by Joleen S. Jaworski
Back in May we announced our Pair & Share Program, challenging BCA members to find new and unique ways to share time together. Last week, Scott Wechsler and I had a great time at our Pair and Share experience, being tourists in our own city. I’m sharing this because after mentioning our adventure to a few people, they wanted more details.
Stop 1: Independence Visitors Center (No Admission Fee)
Our adventure began at 9 AM at the Independence Visitor Center, convenient parking right under the building. Although we had a tentative plan, the friendly and helpful Visitor Center representatives provided us with a detailed map and some great tips. Unfortunately, one of our original stops, Independence Hall, was sold out for the day, but they gave us some other ideas.
Stop 2: The Liberty Bell (No Admission Fee)
Arriving early worked in our favor, we walked straight in with no lines. The Liberty Bell experience was more than just seeing the bell; we learned about its history and significance. Then of course got to see the Liberty Bell.
Stop 3: Ben Franklin Museum ($5 admission fee)
A shoutout to Dave Gill for suggesting the Ben Franklin Museum. We probably spent the most amount of time here, and bonus we were the ONLY ones in the building. Either tourists don’t get up early or Scott pulled some strings 😁. We both loved the Ben Franklin Museum.
A We spent the most time here and had the place to ourselves. We were amazed by Franklin’s entrepreneurial spirit, his inventions, and his charismatic personality.
Stop 4: West Wing of Independence Hall (No admission fee)
Although our plan to visit Independence Hall fell through due to ticket availability, the Visitor Center’s tip led us to Congress Hall. The line was too long, but we stumbled upon the Great Essentials Exhibit in the West Wing. This hidden gem contains original printed copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution.
Stop 5: Betsy Ross House ($10 Admission fee)
We then headed about 6 blocks to the Betsy Ross House. This was a fun little stop, with a surprise conversation with Betsy Ross herself. Shout out to the incredible women who played Betsy Ross. We learned a lot from her, and she never broke character (even though we tried).
Stop 6: Elfreth’s Alley
A quick walk down Elfreth’s Alley then we headed back toward to Independence visitors Center.
We decided to grab some lunch, then we were back in our cars by about 1:15pm.
One of the highlights of the day was how affordable it was; we spent less than $20 (excluding lunch). This Pair & Share Experience allowed us to see our city through fresh eyes, we got lots of steps in and had tons of time to catch up. I would highly recommend you try it!
How It Works
- RECEIVE YOUR PAIRING
- Each month, all Decision Makers will receive an email alerting them who they’ve been paired with
- COORDINATE YOUR 1:1
- Once paired, members are challenged to coordinate a 1:1 that is anything but standard! Whether it’s scaling a rock wall, exploring a local art exhibit, or volunteering for a cause, the goal is to create a setting that breaks down the traditional walls of an office or restaurant.
- See ideas at end of this page
- SHARE
- Share your experience, tell us how it went, inspire others, send a picture
- Post it, Text it, Email it
“Potent relationships are not forged through casual interactions but through relatively high-stakes activities that connect you.” ~ Brian Uzzi