by Guest Blogger Maytal Wichman
Spring is just around the corner and a little getaway has never done anybody any harm, in particular to a tropical destination…what’s this? Hawaii is too far? How about Philly!? The International Flower Show in Philly is probably the closest thing you could come to as far as a quick getaway to a tropical destination. This year’s theme is Hawaii: Islands of Aloha which showcases Hawaiian culture through flower displays and performances. 
Upon entering the flower show guests walk under a giant display that resembles an ocean wave, so that they are almost inside the wave, complete with computer-generated fish swimming all over and gorgeous white orchids displayed in between the “waves”.
Guests are treated to magnificent displays of stunning waterfalls surrounded by lush tropical flowers bursting with colors and exotic plants of various types and size. 
The highlight of the show is Pele’s Garden, named for Pele, the Goddess of wind, fire, lightning and volcanoes in ancient Hawaiian mythology. Pele’s Garden, which includes a breathtaking waterfall, is a feast for all senses, including colors, music and scents of tropical flowers everywhere.
Shopping enthusiasts are treated to a marketplace that includes food, as well as products for the home and garden. Adjacent to the show there are also over 140 specialty shops, while the show itself features Hawaiian merchandise, crafts and demonstrations.
Family day is held on March 11th and includes a special visit by the Dr. Seuss character, The Lorax, along with readings of the book and visits from other PBS KIDS Sprout characters.
Hurry and get your tickets for the Flower Show in Philly – I can’t think of a better way to kick off spring!
Dates: March 4-11, 2012
Location: The Philadelphia Convention Center
12th & Arch Streets
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Hours: Sunday, March 4; 8:00 am – 9:30 pm
Monday – Friday, March 5-9: 10:00 am – 9:30 pm
Saturday, March 10; 8:00 am – 9:30 pm
Sunday, March 11; 8:00 am – 6:00 pm
Price: $27 per adult; $15 per child (ages 2-16)
To purchase tickets: https://v2.interactiveticketing.com/tickets/t253_2012_philadelphia_international_flower_s_111006dc16/tickets1.php?source=Website
-Save money and buy a Family Fun Pack for $70 ($75 at box-office), which will get you entrance for 2 adults and 2 kids (ages 2-16), as well as a free one-year Family Associate PHS Membership, which gets you exclusive discounts and special deals.
-Service fees may apply when purchasing tickets.
-Revenues from the Flower Show benefit the year-round work of the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society and this year will support City Harvest as well.
For more information visit the website: www.theflowershow.com
Should you decide to spend the night in Philly, there are special hotel deals you can find here: http://www.theflowershow.com/ShowInfo/accommodations.html
This post is brought to you with support of the Philadelphia International Flower show http://www.theflowershow.com/home/index.html]. Find them on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/theflowershow] and follow them on Twitter https://twitter.com/#!/PhilaFlowerShow]
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Guest Blogger Maytal Wichman is the owner of Mama’s Healthy Bites and also writes for Long Island Mamas. Maytal has been living in New York City for eleven years. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in English Literature as well as a Law Degree, but writing about nutrition and helping families eat better is her true passion. She grew up in both California and Israel, which explains her love for California cuisine (fresh, local ingredients), as well as Mediterranean food (flavorful, heart-healthy ingredients). Maytal is a stay-at-home mom to two kids (ages 5 & 2) and works hard to ensure they eat healthy, unprocessed food, while trying to make it as delicious as possible. Married to a vegetarian and being a pescetarian herself, this can be quite a challenge. On an ordinary night at her dinner table, you can hear things like “More cauliflower, please!”, “How come I didn’t get a lot of tomato?” and “Fish oil! Yaaaay!”.
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