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About Philadelphia - Erblaw Recommends

Best Ways to Spend a Summer Day

It's hot out. What to do? Here are our top five picks for spending a summer day in Philadelphia:

Chris Erb

1. Stop by Capogiro and indulge in a nice, fruity gelato

2. Sit on the lawn at the Mann Music center and take in an evening concert of the Philadelphia Orchestra

3. Wander along Forbidden Trail in Fairmount Park with the dog in the early morning, while the air is still cool (at least under the trees)

4. People watch from the front porch (more going on and fewer bugs), preferably with a nice, cool beer.

5. And, speaking of beer, check out one of Stoudt's brewery events for the Bavarian biergarten experience only an hour or so from the city!

Kelly Phillips Erb

1. iMax movies are great fun any time, but especially welcome during the summer. Afterwards, you can catch the planetarium or the exhibits at the Franklin Institute.

2. Wander up Ridge Avenue for a water ice.

3. Hang out with the neighborhood on the front porch with a nice glass of wine.

4. Take the kiddies to Gorgas Park to play on the playground and then to a free concert near the gazebo - one of the hidden gems of the City!

5. Some of the prettiest floral displays are in full bloom during summer. Check out the blooms at Morris Arboretum or Winterthur.

Madeline Martin

1. Philadelphia Museum of Art: Tour the exhibits inside during the hotter parts of the day but be sure to go outside to enjoy the gardens and lounge by the river.

2. Penns Landing - Don't forget to bring sunscreen. It’s fun place to sit and people/boat watch.

3. Ritz Five (or Bourse) - Catch an early showing of an artsy flick (or 2) and enjoy the air conditioning! Afterwards, have a snack at one of the wonderful outdoor cafes in Old City.

4. Day trip to Atlantic City. From Center City you can take a train or bus if you want to avoid traffic. The AC beach is free and you can dart into one of that Casinos to cool off and/or use the facilities (ie blackjack tables).

5. The Academy of Natural Sciences. You can lose a whole day in there checking out all the different exhibits. It’s a great place to take children of all ages.

Armana Rehman

1. Enjoy a pleasant day out with the kids or alone at the First Zoo in America--the awesome Philadelphia Zoo. Take a hot air ballon ride 400 ft high and experience the greatest aerial view of Philly from anywhere in the city. Enjoy the swan boats and the animal rides as a treat and but don't forget to feed the loving and hungry goats in the children's zoo (a petting zoo for children of all ages.) All of this in one place, but don't forget to check out all the animals, too.

2. A nice evening stroll down Main Street Manayunk, with all the trendy boutiques and great places to eat all kinds of gourmet food. For the more adventurous, visit Manayunk during one of its festivals, and it really comes alive.

3. On a really hot summer day, the best place to be is "Down the Shore." A one and one-half hour ride will bring you to the cool and refreshing breezes of the Atlantic Ocean. Just lie by the beach or boogie board, it your choice, or for more excitment, head down to Wildwood or Atlantic City for lots of rides. Don't forget to visit Lucy the Elephant, she's waiting to welcome visitors to the beach at Margate.

4. Olde City is always a treat. Not only is it one of the oldest parts of Philly with all the historic buildings to enjoy that date back to hundreds of years, but it is probably one of the most happening places in town. The variety of ethnic restaurants in such a small area has to set a record. After your appetite is satiated, you can head to one of the many art galleries open late in the summer, or just stroll down to Penn's Landing for a nice evening breeze.

5. Philly and the surrounding suburbs have also become the place to shop. In Center City, visit Walnut Street, with many cute boutiques, just a few minutes outside of Philly, visit Suburban Square, an open air shopping heaven with stores to suit everyone, graced with a beautiful courtyard and a fountain where many sit and enjoy some TCBY yogurt, ice cream from Coldstone Creamery, or a refreshing drink from Starbucks. For the ultimate shopper, the largest retail space is a short 15 minute ride to the King of Prussia Mall. Definitely a reprieve from the heat, with its cool interior combined with the maximum shopping experience available anywhere in the country.

Angie Sewell

1. Laying in the bed watching my favorite movies, eating pop corn, and drinking kool aid.

2. Relaxing at Fairmount park, on a big blanket, with some fried fish and french fries.

3. Sitting on the front steps waiting for the ice cream truck to arrive.

4. Going to a cook out.

5. Watching the children play at the playground.

Laurent Thailly

1. Head to Atlantic city by bus or train and spend the warmest hours of the day in one of the big casinos : fresh air, free drinks, entertainment, and after hours on the same machine you stand a chance to hit the jackpot (I do confirm it can happen).

2. Go early to Rittenhouse Square and find a shadowy place. You have ice creams and drinks at hand and you might even chance to enjoy some music during the week-ends.

3. Spend the day at Jenkins Law Library on Chestnut and 9th. It is quiet, with Internet, has loads of materials to go through and very convenient opening hours. Their air conditioning system is the best I've experienced so far.

4. Take a day pass with Septa and find the right bus with air conditioning – You stay cool for $5.50 and see a great deal of the city.

5. Stop by the Penn's Landing Marina and visit Cruiser OLYMPIA and WWII Submarine BECUNA, then walk to the Great Plaza where there's a lot of shows going on during the summer.