Related Sponsors

Three Day Itinerary

Home » Pennsylvania » Travel to Philadelphia - A Three Day Itinerary » Three Day Itinerary

Day 1 – A quick historical tour

Your first stop should be the Independence Visitor Center, located in the heart of Independence National Historical Park. Here you can receive personal assistance from experienced staffers and procure entrance tickets to the Liberty Bell and to Independence Hall. These are free, time-specific admissions that you must have in order to enter these attractions. Now you are ready to explore “America’s most historic mile!” The Visitor Center should give you a good map to follow. You can either walk this historic area or you can choose to ride some of the tourist buses and trolleys, which also take you to the top historic spots.

After leaving the Visitor’s Center, make your way to the National Constitution Center, which is the only museum which is solely dedicated to the history of the U.S. Constitution. You will be fascinated by the room where there are life-size statues of each of the original signers of the U.S. Constitution. Take your time to explore the many displays about the Constitution. Next stop will be the Liberty Bell, where you will not only see the bell itself but many other informative displays about the construction and history of the bell. You must pass through the security checks at the Liberty Bell before being allowed to cross the street to Independence Hall, where both the Declaration of Independence and the U.S. Constitution were signed. While you are here, do not forget to also visit Congress Hall, which flanks Independence Hall on the right as you are looking from the Liberty Bell. It was here that the first Congress met; here that George Washington passed his mantle of power to John Adams and here that the Bill of Rights was ratified. Independence Hall is flanked on the left by Old City Hall, which first housed the U.S. Supreme Court. After leaving Independence, Congress and Old City Halls, make your way a few blocks over to the Carpenter’s Hall, where the First Continental Congress met to air their grievances against King George III.

After an inspiring morning dedicated to the forging of liberty of a new nation, you will have worked up quite an appetite. Just a few blocks down the street, you will immensely enjoy a dining experience at the City Tavern, which boasts 18th century furnishings and attire for the service staff and 18th century menu choices.

After a relaxing lunch, you should be ready to explore more of historic Philadelphia. Your next stop will be Christ Church, a beautiful example of 18th century architecture which was visited by many of our American forefathers. Then you can head on to the Betsy Ross House. Betsy Ross was credited with making the first American flag. You may also want to visit nearby Elfreth’s Alley, which is the nation’s oldest, continuously inhabited street. If you are interested in learning more about this avenue of quaint, brick homes, you can visit the Elfreth’s Alley Museum. If you have time and energy at the end of your first day, you may want to squeeze in one more historical spot, the Declaration (Graff) House, where Thomas Jefferson drafted the Declaration of Independence.

Day 2 – Arts and Shopping

Today you are headed to the Philadelphia Museum of Art, which is the third largest art museum in the country and an absolute must-see on the city's cultural circuit. The building itself is breathtaking, having been called by some the Parthenon of Philadelphia. It was founded 125 years ago. It was made famous in the first Rocky movie because its steps are the ones that Rocky ascended in his triumphal training sequence.

Today, the Museum houses over 225,000 works of art. Some of its galleries include: American Art, Asian Art, Dutch Ceramics, Arms and Armor, European Art, Modern and Contemporary Art and the Period Rooms and Architectural Settings. The Museum also has special exhibitions all the time. From March-July 2006, the Museum will be displaying a special exhibition of the works of Andrew Wyeth. Enjoy a leisurely morning here by focusing on the galleries and exhibitions which most interest you.

For lunch, you might want to try The Plough and The Stars, located in historic Philadelphia, not too far away from the museum. This Irish restaurant and bar is located in the restored Coin Exchange Building. You will enjoy the ambience with 24-foot ceilings, molded Corinthian Columns, 16-foot windows, and also the excellent food. Or depending on your appetite, you might want to look for a philly cheesesteak sandwich. If you want to go to the home of the original, you need to go to Pat’s King of Steaks. The restaurant’s founder, Pat Olivieri, invented the steak sandwich in 1930 with the cheesesteak sandwich soon to follow. It is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is always busy; but service is fast here and also at Geno’s Steaks, which is the fierce competition just around the corner.

After lunch, how about a little shopping in Philadelphia? The shopping at Rittenhouse Row is an exclusive shopping experience with over 200 upscale dining, retail and cultural establishments. Best of all, there is no sales tax on clothing items in Pennsylvania. If this does not suit your tastes, two alternate shopping experiences would be Jewelers Row and Antique Row. All three shopping areas are located very near to the historic downtown area. Jewelers Row contains more than 300 jewelers, diamond cutters, setters, goldsmiths and other craftsmen. Many of the stores have prices as low as 50 percent off the retail market. Many people enjoy searching for antique books, stained glass or furniture on Antique Row. You can even find colonial heirlooms and items of museum quality here. There are plenty of restaurants and coffee shops to rest your feet and relax.

Day 3 – The Reading Terminal Market

The Reading Terminal Market is the nation’s oldest continuously operating farmers' market, located at 12th and Arch Streets in downtown Philadelphia. You will be greeted by an exhilarating array of baked goods, meats, poultry, seafood, produce, flowers, and Asian, Middle Eastern, and Pennsylvania Dutch foods. Local restaurants come here daily to buy the freshest meats, vegetables and specialty items. Philadelphians recommend the family-run stands. There are three stands whose owners are descendants of the original market.

You can enjoy nearly every type of cuisine imaginable here. Enjoy window shopping and sampling as you stroll through this historic market. There is also a section that is supplied by local Amish vendors. You can even watch as Amish bakers twist and bake soft pretzels and then taste their wares fresh out of the hot oven.

If you have not sampled a philly cheesesteak sandwich, you really should as you leave the city.

Next Page: Transportation for Tourists

Related Travel to Philadelphia - A Three Day Itinerary Articles