7 Must See Places in the picturesque city of Philadelphia
Whether you prefer museums or the theater, zoos or gardens, sports entertainment or shopping excursions there really is something for everyone.
Philadelphia has become the “now” place where young artists collaborate to innovate everything from food to fashion, creating a renaissance environment.
As America’s birthplace, Philadelphia is the nation’s only UNESCO World Heritage City. Where else can you walk from the sites where political luminaries debated standing up to a king to the home of the largest collection of Rodin sculptures outside of Paris before making your way through a giant-sized human heart?
Philadelphia’s art, music, film, design, fashion, performance and culinary energy are thriving. Want to make some memories? Philadelphia is here for the making.
Rittenhouse Square
An ultimate destination of luxury shopping, restaurants, arts & leisure, Rittenhouse Square sits in the middle of some of the most desirable addresses in Philadelphia. Named for astronomer and clockmaker David Rittenhouse, Rittenhouse Square is where visitors and locals gather for picnics, brown-bag lunches or just strolling amid the trees, manicured lawns and sculptures.
The family-friendly park is one of the most lovely and peaceful spots to paint, read, relax on a park bench or catch-up with friends. You will find charming townhomes, luxurious spas, amazing eateries, jewelry stores and the highest of high-end fashion boutiques. High-rise residences, luxury apartments, an office tower, popular restaurants and retail stores surround the tree-filled park, which offers an oasis of respite and relaxation amidst the bustling city.
Reading Terminal Market
Satisfy your groups’ appetites with delicious food from more than 80 merchants at Reading Terminal Market, an authentic 115-year old farmers market in the heart of Center City. The historic Reading Terminal Market is home to 80 renowned merchants who offer the best of Philadelphia’s famous specialties. Made with the finest and freshest ingredients, visitors to the Terminal have access to an unparalleled variety of international and local cuisine, including
Pennsylvania Dutch specialties; mozzarella cheese made on site at the Valley Shepherd Creamery; and winner of Travel Channel’s Adam Richman’s Best Sandwich in America, Tommy DiNic’s roast pork sandwich. After grabbing a bite to eat, visitors to the Terminal can take home a myriad of items to further their experience including fresh, local groceries; unique regionally themed souvenirs; and Philadelphia-based cookbooks. The Reading Terminal Market, established in 1892 at 12th and Arch Streets, is the nation’s oldest continuously operating farmers’ market.
Mural Tours
Travel around the world’s largest outdoor art gallery by taking a Mural Arts Tours, a rare peek into the collection of over 3,600 murals, with a variety of both public and private tours available, including trolley, walking, train and step-on. All tours include detailed information about the murals themselves, the artistic process and the history of the diverse communities that serve as the backdrop for this unique art form.
King of Prussia Mall
King of Prussia Mall is the premier shopping destination of the East Coast, featuring seven world-class department stores and more than 400 shops, boutiques and restaurants. King of Prussia boasts more retail space than anywhere else in America and features stores that cannot be found elsewhere in the region. The Court and the Plaza at King of Prussia combine to make the largest mall on the East Coast. A veritable shopper’s paradise, the mall features eight department stores (including Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Bloomingdale’s and Macy’s), more than 40 eateries (including Morton’s and The Cheesecake Factory) and nearly 400 specialty shops (including Burberry, Apple, Louis Vuitton and Sephora). You’ll find everything you need (and probably a few things you don’t) at this one-stop shopping extravaganza.
Historic Mile
Head to Independence National Historical Park for a walking tour of “Americas most historic square mile,” including the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall and Franklin Court.
Philadelphia is a city where the American Dream was founded. It’s where courageous visionaries crafted the model for modern-day democracy that inspires people globally to embrace the power of their individuality and our human potential. Storytelling, History Makers, Adventure Tours and more bring history to life like never before with Once upon a Nation!
Philadelphia is home to iconic places such as Independence Hall, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that changed the world when the fathers of our nation used the location to debate and adopt both the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution.
Within that square mile, visitors also will find the Liberty Bell (a symbol of freedom that predates our nation’s birth. Myth holds it sustained its trademark crack when it was rung to announce the signing of the Declaration of Independence), The President’s House (where both George Washington and John Adams spent most of their presidencies before the White House was built in Washington, D.C), Franklin Court (the Philadelphia home of statesman, author, printer, inventor, postmaster, activist and more. The building also is the nation’s first post office) and much more.
Parkway Street
Feel like a Philadelphian as you walk day and night through the vibrant streetscape and immerse yourself in America’s Old and New World. Picturesque and friendly streets are lined with parks, rivers, shops, public art, restaurants and museums. Everything is within walking distance from downtown. Benjamin Franklin Parkway is Philadelphia’s Champs Elysees — or it’s Pennsylvania Avenue. The Parkway is the spine of Philadelphia’s Museum District. Some of the city’s most famous sights are here: Basilica of Sts. Peter and Paul, Swann Memorial Fountain, the Free Library of Philadelphia, the Franklin Institute, Moore College of Art and Design, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Rodin Museum, Eakins Oval, the Barnes Foundation and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Intimate, well-lit streets provide the adventure of discovery in a city that is easy to navigate. Located in the heart of Philadelphia, The Franklin Institute is a leading museum in science and innovation. Interactive exhibits include Space Command, Sir Isaac’s Loft: Where Art Physics Collide, The Franklin Air Show, and the famous Giant Heart.
XFINITY Live! Philadelphia
XFINITY Live! Philadelphia is Philly’s Premier Dining and Entertainment destination located in the heart of the South Philadelphia Sports Complex. XFINITY Live! Features multiple and unique dining and entertainment venues including: Victory Beer Hall, PBR Bar & Grill, Broad Street Bullies Pub, Spectrum Grill, Live! VIP Lounge and the first ever NBC Sports Arena complete with a 32-foot HD LED big screen. It has something for everyone and is the perfect spot before during and after all sporting events!
