![]() ![]() To the west, along the Schuylkill River, lies Fairmount Park, a vast belt of green containing numerous Federal-style mansions, as well as the Philadelphia Museum of Art and the Rodin Museum. Similarly, Germantown in northwest Philadelphia, is another old residential section, first inhabited by Germans and the Dutch. Many of these eighteenth-century buildings have been handsomely restored. To the south lies Society Hill, the city's original residential area. Today, modern office towers exist side-by-side with the narrow cobblestone streets of Independence Historic National Park, which is home to historic buildings and sights, including the Liberty Bell, Franklin Court, and Independence Hall. Independence Hall, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania A century earlier, William Penn, a prominent Quaker and namesake of Pennsylvania, was a catalyst for the changes that transformed these British colonies into an independent nation. At Independence Hall on July 4, 1776, the Declaration of Independence was adopted, and in September 1787, the Constitution was drafted. TIP: Don’t forget to snap a photo with the accompanying mural, just across the street.Philadelphia is one of America's most important historical cities. Nearby, peer into the study of the Edgar Allan Poe House, where one of America’s most influential writers penned some of his well-known spine-tinglers. After enjoying lunch, shop your way through the neighborhood’s collection of independent boutiques. Cardillo.īeloved gastropubs and hip brunch spots abound in Northern Liberties. Make your way to North Philadelphia for the free-to-visit Wagner Free Institute of Science, which boasts more than 100,000 natural history specimens including fossils, shells, minerals, mounted animal skeletons and skins displayed in original wood and glass cabinets. AfternoonĬross the Schuylkill River and visit the Mütter Museum – named one of Lonely Planet’s “unique museums around the world you can’t miss.” Siamese twins, the “mega-colon” and slices of Albert Einstein’s brain are just a few of the interesting medical specimens on view at this Rittenhouse-area museum. TIP: Grab coffee and snacks to-go from the nearby Walnut Street Café and enjoy them while atop Cira Green.Ĭira Green. Take a short walk to the 12th floor of this otherwise unsuspecting parking garage to find Cira Green, a picnic-perfect park in the sky with some of the best views of the Center City skyline. Start the day on the University of Pennsylvania campus and embrace your inner Indiana Jones and unearth an amazing collection of nearly a million of archaeology’s most prized artifacts at the Penn Museum - including the largest Sphinx in the western hemisphere. End the day in Old City with a candlelit Ghost Tour that reveals the more macabre past of Philadelphia’s historic haunts, including Washington Square and Independence Hall.īenjamin Franklin Bridge Pedestrian Walkway at sunset. Enter at 5th & Race streets and head east to encounter one of the best views of the city as you hover over the Delaware River. Walk off your meal by chasing the sunset along the Benjamin Franklin Bridge’s pedestrian walkway. Here, the servers double as professional opera singers who perform every 20 minutes. Enjoy lunch at The Garden at Cherry Street Pier, a riverside, open-air dining area on the pier’s eastern end that offers stunning views of the Delaware River and Benjamin Franklin Bridge.įor dinner, traditional Italian dishes and an extensive wine list at Victor Café, a cozy South Philadelphia restaurant that was featured in several Rocky and Creed films. Head to the Delaware River Waterfront and explore Cherry Street Pier – a former municipal pier that is now a mixed-use space with artist studios, rotating exhibitions, and pop-up events. The 21-ft Flame of Liberty by renowned glass sculptor, Dale Chihuly at the National Liberty Museum. Staying in the historic district, visit the National Liberty Museum to examine the principles of freedom and liberty via intricate glass art - including 21-ft Flame of Liberty by renowned glass sculptor, Dale Chihuly - and a crack-less, ring-able copy of the Liberty Bell. Pay your respects to Ben Franklin at the church’s nearby burial grounds. Afterwards, take a short walk to nearby Christ Church and sit in the pews where the nation’s Founders once worshipped. Once the nation’s first commodities exchange, the historic building is now home to a modern food hall with 20+ vendors inside. Start in Old City and grab a coffee from The Bourse. Philadelphia is known for its history and American tradition, but it’s also home to many sites and attractions that are anything but traditional. Go off the beaten path to find hidden gems: some fascinating, some bizarre and all unique.
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