Hello there, freshman! You are one of the lucky students about to start your career at Temple! Congratulations! Come Monday, your home (or home away from home) is probably going to be Templetown. While the Temple campus area might be everything you need (except for the mob of vigilante squirrels patrolling Berks Street), there's so much more do in other parts of Philly. Even for the new members of the Temple family who are Philly born and/or raised, your new-found freedom may let you see these neighborhoods in a different light. So, without further ado, I present this meticulously curated list of the Philly neighborhoods that you should visit first.
Fishtown
Up until recently, Fishtown had a long storied past as a blue-collar working class neighborhood. However, the influx of young professionals has changed Fishtown's identity into a hipster-friendly small business frontier. Frankford Avenue and Girard Avenue have morphed into arts corridors, where antique shops sit next to art galleries featuring pieces made entirely out of skateboard decks. You won't run out of places to find food, either; Fishtown has everything from beer gardens showcasing the latest IPAs to the classic Philly cheesesteak.
Love music? Philadelphia Record Exchange, Milkcrate Cafe, The Fillmore
East Passyunk
Similar to Fishtown, East Passyunk was a fairly unassuming diagonal passage through South Philly until a resurgence in activity several years ago. The avenue cuts through from Broad and Snyder all the way to 4th and South, although most of the fun happens south of the infamous Geno's and Pat's Steaks at 8th and Ellsworth. The street still retains it's classic Italian eateries, but they now share the same space with comic book shops, dank dive bars and green spaces.
About that vegan/gluten-free life? Punk Burger, Fuel
Northern Liberties
The middle child between the eldest Old City and youngest Fishtown, Northern Liberties has a bit of both elements, combining historical charm with hipster tendencies. The neighborhood is anchored by it's main thoroughfare, 2nd Street, where large modern apartment complexes tower over restaurants and shops. By far, the main draw in this neighborhood is the Piazza, a monolithic set of apartment complexes with a large open square inside (pictured above). Keep an eye out for the indie gyms and fitness studios, and if you're looking for some messenger bag swag for the fall semester, head over to Reload Bags.
Have a dog? Chez Bow Wow, Orianna Hill Dog Park
Mt. Airy & Manayunk
And now, for something completely different. Mt. Airy is located way up in Northwest Philadelphia. The neighborhood came to prominence in the late 19th century, and is known for it's many large Victorian and colonial mansions. Taking a walk in any direction in Mt. Airy will yield to some beautiful sights. You can choose to stick to Germantown Avenue, and partake in the usual shopping and eatery that you would expect to find on any neighborhood's main street, you can venture off the beaten path in favor of a road less traveled (I recommend Allen Lane, named for the man who founded the neighborhood), or, if you're looking for an adventure, you can hike or bike the nearby Wissahickon Creek.
Just south of Mt. Airy lies the neighborhood of Manayunk, and it's a great place to go if you're looking for a busier version of Mt. Airy with less of the small town feel. Just off the bank of the Schuykill River, there's tons of walking space, whether you prefer to spend time in parks or strolling the crooked hilly streets. And it seems that there's a festival nearly every week.
There's much more Philadelphia to discover than just what's on this list. Once you've visited each location, you should be pretty comfortable traveling around the city. Don't forget to check out Fairmount, Spruce Hill, and Graduate Hospital!
