Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Travel Guide

Philadelphia is located between Washington DC and New York in the Northeast of the US. It is the USA fifth largest city and home to over 1.5 million people. This Pennsylvania city is considered to the United State birthplace as the country’s Declaration of Independence from Britain was first read here in 1776. Here are the top must see attractions in Philadelphia.

National Constitution Center

This city is also the constitution’s birthplace. It was debated in the State House eleven years later. The founding fathers of America walked in these streets and many of the buildings here are preserved as part of the nations Independence Park. Take in the story of the Roaring Twenties Prohibition while you are still at the National Constitution Center. There was fierce protests against the anti liquor law which led to many arrests. Al ‘Scarface’ Capone was perhaps the most prominent bootlegging gangster. His first prison sentence was spent in the Eastern State Penitentiary. Hear some gripping stories that bring this jail back to life by taking an audio tour.

African American Museum

Head to this museum if you want to hear more voices from this city’s past. The various artifact collection and audiovisual projections are aimed at preserving African American’s heritage.

Washington Square

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier during the American Revolution lies within this square. The colonial past of this city is still very apparent though Philadelphia is now a modern city with plenty of shopping and culture. Do like the locals by exploring the city by public transport or bike.

Fairmount Park

Fairmount Park is the public backyard of Philadelphia. It showcases many of the city’s architectural treasures and it is great for a walk. Check out the Smith Frank Arch which was dedicated to the Civil war military heroes. At the Benjamin Franklin Parkway you can admire some outdoor art.

Philadelphia Museum of Art

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of the largest museums in the USA. It had more than 200 themed galleries displaying up to 230,000 objects, sculptures, and printings.

Please Touch Museum

This is a great place your kids can play even toddlers will love it. There is an educational and fun interactive display in the museum.

Academy of Natural Sciences

Another place children can learn is this academy in Logan Square. They can pet live animals here or just admire the different roaming species.

Philadelphia Zoo

Visit the Philadelphia Zoo for more interaction with animals. Encounter big birds, imitate the monkeys, or simply admire any of the many wild animals of the oldest zoo in America.

Reading Terminal Market

Head to the Reading Terminal Market to have a taste of this city’s local foods. From one of the colorful stalls, handpick deli treats or find out why the local people here love cheese steaks.

Philadelphia has a pleasant climate in fall and springtime. You can see the best of this city during this colorful seasons but that is not to say Philadelphia is not stunning all year round. Once you are here, you will discover why many Americans cherish Philadelphia so much.

 

How to Beat Jet Lag

When you travel you get time changes and when you get time changes, the chances are you will get jet lag. This article will cover some things you as a traveler can do to help deal with jet lag when you are traveling.

Get Flights That Work With Your Sleep Schedule
Fighting jet lag actually starts before you actually go and travel. The first thing deals with the ticket you will buy. If you will be flying, you will have a big time change. So what you might want to look at is doing an overnight flight so you can sleep on the plane. This will ensure you are well-rested and you can go when you get to your destination. For those that can’t sleep very well on the plane, this may not be an answer. But for many people especially kids it actually works really well because the kids will fall asleep on the plane and sleep the whole way there.

Adjust Your Bed Time in Small Increments Before you Travel
some other things you can do before you travel is to go to sleep about 30 minutes earlier each day because just that hour and a half or two hour difference in your bedtime feelings can make a big difference. For instance, if you are going from New York to Ireland, that’s a five hour time difference. If you do this, the two hours of adjusting your sleeping will only feel like three hours and you can deal with that. So try adjusting your sleep before you go.

When you Arrive Stay Awake Until Bed Time in Your New Destination
If you are flying from the US to Europe or to Asia, you should have an overnight flight and so you will arrive in the morning or midday. You will be exhausted and feel like you need to sleep. The thing is you got to be very careful with sleep when you get in. What you really want to do is stay awake until at least 6:30 or 7 o’clock at night in the country you are going to. This is because if you fall asleep at noon and you sleep until midnight, what are you going to do from midnight to 7:00 a.m? Not much to do – so it is important to force yourself to stay awake.

Use Sleep Aids Like Melatonin or Dried Cherries
For those people that find it hard to sleep after a long flight sleep aids such as melatonin or dried cherries can really help you sleep better. Before taking any of these substances, I really recommend you talk to your doctor because they can give you stuff to help you out to get through those first couple days. It can make a huge difference.

Stay Hydrated on Your Flights
When you are on those flights, anytime they come around and bring the water by drink the water. You need to stay hydrated to fight off jet lag. It’s not just on the planes; it’s also when you get there. Drink lots of water and drinks and stuff like that. Stay away from alcohol the first day or so to get your body to adjust if you are having jet lag. Staying hydrated is one of the important keys to fighting off jet lag.

6 Things to Do in Paris, France

Paris is a global center for culture, gastronomy, fashion, and art. Here are the 6 things you should do if you are going to Paris.

Explore the Area by Foot
Before you see any tourist attractions as with many European cities I think it’s really important to explore the area by foot. This is a great idea because you never know what you might see. Friends of mine who run a company that specializes in garbage bin rentals gave me this advice after their recent trip to Paris and I certainly agree. From beautiful architecture all over the streets of Paris to carousels on the side of the road and street art wherever you look; it is a beautiful city and exploring it by foot is the best way to get around. Also, beware of pickpockets because there are quite a few pickpockets and people who are trying to sell you things all over the street.

The Palace of Versailles
The first thing I recommend you see if you are in Paris is the Palace of Versailles. This is ten miles out of the center of Paris so it takes a little while to get to but it’s so worth it. You should plan your journey in advance and go in the morning that way you have a whole day to look around if you want to because this place is huge, and it’s grand everything in this place is gilded in gold and it is so beautiful and elegant. You will never see another place like this in your entire life and it is most well known for its Hall of Mirrors which you might have seen in loads of TV shows or movies but I definitely recommend you go here because it is incredible.

The Eiffel Tower
What is a trip to Paris without seeing its most notable landmark of the Eiffel Tower? It is absolutely huge and beautiful. When you see it in person, it’s a lot bigger than you think it might be. If you have never seen it before, when you get out at the metro station it’s right there straight in front of you. I would recommend the best time to go is early in the evening when the Sun is setting so you can get up to the top. You can either see the sunset or you can see it at night when all the twinkly lights of Paris opening for you. It is beautiful and that way you get the best of both worlds. Also, a lot of times in Paris they give discounts to people under 26 so make sure you bring your ID with you if you are under 26.

Catacombs
This is something a little more unusual and not for the faint-hearted. They are definitely an incredible sight to see. It’s an underground passageway that goes on for absolute ages. It takes about 30 to 45 minutes to walk through it and that’s the only part they display to the public. It’s full of the remains of lots of different burial sites that were moved there in the 1800s and they are arranged sometimes in patterns like hearts and crosses and it’s pretty creepy but it’s interesting to see so I definitely recommend it.

The Louvre
This amazing glass structure is in between these humongous buildings. They are just cubed off and you are in the center and it’s such an incredible sight. It’s beautiful because you get modern architecture mixed with beautiful old buildings. When you look through the glass, you can actually see the museum down below plus you can get some cool pictures here too.

Disneyland
What is a trip to Paris without going to Disneyland? The thing I like about Disneyland Paris is they have a ton of parades. They have them like every other hour pretty much and they are quite short so you will definitely get to see a parade at some point during your visit. Going in the offseason can be difficult with the weather but you definitely get the advantage of the wait times being much shorter.

Top 3 Ways Traveling Improves Your Life

It is no secret that packing your bags and getting ready to hit the road is one of the best feelings that you could ever experience, isn’t that right? Of course it is! You see, travel is one of those things that can have a big impact on your personal, as well as your professional life. There is something special about boarding a train or bus and hitting the road. That is one feeling that you just can’t put into words – it is something that you have to experience for yourself to fully understand it.

All the excitement and emotions that you experience when you travel is unlike anything else that you could ever experience in your life, and we mean this in the best way possible. This is especially true if you are traveling by yourself, and the main reason why is because you are in charge of pretty much everything that is involved in the trip. Solo travel can really get you out of your comfort zone, and that is always a good thing. With that said, here are top three ways traveling improves your life. Enjoy the ride!

You Become More Flexible

When it comes to traveling the world, it is always nice to have a good travel plan that you can stick to. However, it is pretty much safe to say that traveling is full of unpredictable situations that you just can’t prepare for. That being said, it is pretty much impossible to plan out every single detail of your journey, which means that you will have to use your ability to make important decisions in a short amount of time. But, don’t let this fact scare you, because the best things usually come from where you least expect them to. The most spontaneous parts of your travel adventure are usually the most interesting ones.

You Gain Independence

It is no secret that new experiences can help you build confidence. For example, if you spend the majority of your time in front of a TV screen, traveling is like a magic wand that can change who you are as a person forever, and we mean this in a really good way. Although having the ability to make important decisions is very important, having the ability to make important decisions when you are alone in a foreign country is pretty much vital.

Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone

One of the most important things that travel can teach you is how to feel good when you are outside of your comfort zone. Generally speaking, getting out of your comfort zone is always a good thing. It helps you learn more about yourself, and it also helps you develop new life skills.

Top 3 Safety Tips For Single Parents Traveling With Their Kids

It is pretty much safe to say that single travelers have been on the short end of the travel package deals for quite some time now. Well, in fact, it is pretty much safe to say that the situation has been like this since the inception of the travel package deals. This is especially the case with single parent travelers. Also, travel companies are doing pretty well these days, and they know that two or more travelers will consume and buy more stuff than a single person will – which, of course, they know how to use to their advantage.

Due to the fact that there are not many options left, many single parents have joined forces to exchange travel advice and offer their own single parent travel tips and tricks. Some single parents who connect with one another find that traveling as a team is much easier than traveling alone. You see, traveling as a team gives you a chance to share some of your responsibilities with your travel partner, and that is always good for your mental, as well as your physical well-being. And now, here are three safety tips that every single parent should know!

Consider Taking Your Seat

If you are planning on riding in taxis when you arrive at your destination, or if you are planning on renting a car, you may not count on a car seat being available every single time you want to go for a ride. Also, keep in mind that many car seats have backpack straps, which is always a good thing. But, just in case you can’t find any available car seats, you should definitely consider taking your own car seat with you. While it is true that taking your own car seat with you means more luggage for you, it is definitely worth it.

Take a Photo of Your Kids Each Morning

Taking a photo of your kids seems like a fun thing to do, doesn’t it? And it is! But did you know that it is actually quite important, too? For example, if one of your kids gets lost or abducted, you will have a photo to show to the authorities.

Get Travel Insurance

We all know that having a good travel insurance is very important, right? There are many different travel insurance plans out there that offer free coverage for kids. With this in mind, you should definitely consider getting a good travel insurance the next time you want to hit the road with your kids.