Although it’s the sixth largest city in the United States, Philadelphia isn’t necessarily regarded as a tourist hotspot. If you fancy a trip to America however, it’s definitely worth considering a city break in Philly. The sprawling urban metropolis is quite literally huge and with 8 individual districts, visitors will rarely manage to see even a small portion of what’s on offer here. The size of the city works wonders in its ability to appeal to all tastes; in Philadelphia “something for everyone” is not just another clichéd phrase. Check out a selection of the things to do and see if you are persuaded to visit Philadelphia.
Museums and Art
For the culture connoisseurs, the myriad of museums in Philadelphia will hit the spot. The west of Centre City (downtown) is the home of many museums including the Philadelphia Museum of Art, made famous by the Rocky films. As such, the statue from Rocky III adorns the entrance. The Franklin Institute of Science Museum, Mutter Museum and Academy of Natural Sciences are also located in this area.
The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology houses an excellent collection of Egyptian artifacts and if you have time, be sure to take the tour of the Rare Book Department at the Free Library.
For kids, the Please Touch Museum is an essential visit and can be found in Fairmount Park, West Philadelphia. The normal museum trend is bucked and visitors are encouraged to touch and explore the interactive zones.
Shopping
Quite frankly, the shopping in Philly is excellent and easily attested. Centre City Philadelphia certainly doesn’t disappoint and offers extensive high-end shopping. Traverse Chestnut Street and Walnut Street for the big names such as Tiffany and Burberry. You will also find a large selection of mid-range shops, so it will suit all budgets. Liberty Place and Bellevue are two of the best shopping malls in the city, each containing an extensive host of shops in one place for the ultimate experience in retail therapy.
For individual boutiques and shops, there are a variety of alternative shopping districts to choose from. 3rd Street Corridor in the Old City highly regarded for its many independent retailers and Antique Row is the place to go to see antiques of course, as well as handmade gift and craft shops.
For markets, hit the Italian Market or visit the Reading Terminal Market; a popular indoor market that has been going since the late 1800’s where the food and craft stalls are interspersed with a number of restaurants and Pennsylvania Dutch vendors.
Historic Sites in Philly
Although there aren’t hundreds of historic sites here, the few that do exist are quite well known. A worthy example includes the Eastern State Penitentiary, known as “America’s Most Historic Prison”. The guided tours are said to be excellent, particularly around Halloween when they take on a chilling twist.
The Edgar Allan Poe National Historic Site and Independence National Historic Park are also worthy sites to visit.
Alternative Things to Do
The city is filled with green space and there are many parks whereby you can escape the hustle and bustle of the city streets and relax for a while. Fairmount Park adorns the bank of the Schuykill River in the northwest of the city and is home to the Smith Memorial Playground as well as a driving range. You can also walk around Wisshickon Valley and visit the Japanese Tea Garden amongst more. Pennypack Park, FDR Park and Love Park all prove popular too.
Why not visit the Adventure Aquarium which a huge selection of underwater creatures call home; stroll through the 40 metre shark tunnel and let the kids have fun at the touch pools. You could embrace your time in the USA and indulge in some all American fun; watch a Philadelphia Phillies baseball game! Sample some of Philadelphia’s famous food while you are here and enjoy some of the delicious Philly Cheese Steak, not to mention the pretzels and Goldenberg Peanut Chews! For another enjoyable day trip, why not visit Philadelphia Zoo. It was the first in America and makes for another great activity during your time here.
This is just an introduction to the wealth of things to do in Philly. Has this persuaded you to visit? Perhaps you have already been? If so, what did you think and what were the top things you did there? Let us know in the comments below.
