Philadelphia Field Trips and Educational Tours with Winged Victory USA

WV USA- 2004-2005
Philadelphia Field Trip

Click here for a printable PDF of the Philadelphis 3-day General Education Itinerary.
Day 1
8:00 AM	Depart school on a deluxe, climate-controlled and restroom-equipped motorcoach. You will make a quick stop en route to grab lunch on your own.
12:00 PM	Arrive in Philadelphia and meet your Winged Victory USA tour guide at the OLD Visitors Center, at 3rd Street between Walnut/Chestnut Streets---just about the only building on the street, so it will be easy to find. Your guide will be easy to spot, as they will be dressed in Colonial clothing! After meeting your guide, transfer to Independence National Historical Park.
12:30 PM	In downtown Philly ("center city"), Independence National Historic Park is often referred to as the birthplace of our nation. At the park, visitors can see the Liberty Bell, an international symbol of freedom, and Independence Hall, a World Heritge Site where both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Consitution were created.
2:30 PM	Meet the bus and depart for the brand new National Constitution Center.
2:45 PM	Begin your visit to the only museum in the world dedicated to the U.S. Constitution. This Center will help students with understanding the Constitution, the document’s history and it’s current relevance to people’s daily lives.
5:00 P	Meet the bus and depart for your hotel.
5:30 PM	Arrive at the Adam's Mark Hotel in Philadelphia to check-in, freshen up, and dress for dinner. This hotel is one you'll appreciate, from their central location to their superior dining. The moment you enter the hotel, you'll feel the pulse of an energetic, richly appointed meeting hotel, with a refined, classic sense of style. Warmth, spirit, style and substance. The remarkable Adam's Mark Philadelphia.
6:30 P	Reassemble in the lobby, then board your bus and depart for dinner.
7:00 PM	Enjoy dinner at Dave and Busters Restaurant, located at Pier 19 North. OPTIONAL (let us know if we should price this PowerCard in, it will NOT be included unless requested): After dinner, you will be given a 50 chip PowerCard to experience firsthand why a big part of the experience is The Million Dollar Midway and its incredible variety of the latest interactive games, simulators, and classic favorites such as world class picket billiards and shuffleboard. A unique experience that has something fun for everyone!
8:00 PM	Meet the bus and depart for your walking Ghost Tour. (Tours begin at 5th & Chestnut Streets in the Signer's Garden).
8:30 PM	Begin your 75 minute Ghost Walking Tour of downtown Philadelphia. Hear the chilling tales of America's most historic...and most haunted city on this candlelight walking tour through Independence Park and Society Hill... Is Ben Franklin still roaming the streets of his "City of Brotherly Love"? Do the very souls of our forefathers still frequent Independence Hall? Does Benedict Arnold have unfinished business at the Powel House? Help your ghost tour guides push aside the cobwebs and discover what lurks in the shadows of America's most Historic City!
9:45 PM	Meet your bus, say goodbye to your tour guide for the night, and return to your hotel.
10:00 PM	Overnight security begins. EVENING OPTION #2: (approx $8/more/person than Dave and Busters dinner and Ghost Tour Activity) STUDENT DINNER THEATRE: Reassemble in the lobby, then walk to dinner in the hotel. After dinner you’ll participate in a customized game show in which you and/or your classmates will be brought to an electronic game show set, in groups of four, to answer questions about TV themes, songs, trivia and your own school. After the show you’ll stay for an hour of dancing before returning to your room at about 10pm.
Day 2
8:00 AM	Breakfast buffet in the hotel, which will include: scrambled eggs, french toast, bacon, sausage, home fried potatoes, fresh fruit, assorted pastries, bagels, cereal, freshly brewed coffee, assorted juice, milk, and iced tea.
9:15 AM	Reassemble in the lobby, meet your guide, and transfer to the Philadelphia Zoo.
9:30 AM	Arrive at the zoo and begin your visit. With more than 1,600 exotic and endangered animals and 42 acres of living plants and educational exhibits, the Zoo is the region’s largest living classroom.
11:30 AM	Meet the bus and transfer to The Philadelphia Museum of Art, where you can quickly climb the steps that Rocky made famous!
12:10 PM	Transfer to lunch!
12:30 PM	Arrive at the Historic Bourse food court for an inexpensive lunch at your own expense. Just 50 yards from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall, The Bourse was the first Commodities Exchange built in the United States in 1895, and one of the first built utilizing steel frames. Their Victorian design, with Corinthian columns, magnificent atrium, skylight, and wrought iron stairways, is the reason they have won many architectural awards.
1:30 PM	Meet the bus and depart for Elfreth's Alley: our nation's oldest residential street! Tucked among hip art galleries, funky coffeehouses and fashionable restaurants, many of the Alley's 33 houses were built prior to our nation's birth. In that 300- plus-year, the Alley has been the home to thousands - from Franklin's colleagues to families of four, from immigrants to esquires - reflecting the diversity of Philadelphia itself. Located in the heart of Philadelphia's history-rich Old City neighborhood, Elfreth's Alley is a National Historic Landmark and the nation's oldest residential street. Each year the Alley welcomes thousands of visitors to stroll along the cobblestones and experience the 18th century homes - still private residences today - and to encourage their support of this American treasure.
2:30 PM	Transfer to Franklin Court which was once the home of Benjamin Franklin, who had resided earlier with his family in smaller row houses in the neighborhood. Since archaeologists have no exact plans of the original house, a simple frame in girders indicates its dimensions and those of the smaller print shop. Excavations have uncovered wall foundations, bits of walls, and outdoor privy wells, and these have been left as protected cutaway pits.
3:15 PM	Walk to the historic Betsy Ross House. From outside, your guide will give you the history of the house and the famous seamstress who resided there and sewed the first American Flag! ACTIVITY OPTION #2 (approx. $8 more/person): Instead of visiting Franklin Court & the Betsy Ross House, your group can visit the Franklin Institute or the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
4:00 PM	Meet the bus return to your hotel to freshen up for dinner.
6:00 PM	Reassemble in the lobby, then board your bus and depart for dinner.
6:30 PM	Enjoy dinner at the Hard Rock Cafe! In the city where freedom rings, you're free to rock at the Hard Rock Cafe Philadelphia! Located in the historic Reading terminal train station, this popular downtown nightspot is just blocks away from the birthplace of America: Independence Hall.
7:30 PM	After dinner, meet the bus and depart for the PECO Energy Center where you will check-in at 8pm for your evening activity.
8:30 PM	Begin your Lights of Liberty show: Here you will Experience the American Revolution, as it happened, where it happened – through state-of-the-art technology. The story is told through beautiful hand painted images that are projected up to 50 feet high onto the buildings where the events actually took place over 200 years ago (not offered Sun/Mon nights---and also not on Tues/Wed nights during "slow" seasons)
10:00 PM	Meet the bus and return to your hotel.
10:15 PM	Overnight security begins.
Day 3
8:00 AM	Breakfast buffet in the hotel, which will include: scrambled eggs, french toast, bacon, sausage, home fried potatoes, fresh fruit, assorted pastries, bagels, cereal, freshly brewed coffee, assorted juice, milk, and iced tea.
9:15 AM	Check out of your rooms, place your bags on the bus and depart for the Independence Seaport Museum. (you will meet your guide at the Seaport Museum)
10:00 AM	Arrive at the Independence Seaport Museum, where you will meet your guide and begin your visit of exploring our countries Maritime Heritage. You will have the opportunity to tour Admiral Dewey’s flagship – The USS Olympia and the World War II submarine – the USS Becuna.
11:30 AM	Meet the bus and depart for The Bourse on 5th Street, between Chestnut and Market. Here you will eat lunch at your own expense in the food court.
12:45 PM	Transfer to 6th & Chestnut to check in for your Duck Tour.
1:30 PM	Begin your 80 minute Duck Tour ride! You will tour the Historic District, South Street and Society Hill. You’ll see the Betsy Ross House, Ben Franklin’s grave and Penn’s Landing. Then splash into the Delaware for a relaxing cruise–all on board one amazing vehicle. Ride The Ducks is an ideal adventure for groups of all ages and interests. Whether it’s the vintage WWII vehicle, the city’s history, culture and sights, the entertaining commentary or the thrilling splashdown, everyone in every group finds something to love about Ducks!
3:00 PM	Meet the bus and begin your journey home, exhausted yet forever enriched.
Your trip also includes:
A customized, keepsake DVD for each student and group leader, made from photographs taken with a camera that we will loan you for your trip. The images are downloaded, set to music, and then mailed back to you on a DVD to enjoy for years to come! A comprehensive Travel Protection Plan, underwritten by Stonebridge Casualty Insurance Company and administered by Trip Mate, Inc. is included in the price of the trip. This Plan provides benefits such as Pre-Departure Trip Cancellation, Medical Expense Emergency Assistance, Travel Delay, Baggage and Baggage Delay. A Travel Insurance Certificate will be provided to your child’s teacher for each child on the trip. Liability Insurance - WINGED VICTORY USA carries $2,000,000 in Professional Liability and Errors and Omissions insurance.