A GUIDE TO THE "CITY OF BROTHERLY LOVE" A.K.A. PHILLY
Summer is my favorite time to travel (and everyone else’s too). I’m all about long, luxurious trips, with extended weeks on end spent in tropical vacation spots around the world. But when you’re traveling with others who work a 9-6 work week, weekend trips are the best way to make the most of the summer. With Summer Friday in full effect, my partner and I traveled to the city of “Brotherly Love” also know as Philadelphia. At only a quick two hour bus ride away from NYC, Philly is an affordable, quick and easy trip that allows you to experience the city, but still have time to relax and get your things together before heading back out to work Monday morning.
GETTING THERE: Like I mentioned, getting to Philly from New York City is relatively easy. We booked our bus through Greyhound, and each ticket was $24 roundtrip. The ride is only two hours, and you’re dropped off in the center of Philly’s Downtown area.
WHERE TO STAY: We stayed at an AirBnb in North Philly. Full disclosure here: we booked super last minute, and being the beginning of August, places were limited. North Philly is a good twenty minute ride from downtown, which is where most of the museums, bars, and restaurants were. I would never say not to stay in a particular neighborhood, but we ended up having to travel to the downtown area each time so I would recommend staying near the center to cut out any travel time.
GETTING AROUND: Since we stayed in North Philly, we needed to use public transportation a lot. Philly has a pretty good transportation system; their SEPTA lines run on time, and the bus service actually came on time as well. Ubers are pretty cheap, and we were able to get around without spending too much (our rides from North Philly to downtown were only $5 pools for two, and around 15-20 minutes each way).
WHAT TO DO: Museums. Philly has a rich history, and many of the structures and architecture of the city was constructed centuries ago. The museums, such as The Barnes Foundation (designed by Tod Williams Billie Tsien Architects) is an oasis in the city; a serene getaway with reflecting pools, grass wall features and scenic lawns, including a picturesque mini waterfall cascading onto the ground. The building itself is comprised of strong materials, making the architecture, and the entire building itself, as an ideal representation of a permanent structure that was built with longevity and the future in mind.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art reminded me of Rome’s Capitalione Hill, featuring ascending steps leading to the Piazza at the top, complete with a waterfall as well (plus a workout!) Reading Terminal is a must visit for any foodie; with over 20 different food stalls, vendors and merchants to choose from, in addition to shops and markets, one of the oldest indoor market in the U.S. is crawling with options that won’t disappoint anyone. It is also housed in a National Historic Landmark since 1893, making the environment incredibly historic and reminding one of the past.
WHAT TO EAT: The best part. Visiting on a summer weekend meant Brunch. We hit two amazing spots, both inherently different, but incredibly amazing: Cafe La Maude and SOUTH. Cafe La Maude is chic, transporting visitors to cute Parisian cafes. The menu is a mix of French and Lebanese influenced cuisine. For Brunch, we opted for the Smoked Salmon on pumpernickel, with a side salad featuring avocado, capers, onions tomatoes, an egg over easy and fruit. The second entree we split was Roast Lamb with cheese grits, polenta and lots more (a special offered that day). This did NOT disappoint-although a little pricey (drinks are not included) it was so good, and kept us full for the entire day.
SOUTH Jazz Kitchen, opened by two African-American brothers who own several jazz clubs and restaurants in the city, is open for brunch on Sunday's and features a prix-fixe menu ranging from $24-$30 (drinks not included). The three course offerings are all traditional Southern Cuisine brunch fixings; I ordered the chicken and waffles, and my partner opted for the Fried Catfish and cheese grits with collard greens. We loved everything about this restaurant, which also features live jazz; but more than anything, it was refreshing to see a diverse mix of customers and patrons, creating a more pleasant atmosphere that was increased by the decor and size of the space. I would definitely recommend stopping by if you're in Philly for the weekend.
The three course entrees I chose at SOUTH: tomatoes and mozzarella with watermelon and pesto, classic chicken and waffles, and a lemon meringue tart. Plus my partners eggs!
The City of Brotherly Love is a great spot to visit for a quick weekend trip-thanks for reading!