Rebecca & Peter
Things To Do
Reading Terminal Market
Reading Terminal Market is one of our favorite places to shop for the week or to pop in for a sweet treat. If you plan to stop in on Friday or Saturday be sure to visit Beiler's Donuts, Miller's Twist, and Bassett's Ice Cream!
Philadelphia Museum of Art
So much more than just the "Rocky Steps" (though you can visit his statue right out front if that's your thing), PhlMA is home to hundreds of thousands of unique pieces of artwork from costumes and textiles, Monet, van Gogh, and Renoir to Picasso and Dali. The museum offers a "Pay What You Wish Day" on the first Sunday of the month (aka Wedding Day) - if this is a stop on your tour of Philly just be sure to make it back in time to watch us get hitched! *Also to keep in mind, Budweiser's Made in America music festival will be taking place on the Ben Franklin Parkway on Saturday/Sunday - the museum is still open during the concert, but the area will probably be very congested.
Spruce Street Harbor Park
Fun by day, fun by night. Reserve a Hammock in one of the Hammock Lounges are hang riverside at the Oasis for some waterfront cocktails and music. Take a walk on the boardwalk for bocce, shuffleboard, and arcade games or amble just a little further north for the Blue Cross RiverRink Summerfest for roller skating, mini-golf, and rides. Everything is pay-as-you-go!
Independence Visitor Center
This is your one stop shop to access Philadelphia's incredible historical sites. Because our landmarks are a part of Independence National Historical Park, access to Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, Congress Hall and other Old City sites is FREE! You will need a timed ticket to enter and can scoop these up at Independence Visitor Center. If you want to see more of the city on a shorter timeline, grab a $5 Philly PHLASH ticket for access to the Downtown Loop. PHLASH will take you to 22 stops located near all of the must-see attractions and provides service every 15 minutes from 10am-6pm. Tickets can be purchased in cash (exact change) onboard, at the Visitor Center, or online.
Franklin Square
One of the original five squares in William Penn's plan for the city, Franklin Square, which draws more than one million visitors a year, is now a modern and fun family park, with a Philly-themed miniature golf course, a restored marble fountain, playgrounds and an old-fashioned carousel featuring famous Philly horses. And when hunger strikes, SquareBurger delivers with awesome burgers, fries and shakes.
The Franklin Institute
The Franklin Institute, the region’s premier science museum, features a full city block of kid-friendly exhibitions, such as the walk-through Giant Heart, an 8,500-square-foot space to explore the brain, Space Command, SportsZone and the Nicholas and Athena Karabots Pavilion, a massive 53,000-square-foot area for permanent and traveling exhibitions. It's also home to the Tuttleman IMAX Theater and the renowned Fels Planetarium. Fun Fact: Franklin Institute was one of our first dates!
Eastern State Penitentiary
With its soaring, castle-like Gothic architecture that encloses the 11-acre prison, it's not hard to see why Eastern State Penitentiary is able to draw a mass of visitors from all over the world. Tours within its grounds include a look at life inside the prison’s historic cell blocks – including that of the infamous inmate Al Capone.
Philadelphia Zoo
A must for animal-lovers, the Philadelphia Zoo is one of the city's greatest treasures. The #12 stop on the PHLASH bus or just a quick cab ride will get you to the gates of the nation's oldest zoo! The zoo recently installed Zoo360, a series of treetop mesh walkways allowing primates and big cats to move around right above you. Stop by the red pandas, otters, and Meerkat Maze (Becca's favorites!) or visit with the giraffes for awhile and heckle them to neck fight (one of Pete's favorite activities). Pro-Tip: Purchase tickets in advance to skip the lines.
One Liberty Observation Deck
With unparalleled views of the city, the One Liberty Place Observation Deck is a must for anyone that isn't scared of heights. Enjoy loads of photo opportunities both day and night (hours are typically 10am-9pm), tickets are only $9 to experience Philly from the top down.
Philadelphia City Hall
Personal recommendation? Go on the City Hall Interior Tour with Observation Deck Access! It's a two-hour tour, but worth it to see the amazing artwork, architecture, tower, iconic skyline clock, and to learn the history of the building. Unless you're local and plan to get called to jury duty in the near future, you'll have to pay to see some of the most ornate courtrooms in the country - Tickets are available for Monday through Friday tours and can be purchased at the City Hall Visitor Center.
Pat's vs Geno's
Grab a partner, divide and conquer the lines, try both and decide who is the tastiest of the touristy cheesesteaks! Don't forget how to order....it's cheese first then "wit" or "witout" (do you want your steak wit or witout sauteed onions?) e.g. "I'd like a steak wiz wit", "Can I get a provolone steak witout?" If you want to step your cheesesteak game up a notch, ditch these two and head over to John's Roast Pork in deep South Pennsport - while the name screams anything but cheesesteak, it's the locals true favorite for a beefy cheesy sandwich on an italian seeded roll.
Philadelphia's Magic Gardens
Located in Becca's old neighborhood, Philadelphia's Magic Gardens is a non-profit organization, folk art environment, and gallery space on South Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. To date, it is the largest work created by world famous mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar. The Magic Gardens spans three city lots, and includes indoor galleries and a large outdoor labyrinth. The mosaics are made up of everything from kitchen tiles to bike wheels, Latin-American art to china plates. The space is open for public view, from 11:00-6:00 Wednesday through Monday and closed on Tuesdays.
Philadelphia's 9th Street Italian Market
If you happen to find yourself in South Philadelphia, be sure to take a walk through the 9th Street Italian Market. This is the nation's oldest continuous outdoor market where many merchants are fourth and fifth-generation business owners. For the cheese lovers, don't miss Claudio's Mozzerella Store and Di Bruno Bro.'s House of Cheese. For the coffee lover, don't miss Anthony's Italian Coffee House for an iced coffee or fresh pull of espresso.