Things to Do in Lansdowne

Ever since the first giant pumpkin was carved into a carriage, people have wanted to travel in style. Philadelphia Trolley Works, a subsidiary of 76 Carriage Company, turns fairy tales into reality with a fleet of double-decker buses, motor coaches, horse-driven carriages, and their namesake trolleys. On any given day, the historic streets of Philadelphia pulse with trolley or horse-pulled tours of Independence Hall and the Rocky steps. Cinderella-inspired horse-drawn carriages and Victorian-style trolleys transport bridal parties to weddings, and jumbo-sized motor coaches can be rented for casino trips and cross-country air-guitar tours.

Knowledgeable, friendly locals enlighten visitors on their city's rich history, art, culture, and dining scene during Philadelphia Urban Adventures' informative walking excursions. Following a philosophy of responsible travel—which aims to support local businesses whenever possible—the guides steer sightseers through intriguing neighborhoods and districts such as Center City, the 9th Street Italian Market, and the campuses of Drexel University and the University of Pennsylvania. Along the way, they make pit stops at local pubs, cafés, galleries, and food trucks, working to cultivate an authentic experience for all guests. They also dispense helpful tips, such as how to talk to locals and where to find good views of cheesesteaks in their natural habitat.

Philadelphia is no longer safe. That’s because Fright Factory, a house of charnel horrors featured as one of America’s scariest Halloween attractions on the Travel Channel, is reopening the portal to its haunted attractions from September 28 to November 3. The sinister site traps unsuspecting guests within four distinct settings, including a lab filled with horrible genetic aberrations, a mausoleum fallen into moldering disrepair, a mutinous asylum, and a physical manifestation of fear itself.

Presented by Gourmet Shows, the annual Taste Philadelphia Festival of Food, Wine, and Spirits showcases hundreds of local chefs, restaurants, and vendors. More than 200 tasting stations pepper the Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, including the Taste of Italy Pavilion, where attendees can sample cheeses and wines from Europe’s boot-shaped peninsula. On the expo's stage, meanwhile, local chefs and culinary personalities teach onlookers their cooking techniques and favorite recipes during demonstrations. Attendees will have the chance to watch the likes of Michael Giletto, an award-winning chef whose food is a fusion of international cuisines, and Bethenny Frankel, best-selling author and star of Bravo's Bethenny Ever After, for an additional cost. Other educational events include beer seminars from award-winning writer Gary Monterosso and wine seminars that explain why, despite popular opinion, grape soda doesn’t complement veal as well as chardonnay does.

Abington Kids Creative Arts Studio's lively instructors foster the burgeoning minds of youngsters with classes focused on building creativity and imagination. The team allows little ones aged 4–14 to disconnect from their phones, computers, and robot teachers to engage in fun, hands-on activities during afternoon open sessions.

Two-hour sessions allow kids to express themselves artistically and exhaust internal sugar reserves through drawing, molding pottery, playing music, and acting in theater performances. My Adult & Me sessions invite grown-ups to stay-and-play with their children, while the Drop Off Program's extended studio hours free up time for parents to run errands or triathlons. As children exercise their brain biceps, adults can relax and indulge in complimentary coffee and tea.

Abington Kids Creative Arts Studio also hosts summer camps to occupy up to 15 youngsters at once when school is on break and their Miami beach house is being renovated. Weekly themes range from Fantasy Week to Music Week to Puppet Week, each filled with crafts and fun projects.

Little Hands Art Studio's owner and teacher, Jessica Heisen, equips budding artisans with the supplies and know-how to explore their own creativity with delectable results. Heisen’s classes for adults, children, and intergenerational duos guide students as they bake cupcakes and top them with decorations such as fondant, mini marshmallows, frostings in piped pastry bags, and cookies hit by a shrink ray. Beyond the regular classes, Little Hands hosts private birthday parties for youngsters and, on Thursday and Sunday nights, grownups-only workshops, which encourage participants to bring their own wine and mingle as they create pastry art that reflects their inner muses’ 401(k)s. The studio also teaches children how to whip up afternoon snacks such as pastas and muffins, and conducts occasional beading and other art classes.