Arts & Events Article |
Tours: Constitutional Cell Phone Tour
By Brittany Sommar
The Constitutional Foundation; $9.99
There are many ways to see historic Philadelphia: in a horse-drawn buggy, on an impossibly annoying amphibious Duck, escorted by an actor in a powdered wig, and now, with your cell phone glued to your ear. This 75-minute tour is user-friendly — "GPS Gina" guides you to 20-plus historical destinations, with guest appearances by Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson and Yankee Doodle-like melodies. Though I've lived in the city for years, I didn't know that the Liberty Bell weighs 2,000 pounds, and I had never been to the Betsy Ross House. But hearing the tour info through a BlackBerry doesn't exactly make for a prime experience. Plus, you can snag a free map at the Independence Visitor Center that offers a similar itinerary, without the mobile hype — or the minutes usage. We applaud the effort, but in this case, low-tech has the upper hand. Grade: D+
There are many ways to see historic Philadelphia: in a horse-drawn buggy, on an impossibly annoying amphibious Duck, escorted by an actor in a powdered wig, and now, with your cell phone glued to your ear. This 75-minute tour is user-friendly — "GPS Gina" guides you to 20-plus historical destinations, with guest appearances by Ben Franklin and Thomas Jefferson and Yankee Doodle-like melodies. Though I've lived in the city for years, I didn't know that the Liberty Bell weighs 2,000 pounds, and I had never been to the Betsy Ross House. But hearing the tour info through a BlackBerry doesn't exactly make for a prime experience. Plus, you can snag a free map at the Independence Visitor Center that offers a similar itinerary, without the mobile hype — or the minutes usage. We applaud the effort, but in this case, low-tech has the upper hand. Grade: D+
Originally published in Philadelphia magazine, December 2006
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