Philly Bucket List

Philadelphia’s a big city with lots to do, but here are some of the best activities for college students–some touristy, some off-beat, most cheap or free. So grab a SEPTA token, get out of your dorm room and start checking off your list.

1. Explore – Center City/ All over – Free
Take an afternoon to stretch your legs and walk everywhere–up and down Walnut Street, around the game pieces at City Hall, anywhere your heart desires. End at Penn’s Landing and sit and stare at Camden, N.J. Ignore the people making out or smoking weed next to you. Have a picnic, hookah optional. The best places to go are Fairmount Waterworks, Rittenhouse Square, the Museum of Art or Beury Beach on Main Campus. It’s usually always sunny in Philadelphia.

2. Fountains – All over – Free
Run through a fountain, clothing optional. At least take your shoes off. You can run through some without getting in trouble, like at Drexel University. You can also try Love Park (don’t try it on Valentine’s Day, it’s pink and weird), and down by Fairmount Waterworks.

3. Magic Gardens- South Street – $5
This is easily one of the most beautiful places in Philadelphia. Imagine all the trash on the street organized into a mosaic of mir
rors, colored glass, vibrant paint and poetic sayings. Make sure you take your camera.

4. Snowball Fight- Bell Tower – Free
This is weather-dependent but simply and literally balls-out fun. When it snows hardcore at Temple, the best thing to do is to have an ultimate snowball fight at the Bell Tower. The best time to do it is when Temple cancels classes the next day. It’s what all the cool kids do…don’t get cold feet.

5. College Day – Ben Franklin Parkway – Free – 9/24/11
As part of its “welcome back” to college students, Campus Philly has a huge day of give-aways, live music, raffles and anything else a college student can dream of. Be sure to check out its website and all the free art museums.

Matt Flocco can be reached at matthew.flocco@temple.edu