The City of Brotherly Love may be known for its historical and cultural attractions, but there is a lot more to this city than just the signing of the Declaration of Independence. From sports to shopping, with nightlife in between – it’s hard to get bored when visiting Philadelphia.
Walnut Street is known for its abundance of stores. From 19th & Walnut down to Broad Street, you can shop for almost anything. There’s H&M, a Tiffany’s, and an Apple Store in between. You can find essentially any kind of store you’re looking for in just several short blocks. Liberty Place is a small indoor shopping mall with a lot to offer and is located on 16th & Chestnut. Barney’s has a co-op on Rittenhouse Square. It’s much smaller than the flagship store in NYC, but still maintains the same luxury clothing and designers.
TLA is a fun place to see live music. The venue is relatively small, so you can get right up to the stage and see the action up close. Artists ranging from ‘Tyler, The Creator’ to ‘Wale’ have upcoming tours making stop there. The Electric Factory is also a good choice when you want to go to a concert. Artists like Zedd and Dillon Francis have performed there. A$AP Ferg & YG are coming. It has a larger capacity than TLA, but it still has the same feeling of being close to the music.
If you want to go across the Ben Franklin Bridge into Camden, NJ – you will find the Susquehanna Bank Center. It is notorious for housing concerts of epic proportions, with their ability to have large numbers in attendance. Artists like Drake, Rihanna, and Lil’ Wayne regularly come to perform. It is accessible by taking public transportation’s PATCO system, and is only a few short blocks from the station.
If you’re looking for a more cultural experience, you can visit a number of museums – many of which are in walking distance from one another. The Philadelphia Museum of Art (right), where the now famous Rocky statue stands – is home to an abundance of artwork and there is usually a travelling exhibit. The Rodin Museum is also nearby. A few blocks away you can visit the Benjamin Franklin Institute, which is kid friendly and has many interactive exhibits. There is a large IMAX theatre inside, and it offers discounts depending on the date and time. Children and adults can enjoy the Natural Sciences museum, which has an extensive collection of dinosaur remains and interactive exhibits where kids can unearth fossils. There is always a travelling exhibit, and almost all year round you can walk through a climate controlled room that is home to various species of butterflies. The Mutters Museum is probably the least child appropriate out of these places, but it is known for having fascinating and shocking attractions.
The Constitution Center is located near the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. These historical landmarks, along with the Betsy Ross House are located next to Old City, and are definitely sites to see.
Old City is a fun part of town to spend the night. It is a low-key part of town with cool bars and reasonably priced restaurants. University City is home to the University of Pennsylvania area, and home to many bars and restaurants frequented by the college students. Closer to center city, you can find clubs and bars that don’t attract the college crowd, and are frequented by younger people that live in the city. Rumor has become pretty popular (15th & Sansom).
If you’re a sports fan, there’s always a game to go to. Depending on the time of year, you can catch a Phillies game, a Flyers game, as well as show some support for the 76ers. Eagles games are always a good time, even in the winter. The Comcast Sports Center, Lincoln Financial Field, and Citizens Bank Park are relatively recent constructions – with phenomenal food as well as other amenities.
If you want more a more ‘authentic ‘ Philly food experience, make your way down to South Philly for Pat’s and Gino’s. These longtime rivals are located in close proximity, and are notorious for having the best cheesesteaks in the city.
Steven Starr is one of the top restaurant owners in Philadelphia. He has opened several popular restaurants – all of them unique in décor and cuisine-type. The Continental (left) offers ‘American’ food with a twist, and looks as if it came out of the sixties. The rooftop bar is great for going out with friends later at night, and offers all of the same food as the restaurant downstairs. The rooftop fireplace is a cool spot where you can enjoy your drink while looking out at the Philadelphia skyline.
