The Philly PHLASH is a special bus service run through the Philadelphia Visitor Center that is currently featuring a special holiday loop and expanded evening hours so that your family can enjoy the city's holiday attractions.
You can hop on and off the PHLASH with an all-day ride pass that is just $5 a person, or you can hitch a single ride for just $2. Kids age 4 and under and senior citizens ride free. Tickets can be purchased with exact change on the bus, or at participating hotels and all Visitor Center locations.
Philly PHLASH eliminated the stress of driving through traffic, navigating an unfamiliar city and the search for parking. My Mini Macaronis also enjoyed riding "in the caboose" as they called it!
The buses were extremely clean and the drivers were very helpful in navigating the loop and offering suggestions about the various sights. Another bonus? The buses were WARM which helped to quickly thaw any cold hands and noses.
Our family took advantage of the evening portion of the PhillyPHLASH to visit Franklin Square. Here you'll find an Electrical Spectacle Holiday Light Show, various vendors and a great spot to grab a snack (or adult beverage) and warm up by the fire. The carousel was also open and my Mini Macaronis weren't too cold to brave a ride.
When we were finished, we found the designated Philly PHLASH stop - each is a lightpole marked with a special sign and map of the route. I loved that they have a real-time map that lets you see how close the next bus is to your stop. Within a few minutes, we were on our way to our next destination - LOVE Park. A giant Christmas tree and a variety of vendors are the highlights of Christmas Village at the famous Center City park.
The next morning, we started at Macy's for its Christmas Light Show, and then stayed to walk through the Dickens Village which retells the story of A Christmas Carol. You can also choose to have a private visit with Santa at the end of the Village. Make sure you remember to check out their great holiday window displays!
If you exit out the correct door of Macy's, just about two blocks away, you'll find Reading Terminal Market. If you have a train lover, you can find a special holiday display complete with buttons that allow the kids to activate different features. We also grabbed delicious donuts from Beiler's Donuts here for a snack, but the food options are endless!
The PhillyPHLASH service will continue through Dec. 31, so take some time and visit Philadelphia. Whether it's a day trip, or an overnight, this can be an easy and afforable way to visit some of the best holiday attractions that Philadelphia has to offer!
I know our family will always treasure the memories we made!
