Philadelphia was the city where I was born, and it will always hold a special place in my heart. It is one of the oldest cities in the United States of America, and as one of the oldest cities in the country, it holds an incredible amount of history and culture. Philadelphia is one of the most spectacular cities in the world, and I sometimes realize that, having lived in the suburbs of Philly, I take so much that the city has to offer for granted. So, here are my top four favorite spots in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

1. South Philadelphia

The area of South Philadelphia is home to many notable aspects of the city, including the Sports Complex, Packer Park, and the Italian Market. An integral part of Philadelphia's culture are the sports teams, and you can find Lincoln Financial Field, Citizens Bank Park, and the Wells Fargo Center all within blocks of each other. There's nothing quite like going to cheer on the Eagles, Flyers, Phillies, and 76ers, even when they aren't doing too well. Philadelphia fans are known for being rude, unwelcoming, and brash (especially when it comes to games against our New York rivals), but that's what makes Philadelphia sports one-of-a-kind.

Also in South Philadelphia, you can find the Italian Market, which is where part of the movie Rocky was filmed. In the Italian Market, you'll find two of the most iconic eateries in all of Philadelphia. Only separated by the intersection of East Passyunk Avenue and South Ninth Street, Geno's Steaks and Pat's King of Steaks have competed for decades when it comes to the best Philly cheesesteaks (Personally, I'm a Geno's fan; I actually had a Geno's cheesesteak for dinner tonight). The debate over which cheesesteak is better is a heated one, and it tears Philadelphians apart.

2. Center City

Center City is the busiest part of Philadelphia and is made up of many smaller districts, the most known being Penn's Landing, the Avenue of the Arts, and the Historical District (also known as the Museum District). Penn's Landing is home to many festivals and concerts on the waterfront of the Delaware River, including the annual Budweiser Made In America Festival that takes place on the Benjamin Franklin Parkway every fall. Other popular destinations at Penn's Landing are the RiverLink Ferry (that links Penn's Landing and the Camden Waterfront in New Jersey) and the Blue Cross RiverRink. The Avenue of the Arts is home to Philadelphia's theatre district that houses the Kimmel Center (which is home of the Philadelphia Orchestra), the Academy of Music, and multiple other theatres.

The Historical District of Philadelphia is probably the most known district in Center City, as it houses Philadelphia's City Hall, the Franklin Institute, and most notably, the Independence National Historical Site. This site is home to the National Constitution Center, Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell Center, Congress Hall, and the Supreme Court Chamber in Old City Hall. Philadelphia is rich and abundant in historical value, and each of the museums and historical landmarks serves as a memorial and reminder of the pivotal events that took place in Philadelphia that helped shape America into the country that we know and love today.

3. West Philadelphia

The first thing that you probably think of when you hear the words 'West Philadelphia' is the infamous Will Smith rap that starts, "In West Philadelphia, born and raised, on the playground is where I spent most of my days..." Smith was a native of Wynnefield Heights, a part of West Philadelphia, and his NBC sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air brought some fame to this part of Philly.

West Philadelphia has more to offer than just Will Smith, believe it or not. This part of the city is home to the Philadelphia Zoo, which is the nation's oldest zoo. You can also find Memorial Hall, which is the home of the Please Touch Museum, and you can find the Mann Music Center of the Performing Arts in West Philly, as well.

4. Southwest Philadelphia

Yes, Southwest Philadelphia is a different area than South Philadelphia and West Philadelphia. Southwest Philadelphia, formerly known as Kingsessing Township, was the first village settled by Europeans in the territory of Philadelphia, which happened in 1646. The township and village of Kingsessing were included into the City of Philadelphia in 1854, after the Swedes transferred it to William Penn.

Today, the most prominent feature of Southwest Philadelphia is probably the Philadelphia International Airport. The airport provides air travel both domestically and internationally, and it's right next to the Delaware River. The most notable destinations that people travel to from Philadelphia International are the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East. This airport allows for easy access to travel abroad and explore the rest of the world.

"I love everything about Philadelphia, and it's food is like the city itself; real deal, hearty, and without pretension. We've always had an underdog vibe as a city, but that just makes us try harder, and I love our scrappiness and scruffiness."

This quote by Lisa Scottoline sums up Philadelphia. It's a city that isn't lavish or extremely upscale, but is spirited, dynamic, and real, and I think that the down-to-earth atmosphere that Philadelphia has makes it an imposing, majestic, impressive place in its own regard.