Local’s Guide To Philadelphia (Part2)

We are back with the local’s guide to Philadelphia – Part 2. If you haven’t read part 1 , pause, go back, check it out first and come back to this page. So, living in Philly has all kinds of tourist benefits. The people are warm with amazing diversity, the food is great with all kinds of cuisines and cultures are friendly with the theme of Brotherly Love. Here are some more of hidden gems that you must discover and relish.

Murals

What you are seeing here is one of the hundreds of murals in Philadelphia. This city is probably the only place on Earth with so many creative murals spread all across the place. Even global and political leaders address the city as the City of Murals. Some are very old and some are very new. Renovations also keep happening to preserve this art. And every mural comes with a beautiful story. If you are someone who enjoys art, you must take this 90 minute tour called the Love Letter Train Tour,which starts at the Academy of Fine Arts and travels through all the mural spots in West Philadelphia. 

Logan Square – Swann Memorial

Just as Statue of Liberty is for New York, National Monument is for Washington DC and Bean is for Chicago, Swann Memorial is the iconic water fountain for Philadelphia. This majestic fountain represents the major waterways of the city – Delaware, Schuylkill and Wissahickon. Situated three-fourth of a mile away from City Hall, Swann Memorial is on the parkway to the Phila Art Museum. If you live in Philly, you will get a chance to see the frozen view of the fountain in winters, where the water freezes mid-way in the air, forming a glittering arc of sparkling water.

King of Prussia Mall

Of course, I had to write about this mall. After all, it’s the largest mall in the country. King of Prussia mall is the biggest retail mall in USA and has outlets ranging from Claire’s to Hermes. Food, shopping, entertainment – this mall has literally everything. For Indians visiting the mall, I should tell you that KOP is full of Indian communities. So don’t miss out on good South and North Indian food joints. Because in Philly, you get food which is authentic to the cuisine and also Americanized versions of those. You just have to ask. 

Penn’s Landing

All you cyclists or walking tourists, this is a must visit for you. Penn’s Landing connects Philadelphia to Camden, New Jersey. The walk across the bridge is refreshing on an early summer or spring morning. A bike ride is even better. Once you come back after your ride, at the beginning of the bridge is The Franklin Fountain, one of the oldest ice-cream shops in the city. Super famous for their yummy scoops. Treat yourself well. 

My husband and I have finally moved to Morrisville, North Carolina, this month. We left Philly on a happy sad note, with lots of nostalgia and a thousand memories in the bag. Here is to new beginnings. 

Give it a thumbs-up if you liked what you read. Let me know if you know of any cool places, which I might have missed out. Also, share it with fellow wanderers. Happy Exploring!