A Good 3-Day Philadelphia Itinerary ~ DownshiftingPRO
From my first go to to Philadelphia in 2017, I grew to become an enormous fan of this vibrant metropolis. Philly has a lot to supply — historical past buffs, foodies, sports activities followers, and artwork lovers will all discover one thing to like right here. It’s simple to miss the Metropolis of Brotherly Love in favor of New York Metropolis (two hours north) or Washington, D.C. (90 minutes south), however I encourage you to plan even a fast journey. There’s a lot packed into this metropolis that even a number of days will depart you impressed! Right here’s our excellent 3-day Philadelphia itinerary from a current mother-daughter getaway — stuffed with sightseeing, good eats, and some surprises.
🗓️ Day 1: Philly Cheesesteaks, Jail Excursions, and SkyHigh Cocktails
After wrapping up a enterprise journey in New York Metropolis, my daughter and I made a decision to spend a number of days in Philadelphia earlier than flying dwelling. Taking a bus from the Port Authority Bus Terminal made it an easy and cost-effective alternative, dropping us conveniently near our resort within the Fishtown neighborhood. (Professional Tip: Don’t dismiss taking the bus—it’s economical, environment friendly, and stress-free!)
We hopped in an Uber to our resort (Anna and Bel) to drop off our luggage and get some native intel on lunch. A brief stroll later, we discovered ourselves at Joe’s Steaks and Soda Store, a Fishtown basic for greater than 75 years. We couldn’t go to Philly with out ordering a cheesesteak! We additionally grabbed a juicy cheeseburger, crispy fries, a cherry coke, and a wealthy strawberry milkshake. It was exactly what we would have liked to kick off a busy day of sightseeing.
Learn the total resort assessment for Lodge Anna & Bel on Lodge-Scoop.com
Japanese State Penitentiary is without doubt one of the most hauntingly fascinating websites within the metropolis. Strolling by the deserted cellblocks and echoing corridors, you’ll get a glimpse of jail life from over a century in the past. As soon as probably the most well-known—and expensive—jail on this planet, it operated from 1829 to 1970 and pioneered the idea of incarceration as rehabilitation (giving rise to the time period “penitentiary”).
Guests can take a self-guided audio tour narrated by actor Steve Buscemi, which layers chilling tales of jail life with reflections on right now’s felony justice system. You’ll hear firsthand accounts from former inmates as you discover the ability, making the historical past really feel much more instant and shifting. Japanese State is each an architectural marvel and a sobering reminder of the human tales behind the partitions.
After lunch, we switched gears with a go to to the Franklin Institute, one of many prime science museums within the nation. It’s a hands-on, interactive playground for adults and children alike, with iconic displays just like the Large Coronary heart, the newly revamped Physique Odyssey expertise, and the Wondrous House gallery. We notably loved the musculoskeletal interactive zone — it’s a intelligent, partaking approach to perceive how our our bodies transfer.
In the event you’re fortunate, your go to would possibly coincide with a particular exhibit. BODY WORLDS: Very important, an enchanting and generally unsettling take a look at human anatomy utilizing actual plastinated our bodies. It’s not for the faint of coronary heart, nevertheless it’s completely unforgettable. We caught this exhibit years in the past when it made a cease in Toronto.
No woman’s getaway can be full with out a cocktail. I couldn’t resist strolling a number of blocks to the Comcast Heart Campus to look at a spectacular sundown from the sixtieth flooring of the luxe 4 Seasons Lodge Philadelphia.
Dwelling to Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten’s signature restaurant (Jean-Georges) and cocktail lounge (JG SkyHigh). The elevator experience alone is price it as you shortly ascend to see all of Philadelphia. A well-kept secret to these within the know—however you already know now!
🗓️ Day 2: Exploring Outdated Metropolis, Liberty Bell, and Native Taste
We began our morning with brunch at Bastia, positioned proper inside our resort, Lodge Anna & Bel. With its cozy ambiance and upscale, locally-sourced menu, Bastia felt like a hidden gem. I extremely suggest making a reservation once you e book your resort — it is a spot that each locals and guests are discovering shortly. From completely crafted cocktails with an array of salads to delectable entrecote & swordfish. Really excellent, it was the best gasoline for a full day of sightseeing.
After brunch, we headed into Outdated Metropolis to take in Philadelphia’s wealthy historical past. An effective way to cowl plenty of floor in a short while is by taking the Hop-On Hop-Off Trolley Tour, which you’ll catch simply throughout from the Liberty Bell Heart. I like these excursions as a result of they provide you flexibility: you possibly can experience a full loop to get an summary or hop off at key websites as you want.
Our first main cease was, after all, the long-lasting Liberty Bell. The exhibit is free and consists of fascinating shows about its historical past and symbolism. Simply steps away is Independence Corridor, the place the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Structure had been debated and signed – a particular cease in these attention-grabbing instances. Admission to Independence Corridor can also be free (you might want a timed ticket relying on the season), and it’s price taking the guided tour.
In case you have additional time (and I like to recommend making time!), the close by Nationwide Structure Heart affords interactive displays that actually carry the founding ideas to life. This contemporary museum is included with a Philadelphia CityPASS®, which generally is a good purchase should you plan to go to a number of points of interest.
Historical past lovers may additionally wish to pop into the Museum of the American Revolution, only a few blocks away. It’s a superb newer museum that tells the story of the Revolution with artifacts, immersive shows, and compelling private tales you gained’t discover elsewhere.
After a full afternoon of strolling and exploring, we had been prepared for an informal, scrumptious dinner. We made our approach to Studying Terminal Market, one of many oldest and most beloved indoor markets in the USA. From basic Philly cheesesteaks to Pennsylvania Dutch specialties like mushy pretzels and whoopie pies, there’s one thing for everybody. The toughest half was deciding what to eat!
Earlier than heading again to the resort, we took a bit of time to wander by downtown Philadelphia. We snapped the compulsory picture with the long-lasting LOVE sculpture at Love Park, then walked by the gorgeous Philadelphia Metropolis Corridor, topped by the grand statue of William Penn. Metropolis Corridor appears particularly stunning at night time when it’s lit up towards the darkish sky — the right finish to a really full day.
🗓️ Day 3: Artwork, Rocky, and A Fond Farewell
Our closing morning in Philadelphia began with a leisurely breakfast on the resort earlier than packing up our issues. We determined to depart our luggage with the entrance desk so we may squeeze in a bit of extra sightseeing earlier than catching the bus again to New York Metropolis later that afternoon.
First cease: the Barnes Basis. This world-renowned museum homes one of many most interesting collections of Impressionist, Put up-Impressionist, and early Fashionable work anyplace — and it’s displayed in an intimate, salon-style setting that feels much less like a museum and extra like a personal dwelling. Renoir, Cézanne, Matisse, Picasso — they’re all right here, and seeing them up shut with out the standard crowds was a spotlight of our journey. This museum was additionally included in our CityPASS®.
After soaking in the fantastic thing about the Barnes, we strolled up the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, Philadelphia’s grand cultural boulevard. On the finish of the Parkway, you possibly can’t resist becoming a member of a number of different guests for a basic picture op on the Rocky Statue, positioned in entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Artwork.
This mother-daughter journey was really particular. Sharing cocktails at sundown, exploring historical past facet by facet, and introducing my daughter to considered one of my favourite cities in the USA was such a present. I like to think about this go to as simply an appetizer for her — a primary style of Philadelphia’s wealthy tradition, vibrant meals scene, and deep historical past. I inspired her to return again once more, maybe with mates and even on her personal, to find extra of what makes Philly such an exquisite vacation spot.
By mid-afternoon, it was time to gather our luggage, catch an Uber to the bus station, and head again to New York Metropolis — hearts (and telephones) stuffed with reminiscences from an ideal three days in Philadelphia.
Disclosure: Due to the Philadelphia CVB and CitiPASS for entry to those superb points of interest in Philadelphia. I’m a fan and extremely suggest it! All opinions are my very own.
Margarita Ibbott is a journey and life-style blogger. She blogs about journey in Canada, the USA and Europe giving sensible recommendation by restaurant, resort and attraction evaluations. She writes for DownshiftingPRO.com and different on-line media retailers.
