In Love with the Philly

Culture is alive and well in Philadelphia – the first capital of the United States, birthplace of the constitution. Patriotism is evident in this great city -- all you have to do is witness Independence Day celebrations to find out why. It's a great place for the family to visit, even if you all enjoy different things. Dip your toes in or immerse yourself completely in Philly life -- you might then discover why Philly locals love this East Coast city so.

See

Philadelphia's Mural Art Program was established in 1984 by recruiting city teenagers to design and create murals in their own neighborhoods as an anti-graffiti step. Now there are over 2600 murals painted in and around the city.   Some controversial, some breathtaking works of art -- it takes a guide to see the ones worth your while -- pick up a copy at the Independence Visitor Center and give yourself a tour for free.
If you're looking to catch some hard-to-find flicks, the Secret Cinema, a movie club created by film buff Jay Schwartz, screens rare, vintage, and hard-to-find films in places unlikely -- an old burlesque theater and the Eastern State Penitentiary come to mind.

Taste

Who doesn't love their cheesesteak? It's a local favorite with beef finely chopped, grilled with onions, topped with cheese, and served on a roll.  You’ll be able to find them everywhere in Philadelphia, even on the side of the street from vendors. As cheesesteaks get so much mention, other Philly delights are often overshadowed but deserve their own mention, so here it goes: pretzels, soft and Amish (for the best ones, head to Sansom Street Pretzel Factory for the former and Fisher's in Reading Terminal Market for the latter); Hoagies, twelve-inch Italian rolls sprinkled with olive oil, filled with veggies, mozzarella, provolone, and salami, and garnished with oregano; Philly Butter cake, a rich pound cake with a pudding-like center; and more. Philadelphia also hits the mark for great authentic Vietnamese cuisine. Philly's Chinatown also offers hard-to-find Asian delicacies -- wasabi peas, cuttlefish, among others.

Listen

Philadelphia is home to many great record bars, as well as a roster of excellent local talents, signaling a thriving music scene. The Philly musician's network is close-knit, mimicking the sense of community found in city music festivals. There are too many record bars worth mentioning to list them all, but it is not hard to guarantee that hard-to-find vinyls and records have been shelved here. Some record bars, such as Long in the Tooth, buy old records at decent prices. Your children might find some great indie choices at Main Street Music, a frequent haunt for college kids. The Marvelous, a record store specializing in soul, funk, and jazz, also has an impressive stash of comic books. The Relapse is more on the metal side. For everything and everything else, the Philadelphia Record Exchange is always the first stop for music aficionados that come to Philly.

Speaking of teens, they dominate the original School of Rock founded by Paul Green five years before the movie counterpart. There they are trained to perform rock classics and are regularly released to the public in recitals and concerts held at nightclubs. It's one more reason to be inspired, you and your young, in Philadelphia.

Learn while having fun

If you want the whole family to learn something, and to show them a part of our history, make sure you visit the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall.  Everyone will enjoy walking around and learning.  The City Hall gives free tours on weekdays. A free walking tour centering on the constitution through the old city is available as well.

The Rosenbach Museum and Library houses a collection of countless first editions, manuscripts and correspondence between two elegant town houses, such as part of the original manuscript of Ulysses, letters from George Washington, and illustrations of Maurice Sendak.

A trip to visit museums doesn’t have to be boring.  The Franklin Institute Science Museum is one that the whole family will enjoy.  The museum is very “hands on”, and children of all ages will have a great time, not even realizing that they are learning while having fun.  Be sure not to miss the planetarium or the IMAX theater, as more fun can be had at those as well.

A world-class museum teeming with impressionist and expressionist art can be found at the Barnes Foundation, housed in an inconspicuous suburban mansion. Home to artworks by Gaugin, Cezanne, Renoir, and others, it's worth the drive from even nearby cities such as New York or Washington, DC.

Another out-of-the-ordinary exhibit can be found at the Philadelphia Doll Museum, home to the largest collection of black dolls in the world. You can check out how dolls have evolved through time, and maybe it's a museum your doll-loving little girl would be enchanted by.

If you’re still looking for something to do, you can visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Philadelphia Zoo, the Betsy Ross House, and a lot more.  If you’re looking for a family vacation where everyone can have a lot of fun, as well as learn something, this is a great city to visit.