Freedom is inlaid with every brick of its architectural facade, while history wafts in every room and corridor. As the site of independence for America, Independence Hall served witness to the signing of the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution. Generations of visitors have ventured through time in the Assembly Room, Courtroom of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court, Long Gallery, Governor’s Council Chamber, and Committee of the Assembly Chamber. Myriads of historical figures have tread through Independence Hall, including Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln, and others.

The Philadelphia Zoo was the nation’s first zoo—yes, the first. During its first year in 1874, the zoo drew a respectable crowd of over 228,000 people. Now, approximately 1.2 million people make the Philadelphia Zoo a prime destination. There are more than 1,300 rare and endangered animals, and the zoo even offers balloon rides, camel safaris, swan boats, and much more.

If you like history and discovering beautiful libraries, you're in for a treat. On this fascinating tour, you start with a visit to Dublin's Trinity College Library, home to the famous Book of Kells—the lavishly illustrated manuscript of the Gospels dating back to AD 800 and widely considered among the most important of all of Ireland's ancient treasures. Then, enjoy a guided tour around the grounds of Dublin Castle, and listen to fascinating stories of its years as a prison, military fortress, and the seat of the English Administration in Ireland.