Do you have friends or family members coming to town this summer who want to hit “the essential Philly spots,” but you want to make sure they’re actually making the most of their time (and yours)?
Philly certainly has some tourist traps (I’ll refrain from naming any names), but there’s also a decent handful of tourist-frequented spots that are genuinely worth taking your visitors — all depending on their interests, of course. Here’s where we at City Cast Philly think you should start:
This place gets super swarmed with visitors on weekends, and on days when there are conventions or conferences nearby. So if you’re lucky enough to have someone in town on an uneventful weekday afternoon, take them then. But even if you don’t, the donuts, PA Dutch-style soft pretzels, roast pork sandwiches, and other eateries with fare from all around the world are still worth braving the crowds for, IMO.
🏛️ The Rocky Statue and Philadelphia Museum of Art
Yes, I said it. Take your uncle to go see the Rocky Statue. Let him have his run up and down the art museum steps. It’s free — so why not? But also … make sure you go into the museum! (Pro tip: It’s pay-what-you-wish on Fridays after 5 p.m., so if your visitors aren’t all that invested in art but still want to have a look around, that’s the best time to go.)
📜 Old City
Philly’s historic district is worth visiting, but you’ve got to make sure you do it right. Waiting in line to see the Liberty Bell? Probably not worth your time. (Check it out through the glass from the sidewalk instead.) You’re better off taking a walk around the area and looking at historical markers, appreciating the architecture, and visiting free museums and sites like the American Philosophical Society, the Fireman’s Hall Museum, or the Science History Institute.
If you’ve got a visitor whose heart is set on seeing Independence Hall … it costs $1 and the tickets are timed, so why not? Just make sure you make a reservation online.
Our zoo was the first ever to be established in the United States, and it’s still a pretty nice place 150 years later. This may not be a top-of-list activity if the weather is bad or if you’ve got visitors who can easily access one of the country’s other top zoos, but it can certainly make for a day well spent for animal lovers or families with kids.
Yes, this immersive art attraction on South Street is Instagrammy, and yes, you can see some of Isaiah Zagar’s mosaics around the neighborhood without paying for a ticket. But the Magic Gardens is still a great place to take someone who has an appreciation for art or detail — it’s interesting, it’s unique, and you can always spot something new if you look closely enough.
City Cast Philly podcast host Trenae Nuri and producer Abby Fritz helped brainstorm ideas for this segment.
