Philadelphia Urban Adventures

Spent the weekend in Philadelphia and these guys make the vacation fun. On Saturday, we did a Segway tour. We were a group of 9 and 8 of us were ambivalent about the whole thing. It wound up being an amazing experience. After a hilarious instructional video, Jake and Ben let us warm up indoors. After that, we had two hours of fun. Jake and Ben were excellent guides, peppering us with information. They were also very solicitious, blocking roads so that we could Segway safely. By the way, even the most squeamish of our party was buzzing around Philly comfortably within 15 minutes. It was a very unique way to see the city. I thought that the Segway was a ridiculous thing, but it turned out to be a ton of fun.
Today, we went out on a center city scavenger hunt. It was well organized, with a lot of things to look for. It didn’t match the gee whiz factor of riding a Segway, but it was a fun way to check out the sights. Kendra was lovely and we had a lot of fun working with her.
I would highly recommend the Segway tour. I would love to try a walking tour with these guys.

OK so we just took the History HD tour and I would give the tour 2 stars and our guide Chris a solid 5 stars. This is my very first trip to Philly and my wife was so excited to show me the sights. We picked this tour because it sounded a little different than the other tours and it promised to see so many things. This is a 2 hour walking tour and you do get a good bit of exercise. This is a lot of information in a short amount of time and is a great tour for history lovers.
PROS
1. Chris was our tour guide and he was funny, informative, and interesting. He told us all kinds of American History we did not know, he explained why Philly was such a great town and he did it with passion! He really seemed to know his stuff and he seemed to enjoy teaching us about his city.
2. You see a lot of the historical city and you get a brief history about each spot. Chris debunked a ton of history we were taught as children and replaced those myth’s with true stories of great Americans.
3. My wife and I both have disabilities and have issues walking long distances and walking in general. They kept the tour at a decent pace where we felt like we could keep up, he spoke loud enough for all of us to hear, and we did the 2 hour walk with no problem. Just beware because of its rich history the streets are rocky, have tons of holes, and really
un –even side walks.
4. Do not pay full price go on groupon!
CONS
1. So as another review said you are told you see a lot and you do see it, but you do not really go into anything. We walked past a 319 year old church looked inside, but did not go in. We saw the liberty bell from an small outside window, we saw constitutional hall from outside the doors, so on and so forth. Although Chris had great information at each spot we really did not see much. We took this tour so we could get the highlights and then decided what to go back and see again. With this tour we have to go back and see it all. I do not blame Chris for this I think the tour is designed this way to cram a ton of information in it, but I think it suffers from the lack of actually seeing the sights. We learned everything we needed to know about the place just did not go inside.
2. Lastly the beer at the end was a nice gesture, but they make it seem like you can choose what you want to get, but you do not get to choose. They gave us a beer called the «5 mile» beer and it was good but a very dark stout. A dark stout is an acquired taste and about 6 out of 10 people in our tour took a sip and left the rest. They wasted so much beer on us and no one drank it. I felt bad for the restaurant and I did not like that we could not choose our own beer. Why not go with a lighter beer a more general flavor for the tours? They should at minimum give you 2 beers to choose from.
All in all I would go again I just would like to see more things as the site says so.

This company made some very special memories for me and my fiancé. Our tour guide, Jason, helped me orchestrate an extremely romantic and thoughtful engagement that included a marriage proposal in front of the Philadelphia LOVE statue. He also went the extra mile to have a fellow co-​worker, Michelle, hang out in the park and take surprise photos of the engagement making our memories even better! We recently got one of the picture enlarged on a canvas.
I am so impressed by this company, not by the amount of historical knowledge they possess, rather how they are so personable and are willing to go an extra mile to make special moments for their customers. Thank you for helping us make my proposal so special!

Went on Center City Holiday Tour today with Arielle. She was awesome– very knowledgeable, friendly and engaging. Even my daughter who lived in Center City loved it! Keeping eye out for another adventure!

I did the Italian Market tour with a group of Penn students, and I was thoroughly impressed. Because of Philadelphia’s historic significance, I feel that the Italian market is often forgotten about as a local attraction. But it’s actually really cool and something I recommend for tourists and locals alike!
Our tour guide was really sweet and knowledgeable about Philadelphia and the Italian Market. The tour included many shops in the Italian Market including Claudio’s Specialty Foods, Di Bruno Bros, a butcher store, a gelato store, a cookware store, and an olive oil store. At most of these stops, we were given free samples or tastings of the products, and sometimes even a discount on any purchase we made. The tour ends at Pat’s/Geno’s where you can purchase a cheesesteak.
I really enjoyed myself and as a result will definitely be back at the Italian market soon!

My husband and I always go to the Comcast holiday show and DiBruno Brothers, and we wanted to check out the Love Park Christmas Village as well, so when I saw a LivingSocial deal for a Philadelphia Christmas tour that went to those places plus a few others, we decided to give it a try. While this tour was better than a previous tour we took in Philadelphia, in that the tour guide was knowledgeable about the city and actually told us things we didn’t already know, it still wasn’t what I expected from a tour you spend money for.
We met at the clothespin sculpture across from City Hall, where it was pouring rain (and continued raining for most of the tour — we apparently are unable to take tours on non-​rainy days). A number of people dropped out for the day, so we formed a group of 8 and went with one guide, while the other guide took a group of 4 and waited for the other guests. Our first stop was the Macy’s light show, which is a big deal for kids (but actually kind of lame for adults). Having paid money for this tour, I might have expected that the tour company had some kind of arrangement with Macy’s to get us a good spot to view the show. Instead, we were crammed in with the crowds and I could actually only see half the display. The best part was the huge, historic organ, which didn’t come in until the end. Macy’s should do all the music on the organ.
Next we went to the Reading Terminal (the Convention Center), where we learned some interesting tidbits, followed by the Reading Terminal Market, where we had 15 minutes of free time. What can you do in 15 minutes at the RTM at lunchtime?! My husband and I panicked and ended up getting smoothies and Amish pretzels. I can’t imagine what people who’d never been there before thought. We walked through the city a little more and went to the Christmas Village. This is a new thing they’ve been doing for the last couple years, and it was cute, but would probably be nicer on a cold winter night than a warm, wet afternoon. My husband and I got some cider, and we had some more free time to explore around a little. I think I saw most of the booths, but I’d like to go back there on our own next Christmas and really enjoy it. We were also given a little gingerbread «snack» (the guide just bought a bag of gingerbread and gave everyone some).
Then we headed to the Comcast building for their holiday show, which was good as usual and included an interactive element at the end (and I think we were standing right beneath the snow sprayer). Then they took us to DiBruno Brothers and gave us a few minutes, which wasn’t even enough time to do anything, again, and finally we ended in Rittenhouse Square.
Again, we did learn a few little interesting things along the way, but in general there was no special access, we didn’t meet any shop owners or anything, and at the stops where we had free time, it wasn’t really enough time to accomplish anything. So for next year, we’ll go back to doing our own thing. It sounds like some of the other tours are a little more informative, so I might give Philadelphia Urban Adventures another try.

disappointed in the Italian Market Tour-​our guide knew the area, but we were expecting more restaurant, food tasting. We got a teaspoon of Gelato and a sliver of cheese in the 2 hours. That was it. It reading reviews from the past, I assume the tour has changed

My Mom and I did the Italian Market tour one weekend in February, and it was great. I know my Mom loved it, and we got to try a LOT of yummy food samples, which I loved.
It was a rainy dreary day, so we ended ip having the tour all to ourselves which you might think was awkward, but our tour guide was great, made us totally comfortable, and really knew his stuff!
Totally worth the price, you will learn a lot and have a great time!

kudos to Kenny, our youthful, but wise beyond his years tour guide, who made this History in HD tour memorable. my husband is still talking about it. Kenny, a soon to be junior in college, is articulate, reflecting his medieval major, and knowledgeable, with excellent people skills. His sense of humor came through, too, which helps, when on a fact laden 2 hour tour. But, it’s Kenny’ s passion for history, and enjoyment sharing it, that made this special.
Did it help that there were only Four of us on the tour, and the weather overcast, and not too hot or too cold, not course, We had perfect May Day, not at all crowded. We were the only people in Christ Church at the end of the tour, and that was lovely.
Beware about terrible, awful uneven sidewalks in Philly. Out of Towners you are hereby warned to wear the most comfortable walking shoes you own, and remember your mantra should be too” look down, LOOK DOWN” when you leave the park and are in old city. between the sidewalk posts and holes of all kinds, pay attention.
My husband really appreciated free crafts beer at a local Pub at the end of the tour. It helped that we were with lovely, interesting couple from Seattle. With a larger group you might want to add extra time beyond the 2 hour tour, to enjoy this part. Unfortunately, we ha to rush to dinner reservations.
really kudos to urban adventures– you have Kenny, a most personable, no doubt future professor, as your employee who reflects well on your organization., and you’ve designed a nice tour.- History in HD.
We ‘ll be taking another for sure, Any more group ons ???

My husband (a native of North Philly) and I always return back a couple times a year from San Diego to visit with our family and friends. However, we never find the time to enjoy most of the tours and attractions that Philadelphia has to offer its patrons. Via the power of Groupon, my husband and I found this «History in HD» Two Hour Walking Tour for only $ 10 each that included an alcoholic beverage at Triumph Bar & Restaurant. So we thought, why not and I’m glad we didn’t look back.
It was easy to find our fascinating tour guide, Josh who impressed and wowed us from the very get-​go. Since it wasn’t a busy day, my husband and I were overjoyed that it was just the two of us and our guide for this amazing city tour filled with incredible knowledge and an unique prospective into this amazing historical district. Further, Josh was very attentive to our needs even going the extra mile to take us to the local Walgreens so I could purchase a disposable camera since my smart phone’s battery died!
We went everywhere! Because of long lines we unfortunately weren’t able to see the Liberty Bell from the inside but the other stops along the way were worth that small misfortune. As a history buff myself, I personally enjoyed visiting Christ Church and sitting in George Washington’s pew. My husband who previously served in the United States Marine Corps enjoyed stopping by where historian’s believe the founder of USMC to be buried at next to the Quaker Meeting Hall, ironically a center this groups nonviolent way of life.
Prior to this tour we paid $ 30 for a 20 minute ride on a horse and carriage ride with a Philadelphia local who swore more at cars & pedestrians that enrich us like Josh with Philadelphia Urban Adventures did for us. He even extended our tour well past the 2 hours and joined us for appetizers at Triumph! Like other post writers have indicated, these tour guides never rush their patrons through this incredible journey of history. Rather, Josh as I’m sure the other guides are trained to do, work with their tourists to make this one of the most fulfilling and memorable experiences I know my husband and I will certainly never forget.
In fact, it’s quite ironic because my husband who usually hates these sort of things actually enjoyed this far more than I and has unequivocally stated that when we come back next year we’re definitely re-​booking another tour!
Some quick pointers though for the non-​natives and tourists — try to arrive a little early. If you’re lost you can always call the company’s phone number and they will guide you to your meeting spot destination. There isn’t on-​site or free parking. Parking is expensive downtown so plan for this (ranges from $ 15 or more for the whole day) or try taking local transportation or calling a cab. Some hotels have shuttles to local tourists spots as well. The tour is a little long, so come with comfy walking shoes, sun screen, water, sunglasses and of course a CHARGED Camera! Happy touring!

I went on the History HD tour with a Groupon Now deal. It ended up being just my roommate and I on the tour but we still had a GREAT time, despite the hot day. I found myself really interested in what our tour guide, Chris, had to teach us. He seemed very knowledgable and was able to answer all of our questions. I’m not much of a history buff and still found this tour very interesting.
The thing to know…
This tour is great for learning some of the «dirt» in history, which, let’s be honest… probably the best parts of history. You don’t get the chance to go in to everything pointed out on the tour but that’s not the point of the tour. It’s to let you know the history behind things, let you know their story and their location.
And a big thumbs up to our tour guide Chris! The tour wouldn’t have been as interesting with someone else so if you do do the tour, try to get him at your guide.

This was great! My husband, father-​in-​law and I took the South Philly tour yesterday and raved about how fun it was the rest of the day. Our tour-​guide was a native Philadelphian who was extremely knowledgeable and friendly. What I liked about it most was that she had something new to show us on every block of the tour – it wasn’t like we went from place to place in silence the rest of the time. Informative and interesting, I feel like I know so much more about my neighborhood now! We had a blast, and I’ll definitely do it again.

I took the Historic Philadelphia tour this past week thanks to my Groupon.
I loved this tour. I have lived in Philadelphia for over a year, and I wanted to go on a tour that would show me some historic places that were not the most often visited. We walked past the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall and our guide, Bob, was very informative about those things, but I really enjoyed having the opportunity to see things that were less well known, like the historic portion of the Penn Hospital, Elfreth’s Alley, and Tavern Inn. Overall, definitely a good experience for locals and non-​locals alike! The tour does get a bit long, but definitely worth it!

My friend Krista P. and I took the Essence of South Philadelphia Tour last weekend via Groupon (holler).
Our guide was extremely knowledgeable and knew the area well. We had a small group which I enjoyed and everyone was super friendly as we made our 4 hour journey around South Philly.
If I had to critique one thing, it would have been that 4 hours is a bit long for a tour, but it was definitely worth the time investment! I learned a ton, and I enjoyed my time.
Props for giving us a few breaks on a HOT afternoon!

This tour was OK. It was informative. The tour guide was really friendly and very knowledgable. But I was disappointed because I signed up for the Historic District/​Society Hill tour and the website specifically said we would see a lot of things that we didn’t see.
They said that we would see «…the Liberty Bell…» And we didn’t see the liberty bell. They apparently don’t let tours in there. Our guide pointed out the building that houses the Liberty Bell. But we did NOT see the liberty bell.
The website said we would «visit the wonderful indoor mural of Maxfield Parrish» — but that was «closed for an event.» So again, we saw the building that houses the wondering indoor mural, but we did not see the indoor mural.
The website said we would «stop at the house of Dr. Philip Syng Physick, an early pioneer in medical practice and the inventor of the first soda. Here have the chance to drink some soda and taste an early Philadelphia tradition, the Philadelphia Soft Pretzel.» — but there was yet another excuse at Dr. Physics house. So we stopped at Penn Hospital and had a soft pretzel, but not soda. And no tour of Dr. Physicks house — it was just pointed out to us as we walked past.
Except the tavern at the end, we didn’t go IN anything. We didn’t walk through the graveyards to look at the tombstones, or go in the churches so we could see the stained glass windows. We just walked and walked and had buildings pointed out to us.
So really, the tour advertised a lot, but didn’t really deliver what it said it would. It was still interesting. Our tour guide was still informative And I got it using a coupon — so I only paid about ½ the full price. I would have been really annoyed if I had paid full price and not seen ½ the stuff they advertised. Actually, even though I only paid ½ price, I was still annoyed.

I am the type of person who isn’t big on the touristy tours, so I wasn’t sure what to expect when my friend signed us up for Urban Adventures as a birthday present to myself and also her way of helping me get to know the area, as I had just moved to Delran, NJ. After 5 hours spent walking around in the 90+ heat of Philadelphia with our guide Tiernan, I must say I was happily surprised. Tiernan was very knowledgeable with the area and didn’t blink at my many questions I threw her way as we passed through the Garment District, onto discovering how the people of Philly re-​located the Delaware River, to my pure glee as we explored the scrumptious and authentic foods of Little Italy. I definitely feel like Philadelphia is a little less of a stranger to me now after the fun and informative tour and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to explore the less traveled areas of the city. Thanks Tiernan.
Best Regards,
Morgen Perdue

We did the All-​Day/​All-​Philly tour and it was just fantastic. Our guide Alex was knowledgeable, energetic, friendly, and patient PLUS he had gone to school at UPenn and extensively studied architecture. As a true urbanite, he walked us all around the city, explaining the significance of the street plan, the buildings, the politics, the cost of living in each neighborhood, the demographics, everything. We took buses and the subway to get to some of the more distant locations like the Art Museum and University area. Even in the crushing 102 degree heat, Alex kept up a steady pace and balanced a structured walking tour with enough flexibility to see things we were curious about. Highly recommended!

My brother and I did the South Philly tour and it was great! Our tour guide Tiernan was very knowledgeable and kept the tour very interesting. My brother and I lived in Philly for several years and it was nice to discover some new amazing places. Some extra bonuses included a mini behind-​the-​scene tour of the House of Pork and an employee at the House of Cheese told us about the origin and evolution of the store. All the stops included samples of food and it was all delicious. Very delicious (come hungry)!!
Great tour if you are from out of town and even better tour if you are from Philly because you can then return to all these amazing churches, restaurants and shops.

As a South Philly resident, I had no idea about some of these historical highlights. But the tour of South Philly isn’t all old and dusty, some of the tour is quite tasty. We went through the Italian Market and sampled some of the legendary food, fed to us by living legends. I discovered stuff that I didn’t know existed. Nice Idea, well done.

I took the South Philly tour and had a great time. Sights included historic residential neighborhoods, churches and businesses, the 9^th street market (including some bonus mini-​tours of some of the shops), a bit of South Street and Philadelphia Magic Gardens. That last one was my favorite — an absolutely stunning place of art that I might not have known about otherwise. Our tour guide was knowledgeable and the small size of the tour (mine had 7 people) made it feel very personal. This tour was a great experience and a good value.