Philly Revs Up For Summer Family Fun With New Attractions & Exhibitsrnnnrn
rnnnrnMust-Dos Include: Tall Ships, LEGO® Art, Sesame Place & Longwood GardensrnrnJust as school is letting out for the summer, Philadelphia is ushering in a season of new family-friendly activities and exhibitions. Tall Ships Philadelphia Camden unites two waterfronts with an exciting display of 15 majestic ships from around the world—and one giant 20-story-high floating rubber ducky. If it’s icky and stinky, it’s a topic of great interest for kids at Animal Grossology at The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. And the magic behind the new light show at Longwood Gardens will have everyone ooohing and aaahing. Here’s a look at what families should add to their summer must-do lists:rnrnExciting Exhibits:rnrnIt took a staggering one million-plus LEGO bricks to create The Art of the Brick, on view at The Franklin Institute and comprised of more than 100 works of art all made using the popular toy. All ages will appreciate the LEGO re-creations of acclaimed artworks such as Van Gogh’s Starry Night and Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa, a 20-foot-long T-Rex, a Liberty Bell created especially for the Philadelphia iteration of this exhibit and much more. Through September 6. 222 N. 20th Street, (215) 448-1200, fi.edurnRecycling is second nature at the Philadelphia Zoo, so, of course, their new art installation Second Nature is fashioned from recycled materials. A dozen artists have reused and repurposed unexpected materials to draw attention to the plight of endangered animals. The exhibit includes a 13-foot-tall blue gorilla sculpted entirely of recycled car parts, two giant nine-foot-tall pink rabbits fashioned from recycled plastic and a menacing five-foot-long alligator molded from chewing gum and more. April 11-October 31. One month later on May 16, the zoo opens its Gorilla Treeway, the newest addition to its first-in-the-world animal travel and exploration trail system called Zoo360. The treeway gives the zoo’s Western lowland gorillas the ability to enjoy long-distance travel in a mesh passageway positioned overhead. 3400 W. Girard Avenue, (215) 243-1100, philadelphiazoo.orgrnIt’s slimy, stinky and downright yucky, which means kids will love Animal Grossology, an exhibition about the ickiest creatures on earth. Based on the best-selling children’s book series Grossology, the interactive exhibit on view at The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University oozes with disgusting science and entertaining learning games that explain why the dung beetle is called nature’s pooper scooper, why cows chew cud and how snail and slug slime could potentially become medical treatments. May 16-August 30. 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 299-1000, ansp.orgrnCome for the flowers, stay for Nightscape: A Light & Sound Experience at Longwood Gardens. As visitors wander through the evening gardens, they will encounter moving images that originated in the studios of the Klip Collective, but use the plants, trees and landscape as the canvas. Enhancing the visual images will be choreographed lights, specially commissioned soundscapes and scores by composer John Barthmus, Julian Grefe and Justin Geller. July 1-October 31. 1001 Longwood Road, Kennett Square, (610) 388-1000, longwoodgardens.orgrnFans of Lyle, the city-dwelling crocodile that lives in a Victorian brownstone with the Primm family, will be delighted with the Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile And Friends: The Art Of Bernard Waber exhibition coming to the National Museum of American Jewish History. Original illustrations and writings reveal how Waber created the lovable hero of the classic children’s picture books and also highlight his work as a designer. Special activities and programs are also in the works. August 27-November 1. 101 S. Independence Mall West, (215) 923-3811, nmajh.orgrnEvents, Openings & Anniversaries:rnrnSesame Place turns the big 3-5 this year and celebrates with a new birthday themed parade, birthday décor throughout the park and three new seasonal rides. Even Elmo’s Eatery gets a makeover for the occasion. And, as always, everyone’s favorite, furry monsters pop up to greet their adoring fans of all ages. May 2-December 31. 100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, (866) GO-4-ELMO (464-3566), sesameplace.comrnLed by a 20-story-tall giant rubber ducky, the billowing sails of 15 majestic vessels mark the arrival of the Tall Ships Philadelphia Camden festival. Docked along both sides of the Delaware River waterfront will be elegant tall ships from France, Brazil, Canada and all around the globe. Visitors can tour the ships, including the L’Hermione, a replica of the French naval ship that brought General Lafayette to America to help fight the British. Also on tap: live entertainment, hands-on activities, games and a spectacular fireworks display that will close out the weekend. June 25-28. Penn’s Landing, Columbus Boulevard at Walnut Street; Camden Waterfront, tallshipsphiladelphia.comrnInstagram lovers, rejoice! The Observation Deck at One Liberty Place (still to be named) is set to offer breathtaking, picture-perfect skyline views 57 stories above the ground starting this summer. Montparnasse 56 (M56)—a Parisian-based company that operates observation decks in Chicago’s John Hancock Tower and Paris’ Montparnasse 56 Tower—is building the stunning attraction on the 57th floor of One Liberty Place in downtown Philadelphia. Late summer 2015. 1625 Chestnut Street, montparnasse56usa.comrnVISIT PHILADELPHIA® makes Philadelphia and The Countryside® a premier destination through marketing and image building that increases the number of visitors, the number of nights they stay and the number of things they do in the five-county area.rnrnOn Greater Philadelphia’s official visitor website and blog, visitphilly.com and uwishunu.com, visitors can explore things to do, upcoming events, themed itineraries and hotel packages. Compelling photography and videos, interactive maps and detailed visitor information make the sites effective trip-planning tools. Along with Visit Philly social media channels, the online platforms communicate directly with consumers. Travelers can also call and stop into the Independence Visitor Center for additional information and tickets.rnrnContact(s):rnDonna Schorr, (215) 599-0782
