Hear Philly: See All Of Philly's Top Sites, Holiday Attractions In A PHLASH
By Dan Majka
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- So much to see, so little time. That's never more true than during the holidays. Not to worry however. You can see everything Philadelphia has to offer in a PHLASH.
"The PHLASH is a bus loop that runs from the waterfront through Center City and out to Fairmount Park," says James Cuorato, president and CEO of the Independence Visitor Center. "(It) connects all of major attractions in the city easily and conveniently for visitors and locals."
Designed as a continuous loop, Philly PHLASH allows riders to hop on and off at 20 stops, either right in front of or within steps of the city's most popular sites.
"We start at Penn's Landing and we run along Market Street," Cuorato says. "We stop at the (Independence) Visitor Center at 6th and Market Streets. We stop at the Reading Terminal Market and (Pennsylvania) Convention Center, then we head out to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway and stop where all of the major museums are."
Including, off course, the Philadelphia Art Museum and its famous steps.
"Actually, for our visitors who come into Philadelphia," Cuorato says, "that's one of the most asked questions. 'Where are the steps that Rocky ran up?' So we made sure to have a top right there and our visitors love it."
Next, Cuorato says, there is a transfer that takes riders out to the Please Touch Museum and the Philadelphia Zoo, before looping back and taking them the same way.
"It's very convenient, very easy," he says. "They run every 15 minutes, so we assure our riders that they will never have to wait longer than 15 minutes for the next bus."
Philly PHLASH operates from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily during the summer months, but this year, for the first time ever, a new nighttime service is being offered from 6 to 10 p.m. throughout the holiday season.
"What we're hoping to do is generate some interest for people who want to see all of the different holiday attractions in Center City Philadelphia," Cuorato says. "There are close to a dozen of them. Everything from (Blue Cross RiverRink) Winterfest at Penn's Landing to the Comcast Center to Macy's (Christmas Light Show) to Dilworth Park. There are holiday attractions all over."
Cuorato says folks can easily drive into Center City, park once and ride the PHLASH to each attraction. And for those traveling from the suburbs, there are stops at both Jefferson and Suburban station.
"The family in the suburbs who wants to come in and see these great holiday traditions that we have will take the train in, and then right outside the station they'll be able to pick up the PHLASH and then stop at any one of these attractions, see the attraction, then get on the PHLASH and see another one."
Click here for more information or to purchase PHLASH passes online:
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