Despite the fact that Philadelphia is, in fact, two hours east of where I grew up in Pennsylvania, it’s always felt like home to me. And it’s where I often tell people that I’m from (because honestly, it’s easier than “do you know where Harrisburg is? Yeah, I’m from 45 minutes south of there.”).
I always look forward to going back for a visit, seeing my friends, being in familiar territory, and eating all the delicious foods. When my friend and I were planning the route for the road trip from Austin back to Pennsylvania, she was eager to see all of these Northeastern cities she’d never visited. And unfortunately, due to a time constraint, we knew we’d only have time to see Philadelphia for a short while before making our way to New York City.
So, what do you do with just 24 hours in Philadelphia? Philadelphia is home to so many things to do for people with varying interests. One day certainly isn’t enough time to do half the things that I’d suggest doing in the city, but it gives enough time to scratch the surface of some awesome things.
Eastern State Penitentiary
I’ve written about this place before and have visited more times than I count, and it never loses its charm for me. Grabbing an audio guide and having Steve Buscemi narrate your way around the grounds and the old jail is the perfect way to spend a couple of hours. Eastern State is creepy even in the best weather conditions, so when we showed up during a downpour, it was exactly the ambience to make that place come alive. When you plan your visit, be sure to take notice of all the little details that make this place so special–the colors, the textures of chipping paint, the weird placement of furniture inside the cells, etc. Every time I visit, I end up discovering something new. And, it’s got rolling exhibits and right now one of the cells has an entire vehicle inside of it!
Love Park
No visit to the city is complete without a visit to Love Park. It’s one of the most iconic images of the city and since it only takes a few minutes, it’d be lame to pass it up. The color of the fountain changes sometimes depending upon holidays or different sports teams. The only thing I can come up with is that it’s football season and the Eagles colors are green, which is why the fountain is green. (This could be a total stretch though.) Love Park is often overcrowded with tourists hoping to snap their photos in front of the sculpture and fountain, but it’s still worth the stop. On a nice day, it’s a great place to take a little reprieve–stop and have a drink or a snack there and people watch.
Game Piece Plaza
Not far from Love Park, and directly across from City Hall (my favorite building in probably all the world) is Game Piece Plaza. This plaza features oversized game pieces from Monopoly, Sorry, Bingo, Chess, and Dominoes. You can pile into the oversized wheelbarrow, sit on the rook, or pretend to be crushed by falling dominoes. It’s kind of cheesy, but again, doesn’t take long and it’s a totally random thing to have in the middle of a city.
Rittenhouse Square
Smack dab in the middle of some major shopping streets, Rittenhouse Square is one of five lovely parks in Philadelphia. Rittenhouse Square is always teeming with people, and it seems as though it’s mostly locals–walking their dogs, having an afternoon picnic, lying on the grass reading, etc. It’s a great place to relax for a few minutes and people watch. After a few minutes on one of the park benches, it’s easy to forget that you’re right in the middle of a major city. Plus, it’s just damn beautiful.
Eat Cheesesteaks!
You cannot go to Philadelphia and not eat a cheesesteak. There are practically wars over who offers the best cheesesteak in the City of Brotherly Love, so just take your pick of place and give it a whirl. If you’re there for longer than an afternoon, try several places and make up your own mind. My personal preference for preparation is with mozzarella or provolone cheese (forget the whiz) and sautéed onions. But whatever your preference, don’t pass up a cheesesteak. Lots of places even offer veggie or chicken varieties too, so don’t let your dietary restrictions hold you back!
Never knew Philly had such treasures!
Lindsay recently posted..Planning an Argentina Trip
Haha–it’s a great place, Lindsay! Now you have to make it a point to get there and see all of those said treasures! :)
I’ve been to Philly a couple of times and haven’t experienced any of this except for the cheesesteaks. I love Philly.
Lance | Trips By Lance recently posted..Ready to Explore Albuquerque Culture
Awesome! There’s so much to do in Philly, so I’m glad I could bring a few new things to light for you. Hope you’ll get a chance to check them out next time you’re up that way. :)
You’re from York? Or Gettysburg? My grandparents live in Carlisle and I went to school in Allentown for a year, and I’m from Pittsburgh… so I know what you’re talking about, at least. :)
And this list of Philly is proof that I don’t even know my backyard. I’ve never been to any of these, and now I’d love to! Especially the game pieces park. That’s weird/right up my alley.
Sally recently posted..The 10 Stupidest Things I Did While Living in Korea
I am from the York area–went to school in Lancaster, and my dad lives in Camp Hill!
And you should definitely check all this stuff out–Philadelphia is full of awesome little finds. :)
Of all the places in the US (I’ve only been to New York) Philadelphia is at the top of my list of where I’d want to go and has been since I was a kid. Eastern State Penitentiary looks interesting, I went to an abandoned prison in Estonia in May (post on the blog next week) so these sort of things appeal! I really want to try a cheesesteak. Hopefully I can go in 2015! Love your whole site
Thanks, Amy! Hope you get to make it to Philly in 2015! It’s a wonderful city with so much to offer–so get yourself a cheesesteak and explore Eastern State Penitentiary. :)
Hey Megan, really enjoyed reading your article :) The fountain in Love Park looks magic and i’m very much craving a Cheesesteak right now! As someone from Philadelphia we were just wondering if you would agree with our top 5 list of free things to do there? (http://www.fivefreethings.com/free-things-to-do-in-philadelphia/) Or is there something great we missed. Any help would be great :) Thanks, Alex
Alex recently posted..Free Things to do in Philadelphia
I have traveled from Prague to Tokyo. Frankly, Phiiladelphia is one of the most cultural, historic, and interesting cities in America. A great food town and very walkable (you absolutely do not need a car to get around). There is so much more more to do. This list is a good for a taste, but there is so much more to the city than this.