Philadelphia is Pennsylvania’s largest city and is, of course, known as the home of the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and the “Rocky” statue. Its name means the City of Brotherly Love and was originally settled by Native American tribes, particularly the Lenape hunter-gatherers, around 8000 B.C.
And for Americans, Philadelphia holds a special significance. After all, it is the birthplace of the United States, where our Founding Fathers met, discussed, debated, and formed a new country. It is the country’s first World Heritage City.
My family visited this great city over five years ago as a college road trip for our daughter. This time, it was part of a college graduation gift for our son. Why Philly? He’s a huge baseball fan and loves to visit all the stadiums so Citizens Bank Park was on his list.
With that bit of information in hand, I expanded our weekend adventure to include more. So join us as we spend 36 hours in the City of Brotherly Love – Philadelphia!
But before we started exploring, we were hungry! After parking at the Visitor’s Center garage, we picked up a map and headed to…
Reading Terminal Market
Hungry visitors and locals will find something for everyone here, even the pickiest of eaters.
But how did this market start? Of course, the founder of this city, William Penn, had something to do with it. He brought farmers, fishermen, and huntsman, who were hawking their goods all over the bustling settlement, into an open area at the foot of what was known as High Street, along the Delaware River.
It was soon called ‘Jersey Market’ (because of its proximity to the neighboring state) and it began to expand westward in the middle of the thoroughfare that had been appropriately renamed Market Street.
Over time, open-air markets fell out of favor with the general public because they were considered health hazards and nuisances. They also created obstacles for the ever-increasing streetcar traffic. Eventually, these markets were dismantled. But two main markets sprang up at 12th and Market Streets. They were known as the Farmers’ Market and the Franklin Market. It would be these two markets that would become what is now Reading Terminal Market.
Markets are always a great place to eat well, no matter where you’re visiting. Click here to read about My Top 10 Food Commandments when traveling.
With our bellies full, we began our exploration of…
Independence National Historic Park
No visit to Philadelphia is complete without a visit to this National Park, which covers over 45 acres. This park represents the founding ideals of the nation and preserves national and international symbols of freedom and democracy, including Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell. There is much to see and explore here so it is up to you and your fellow travelers where you want to spend most of your time.
Here are the highlights from our visit starting with…
Independence Hall
No trip to Philadelphia is complete without a visit to this historic building.
It is here that both the United States Declaration of Independence and the United States Constitution were debated and adopted by America’s Founding Fathers.
Take note that advance reservations are required for the 1/2 hour tour conducted by park rangers. Advance reservations cost only $1 per ticket and guarantee you a spot. Click here to find out more info.
Next was a stop at the…
Liberty Bell
The Liberty Bell is a well-known symbol of freedom in the United States. It was first made in 1752 for the Pennsylvania State House, now known as Independence Hall. The bell was cast in London, England, and shipped to Pennsylvania. However, the metal was too brittle and cracked during a test strike. It had to be recast twice by local workmen John Pass and John Stow, whose last names appear on the bell.
The bell was used to summon lawmakers to legislative sessions and to alert citizens about public meetings and proclamations.
Many visitors think that the bell at the top of Independence Hall is the Liberty Bell. It is, of course, not so. This is the Centennial Bell, made for our nation by Great Britain in 1876.
Next stop…
National Constitution Center
This center s a non-profit institution devoted to the Constitution of the United States.
The center is an interactive museum and a national town hall for constitutional dialogue, hosting government leaders, journalists, scholars, and celebrities for public discussions (including presidential debates).
Important Note: It does not house the original Constitution. You’ll have to head over to the National Archives Building in Washington D.C. to view that.
On to the next stop…
Museum of American Revolution
This museum is dedicated to telling the story of the American Revolution. The museum was opened to the public on April 19, 2017, the 242nd anniversary of the first battles of the war, at Lexington and Concord, on April 19, 1775.
Our walking tour then took us to…
Christ Church
Founded in 1695 as a parish of the Church of England, this church played an integral role in the founding of the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States.
It is the final resting place of Benjamin Franklin and his wife, Deborah. Four other signers of the Declaration of Independence are buried here. They are Benjamin Rush, Francis Hopkinson, Joseph Hewes, and George Ross.
Unfortunately, we couldn’t visit the inside because there was a wedding taking place. Maybe next time.
We then headed over to…
Elfreth Street
This street is the oldest, continuously inhabited residential street in the United States.
Back in the 18th century, grocers, shoemakers, cabinet makers, tailors, and others worked from the first floor of their houses.
But nowadays, regular folk live here and these are their homes. So, if you plan on walking through it, be considerate.
It was time to bid this area goodbye because it was…
Time for Baseball
We headed over to Citizen’s Bank Park to see the Phillies take on the Chicago Cubs.
This family is true Mets fans but we enjoy all baseball. And for this game, two ex-Mets pitchers, Zach Wheeler and Marcus Stroman would be battling it out.
What a great night,!
After a good night’s sleep and breakfast at our B&B, we checked out and were ready for a second and final day in the City of Brotherly Love.
Our first stop was a photo op at…
Rocky Balboa Statue & Philadelphia Museum of Art
This statue stands at over eight feet tall. It was created in 1980 after Sylvester Stallone commissioned sculptor A. Thomas Schomberg to create the work for a scene in Rocky III.
Right nearby are the steps leading up to the Philadelphia Art Museum. These steps are the ones Rocky runs up in the famous scenes from the movie. Unfortunately, we didn’t have time to explore this museum but we did try to imitate Rocky and run up these steps!
Now, it was time to visit our final stop and quite a unique museum…
The Mutter Museum
This museum is a medical museum, containing a collection of anatomical and pathological specimens, wax models, and antique medical equipment. The museum is part of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia.
Not for the faint of heart or young children. Also, photography is not allowed. But if you’re into science, this is certainly the place for you.
After some delicious Vietnamese food for lunch, we headed back home.