Nearby Attractions
Consider staying an extra day or two to visit the nearby attractions, such as, “Fabric Row”, the fabric workshop and museum (Philadelphia), quilt and textile museum (Lancaster), and doll house museum (Harrisburg). Philadelphia offers the American Women’s Heritage Society, Betsy Ross House, Congress Hall, Declaration House, Franklin Court, Franklin Square, Independence Hall, Institute of Contemporary Art, Liberty Bell Center, Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia Museum of Art, African American Museum, Philadelphia Phillies Baseball, and Rodin Museum. For more information, contact the Philadelphia Convention & Visitors Bureau at (215) 636-3300 and www.philadelphiausa.travel.
The Embassy Suites by Hilton is within driving distance to Lancaster County, the Pennsylvania Dutch Region, Hershey, Harrisburg, and Historic Gettysburg, all of which are a short drive between each of these locations.
Fabric Row, where the majority of Philadelphia’s fabric stores are located, has supplied the textile industry and creative artists with quality fabrics for over a century. Fabric Row is roughly 4 blocks long (4th Street between South and Christian Streets). Along with gorgeous fabrics, many of these stores also sell non-textile items such as unique buttons and sewing materials. Fabric Row is in the Philadelphia Airport area and an easy drive from the Embassy Suites along I-95 North past the Philadelphia Airport. Take the Washington Street exit near Penn's Landing. Follow Washington west to 5th Street & turn right. Follow Fifth up to Bainbridge Street where all the metered parking is located (take quarters). This was a recent visitor’s comment: “Many of the stores reminded me a lot of the Garment District in New York: narrow passages, tight stairwells, bolts piled high and deep. And almost without fail, the people working in the stores knew exactly what their inventory contained, and so were able to help guide us to the items that most interested us.” Here are some Fabric Row shopping tips:
Bring Cash. Some stores have a $20 minimum to use a credit card.
Be Firm. If you’re not from Philly you may be taken aback by the sale’s people. Some are pushy. They think they know what you want better than you do. Don’t be rude but don’t let them bully you either.
Be prepared to dig. There will be lots of fabrics piled on top of one another. Think of it as a treasure hunt! If you’re looking for something specific ask a sale’s clerk because you may never find it on your own.
Don’t overlook button bins. There are several stores that have giant bins full of buttons. They’re so cheap!
Don’t leave your cut fabrics on the cutting table. Well-meaning sales people may offer to let you leave your fabric on the cutting table while you shop. Don’t do it! There may be an adorable 20-year-old fashion design student from the university that will not think twice about swiping it.
Haggle. Many shops have no price tags on anything. When they give you a price for the fabric, it’s really just a jumping-off point.
The hotel is 65 miles from Lancaster County, home to the oldest Amish settlement in the U.S. Take in the Dutch Wonderland Family Amusement Park, nearby museums, cultural attractions, and outlet shopping. Nearby Strasburg is home to the National Toy Train Museum and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. Take a relaxing ride aboard America’s oldest short-line railroad through Pennsylvania Dutch Country, a ride on a miniature steam train or authentic pump car. In addition to the town of Lancaster with a plethora of urban boutiques and shops, there is the Park City Center, the largest enclosed shopping center in South Central Pennsylvania. The mall includes an excess of 150 stores. Lancaster also has “The Outlets,” which offers everything from high end clothing to sneakers to gifts to hunting/camping gear to jewelry, and the list goes on.
Just 25 miles from Lancaster is the town of Hershey where the aroma of chocolate lingers in the air. Here you will find Hershey Gardens, Hershey Museum, Hershey Antique Auto Museum, Hershey Theatre, Hersheypark (with roller coasters, water rides, games and entertainment), free Hershey’s Great American Chocolate Tour, and retail shops.
Just 20 miles from Hershey is Harrisburg, the state capital, where you will find the State Museum of Pennsylvania that includes fine art galleries, a Planetarium, Dino Lab, Mammal Hall, a Civil War exhibit, and one of the country’s largest collections of Civil War memorabilia. The National Civil War Museum is the only museum in the United States that portrays the entire story of the American Civil War without bias to Union or Confederate causes. There is even a Doll House Museum. Opposite downtown Harrisburg is Riverfront Park & City Island with 63 acres of fun-filled, parkland entertainment in the center of the Susquehanna River – a great area for walking, biking, jogging, canoeing, paddleboating, sports entertainment and beautiful skyline views. Cruise the river on the Pride of the Susquehanna, an authentic stern paddlewheel riverboat.
Just 40 miles from Harrisburg is the hallowed ground of Gettysburg National Military Park. Here you will find one moving tribute after another to the men who fought on this famous Civil War battlefield where more men fought (170,000+) and more men died than in any other battle on North American soil. |
