Go to visitphilly.com to plan your next getaway to Philadelphia. Consult oM’s Transit Guide to Philly for the best transportation options from NYC. If you are driving, the Philly Overnight® Hotel Package comes with free parking at your hotel.
If you’re lucky enough to be in the birthplace of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution on America’s birthday, you’ll have your pick of celebrations that appeal to adults and kids alike. Don’t miss these free July 4th highlights.
1. Cheer on the Philadelphia Independence Day Parade, July 4, from 11am to 12:30pm along Chestnut Street near Independence Hall.
2. Join the Party on the Parkway, an outdoor celebration of music, food, crafts and art along the boulevard leading to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. July 4, from 12pm to 7pm.
3. Cap off the night Philly-style with the outdoor Wawa Welcome America! Philly 4th of July Jam (featuring The Roots, John Mayer, Demi Lovato, Ne-Yo, and hosted by comedian Kevin Hart) plus Grand Finale Fireworks above the art museum. July 4, from 7pm to 11pm.
4. For a tasty celebration that extends through the holiday weekend, get to Taste of Philadelphia, a three-day food festival at Penn’s Landing along the Delaware River that features live music daily and a massive fireworks display on Saturday July 6. July 5-6, from 12pm to 10pm; July 7 from 12pm to 3pm.
For more things to do in the City of Brotherly Love, read 22 Reasons to Visit Philadelphia This Summer.
Photos: G. Widman for GPTMC
Sarah Knapp is a Brooklyn based entrepreneur whose love for the outdoors and community building led her to the October 2013 creation of OutdoorFest. She has a BA in History, is a Wilderness First Responder and a NY state hiking, camp and boating guide. Her proudest achievement to date is reading the Aeneid in Latin. 
Allison was one of our first top writers and Chief Editor but is no longer working with offMetro. Allison is a native New Yorker, who has lived in Rome, Tuscany, Melbourne, Toronto and Los Angeles. She frequently contributed travel pieces to Family Travel Forum, using her own children as guinea pigs as they travel the globe. She never missed a chance to sample local delicacies, as her love for travel goes hand-in-hand with her love for food and wine. 
Josh Laskin is a freelance travel writer and photographer based in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. When he is not at work or on the road, you can find him in the mountains snowboarding, climbing, hiking, fly fishing, mountain biking, and eating bagel bites.
Annie is a travel writer, environmentalist, and surfer based in Venice, CA. She heads up our West Coast team, keeps our grammatical errors in check, and makes sure our California writers always have a plan for their next adventure. Follow Annie’s travels @annelisemcb.
Carly Pifer is a freelance writer who has been known to follow whims inspired by romantic movie scenes or colorful street style shots to India, Japan, Tunisia and Argentina. After stints living in Seoul, Boston, Paris and Los Angeles, writing and searching for something intangible, she landed somewhat steadily in Brooklyn and has begun to find inspiration in her more immediate surroundings. 
Kate E. O’Hara is a New York based freelance writer and photographer who loves all things food—especially the people who make it and market it. Her writing aims to capture the essence of the food experience; the stories that go well beyond a plate of ingredients. In addition to her love of food, Kate is also known to have a hankering for red wine and craft beer. You can also find Kate on Instagram