Walking Through History in Philadelphia

Length: 3 Days | Budget: $$

Philadelphia gets a bad rep. I’ll admit, I’ve traveled to Philly multiple times for work and always found it to be….a bit tired. It was always one of those places that felt like a ‘pit-stop’ on my way to the bigger and flashier Manhattan (just a short train-ride away). It wasn’t until my most recent trip though that I got to discover another side to the city – one filled with character, distinct food and tradition, and history. I have so much more appreciation for Philadelphia and all it has to offer! Follow this itinerary and hopefully you’ll feel the same.

Day 1: The Historical District

You may not know this but, Philadelphia used to be the nation’s capital (up until 1790 when Washington, D.C. was founded). Walk through downtown Philly and you’ll find yourself surrounded by beautifully preserved buildings that tell the story of America’s early history, the revolution, and the rise of democracy.

Prepare yourself for a long day of walking by eating a late breakfast/early lunch at the Reading Terminal Market, a huge indoor market filled with produce, gourmet goods, and lots and lots of delicious food. Standout places include: Beck’s Cajun Cafe (fried mac and cheese and gator gumbo!), Flying Monkey Bakery (butter cake and whoopie pies), Dinics (roast pork sandwich with sharp provolone and hot peppers), and Beiler’s Donuts. Much like most of our trips….my husband and I got a bit of everything to share!

TIP: You can’t miss out on Beiler’s Donuts. Don’t be intimidated by the massive line OR the giant fryer that is surrounded by buckets of icing and cream. The donuts look heavy but they actually taste surprisingly light and fluffy. Get the maple bacon, you won’t regret it.

Now, time to walk off those calories! Head towards Independence Hall (where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were both signed). On your way, you’ll pass by multiple historical sites of significance including an old restored building where Thomas Jefferson spent much of his time drafting the Declaration of Independence. Wait in line for a photo op with the Liberty Bell,  tour the United States Mint, and continue past the Christ Church Burial Ground (Ben Franklin was buried here) toward Betsy Ross’s house. Then, make your way to Elfreth’s Alley which is known to be the oldest inhabited street in the nation (and yes! people still live there!).

But wait….the history lesson isn’t over yet. The best way to end a historical walking tour is by having dinner at The City Tavern, a local restaurant that features traditional 18th-century colonial recipes. The building has an amazing history – it was the official headquarters of the Continental Army for 3 days, was the unofficial meeting place before and after sessions of the first Continental Congress, and was the site of America’s first 4th of July celebration on July 4, 1777. Be prepared to feel slightly awkward being served by folks dressed in full-blown period costume (we did)….but don’t worry, it’s all part of the dining experience!

TIP: The food at City Tavern was hit-or-miss (hit: the turkey pot pie; miss: the beef stroganoff) but the drinks were amazing! I guess our Founding Fathers knew their beers…. get the colonial ale sampler for a nice variety.

---

Day 2: Museum Row + University of Pennsylvania

There is this magical place called “Wawa” that lives in Pennsylvania. Growing up in Utah, I had never heard of such a place…but the way my husband raved about Wawa made it seem like it was heaven on earth (he once called it the KING OF CONVENIENCE STORES).  Naturally, we kicked off day 2 by going to Wawa and grabbing breakfast and coffee to go.

Walk down Benjamin Franklin Parkway towards the Parkway Museum District – here you’ll discover a cultural mecca with multiple acclaimed fine art museums (Rodin Museum, Philadelphia Museum of Art) and science institutions (Franklin Institute).  If you’re not an art history buff or if you’re limited on time….the must-do in the area is the Barnes Foundation. The Barnes Foundation houses an amazing collection of post-impressionist masterpieces (my favorite!). Even those who don’t like museums will find themselves fawning over the works of Cezanne, Picasso, Renoir, Matisse, and Rousseau.

TIP: We happened to visit Philly during the first week of the month. This worked out well because the Barnes Foundation hosts “Free First Sundays” every month which meant that we got to skip out on the $20/person admission fee! Tickets are limited by the hour, so plan ahead and go early (they open at 10:00am).

Next, take a short Uber ride over to the University of Pennsylvania campus. UPenn was founded by Benjamin Franklin and is considered to be one of the oldest (if not the oldest) universities in the U.S. The campus is beautiful and is a great place for wandering! Start your explorations along Locust Street. Then, leave campus by walking along Walnut Street, past the Schuylkill River. If you continue heading straight on Walnut, you’ll stroll straight through the heart of the city (you’ll pass right by Rittenhouse Square and Washington Square) and end at the Delaware River waterfront (~2 miles).

Once you’ve worked up an appetite, treat yourself to dinner and enjoy an amazing multi-course Israeli dinner at Zahav (reservations are a must). I can’t even tell you how amazing Zahav was….you just have to experience the meal for yourself. We were stuffed after the first course, which was a gorgeous spread of vegetables, labneh, and turkish hummus. The food, the atmosphere, the service….it was all outstanding!

---

Day 3: South Street

Kick off your last day in Philly by spending your morning at the Italian Market where there’s plenty to see, smell, and eat! Grab lunch at Paesanos Philly Style Sandwiches, a famous sandwich joint that has been featured in several articles, blogs, and even on an episode of Anthony Bourdain’s The Layover.

A few blocks away is the Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens– a labyrinth of glass, mirrors, bottles, tires, and other ‘garbage-worthy’ items that have been painstakingly organized into amazing mosaic mazes of art. Magic Gardens originally started as a way for artist Isaiah Zagar and his wife to ‘beautify’ their beloved South Street neighborhood in the 1960s…. it’s since become a Philly institution and a truly magical place.

In a town as sports crazy as Philly, you’d be missing out if you didn’t catch a game at a local sports bar. Snack on some crab fries, grab a beer, and check out a football or baseball game at Chickie’s and Pete’s, which was voted as “North America’s Best Sports Bar” by ESPN Mobile (our Uber driver also recommended this place, which was how we discovered it). We cheered on our hometown football team (GO SEAHAWKS!)…and felt very grateful that the Seahawks weren’t playing the Eagles that week.

TIP: Uber drivers can be a great resource while traveling. They somehow know all the best places to hang out and eat. Some of our best travel finds have been recommendations from our various Uber drivers!

End the trip by wandering the streets of Washington Square and dining at Talula’s Garden nearby for a late dinner.

Want more details or a full day-by-day itinerary of this trip? Need help planning your trip to Philadelphia? Sign-up for my e-mail list or shoot me a comment/question  below!

[contact-form-7 id=”1264″ title=”Contact form 1″]