in the sculpture garden, which is free to the public. The bronze "Gates of Hell" doors are not to be missed. I'd only seen the plaster cast of it when visiting the Musee D'Orsay with my mother. I remember how impressive it was back then. The bronze doors from the cast are even more impressive. There is so much detail. There are also many larger than life sculptures as you walk through the arch and garden. "The Burghers of Calais" bronze sculpture was another big highlight. Just look at the detail and size of these sculpted hands. It's totally worth a visit no matter how you gain access. It's such a beautiful place. Don't miss it!

Small, easy, short touristy trip. Another great free thing to do in the city when you have friends…read moreor family from out of town. I live in Nolibs, so this is an easy walk from my house. Parking is plentiful nearby, too!

Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site - Philadelphia, PA…read more Boomsauce Score: BS +++ (Amazing location! now that's boomsauce!) Even mid-renovation, this place hits different. Stepping into Poe's former home is like walking through the pages of Gothic literature. The art installations and that surreal raven sculpture outside? Straight out of a dream--or a fevered poem. It's eerie, poetic, and deeply moving. Though the house is currently closed for a utilities improvement project, you can still feel the weight of history pressing through the walls. Poe lived here during one of his most prolific periods, penning classics like The Black Cat and The Tell-Tale Heart. The cellar even resembles the one described in The Black Cat, adding a deliciously creepy layer to the visit. If you're in Philly, this is a must-visit. It's not just a museum--it's a tribute to the tortured brilliance of one of America's greatest literary minds. And when renovations wrap, it'll be even more hauntingly beautiful. --- Boomsauce Scale | Rating | Meaning |---------|----------------------------------| | B | basura (trash) | | BS | basic (come on! Try harder) | | BS + | better (Yo! That's better) | | BS ++ | best (alright! Alright! Alrightttt!) | | BS +++ | Amazing location! now that's boomsauce! |