US Airways Flights from Houston (IAH) to Philadelphia (PHL)
Orbitz is pleased to offer airline tickets on US Airways, which operates a daily non-stop flight from Houston (IAH) to Philadelphia (PHL) regularly scheduled to depart at 6:30am and arrive at 10:49am, and 4 additional non-stop flights, departing between 11:30am and 5:49pm on select days of the week. Usually an Embraer 170 or E75 is flown for this route. The average travel time from Houston, TX to Philadelphia, PA is 3 hours and 19 minutes.
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During your Philadelphia vacation, don't miss these great establishments and attractions:
Philadelphia Zoo
The Philadelphia Zoo, opened in 1874, was the nation's first. By the late 1970s, the 42 acres tucked into West Fairmount Park had become run-down, with few financial resources. The zoo has since become a national leader, with nearly 1,800 animals. The Zoo celebrated its 125th anniversary with the opening of the PECO Primate Center, a breathtaking pavilion that blurs the line between visitors and its 11 resident species. Note that the basic admission ($16 per adult, $13 for children) will not cover a lot of special attractions like the new Channel 6 Zooballoon, a 15-minute ascent on a helium balloon that goes 400 feet high.The 1 1/2-acre Carnivore Kingdom houses snow leopards and jaguars, but the biggest attraction is the rare white lions. Feeding time is around 11am for smaller carnivores, 3pm for tigers and lions. The monkeys have a new home on four naturally planted islands, where a variety of primate species live together naturally.In the magical Jungle Bird Walk, you can walk among free-flying birds. Glass enclosures have been replaced with wire mesh so that the birds' songs can now be heard from both sides. The Treehouse ($1), opened in 1985, contains six larger-than-life habitats for kids of all ages to explore -- oversize eggs to hatch from, an oversize honeycomb to crawl through, and a four-story ficus tree to climb and see life from a bird's-eye view. The very popular Camel Rides start next to the Treehouse. A Children's Zoo portion of the gardens lets your kids pet and feed some baby zoo and farm animals; this closes 30 minutes before the rest of the zoo.Other exhibits include polar bears; the renovated Reptile House, which bathes its snakes and tortoises with simulated tropical thunderstorms; and cavorting antelopes, zebras, and giraffes that coexist in the "African Plains" exhibit. The zoo has a McDonald's across from the lion house. There is a Fidelity Bank MAC ATM machine at the North Gate. Try to arrive early in the day; it's a long hike from the more distant lots if you don't.
Edgar Allan Poe National Historical Site
The acclaimed American author, though more associated with Baltimore, Richmond, and New York City, lived here from 1843 to 1844. "The Black Cat," "The Gold Bug," and "The Tell-Tale Heart" were published while he was a resident. Just reopened following structural work, it's a simple place -- after all, Poe was poor most of his life -- and the National Park Service keeps it unfurnished. An adjoining building contains basic information on Poe's life and work, along with a reading room and slide presentation. The Park Service also runs intermittent discussions and candlelight tours on Saturday afternoon.
Academy of Natural Sciences
If you're looking for dinosaurs, the Academy is the best place to find them. Kids love the big diorama halls, with cases of various species mounted and posed in authentic settings. A permanent display, "Dinosaurs Galore," features more than a dozen specimens, including a huge Tyrannosaurus rex with jaws agape. The Dig (weekends only) gives you an opportunity to dig for fossils in a re-created field station. The North American Hall, on the first floor, has enormous moose, buffalo, and bears. A small marine exhibit shows how some fish look different in ultraviolet light and how the bed of the Delaware River has changed since Penn landed in 1682.The second floor features groupings of Asian and African flora and fauna. Many of the cases have nearby headphones that tell you more about what you're seeing. Five or six live demonstrations are given here every day; the handlers are experts in conducting these sessions with rocks, birds, plants, and animals. The Egyptian mummy, a priest of a late dynasty, seems a bit out of place. Several daily demonstrations (called "Eco Shows") are given on the second floor and in the auditorium downstairs.Upstairs, "Outside In" is a touchable museum designed for children under 12, with a model campsite, fossils, minerals, and shells. It stimulates almost every sense: Children can see, feel, hear, and smell live turtles, mice, bees in a beehive, and snakes (all caged), and wander around mock forests and deserts. An exhibit of live butterflies rounds out the picture, along with frequent films. There's a brown-bag lunchroom and vending area with drinks and snacks, or visit the Chocolate Café.
Gables
This lovely 1889 Victorian was one of West Philadelphia's first and finest mansions. The location is about 8 blocks west of the University of Pennsylvania's main campus. It's right at the SEPTA trolley line stop in Center City, 5 minutes from 30th Street Station, and 15 minutes from the airport. It's an excellent choice for visiting academics, parents of students, prospective applicants, and relaxed tourists.Eight formal areas are filled with antiques. There are sitting rooms, a breakfast room, and a wraparound porch; five bedrooms with private bathrooms and four bedrooms with adjacent bathrooms are on the top two floors. All rooms have gorgeous inlaid wood floors, and three have charming corner turrets, and most rooms have private bathrooms. Closets, armoires, lamps, and desks fit in with the Victorian decor. There is a lovely yard and garden; home-baked muffins, breads, fresh fruit, and casseroles make up the breakfasts.
Four Seasons Hotel
It was rated the best hotel in Philly in the 2003 Zagat Guide, has earned five diamonds from AAA, and been named one of the top 20 U.S. hotels in Condé Nast Traveler: the Four Seasons' luxury is refined and understated. Built in 1983, the Four Seasons is an eight-story curlicue on Logan Square, with views of the exquisite Swann Fountain and a lush interior courtyard, and has just been completely renovated throughout with beautiful new fabrics and furnishings. The pale-toned lobby has enormous masses of flowers, intimate seating areas, and honey-colored woods. The peach-hued lounge and promenade serve as foyers to the dining and meeting facilities and are paneled in a rare white mahogany. Guest rooms have a rich American elegance: The overstuffed chairs and rich carpets are in tones of pale yellow and sage, and in-room business and tech capabilities are tops. The bathrooms have a wonderful marble dressing area, and excellent lighting. All the rooms have windows or private verandas boasting marvelous views of Logan Circle or the interior courtyard. If you can get a room with a view down the Parkway to the Art Museum and across to the Free Library, you will be dazzled both by day and at night.The Four Seasons restaurants regularly collect raves from local reviewers. The Fountain Restaurant, under executive chef Martin Hamann, is a classic, a favorite among Philly residents for unstuffy service and a fabulous Sunday brunch. Natural light streams over 150 wide armchair seats and tapestries, fresh flowers, and walnut paneling. Another great option is dining in the hotel's cafe room, which offers slightly more casual fare from Hamann's kitchen at about half the price of a Fountain dinner. The Swann Lounge has marble-top tables and a colorful, civilized look like something out of a Maurice Prendergast sketch. It's open for an extensive lunch, afternoon tea, and cocktails.Facilities: 2 restaurants; cafe; indoor heated pool; health club with Universal machines, Exercycles, and exercise mats; spa; Jacuzzi; concierge; town-car service within Center City; salon; 24-hr. room service; babysitting; laundry service; dry cleaning.
Best Western Independence Park Hotel
This top choice for bed-and-breakfast-style lodging has a great location, 2 blocks from Independence Hall. Now a Best Western franchise, the inn is housed in a handsome 1856 former dry-goods store with renovated rooms and a renovated exterior.The guest rooms, on eight floors, are normal size, but the ceilings are nice and high. The bathrooms have big beveled mirrors, dropped ceilings, and hair dryers. Although all the windows are triple casement and double-glazed, specify an interior room if you're sensitive to noise, since some rooms face the traffic on Chestnut Street. A third bed can be wheeled into your room for a child at no additional charge. The hotel serves a generous continental breakfast with a make-your-own Belgian waffle bar in a glass-enclosed garden courtyard, with a complimentary afternoon tea.
