Johnson Park in the pretty Cooper Grant neighborhood of downtown Camden has been beautifully…read morerestored by Rutgers University. Johnson Park is named for Eldridge Johnson who was the founder of the Victor Talking machine in Camden - at one time the world's most important producer of Victrolas and Gramophones. (It later merged with RCA). At the center of the park is the imposing neo-classical Cooper Library and reflecting pool which is now part of Rutgers University. Do you know the beloved statue by Albert Laessle of "Billy the Goat" in Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia? Well, his bro "The Dancing Goat" is in this park. But the must-see here is without doubt the statue of Peter Pan by Sir George Frampton. There are five sculptures of Peter Pan in the world by Sir George Frampton - each one slightly different. The world-famous one is in Kensington Gardens in London. This work of art in Camden is the only Frampton Peter Pan sculpture in the United States. It's cool .... like Peter Pan was!

Another hidden garden in a part of the city with a bunch of cute gardens. It's enclosed with a…read morewell-maintained patch of grass, some (uncomfortable) metal benches, and a fountain in one corner. It's quiet, cozy, serene, and I love coming here with the dog for a quick time-out when I work from home. The few downsides are that it only has one entrance, and it locks up at night. :(

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! |

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!

If you're a history or literature buff, this is truly a hidden gem in New Jersey. I can't believe…read moreI'm the first person to review this place in four years! My 9-year-old son and I came here on a Saturday afternoon in November. They are only open for two hours, from 11-12 and 2-3. I called ahead and scheduled a tour for 2 o'clock. There is only street parking available, but we were able to park directly outside and pay at the meter. The tour starts in the house next door where you watch a ten minute video on Walt Whitman's life, then you go next door to his house where they have painstakingly recreated most of the rooms based on old photographs. The tour includes his upstairs bedroom where he passed away, and finishes in the backyard. Our tourguide was very friendly and knowledgeable and humored my son's millions of questions, many of which were somewhat off topic ("do you think Walt Whitman could do a cartwheel?!" *does cartwheel in the backyard*). The best part is that the tour is completely free, though donations are of course accepted. After the tour we drove to the Harleigh Cemetery to see his gravesite, which is only a mile or two from his house.

Whitman's house is so full of history; visiting it was a great experience. There is a short film…read morethat sets the stage. Beyond that, the guide had interesting things to reveal in every room. I was especially intrigued by the bedroom, but I won't give the surprise away.

The official birth place of America!! How cool that this building is still around and still has…read moreplenty of original items inside. We did a guided tour so that we could see the insides. The tour lasts at most 30 minutes, but they'll give you the background of what all went down inside the building. To think this is where John Adams, John Hancock, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and so many more patriots came to declare the United States of America as an independent nation. I'm so glad I got to see this.

Independence Hall is one of the most consequential civic buildings in the United States. The red…read morebrick Georgian structure reads as restrained and formal rather than ornate, but its significance carries most of the weight. The surrounding Independence National Historical Park frames it as part of a larger civic landscape, where open squares, pathways, and nearby historic buildings create a setting that feels intentionally preserved rather than reconstructed for spectacle. The main experience here is centered on the building itself and the rooms that shaped foundational moments in American history. I stepped inside and found the Assembly Room standing out as the focal point, where key debates over independence and constitutional design took place. The scale surprised me. It is surprisingly intimate compared to how monumental its outcomes are often perceived, which made the space feel more grounded than grand. During my visit, access was managed through a timed entry system, but the experience consistently revolved around standing in spaces directly tied to the formation of governing documents and early national decision making. The visit is structured and guided in a way that felt controlled but informative. Rangers managed the flow carefully, especially during the busy periods I encountered. Security procedures were part of the entry process. Even with portions of the interior restricted, the surrounding exhibits and nearby historic rooms helped fill in context. The overall pace was more about controlled observation than wandering, with a clear emphasis on preservation and historical interpretation rather than open exploration.

An Incredible Halloween Experience in One of the Coolest Historic Locations!…read more We visited Eastern State Penitentiary for its Halloween Horror Nights event, and we had an absolute BLAST! This place is already fascinating because of its history and the atmosphere of the old penitentiary, but experiencing it during a Halloween event takes things to a whole new level. The setting alone makes this such a cool place to visit. There's something about exploring a historic prison after dark that creates the perfect atmosphere for a haunted attraction. Add in the Halloween decorations, incredible actors, and immersive experiences, and you have the recipe for a fantastic night! The event featured five well-themed haunted mazes, and we were thoroughly impressed. The haunt actors were incredible, bringing so much energy and commitment to their performances. We also loved the Touch Pass option, which lets guests opt for a more intense, hands-on experience. It's a great addition for those who want to take things up a notch and get even more immersed in the scares! There were tons of great photo opportunities throughout the grounds, so you'll definitely want to take your time exploring and grabbing some pictures. We appreciated the variety of food trucks available, too, which made it easy to grab something to eat while enjoying the event. The absolute highlight for us, though, was the Speakeasy experience inside Al Capone's cell! We paid a little extra for this experience, and we HIGHLY recommend doing the same if you visit. The singers and actors were phenomenal! One of my personal favourites was an amazingly talented woman who sang opera beautifully. Her voice was absolutely incredible, and it was such an unexpected highlight of the evening. I also loved the woman who performed a lovely rendition of Barracuda. Both performances really stood out and made the experience feel like so much more than just another Halloween attraction. You even get a complimentary drink included with the Speakeasy experience, and the beer was excellent! Between the live entertainment, the historical setting, and the overall atmosphere, it was absolutely worth paying the extra money. Overall, we had an amazing time at Eastern State Penitentiary's Halloween event. The combination of the historic location, fantastic haunted mazes, talented actors, Touch Pass option, photo opportunities, food trucks, and unique Speakeasy experience made for a memorable night. If you're visiting Philadelphia during Halloween season, we highly recommend checking this out! And seriously, don't skip the Speakeasy at Al Capone's cell. That experience alone was a major highlight for us! For more food, travel, brewery, hockey, haunted attraction, and destination reviews, check out our YouTube channel A&M Roam and follow along with Angela and Mike as we travel, eat, drink, explore spooky attractions, catch games, and goof around!

My wife and I were in Philly for a long weekend and saw that this was a cool spot to checkout…read more I am glad we did. It is an old prison set in a neighborhood, kind of like Wrigley Field is in the middle of a neighborhood. The structure is huge and has a hub and spoke type of detention with 8 cell clocks around a center location. The cells were small, but they did have Al Capone's cell, which was decked out! He was there for a year for an illegal weapon. Nice narration and a great way to spend an hour or two in Philly!

Visiting the Liberty Bell was such a cool experience! It's one of those iconic American landmarks…read morethat you've seen in pictures countless times, but actually standing in front of it and seeing it up close is a completely different experience. We loved learning about the history behind the bell, its significance, and the role it has played as a symbol of American independence and freedom. It's amazing how something as simple as a bell can carry so much history and meaning. Seeing it in person really makes you appreciate its importance even more! The exhibits surrounding the bell were also a great way to learn more about its story and the events that made it such an important piece of American history. The Liberty Bell is absolutely a must-visit when exploring Philadelphia, whether you're a history nerd or not! It's such an iconic landmark, and we're really glad we took the time to see it for ourselves. Definitely worth adding to your Philly itinerary! For more food, travel, brewery, hockey, hotel, and destination reviews, check out our YouTube channel A&M Roam and follow along with Angela and Mike as we travel, eat, drink, hike, catch games, and goof around!

This exhibit of American history was directly across from the Philly visitors center in the…read moreIndependence National Historical Park. Waited in line only for ten minutes to catch a peek at the Liberty Bell and its famous crack. Its 2000 pound frame sits in the center of a small room allowing a 360 degree view. It does get crowded around the bell with other tourists but I did get some good pics.

There's so much cool stuff within the city limits that I've committed to trying to explore…read moresomething new (to me) every week. Recently that meant exploring the trolley trails in west Fairmount Park and finding the stone spiral arch bridge. In the early 1900s, a scene trolley took people through the woods. Nature has reclaimed the trolley paths, but in recent years they have been converted into miles of hiking trails. It's not crowded--I only saw 4 other people, mountain bikers, on my visit. It's a great place to explore. It's shaded so the walk was cool. It's pretty level so the hike is easy. And if you know where to go, you can find this beautiful bridge that looks like a brick spiral. The years have taken a toll, so I wonder how much longer we'll get to enjoy it. It's cool to think that in the past so much work was put into creating a beautiful structure that really just needed to serve a simple function. Don't have time for a long hike? You can get to the bridge quickly by entering the trail from Chamounix Mansion. Park by the equestrian building and head in. It's probably less than a 1/2 mile walk to the bridge.

I'm one of those weird Aquarius people who like to explore abandoned buildings, and ancient sites,…read moreso I had to check out Stone Arch Bridge! It is an old bridge that leads to nowhere because it is no longer being used. It is surrounded by a forest, and kind of hard to find. The best way to find it is to stay at Chamounix Mansion, and follow the trail behind the trees. It's worth checking out if you like to post on Instagram, and finding hidden gems that are off the beaten path.

SCW and I walked through Love Park and of course got our selfie in front of the Love sign. The park…read moreitself is across from the capitol building. It's fairly clean, has a visitors center (for the city not only the park) and a nice fountain that you can go in if you're adventurous or a kid. We did not, but on a warm day like it was the idea was tempting. Love Park isn't a huge park by any means, but a good place to take a walk, enjoy the welcoming atmosphere and share the time with someone you love. Love wins.

Right next to City Hall. A fun park to get a photo at with the Love sign and the rest of…read morePhiladelphia behind you. When we went around noon there wasn't a line for photos or anything. No homeless people either. Just us, a few tourists and lots of pics being taken. Fun spot for photos.

Pretty cool graveyard considering how old it is. Most of the headstone are beyond readable due to…read moreextended age, A unique place to visit with an interesting story from the guide that highlights the life of Benjamin Franklin. This is located right downtown so its easy to get to from pretty much any other touristy place, and it can also be seen clear as the sun from the hop on/hop off tour bus. It goes right by it. Mr. And Mrs. Benjamin Franklin grave is open to the public 24/7 365/366. Throw a penny for good luck! Loved everything about it. Gladly pay $5 to pay respects to a historic founding father as well as so many other patriots of the United States. An absolute treasure in the heart of Philadelphia

Not too keen on the admission pricing. But it was an interesting and old cemetary. Fascinating to…read moresee the other gravesites that were even older. Water was available for purchase too.