5 Things to Do on Vacation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I just got back from a vacation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The city of "brotherly love," as it is fondly called by its residents, is also a city of great fun. As Pennsylvania's largest city, it is also a great place to go on an East Coast vacation.

One of the best things I liked about Philadelphia was its history. That is, after all, one of the main reasons people come to Philadelphia. It is here that much of the United States' early history resides: While vacationing in Philadelphia, I got to see original copies of the Declaration of Independence, sit in the same church pew that George Washington sat in, and saw Benjamin Franklin's grave (out of my window, actually).

However, tourists in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have more than just lots of history to look forward to. There is a lot to do while on a vacation in Philadelphia, including shopping, ice skating, and great little places to dine and eat breakfast, lunch and dinner.

In this article, I will give you five things to do while on vacation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from my first hand experience in the city. Use this article as a springboard for your tourist vacation experience in Philly, and let it open doors to all the fun that a tourist can have wandering Philadelphia (it is, after all, a great city for walking).

Five Things to Do On Vacation While On Vacation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

1. See history!

Philadelphia holds a lot of history. Stop over in the Olde City/Historic District of Philadelphia, which borders the Delaware River and is approximately a 15 minute taxi cab ride from Philadelphia International Airport (a taxi cab from the airport to downtown Philadelphia is a flat-rate of $25.00).

In the Historic District, you will be amazed at the history surrounding you. I stayed in the Holiday Inn, and from my window I could look down into Christ Church's graveyard and see Benjamin Franklin's grave. In fact, the Holiday Inn is in the original building that housed the University of Philadelphia, started by Mr. Franklin himself. This sort of tangible history is everywhere. Some of the roads are original cobblestones from the 1600s, as are many of the red brick buildings that dot the entire cityscape.

As a tourist, I had a lot of fun finding all the history that is in Philadelphia. Within blocks of each other, you can see original copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the United States of America (at Independence Hall), the Liberty Bell, etc. All the buildings are original, including much of the brick and woodwork. Touch a railing in the building that the First Continental Congress met in (Carpenter's Hall, two blocks from Independence Hall), and think of the great founding fathers who touched that very same hall.

For the lowdown on all the history you can find while vacationing in Philadelphia, go to the Independence Visitor Center. The Visitor Center is located at One North Independence Mall West, 6th and Market Streets Philadelphia, PA 19106 and opens every day at 8:30am. This is the FIRST place any tourist should stop at. You will find tons of free maps and guide books to Philadelphia, brochures to attractions, etc. The Visitor Center also has a food court, a museum of sorts, and two theatres.

2. Eat great food!

A Philly cheese steak sandwich may be disgustingly unhealthy, but it's good and you must try one. Most restaurants have some sort of version of it; you can also buy cheap versions on the street from any one of the many street vendors that line the major roads like Market Street.

For dinner, try Kabul Afghan Cuisine at 196 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106. I was standing outside of it one night looking at the menu when two of its patrons walked out and told me it was the best place for Afghan food in Philadelphia. They were right! The food is well priced and delicious.

For breakfast and lunch, try the Metropolitican Café. Upbeat and vibrant, this independent café is not the cheapest but the food is good. Stay away from chains like McDonalds: You are a tourist in Philadelphia, so enjoy the little local shops and restaurants!

For a quick burger, get a simple $3 lunch at Benny's Place across from the 1st National Bank (which, by the way, has some great art of some of the United States' founding fathers painted in the 17th century).

3. Shopping in Philadelphia!

Independence Mall is a place for mainstream stuff like Ross. Check out some cool boutiques and art galleries on Philadelphia's many side roads.

4. Ice Skating on the Delaware River!

Well, not quite ON the Delaware, but the Blue Cross runs an ice skating rink right on the edge of the Delaware near the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. From the ice rink you can see the glowing city lights of New Jersey reflected on the waters of the Delaware: Beautiful! Don't bother with bringing your own ice skates: You can get a ticket to skate, as well as rent ice skates, for $9.

5. Tour Philadelphia's City Hall!

This is amazing. The City Hall, according to our tour guide, is the tallest building in the world and the largest municipal hall in the country. It's filled with beautiful paintings and original stonework. In fact, the whole building stands just as it did when it was first built hundreds of years ago. The tour guide boasted that no metal is used to hold it up, just hundreds of tons of brick, stone and marble.

Inside, keep an eye out for hidden statues and paintings on the ceilings. The tour will let you go all the way to the top and ride an elevator into the City Hall's clock tower. This is a must see. From the clock tower, you can see for miles in each direction. Bring your camera for some free souvenirs of your vacation in Philadelphia. Look up at you'll see a huge, 30-foot tall statue of William Penn, the founding of Philadelphia.

The tour costs $12. I was a little hesitant about spending that much money for a tour of one building, but it was worth it.

If you are up to it, after your tour of city hall (each tour starts at 12:30pm and ends around 2:45pm), head over to the Masonic Temple next door for their 3:30pm tour.

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Enjoy your vacation in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is one of the best places to be a tourist because you won't need a car and the whole city is walkable.