Two Tickets to Everywhere

We only had two nights and three days in Philadelphia, but somehow this city of history, murals, and cheesesteaks managed to pack a punch. Here’s how our whirlwind trip to the City of Brotherly Love played out.

⸻

Day 1: Arrival and Skyline Views

We arrived by Amtrak and checked into the Hyatt Centric Center City, where our room window framed the Philadelphia skyline like a postcard. Glass towers gleamed in the evening light, while older brick buildings whispered stories of the past.

For dinner, we wandered over to Sang Kee Peking Duck House in Chinatown. The sign alone—complete with a cartoon duck wearing a chef’s hat—promised a good time, and the food delivered.

Day 2: Walking Through History

We started the morning with a patriotic double hit: the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall. Standing in front of the cracked but mighty bell, with Independence Hall’s clock tower in the background, was one of those goosebump travel moments.

Inside Independence Hall, we saw the very room where the Declaration of Independence was debated and signed. The green tablecloths, ink wells, and wooden chairs almost made it feel like Jefferson and Franklin had just stepped out for a coffee break.

From there, we strolled to Old City Hall, passed Betsy Ross’s house, and wound our way through Elfreth’s Alley—the oldest continuously inhabited residential street in America. Cobblestone streets, tiny brick homes, and flower boxes made it feel like we had stepped back into the 1700s.

In the afternoon, we paused at Benjamin Franklin’s grave, where visitors toss pennies for good luck.

That evening, we capped off our day with cocktails at the Red Owl Tavern, where Bloody Marys arrived garnished with enough olives and citrus to count as a small salad.

Day 3: Murals, Statues, and Rocky Balboa

On our last day, we set out to explore Philadelphia’s art scene. Murals are everywhere here—entire sides of buildings transformed into colorful canvases.

And of course, no trip to Philly is complete without paying tribute to its most famous fictional resident: Rocky Balboa. At the base of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, we found the iconic Rocky statue, and yes—we climbed the steps.

Yo, Adrian! The ultimate Philly photo-op.

Final Thoughts

Philadelphia gave us the best of both worlds: history lessons that felt alive, meals that we’re still talking about, and enough character to keep us wanting more. Two nights weren’t nearly enough, but we left feeling like we’d gotten a true taste of the city—duck, cheesesteaks, Bloody Marys, Rocky, and all.

Next time, we’ll stay longer. Until then—thanks, Philly, you were unforgettable.