Since this year’s conference ends on Labor Day weekend, consider bringing family and friends and enjoying the long weekend or coming a couple of days early. There is plenty to see in Philadelphia and some great day trips to explore this historic region. Browse the list below for some ideas to get started.

In Philadelphia
The official visitor site of Philadelphia is full of things to see, do, and eat. Check out VisitPhilly, to build your itinerary. Here’s some suggestions to get you started.

Events
Some exciting events are happening during the week of the conference (can you say Hamilton?).  Check out a show or festival while you’re in the area.

  • Citadel Country Spirit USA: The Brandywine Valley’s three-day country music festival takes place at Ludwig’s Corner House Show Grounds in Glenmoore and features country music stars and includes attractions, food and drinks.
  • Hamilton at the Kimmel Center: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway smash comes to the Forrest Theatre and the city of its namesake’s greatest achievement (founding of the national bank) and his romantic downfall (the Reynolds affair).
  • Made in America Fest: Multi-headliner, two-day, pre-Labor Day outdoor concert, founded and organized by Jay-Z/Roc Nation, returns to Philadelphia for its eighth year.

Day Trips

Get out of the city and visit the surrounding area.

  • Brandywine Valley Wine Tour: Enjoy touring wineries and a pack a picnic to enjoy in a picturesque part of Pennsylvania and
    Delaware. Stop by Winterthur, the Hagley, and other museums along the way.
  • Amish Country, Lancaster County: The Pennsylvania Amish of Lancaster County are America’s oldest Amish settlement, where thousands still live a centuries-old “Plain” lifestyle. Arriving in Amish Country allows you to step back in time to enjoy a slower, more peaceful pace—one where the horse and buggy remains a primary form of transportation, and where windmills dot the landscape, providing power harnessed from nature.
  • Jersey Shore: Head to the shore and experience historic lighthouses, forts, villages, and more along with beaches and boardwalks. Note: Make any hotel reservations early as Labor Day weekend is popular.
  • Doylestown, PA: Visit the county seat of Bucks County, a spectacular place that’s home to magnificent castles, unique specialty shops, exceptional dining options, and one-of-a kind pieces of American history. The Doylestown Cultural District, featuring the Mercer Museum and James. A. Michener Art Museum, is just a short walk away from Main Street.
  • Trenton, NJ: Head over the river and visit the capital of the Garden State. In the area immediately surrounding the golden dome of the New Jersey State House is the New Jersey State Museum, an exciting museum featuring four museums in one, with a planetarium, a fine art collection of more than 12,000 works, a natural history collection and an impressive assemblage of cultural history, archaeology, and ethnography artifacts. After extensive renovations, the museum’s main building re opened with exhilarating new exhibits that celebrate the state’s artistic and cultural life.
  • Industrial History: Spend Labor Day weekend digging into labor history through the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission’s Industrial Heritage Trail which highlights sites in Cornwall, Lebanon, and Scranton.

 

Learn more about the program and register for the 2019 AASLH Annual Meeting.