Kelsey's Travel Blog!
I travel not to escape life, but to be sure that life will not escape me! Come join me!
Ten Awesome Places in Philly
1. Reading Terminal Market:
Reading Terminal Market is by far my favorite place in Philadelphia. If you want a mental picture, think of a HUGE warehouse that, every morning, local cooks, farmers, bakers make their way from the suburbs into the big city to sell their items. Here, you can get coffee, produce, home made honey, Pennsylvania dutch pastries (Amish), Middle Eastern Food, Cheesesteaks, smoothies, spices, and those are just the few that I could think of off the top of my head. There are rows and rows of vendors and you can always find something you love, or something new to try. In one of the produce sections, students can get 10% off fresh produce every Wednesday and Saturday. If you are trying to find something to do that night that is low key, my roommates and I love to hit up the cheese stands and then head to the wine shop for a night of wine and cheese. Tired of shopping? Take a break and enjoy local brews in the bar located inside the complex. Yes, this place has it all.
Location: 12th and Market, Center City
2. Rittenhouse Square:
One of the really nice, high end part of town, Rittenhouse Square is a park right in the heart of the city. A lot of times, you can see really great street performers, dogs, people reading, or people just soaking up some sun. My favorite thing to do? Get some frozen Yogurt at Sweetendings right down the street, sit in the grass, and read. There are also some really awesome restaurants in the area, like Parc, that serve some of the best brunch in town!
Location: 18th and Walnut; Rittenhouse District
3. Giorgio on Pine
Hands down, Giorgio on Pine is my favorite Italian restaurant in the whole world! I went there for the first time for Valentines Day 2011 with some girlfriends and it has been a favorite place ever since. Decently priced, great service, and the owner is an old, adorable Italian man who goes to every table just to say hi! Oh, and did I mention is is a BYOB restaurant? This is something that Colorado has never heard of, but they need to! If you bring your own bottle of wine, they will provide the classes and they will cork it for you. Therefore, the restaurant doesn't need a liquor licence and you don't need to be 21 to drink. Its a win-win for everyone.
Location: Juniper and Pine st; Avenue of the Arts
4. Magic Garden: South Street Art
South Street, one of the most unique parts of Philadelphia, is known for its eclectic art, as well as its eclectic people. One of the most well known pieces of art on South Street is the Magic Garden, yet similar mosaics can be found all over the city. The artist beind the structure, named Isaiah Zagar, and his wife recycled bottles, tiles, and really anything else they can find and they make the beautiful mosaics, the most famous of them being the Magic Garden. It's $5 to get in, but it is totally worth it to even see it from the outside. I even saw a wedding there the other day, as well as Latin dane lessons.
Location: 10th and South
5. German Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market)
Although it is only open during the month of December in Center City, the authentic German Christmas Market can be credited for my obsession with this city. It is the most authentic German Christmas Market I have every been to outside of Germany itself, and it's a fun place to just stroll around and look at all the cute, kitchy things the stands have to offer. You can get all of the things you find at a christmas market in germany: Gingerbread hearts, Glühwein (mauled wine), Bratwursts, roasted almonds, and so on. Majority of the stand workers are actually German as well, so my enthusiasm towards the market is not suprising!
Location: Love Park, 16th and JFK Blvd Center City
6. Valanni Restaurant
One of my favorite, not to mention one of the most fabulous parts of Philadelphia is the Gayborhood. I lived near this neighborhood for a semester right before I left to study abroad in Hamburg, and although I was far from campus, I LOVED it here. There were many perks to living in the gayborhood, as I did a year ago: everything is clean, people are incredibly friendly, and you get some BANGIN' restaurants. That is how some of my sorority sisters and I found Valanni. It is a Tapas restaurant which means that most of the dishes are very small and you get multiple plates for the table. The food is awesome, the drinks are amazing, and the atmosphere is amazing. Overall, it is safe to say that I am obsessed.
Location: 13th and Spruce; Avenue of the Arts
7. Love Park
This semester, I have found a new joy in running, especially during the evenings, through the city. One of my favorite places to run to is LOVE Park. As one of Philadelphia's most famous sculptures (if that is what you can call it) there is something incredibly beautiful about the fountain and the LOVE together. Although it tends to be infested with the homeless in the evenings, during the day, you can always see cute young traveling couples taking pictures in front of it. Also, during the summer, they actually change the color of the water. I have seen both pink and blue... and I still have no idea how they do it!
Location: 16th and JFK Blvd
8. Tria Wine and Cheese Bistro
I came across Tria while shopping around Walnut and chestnut street last semester, and the moment I read “Wine and Cheese Bistro” on the outside window, I knew I was home. Tria has three locations in the city: One in Rittenhouse on 18th and Sansom, one in the Gayborhood on 13th and Spruce, and one in University City. Regardless of which one you come across, the food at these restaurants will never disappoint. They have great tapas-like snacks that can be shared with the whole table, as well as an assortment of cheeses and an even better selection of wine. Trust me when I say that Tria is one of the best places in the city.
Location: 18th and Sansom, 13th and Spruce, and in University City
9. First Friday and Old City
If there is anywhere in the city that I think I would live and grow old, it would be in Old City. Cobble stone streets, beautiful row houses, cute cafes, this is a piece of all of the things I love about Europe, but in Philadelphia. Also, during the summer, they have First Friday which is where all of the local artists open up their galleries to the public on the first Friday of every summer month (basically once the weather gets nice again). You get to "Gallery hop" all evening with free wine, food, somethings even music. Also, if you want swanky bars and lounges, Old City is the place to go!
Location: Between 3rd and Front Street near Market
10. Garces Trading Company
I have my favorite meal, brunch, to thank for bringing me to Garces Trading Company. Another place known for its wine and cheese, some of the best food I have had in the last 3 years I have had at this restaurant. They even have a Saturday and Sunday brunch menu, which is a three course meal for $28.00 per person that also includes a breakfast cocktail and a coffee, in addition to the three other courses. It’s absolutely to die for, but remember, this is only available form 11am-3pm on weekends!
Location: 11th and Locust
Philly is a beautiful city with a ton of things to do. I had to try and narrow down only ten of my favorite spots in Philly for this post, but I will be doing another “feature” by the end of the summer with some more of my favorite places.
Over the last three years, I have explored a number of the streets around Philadelphia, but even to this day, I can always be surprised when I wonder of my normal paths and find myself in a part of the city I never knew existed. Also, after turning 21, much of the city has opened itself up to me, making this list even harder to narrow down. But, after a full day at my dental school administrative job, I was able to narrow it down to these 10 as my favorite places in the city. Everything from restaurants to parks, Philly has something for everyone and it is a city worth getting lost in.