City Guide: Philadelphia

Earlier this summer, while city hopping out East, my sister and I took a day trip to Philadelphia. Philadelphia is a great city: easy to navigate, filled with both history and tourism all within walking distance of city center. Its a great city for both young professionals (as evidenced by the packed beer gardens) but also for families, with lots of historical sites, bus tours, and outdoor spaces ideal for picnic lunches.

Here are my highlights and suggestions for a visit to the city of brotherly love:

Reading Terminal Market
51 N 12th St
Reading Terminal Market is located in city center and boats dozens of shops and eateries, with everything imaginable under one roof: cheese shops, sweets, fresh cut flowers, barbecue joints, local butchers, hand rolled sushi, ice cream, and more.

Historical Sites and Architecture
There’s a lot of historical sites in Philadelphia, most notably Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. Visitors can tour Independence Hall and the various buildings surrounding the area and learn about the Liberty Bell and when/why it has been rung throughout American history. The architecture, attention to detail, and ornate sculptures in the buildings are something not to miss around the city.

Independence Beer Garden
100 S Independence Mall
Located directly across from the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall is the Independence Beer Garden. Packed on the weekends, its the perfect place to grab some friends and hang out with yard games in the afternoon over some beers and apps. They had corn hole, giant jenga, cards, and bocce ball located throughout the garden, with various seating options: bar, picnic tables, lawn chairs and stumps.

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Philly Cheesesteak
I think it would be a crime to visit the city of brotherly love without ordering a Philly Cheesesteak. We couldn’t decide on traditional or creative, so we ordered one at the market and one at Sonny’s and split them both. Dinic’s is located within the Reading Terminal Market and Sonny’s is located in Old City, a few blocks from the liberty bell, and was named best Cheesesteak by GQ.

Cheesesteak #1: Dinic’s (roast beef, mozzarella, broccoli rabe)

Sonny’s: Voted #1 by GQ

Sonny’s Cheesesteak

Rocky Steps
2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy
No trip to Philadelphia is complete without running up the Rocky steps (added bonus: working off a few cheesesteak calories.) The infamous Rocky steps are located at the Museum of Art. Run the steps, explore the museum and beautiful botanic gardens, take in the view of the city from the top of the 72 steps, and explore the nearby museums like Rodin.

What are your favorite Philadelphia locations? I’d love to hear!