Don’t miss Rittenhouse Square, Philadelphia’s most elegant neighborhood. One of city founder William Penn’s five original squares, this area is full of pedestrians day and night. Charming streets are lined with live music, museums of literature and U.S. history, stately brownstones, intimate cafes and restaurants, and Rittenhouse Row, one of the country’s most glamorous shopping districts. You’ll find art galleries, haute couture boutiques, specialty shops, luxurious spas and salons, national retailers and even a few bargains.

On South Street you'll find all kinds of shopping. From antiques and art galleries to restaurants and wine shops, South Street is bustling with shoppers and life. Remember, there is no sales tax in Philadelphia on clothing and footwear, so leave room in your suitcase!

Experience authentic Philly hoagies, soft pretzels, water ice (like Italian ice), TastyKakes and cheesesteaks.

Reading Terminal Market is America’s oldest farmers’ market. This attraction features nearly every type of cuisine, from authentic Philly cheesesteaks and Pennsylvania Dutch fare to organic vegetarian and delicious Middle Eastern dishes. Cooking demonstrations are frequent events, and sit-down eateries are scattered among the nearly 100 unique merchants. Oprah even found what she deemed the best macaroni and cheese and GQ Magazine rated the Rouge Burger at Rouge (205 S. 18th St.) the best cheeseburger in America. Stop in at the City Tavern, where costumed wait staff serve food of the Colonial period.

“There are many big debates about who has the best Philadelphia cheesesteak." Apparently, a feud has been raging between Geno’s Steaks and Pat’s King of Steaks, across the street from each other in South Philly. “For a really unusual steak sandwich experience, get to Tony Luke’s.” The menu features traditional Philly fare as well as more diverse “steak” sandwiches with veal, sharp provolone, broccoli, or spinach and mushrooms.

And with the WorldatWork Total Rewards Conference & Exhibition planned for just before the start of summer, Marilyn notes that Italian water ice, a frozen dessert of ice slush and sweetened juice, will be sold in cups along the streets of Philadelphia.

Kids will love Philadelphia for all the amazing things they can experience here. They can climb inside the skull of a Tyrannosaurus Rex and touch hissing Madagascar cockroaches at the Academy of Natural Sciences. For more animals, visit the Philadelphia Zoo, America’s first zoo.

For more interactive education, kids have a blast at the Franklin Institute. Guests can walk, or run, through a giant heart and learn about how blood is pumped through the body. Right around the corner in the Please Touch Museum, children (ages one through seven) and adults can experience activities like driving a tractor or shopping in the supermarket. Show the family the home of Betsy Ross or Benjamin Franklin’s historic area of Society Hill. And the numerous parks offer plenty of ways for children to play in the city.

Older kids and teenagers can start planning for college in Philadelphia, with more than 80 colleges and universities in the metropolitan area, including the University of Pennsylvania. The campus is always buzzing with activities surrounding its museums, gothic architecture and landscaped lawns.

Rowing teams are a popular sight in the City of Brotherly Love along the Schuylkill River, flowing through the city. Running and biking trails also wind through the city’s parks and rivers. For a more relaxing adventure, boats and 75-foot schooners are available in the Delaware River and Delaware Bay for an afternoon or evening with catered meals as part of the unique experience. Baseball fans will want to check out the Philadelphia Phillies’ schedule.

Marilyn recommends an 8-mile circuit that follows along the Schuylkill River with trails for running, biking, skating and strolling. And to follow in Rocky Balboa’s footsteps, group runs take place for all levels of experience on Tuesday evenings and Saturday mornings, starting and finishing at the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art. With 63 neighborhood parks making up Philadelphia’s Fairmount Park System, you’ll be within walking distance of many outdoor activities.

The most popular sites in Philadelphia revolve around its role as the birthplace of American democracy.  Nowhere else will you find Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed; the Liberty Bell, a symbol of freedom for all; Congress Hall, which holds the restored chambers of the first U.S. Congress; the City Tavern, a reconstruction of the tavern where our nation's founders dined during the First and Second Continental Congresses; the Betsy Ross House, where the first flag was sewn; Franklin Court, where Benjamin Franklin lived his adult life as a printer, diplomat, inventor, publisher, author, statesman, and more; and the National Constitution Center, where the principles of democracy are celebrated.

Follow the footsteps of George Washington in the park at Washington Square, look up to Philadelphia’s City Hall, or visit the Independence Visitor Center or have Breakfast with Ben. This family-friendly activity includes a meet-and-greet with patriot Benjamin Franklin, photo opportunities and goodie bag of souvenir items.

Don't forget these other popular museums and tours: National Postal Museum and United States Mint.

If you’re extending your trip before or after the conference, venture outside of the city to the unique experiences for the whole family just a short drive away.

Just over an hour west of the city, experience a completely different culture in Lancaster, the heart of Pennsylvania Dutch Country, with the Amish and Menonite communities. The horse and buggy is the primary form of transportation and time seems to slow down as you enjoy the food and shopping. Other areas of the Pennsylvania countryside offer the chance to make your own wine, take a hot air balloon ride or visit a battlefield for a Civil War reenactment.

Charming Kennett Square, Penn. is home to Longwood Gardens, a family-friendly horticultural masterpiece. By May, the 1,050 acres of gardens, meadows and fields will be blooming. A different kind of sweetness can be smelled, and tasted, in Hershey, Penn., with the 100-year-old park dedicated to chocolate. An amusement park is surrounded by a city of shopping, parks and hotels and spas where you can get a cocoa facial or a chocolate fondue body wrap.

An hour north of the city, adventurers can scale the Poconos, a mountain range and state park with trails ideal for hiking, biking and water activities. Or if relaxing in the water is more appealing, travel just an hour to the east and you’ll find the Jersey Shore, with added entertainment of casinos in Atlantic City or a Victorian historically preserved city in Cape May, New Jersey.

And of course, more urban adventures are only a train ride away in nearby New York, Boston or Washington, D.C.