Philly Family-Friendly New Year’s Celebrations

Philly Family-Friendly New Year’s Celebrations

Philadelphia is the perfect destination for families searching for kid-friendly New Year’s Eve celebrations.

Revelers of all ages can ring in 2014. with a “Countdown to Noon” at the Please Touch Museum or party with the fishes at Adventure Aquarium before the explosive fireworks show at Penn’s Landing at 6 p.m.

Check out more of the top Philly Family-Friendly celebrations, below:

Franklin Square

6th and Race Streets | (215) 629-4026

Franklin Square is celebrating New Year’s Eve with a free, kid-friendly dropping “square” in lieu of the famous ball. Take a spin on the Philadelphia Park Liberty Carousel, putt through the Liberty Bell at Philly Mini Golf, enjoy SquareBurger’s hearty winter menu and watch Penn’s Landing’s Fireworks early show at 6 p.m., visible from Franklin Square!

Please Touch Museum

 4231 Avenue of the Republic | (215) 581-3181

The Please Touch Museum rings in 2013 early with Countdown to Noon on December 31. The museum opens at 9:00 a.m. and holds “Noon Year” party activities with music and confetti. Countdowns take place at 12:00 noon and 1:00 p.m.

Blue Cross RiverRink

Columbus Boulevard & Market Street | (215) 925-RINK

Winter sports enthusiasts celebrate at the Blue Cross RiverRink’s New Year’s Eve Party on Ice, a family-friendly affair that boasts one of the best views of the city’s breathtaking fireworks displays over the Delaware River. Skaters can catch one of two sparkling shows during the early (5-7 p.m.) and late (11 p.m.-1 a.m.) parties. Tickets are $35 for skaters and $25 for spectators.

Independence Seaport Museum

 Penn’s Landing, Columbus Boulevard at Walnut Street | (215) 413-8655

A maritime New Year’s Eve celebration is on deck at the Independence Seaport Museum along the Philadelphia waterfront. Grab a complimentary party hat and noisemaker before heading outside to the second-floor terrace to watch the fireworks spectacular over the Delaware River at 6 p.m.

Adventure Aquarium

1 Riverside Drive, Camden, NJ | (856) 365-3300

Party with the fishes at Adventure Aquarium’s first annual New Year’s Eve Splash. Families can celebrate the New Year with the Aquarium’s shark mascot Gill while enjoying a special New Year’s Eve “Countdown” Dance Party from 5-8:30 p.m. with access to the entire aquarium, stunning views of the
fireworks. free parking, a free 4×6 family photo and free plush gift for children 12 and under.

Battleship New Jersey

 62 Battleship Place | (856) 966-1652

Over on the other side of the river, revelers test their sea legs on the Battleship New Jersey, docked on the Camden waterfront. Enjoy music, food and bar concessions, as well as a unique view of both fireworks shows at 6 p.m. and midnight.

Mummers Parade

Since 1901, this parade has included 4 major divisions, comics, fancy division, string bands and fancy brigades. Hundred of units march down Broad Street in one of the world's most famous New Year's Day Parades with over 20,000 costumed Mummers in a day long celebration.

Where to Stay?
Parent's Magazine named Embassy Suites Brands as one of the best Family Friendly Hotels.

Embassy Suites Philadelphia - Airport is proud to be "Philly" Family Friendly offering all guests:

• Free cooked to order breakfast
• Complimentary Evening Reception
• Two Room Suites
• Free Internet
• Free Parking 12/31/13
• Late Checkout on 1/1/13

Cyber Monday Sale Philadelphia

Philadelphia our blog special offers things to do holiday travel tips cyber monday hotel sale Embassy Suites Philadelphia Airport Cyber Monday is December 2, 2013 and the countdown has begun for one of the biggest Cyber Monday Hotel sales in Philadelphia. For one day, enjoy 20% off regular hotel rates through December 31, 2014 at Embassy Suites Philadelphia Airport. * Can't wait till December 2? Check out our other offers that include free cooked to order breakfast, complimentary evening reception, free high speed internet access gift cards, bonus points and more. more nights = more points With the Hilton HHonors™ More Nights, More Points, you can earn free nights faster than ever. Stay two nights and double your points for your entire stay. Stay three nights to triple your points, or four nights to quadruple your points. Book and stay with us before January 31, 2014, and earn points fast. It’s a quick ticket to unforgettable holiday experiences. ...LEARN MORE MILITARY FAMILY HOLIDAY SPECIAL Our way of saying, "Thank You". For active & retired military and their families enjoy exclusive savings of 10%. And of course with every stay at Embassy Suites Hotels, guests enjoy two-room suites, free cooked-to-order breakfast and complimentary drinks and snacks at the nightly Evening Reception. ...LEARN MORE Visiting friends and Family for the holidays? If you're going out of town for the Holidays, avoid the hassle  of driving and parking at Philadelphia International Airport. Spend the night before your trip with us and take our complimentary airport shuttle when it's time to go.  With our Stay n Fly Package * begin your vacation in one of our spacious two-room suites, enjoy our free cooked-to-order breakfast and relax at the Complimentary Evening Reception.   *Trip and vehicle information must be given at check-in. Vehicle parking is available a maximum of seven days with this package.  ...LEARN MORE BOOK NOW CYBER MONDAY SPECIAL* FOR STAYS FROM DECEMBER 2013 THROUGH DECEMBER  2014 20 % off regular rate Free Internet Access Free cooked to order breakfast Complimentary Evening Reception Two Room Suite   PHOTO GALLERY Book Online or Call (215) 365-4500 to reserve your package today! Embassy Suites Philadelphia - Airport 9000 Bartram Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19153 TEL: 215-365-4500 | FAX: 215-365-4803 info@embassysuites.com Visit hotel website

Spirit Of Competition Award Dinner - Simeone Automotive Museum

from the Simeone Automotive Museum

Place Your Ticket Order Soon For The "Spirit of Competition" Awards Dinner Honoring Three-time Le Mans Winner Hurley Haywood Wednesday, November 20th 5:30 - 9:00 PM   Hurley Haywood will receive the sixth annual Spirit of Competition Award onNovember 20th, 2013, at a gala fundraising dinner at the Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum. Presenting Sponsor for the event is Wilkie Lexus of Haverford, Pa. Additional sponsors include Hagarty Insurance, RM Auctions and Don Legato. Presenting the award will be Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance Chairman Bill Warner. Past recipients of the award include Mario Andretti, Janet Guthrie, John Fitch, Craig Breedlove and Sam Posey. Tickets must be purchased in advance by noon on Monday, November 18th.  Tickets for the presentation and dinner are $150 each, two for $275. You may also reserve a full table of 8 for $1000. Please order online here. Or, call (215) 365-7233 and place your order over the phone. Menu Open Bar Passed Hors d’Oeuvres Mushrooms Stuffed with Crab Lobster and Shrimp Spring Rolls Artichoke and Spinach Tartlets Mini Hot Dogs in Puff Pastry Cheese, Crackers and Crudite Tray by the bar Buffet Herb Crusted Beef in Merlot Sauce Chicken Breasts in Lemon and White Wine Sauce Pasta Mashed Potatoes Green Beans Almondine Caesar Salad Fresh Baked Rolls Dessert Table with Selection of Pastries Coffee and Tea station   About The Award Recipient Hurley Haywood has won LeMans three times (1977, 1983, and 1994). He has a record five wins at the 24 Hours of Daytona. He won Sebring in 1973 and 1981. He also represented IMSA in the International Race of Champions in 1986, 1989, 1992, and 1995. He is currently chief driving instructor at the Porsche Sport Driving School and he is the driving force behind Brumos Automotive. from Embassy Suites Philadelphia Airport Simeone Automotive Museum Package If you have a need for speed or simply enjoy classic race cars you can experience both at the Simeone Automotive Museum. This award winning museum has one of the world's greatest collection of racing sports cars. Live driving demonstrations occur on the first Saturday of each month weather permitting. Museum is closed on Mondays. What's Included: Two adult admission tickets valued at $24 Complimentary hotel shuttle to and from Simeone Automotive Museum Complimentary internet access Plus all the value you enjoy at Embassy Suites Philadelphia - Airport: Complimentary cooked-to-order breakfast Evening Reception with complimentary beverages* Two room suite Click Here  to "Start Your Engines"

5 Holiday Travel Tips from AARP

5 Holiday Travel Tips

These simple steps can save you time and headaches with air travel, baggage and crowds
by: Alexis Flippin, Frommer’s Travel, from: AARP.org


'Tis the season to be traveling, whether you're jetting off to far-flung places or taking a road trip to see family. Crowded airports and gridlocked roads — not to mention free-floating anxiety — can make holiday travel a headache. With our holiday travel tips, though, it doesn't have to be.

These holiday travel tips will make your journey a breeze.

1. Avoid Flying at Peak Times
If your travel schedule is flexible, avoid flying on the busiest days of the season: the day before Thanksgiving and the two days immediately preceding and following Christmas and New Year's. Also, book flights at off-peak times, such as early morning. If at all possible, fly on the holiday itself, when airports have an almost empty, tumbleweed-blowing-in-the-desert feel.


2. Hit the Road With Technology by Your Side
Portable GPS navigators are wondrous things, providing the fastest and most direct routes to your destination — and voice auto-commands help keep your eyes on the road. Upgraded models offer real-time traffic information, but unless your car has built-in GPS capability, these can be pricey. A much more economical alternative — as infree — is Google Maps, available on most smartphones. It not only provides driving directions but also has color-coded lines indicating the severity of traffic ahead: green lines indicate good conditions, yellow means fair, and red or red/black signal poor conditions.

3. Travel Light
Don't be weighed down with packages. Order gifts online, and have them sent directly to the recipient, or mail your packages ahead of time. If you're a procrastinator, you can take advantage of the annual Free Shipping Day on December 17, when some 1,500 merchants guarantee free delivery by Christmas Eve. And, if you're flying, don't wrap the gifts you bring — airlines have the right to open any wrapped package.

4. Don't Check Your Bags
The Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays are traditionally the busiest times to fly, which means the odds of losing your luggage rise exponentially with the increased air traffic. Not to mention the expense of paying $25 or more per bag. (Consider shipping your luggage ahead of time with these tips from AARP money expert Sid Kirchheimer.) Be on the safe side: carry on your luggage.

5. Take the Back Roads
Driving the interstates can be dull at any time, but holiday travel often adds big-time gridlock to the mix. If you have some time on your hands, why not leave the major highways behind, and hit the back roads for serendipitous pleasures? (These 7 iconic drives are some of the best in the U.S. any time of year.) Of all the holiday travel tips, this one will help you to focus on the joys of the season most of all.

See Something You'll Never Forget - Philadelphia Film Festival

from filmadelphia.org

See Something You'll Never Forget

WHAT? 

Over 200 screenings of 100 domestic and international narrative, documentary, and short films.  The festival promotes domestic and international films that might not otherwise be seen in Philadelphia. The two-week event showcases thought-provoking narrative features, live action and animated shorts, locally-produced films, and theatrical documentaries. Industry panels, director Q&As, special event screenings, and networking opportunities compliment the Festival experience, providing Philadelphia audiences with unrivaled access to world-class films and the talent responsible for creating them.

WHEN ?

Thursday, October 17, 2013 - 12:00pm - Sunday, October 27, 2013 - 12:00am

WHERE ?

Ritz East / 125 South 2nd Street
Ritz at the Bourse / 400 Ranstead Street
Prince Music Theater / 1412 Chestnut Street
Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center/ 300 S Broad Street
Rave University City 6 / 4012 Walnut Street

WHERE TO STAY?

Entering its 22nd year, the Philadelphia Film Festival has become known as one of the premier festivals in the country. This year's festival's promise "See Something You'll Never Forget" is not an empty slogan.  You can truly experience something here that stay's with you for a lifetime. 

Embassy Suites Philadelphia Airport is offering all festival attendees a menu of Special Offers that include:

• Free cooked to order breakfast
• Two Room Suite
• Complimentary Evening Reception
• Easy Access to Festival Venues
• Free shuttle in 3 mile radius of hotel
• Free Airport shuttle to PHL

Click Here to begin your Philadelphia Film Festival experience

See the recap of 2012's Philadelphia Film Festival below

Famous Personality Types - Infographic

by borisbenko.
Explore more infographics like this one on the web's largest information design community - Visually.