Here are, in my opinion, the top 9 things to do if you are in Philadelphia.
1. Eat a cheesesteak.
There is a huge debate about who has the best Philly Cheesesteak in the city and I know exactly who it is. Normally the competition is between cross-street rivals Pat’s and Geno’s. However a true Philadelphian knows that neither of these places has the best cheesesteak. You will instead have to venture to a Steve’s Prince of Steaks location to get the very best cheesesteak the city has to offer.
2. Watch a regatta (Stotesbury).
The largest high school regatta in the world takes place in the City of Brotherly Love, and it’s fun. There's food, competition and people take their dogs. It honestly couldn’t be better. It even takes place on the Schuylkill River, which leads to the next thing on the list.
3. Take pictures of Boathouse Row.
This line of adorable boathouses is the most beautiful at sunset/night. There is an awesome view from across the river that you absolutely cannot pass up for the amount of class it will add to your Instagram.
4. Visit the Art Museum/Rocky steps.
Depending on who you talk to, the stairs leading up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art may be more legendary than the masterpieces the museum itself possesses. Don’t forget to pose with the statue while you’re at it. (Try not to think about how locals laugh at tourists taking pictures like Rocky at the top of the steps.)
5. Attend a concert.
VividSeats ranked Philadelphia the #1 city for live music in 2015. After considering the number of concerts, average concert ticket price and the number of upcoming shows, VividSeats came to the conclusion that Philly was the best in the country. Philadelphia is also home to the annual Made in America music festival that was created by Jay-Z.
6. Witness a sports game.
Philadelphia sports fans are notorious around the country. Go to a sports game in Philly and find out why. I like to call it passion.
7. Walk through Reading Terminal.
This market has tons of great food and shopping but most importantly, it’s home to the best sandwich in America. Adam Richman named DiNic’s roast pork the best in the country after touring the states and testing 28 different sandwiches.
8. Watch an outdoor movie.
During the summer, there are several locations throughout the city that show movies outside for free! Many of them have free food and drinks and have parking nearby. They are the perfect place to have a picnic dinner and dessert under the stars.
9. Visit the Eastern State Penitentiary.
Around Halloween is the best time to visit because the penitentiary -- which was the first prison ever built in the United States -- is turned into a haunted house. I was extremely terrified the entire time, but it was very memorable.
The City of Brotherly Love has much, much more to offer but these are just a few things to check out if you’re in the city. Did I miss anything?
