Romantic Philadelphia Escape

Romance surrounds you in Philadelphia, the place that LOVES YOU BACK. Think that history can’t be romantic? Think again. Cuddle close in a vintage carriage as your horse clip-clops around Independence National Historical Park. Walk hand-in-hand through Franklin Court, just as Ben and Deborah Franklin did in Revolutionary times, and read their heartfelt words to each other inscribed in the pavement. Huddle together in Valley Forge where the colonials shivered in the winter of 1777. See where James Madison wooed Dolly, and revolutionaries loved liberty so much, they signed a declaration and risked their lives. Visit the Brandywine River Museum and stare adoringly at the works of three generations of the Wyeth family. Then tour the Brandywine Valley where you can almost see the brushstrokes the countryside inspired. Take in Van Gogh's sunflowers at the Philadelphia Museum of Art or search for the next Van Gogh at Old City's First Friday open studio nights. Explore the wonders of little theaters like Malvern’s The People’s Light and Theatre Company or the thrilling swirls and glides of the Pennsylvania Ballet and PHILADANCO. Get outdoors and bike along the tree-lined Delaware Canal towpath where Washington made his daring Christmas crossing. Coast along the East or West River Drives and see how the twinkling lights caress the Victorian boathouses. Embrace under one of Philadelphia's outdoor sculptures such as Claes Oldenburg's Kiss or Robert Indiana's Love. And who can resist a Rocky-inspired run up the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art? Shopping is romance in Philadelphia – the sparkle of Jewelers' Row, the rare knickknacks of New Hope, the kitschy boutiques of Old City and South Street and the unique shops along historic Germantown Avenue in Chestnut Hill. Settle into a table for two at one of our many romantic dining spots. Pick your favorite cuisine, or experiment with something new at a nationally acclaimed restaurant. Then finish off your night with candlelight and soft jazz or flashing lights and rollicking dance clubs. The choice is yours. It just depends on your mood. But that’s not all – there’s plenty more romancing to do. Pamper your bodies in the best of spas and health clubs. Fly up, up and away in a hot air balloon. Cozy into one of the Philadelphia region's many Center City hotels. Of course, the most romantic history is the kind you make. Here, in the city where great documents have been crafted, inspired canvases painted, and lasting monuments carved, create your own bank of memories; they’re free, but worth a million!