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University of Pennsylvania - What to do and see

ATTRACTIONS

Philly, as the city is often ''spoiled'' by visitors and residents as a tribute for the rich array of appealing attractions and the gorgeous cityscape offered, is, perhaps, one of USA's most loved and visited cities. It offers, without a doubt, everything visitors need in order to call their stay in the city enjoyable, housing an extensive number of great museums, for all ages and tastes, including zoos and aquariums, parks and gardens, sacred places and historical sites, satysfying every touristing taste and preferrence. Among the city's most popular and favorite attractions, there are:

▪ Adventure Aquarium, which reveals the ocean's secrets, featuring nearly 200,000 square feet of marine and wild life, among its most attractive highlights being: the Hungry Hippos, one of the largest and most popular attractions at the Aquarium, where visitors can walk within chomping distance of crocodiles, marvel at 20 species of African birds in a free-flight aviary and identify similarities between thousands of spectacular fish, and the Shark Realm, a 550,000-gallon water tank, where a 40-foot, underwater tunnel takes visitors deep into shark-infested waters - a scene fit for the well-known movie called ''Jaws''. Those who dare can even swim with the sharks (with advance reservations).

▪ American Helicopter Museum, a 20,000-square-foot hangar full of 70 years' worth of vintage helicopters that reveal the copter's roles in war and rescue missions, agriculture and police surveillance, also featuring the only V-22 tilt-rotor Osprey in the world that's on public display. Visitors can climb into some of the helicopters to fiddle with the dials, switches and pedals.

▪ American Swedish Historical Museum, which serves as the nation's oldest Swedish museum, housed in a building founded in 1926, the year that marked the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The land on which the museum stands was given to colonist Sven Skute by Sweden's Queen Christina in 1653.

▪ Fairmount Park, one of the world largest city park systems, featuring over 9200 acres of beautiful, green surroundings, including rolling hills, gentle trails, relaxing waterfront and shaded woodlands, as well as miles of trails for horseback riding, off-road cycling and deep-woods hiking, historic mansions, Japanese tea ceremonies and outdoor concerts - the perfect nature getaway from the noisy city, great for recharging your batteries!

Annual Events

The Annual Hispanic Fiesta is, perhaps, Philadelphia's most expected and favorite annual events. This fun-filled celebration offers enthusiasts 2 days of music, dancing, food and fun, including mariachi, salsa, bachata, merengue, samba, boleros and a little Latin R&B, also featuring artisan crafts and authentic foods from Puerto Rico, Cuba, Mexico, the Dominican Republic,and other parts of Latin America. It is a celebration of the Hispanic culture, and one of the most important ''entertainment sources'' in Philly. The Hispanic Fiesta can be caught in July!