At a recent Roadshow we learned about Philadelphia, and were pleasantly surprised to see that one can easily fill three days there, in a city that isalso known as the Birthplace of America and recently was named the first and only World Heritage City in the USA. Plus, the city lures visitors with a range of affordable and nice accommodation options in the city’s walkable, very lively, and safe downtown.
Philadelphia is undergoing a dramatic renaissance that spurred urban renewal over the last 15 years, which truly makes it a one-of-a-kind destination in the USA that won’t disappoint travelers. Millennials are moving into Philadelphia’s Center City at sky-high rates to study (Philly has over 300,000 students) and to pursue their entrepreneurial interests, making the city a very young, vibrant and hip place to live and explore.
It’s easy getting to Philadelphia with two major international airports located within 25 to 60 minutes by train from Philadelphia’s Center City. Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is the largest One World Hub in the Northeastern USA, while Newark International Airport (EWR) is a major Star Alliance hub for the Northeast. Plus, the Amtrak train from New York’s Penn Station to Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station takes only 80 minutes with multiple trains departing every hour.
The PHLCVB (The official Tourism Promotion Agency for the City of Philadelphia) generally recommend incorporating Philadelphia into the itineraries of travelers in two ways: either, use Philadelphia as a hub for exploring the Northeast of the USA due to its central location and affordability, or make it an overnight stop on route from New York City to Washington D.C. If travelers stay in Philadelphia’s Center City, they easily can take daytrips by train to New York, Washington D.C, Baltimore, Atlantic City, the Lancaster Amish Countryside, Hershey, or even King of Prussia, where the largest retail mall of America awaits them with over 450 shops. Each destination can be reached by train within 60 to 90 minutes.
But even within Philadelphia’s compact, walkable and vibrant Center City that’s filled with more than 2,500 restaurants and bars, 67 national historic landmarks, tax-free shopping, world-famous universities, performing arts venues and a never-ending schedule of seasonal events, visitors will be entertained plenty. If one spends three full days in Philadelphia, they suggest the following itinerary:
Day 1: Historic Sights of Old City & Society Hill
Start off your exploration of Philadelphia in a neighborhood called Old City along the banks of the Delaware River, where America’s Founding Fathers signed the Declaration of Independence and later on the US Constitution to start a new, independent country. This is where George Washington held his presidency before Washington DC was built.
Walk the cobblestone streets of Old City and Society Hill, a charming colonial town filled with Georgian-style red brick buildings, narrow alleys, green squares, and many firsts for America. This includes the first White House, Capitol Building (Independence Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage site), hospital, US Mint, bank, stock exchange, and many others. See Christ Church and Carpenters Hall, the Betsy Ross House, where the first American flag was stitched, and don’t forget to view the Liberty Bell. Society Hill also is home to City Tavern, the oldest restaurant in the USA where George Washington met with the Founding Fathers routinely to discuss the future of what is to become America.
At the Southern tip of Society Hill, visitors will encounter colorful South Street with its mix of funky bars, restaurants, tattoo parlors, concert venues and unusual boutiques. One can also try a Philly Cheesesteak at Jim’s Steak or head into South Philly to see the traditional outdoor Italian Market and do the ultimate Philly Cheesesteak taste test – Pat’s King of Steaks versus Geno’s Steaks.
The Old City and Society Hill neighborhoods are also the starting points for many of Philadelphia’s sightseeing excursions, including hop-on hop-off buses, Segway tours, walking tours, Ride the Ducks, and scenic lunch and dinner cruises on the Delaware River. Many of the city’s more than 3,800 mural arts paintings can be toured here, and explored in fascinating detail. Museums in this area of the city include the National Constitution Center, National Liberty Museum, the Independence Seaport Museum with its historic vessels, and the Museum of American Revolution will open its doors in 2017. You also can hop on a ferry to cross the Delaware River for a visit to the Adventure Aquarium and the historic Battleship New Jersey.
Day 2: Arts and Culture on Broad Street, Benjamin Franklin Parkway & University City
Philadelphia also is a treasure chest for art enthusiasts. The first art school of America, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, can still be visited today and is located just to the north of Philly’s impressive City Hall, the largest and tallest masonry building in the world. City Hall allows travelers to take a tiny elevator to the top of its clock tower for amazing views of the skyline. Just south of City Hall, visitors can catch live theatre performances, see the Philadelphia Orchestra or tap their toes to musicals along Broad Street, also known as the Avenue of the Arts. The Walnut Theatre, the oldest theatre in the United States, is only a few blocks away in the vibrant Washington Square neighborhood with its many bars and restaurants, boutique shops and lively Gayborhood.
To the west of City Hall, one quickly finds himself on Benjamin Franklin Parkway, referred to as Philadelphia’s Museum Mile. There, one will find the Drexel Academy of Natural Sciences and the Franklin Institute on beautiful Logan Square, two of the city’s premier scientific museums with exhibits for visitors of all ages. Just steps away, purveyors of French impressionists will not want to miss The Barnes Foundation, featuring the world’s largest private collection of works by Renoir, Cezanne and Matisse. Overall, more than 1,000 works of art can be viewed here. Next door, the Rodin Museum is home to the largest collection of sculptures by Rodin outside of Paris. A 10-minute walk away from the Rodin Museum, travelers can walk the eerie hallways of abandoned Eastern State Penitentiary, the first federal penitentiary in the USA. We like to think of it as the original Alcatraz, and one definitely should take the time to participate in guided tours of this unique attraction.
The grand dame of Philadelphia’s museums awaits visitors at the far end of Benjamin Franklin Parkway – the Philadelphia Museum of Art. This museum, considered to be the third largest art museum in the USA, is known around the world for being the location of the Rocky Steps. Hundreds of visitors stop there every day to take pictures at the statue of fictional character “Rocky Balboa” and race up the stairs of the museum for a breathtaking view of the city’s skyline. We recommend not missing the spectacular interiors of this spectacular building that houses more than 200 galleries with art from around the world.
Just west of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, one can overlook Philadelphia’s second river, the Schuylkill, with its famous Boathouse Row along the green riverbanks of beautiful Fairmont Park. It’s quite likely that you will see a balloon rise more than 300 feet into the air along the horizon; that’s an adventure you can have at the Philadelphia Zoo, the oldest zoo in the United States. The hop-on hop-off bus tours can easily take you there.
West of the Schuylkill River, especially young travelers will want to head to University City where the campuses of Drexel University and Ivy-league University of Pennsylvania (think “Wharton School of Business”) await with tree-lined streets and walking paths. The Penn Museum should definitely be on your list of places to see, as this anthropological museum showcases a stunning collection of artifacts from around the world. Be sure to visit the Egyptian, Chinese, Japanese, and African collections.
Day 3: Tax-free Shopping & City Life on Rittenhouse Square, Walnut Street & Market Street
After two eventful days filled with museums, historic landmarks, and sightseeing, don’t forget to take advantage of Philadelphia’s tax-free shopping program. Clothing and shoes do not require payment of taxes in the State of Pennsylvania, as they are considered essentials. So be sure to visit the many boutiques along upscale Rittenhouse Row and Walnut Street for unique Philadelphia fashion items. Or visit Liberty Place, a mall that features the new Bloomingdale Outlets and is the starting point for rides to the One Liberty Observation Deck on the 57th floor of this building complex. You’ll get a bird’s eyes view over Philadelphia’s Center City and can learn about the city’s history and landmarks on state-of-the-art, interactive, digital displays.
Next to City Hall, on the east side of Market Street, visitors can continue their shopping adventure at Macy’s inside the historic Wannamaker Building, the oldest department store in the USA, where one can see the world’s largest pipe organ in the building’s massive atrium. Macy’s provides 10% savings coupons to international travelers, so be sure to take advantage of this great offer. Four blocks walk away one can find the new Century 21 department store, featuring luxury brands at discount prices.
Head across the street head into Reading Terminal Market for a real Philadelphia treat. This old indoor food market features more than 80 different vendors. Try local delicacies such as Scrapple, juicy pork sandwiches, apple dumplings, or cheesesteaks from Amish and Mennonite vendors who bring in their foods from the nearby Pennsylvania Dutch countryside. Or take a culinary trip around the globe when sampling the food of Indian, Chinese, Middle Eastern or Mediterranean vendors. Inside this market one can try ice cream from Bassett’s, the oldest ice cream place in the USA. It’s an experience a great place for lunch.
Above Reading Terminal Market, business travelers will find the Pennsylvania Convention Center (PCC), the largest convention center in the Northeast of the United States. Stretching over four city blocks, this massive venue boasts one million square feet of meeting space. The Hard Rock Café is located within the same building. More than 12,000 hotel rooms are located within a 25-minute walking radius from the PCC, which makes it a convenient choice for hosting conventions, as attendees can easily walk to and from the venue and enjoy the area’s many restaurants, shopping and attractions. Parallel to the convention center, you’ll be able to explore the third largest China Town in the USA. From dim sum, hot pot, to Cantonese cuisine, one can enjoy a culinary trip around China or marvel at the stunning Friendship Arch gifted by Philadelphia’s sister city Tianjin.
There’s a lot more to discover in Philadelphia. Give us a call and let us help.
