Philadelphia

No city screams colonial history quite like Philadelphia. Just hearing the name Philadelphia, you can easily associate it with many historical events such as the signing of The Constitution, The Bill of Rights, and The Declaration of Independence. If food is more your thing than history, the very notion of a classic cheesesteak or a soft pretzel will make your mouth water. No matter what the purpose for your travel or getaway visit to Philadelphia is, you will find it filled with adventure every step of the way.

Anyone visiting Philadelphia will love the many outdoor spaces and opportunities to enjoy the outdoors in urban parks as well as scenic trails. You can’t go more than a couple of blocks in the center without coming across a historic landmark. This charming city with delicious food will surely entertain families, be a great setting for romantic getaways, and also serve solo travelers looking for experiences.

Best things to do in Philadelphia

Philadelphia has a lot to offer, you will want to ensure that you don’t miss the following things while visiting. From the Rocky statue to a mouthwatering cheesesteak, or enjoying the day among the museums, you will always have a full schedule of activities for every day that you’re there.

Rocky

Experience Philadelphia in Rocky’s footsteps. This is a fun and free activity for any fans of the classic movies. Turn on “Eye of the Tiger” on Spotify, put on your grey sweats, and start your day like Rocky. Once you’ve drunk your raw eggs like Rocky, you can start from the Rocky Statue, which is right near the Philadelphia Museum of Art. After the popular statue, head to Rocky Steps to jog all the 72 steps up. Don’t forget to pose at the top with fists in the air and take a picture with a view.

If you want to spot more locations from the movie, head to 9th Street Italian Market. In the famous movie scenes, Rocky ran through this market. This open-air market is a great place to visit on its own also. There are dozens of vendors and everything from vegetables to meats and spices, as well as cute specialty shops and restaurants. After all the walking, if you still haven’t had a meal, head to Pat’s King of Steaks for a famous cheesesteak.

Take a Tour of the Museums

After you have done the Rocky pose in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, don’t miss an opportunity to visit this noteworthy museum. It was charted in 1876 for the US centennial and currently contains over 240,000 objects! After, you can head over to the Benjamin Franklin Parkway where you will find some of the most iconic museums and cultural landmarks in the country, such as the Barnes Foundation, The Franklin Institute, The Academy of Natural Sciences of Drexel University. If you are looking for something a bit different, the nearby Eastern State Penitentiary is an interesting site to visit. With so many cultural delights to enjoy, visiting Philadelphia is surely going to be inspiring.

Strike a Pose With Liberty Bell

Although the Liberty Bell is silent, its message is still able to reach people and easily draws tourists daily. Stand near it as you enjoy a view of Independence Hall. Visitors can view it around the year at no charge. In case you’re wondering, the crack is from when it was being tested hundreds of years ago.

Famous Local Specialty Foods in Philadelphia

The Philly Cheesesteak

Having an original cheesesteak is always better in Philadelphia, and has become the city’s staple sandwich that many continue to enjoy. With a pile of steak and cheese or onions loading a hoagie, you will certainly enjoy a great Philly cheesesteak whenever you are in town. Don’t ask for anything else, otherwise, the locals may look at you funny.

The Classic Roast Pork

Although the roast pork is lesser known than the cheesesteak, it is still capable of standing out among many Italian-Americans living in the city. With a nice helping of roasted pork sliced to perfection, it gets a nice coating of provolone and broccoli rabe that is sautéed with garlic. No matter which place you get yours from you will know it will be the best that you have ever had.

Check out Reading Terminal Market

The Reading Terminal Market has been around for over 125 years and is located below an old train station. The market draws tourists in and also provides the freshest produce, cheese, and meats for all who visit. Visitors will also enjoy the ample amount of seating available so you can sit and enjoy lunch from the top area restaurants including DiNic’s and Pennsylvania Dutch cuisine. A wide variety of food options will make sure that everyone from your group will find something great to eat from here.

The Best Time To Go To Philadelphia

In order to enjoy the best that Philadelphia has to offer, you should look into making a nice weekend trip to Philadelphia during the spring. If you’re looking for both, a prime time based on weather and hotel prices, then you can’t go wrong with visiting in the springtime. Visiting during the spring will also provide you with many opportunities to capture the cherry blossoms blooming. If you are looking for the cheapest time, then both the fall months and winter months will be the cheapest as you brave the cold. If you don’t mind the crowds, then the summer will be perfect as they peak during this season.

To sum up

Philadelphia certainly has a lot to offer its visitors and knowing that you will have great food in a great city makes it even more worthwhile to make it a travel getaway. So if you want to see a city that is full of cultural diversity and history, then you will be glad to book your next vacation or weekend trip to Philadelphia.