Lovebirds looking to fly abroad this Valentine’s Day should head to Philadelphia for a long weekend of romantic pursuits in the city, including strolls and selfies in the iconic LOVE Park and an excursion to see 50 romantic public murals during the Mural Arts’ Love Letter Train Tour. Couples can also enjoy a cocktail at the new Four Seasons Philadelphia JG SkyHigh bar or an intimate dining experience at the aptly named restaurant The Love, a cosy American bar and restaurant situated just steps from the upmarket and picturesque neighbourhood of Rittenhouse Square.
Date ideas for visitors to Philadelphia this Valentine’s Day include:
A Selfie and Stroll Around LOVE Park
No visit to Philadelphia is complete without a stop at the famous LOVE Park, which is located in the heart of the city and just steps away from City Hall. Although officially known as John F. Kennedy Park, the plaza is affectionately known as LOVE Park thanks to its reproduction of Robert Indiana’s LOVE statue, which was placed in the park in 1976 as part of the United States’ Bicentennial celebration of independence. After snapping a selfie in front of the LOVE statue, couples can enjoy a romantic stroll along the scenic Benjamin Franklin Parkway to the green spaces of Fairmount Park or explore the galleries located inside one of the US’s top cultural institutions situated on the boulevard.
Mural Arts’ Love Letter Train Tour
Originally launched as an anti-graffiti programme in 1984, Mural Arts Philadelphia has transformed some of Philadelphia’s most unassuming locations and now boasts over 4,000 works of community-based public art. Now the nation’s largest public art programme, Mural Arts Philadelphia offers visitors the opportunity to see some of these murals on guided and self-guided tours, including the two-hour Love Letter Train Tour, which takes visitors through A Love Letter for You by noted street artist Steve Powers. In 2010, Powers collaborated with the West Philadelphia community to create a series of 50 murals that collectively form an open-ended love letter.
Drinks On Top of The World at the JG SkyHigh Bar
Located on the 60th floor of the recently opened Four Seasons Hotel Philadelphia, JG SkyHigh bar specialises in cocktail-hour experiences with unmatchable city views, creating the perfect romantic atmosphere for Valentine’s Day. Created by French-American chef Jean-Georges, the premier cocktail bar offers a range of wines, beers and cocktails by the glass, including Rittenhouse Rye Manhattans, Ginger Margaritas and Spiced Pear Daiquiris. The sleek and minimalist-designed hotel occupies the top floors of the impressive new 60-story Comcast Innovation and Technology Center, which is Philadelphia’s tallest tower and offers visitors unobstructed 360° views of the city.
Romantic Dining at The Love
Just steps away from Philadelphia’s upmarket neighbourhood of Rittenhouse Square, The Love is an intimate restaurant that serves enticing cuisine across a main dining and bar area, plus outdoor seating along 18th Street and a cosy upper-level loft. Created by two of the most recognised dining personalities in Philadelphia, Aimee Olexy and Stephen Starr, the restaurant offers modern American cuisine with indulgent meals including the ‘Lovebird’ seasonal buttermilk fried chicken, a ‘Labor of Love’ American artisan cheese board and a ‘Rapture Blondie Sundae’. For couples looking to rekindle their romance over a drink, The Love’s one-of-a-kind beverage programme is inspired by personal travels to vineyards, breweries and cideries in the region.
