THREE DAYS IN PHILADELPHIA WITH VISIT PHILLY

A few weeks ago, I had the immense pleasure to embark on an unforgettable trip to Philadelphia with Visit Philly. 3 days with an itinerary that I think allowed us to see and do the most things. On a more important note, I loved the fact that we did not only visit popular attractions, but we went off the beaten paths to live experiences that touched us.THE HOTEL - KIMPTON HOTEL PALOMARWe arrived in Philadelphia around 2 pm. Our private chauffeur took us to where we could call home for the next few days: the Kimpton Hotel Palomar  located downtown. The staff was welcoming and friendly. I was in a room with an amazing view, a huge comfy bed for my tiny self, a bathroom with a marble counter top: it's all in the details. Each morning, I would wake up to admire the view of the skyscrapers and watch the street slowly come alive. 

DAY ONE

• Upon our arrival, we had a few hours to rest before meeting Jenea and Amber, our incredible hosts for this press trip. First thing on our itinerary: the One Liberty Observation Deck. If you want to experience a panoramic bird’s-eye view of the city from the 57th floor, that's where you need to go. I really appreciated the experience especially the interactive map of Philly ( keep an eye on my youtube channel for a Philadelphia vlog ). You can literally see Philly from the top. The site is opened everyday and you can actually buy your tickets online before heading there. 

• After literally seeing Philly from the top, we hopped on our mini tour bus and headed to the Philadelphia Distilling. The distillers of the infamous Bluecoat American Dry Gin and other popular spirits are now located in a 15,000-square-foot space in the Fishtown neighbourhood. At this location, you'll find a bar, a lounge with a tasting room. We were treated to a private very informative tour! Really loved that part. Oh and there was a tasting too — I skipped that part lol. It is possible to buy souvenirs other than alcohol: candles that smelled so good, soap etc ...

 

• Dinner that night was at Harp & Crown. Add this restaurant to the places to check out while in Philly. Trust me, you won't regret it. Beautiful interior and amazing food. We ordered small plates ( I love to eat tapas style ): lamb meatballs, parmesan asparagus, garlic prawns and the list goes on. The service was excellent as well.

DAY TWO

The Visit Philly team put together a great team for this trip. We were 5 content creators and photographers and had very interesting conversations throughout the trip. On day two, we each had breakfast on our own, which my introvert self loved. I always need my time alone to recharge. I had a hearty breakfast at the hotel's restaurant. 

•  We started the day with a tour of the murals with Brandon Davis. He's the founder of American Dreaming, a multi-disciplinary design agency.He was the perfect guide because he had a few insights on those murals and knew where to take us. I think murals tell the story of a city, its culture, its struggles, its joy. The city of Philadelphia has more than 3500 murals. Pretty crazy right?

 

• Before lunch, we made a stop at Federal Donuts in North Philly, which seems to be a very popular spot for delicious donuts, fried chicken and coffee. Of course, we had a taste for the culture. Not complaining. I would definitely recommend you to stop by one FD while in Philadelphia. They have a few locations in town. 

• Traditional Peruvian food made with the freshest ingredients aka Vista Peru. That is where we had lunch, in Old City. I had a decadent ceviche and a mixed seafood spicy cream sauce with rice. I was so full, but boy was I happy. Food makes me happy.

• Later on, we headed to the Historic District for a walking tour. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania’s largest city is known for its rich history. It is home to many revolutionary sites. I was thrilled to learn more about them.

 The President’s House: At this open-air site, there are structural fragments of the home where Presidents Washington and Adams lived during their terms. Ironically, the home where the first president confined nine enslaved Africans.

 Independence Hall - The site where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed. Must see! 

Liberty Bell -  “Proclaim liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof.” These are the words written on the cracked bell. It has become a symbol to abolitionists, suffragists and other freedom-seekers around the world.

Elfreth’s Alley - The oldest continuously occupied residential street in the U.S. I could not believe people still live in these houses. The residents actually open the doors to their iconic home once a year. It's such a charming alley, cobblestones , the feeling of being transported in the past: a very fun experience. 

 

• On our itinerary, last but not least, the Barnes Foundation. If you're a connoisseur or just someone who appreciates art and love the feeling of being inches away from a collection of inestimable value, the Barnes Foundation is where you must go. Featuring 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes and 59 Matisses, along with works by Manet, Degas, Seurat and Picasso, it's one of the world’s largest collections of Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and early Modern paintings and African sculpture. Have a look for yourself below!

• Dinner that night was at Danlu , a two-story Taiwanese night market-inspired gastropub. The food was absolutely amazing! I opted for the sea salt crusted shrimp pad thai ( spicy just like I like my food ) and the virgin Danlu bubble tea.

DAY THREE

Day three was definitely my favourite one and the most emotional.

• Philadelphia is home to an array of museums, so make sure you visit a few. We started the day at Penn Museum which is known for its immense collection of art and artifacts from ancient Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Greco-Roman World, Asia, Africa and the Americas. I was literally excited like a little kid because we got to see real mommies guys! I almost freaked out. During our visit, we went through a suite of galleries taking us on a 10,000-year human journey. Memorable!

• Have you really been to Philly if you don't have a taste of the infamous Philly cheesesteak? No, that's right! Max's Cheesesteaks located in the heart of North Philadelphia, is a must! We all ordered our customized Philly cheesesteak, and they lived up to the hype. Delicious. Fun fact: Max's Cheesesteaks is well known for its star turn in Creed, the seventh movie in the Rocky film franchise.

• The Johnson House Historic Site, the most emotional part of our trip for me. The site that is now a National Historic Landmark, played a role in the Underground Railroad. For those of you who don't know, the Underground Railroad was a network of secret routes and safe houses established in the United States during the early to mid-19th century, and used by African-American slaves to escape into free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies. The lady who gave us almost an hour  tour, told us the story of the Johnsons, how they risked a lot offering refuge to freedom seekers. It was really moving to know that we had stepped into a house that had such a poignant history and represented something the fugitives could not put a price on: FREEDOM. 

• Next up was the Colored Girl Museum. Another incredible and profound experience. The Vashti Dubois converted her three-story Victorian house ( she still lives there ) into a memoir museum inspired by and dedicated to black girls. " Her new exhibits redefine the concept and practice of “urgent care” from triage to aftercare. Curators, artists, and ordinaries construct Colored Girlhood as an imaginative and powerful space."

 

• A 5-star coffee shop anyone? Uncle Bobbie's coffee & Books is one of the few black owned coffee / book store. Located in Germantown ( North West of Philadelphia ). The owner, Marc Lamont Hill wanted to create a space where the neighbourhood would come to enjoy good coffee and read books. He works with black books vendors, and local food + fair trade coffee producers. I loved the vibe in the shop, it felt warm and welcoming. Kids sat on the floor to flip through books with characters they can relate to. The staff was very sweet and one guy even noticed my heavy french accent and asked where I was from! The whole time we were there, people came into the shop enthusiastically, discussing everything and anything. They were at ease. 

 

• Dinner for our last night in Philly was at Tasties , a soul food restaurant in West Philadelphia. Chicken waffles, oxtails, greens, rice. One word: amazing! I was full, our group had a nice conversation, we laughed, we debated... it was so fun.

Just like that, our trip to Philadelphia came to an end. I left wanting to go back for more. I have to mention that during my free time, my brother in law's brother, Karl, took me to see more of downtown Philadelphia. A rooftop with a stunning view on the Museum of Art, the AMOR sculpture, Logan square, the LOVE park etc ...A very heartfelt thank you to Visit Philly, it's been an incredible time. À bientôt Philly!First photo by Spencer Edwards - Everything else by yours truly. 

PHILADELPHIA'S MUST SEE - THE ADDRESSES TO ADD ON YOUR LIST

HOTEL : Kimpton Hotel Palomar , 117 S. 17th Street PLACESOne Liberty Observation Deck1650 Market Street, 57th Floor Philadelphia Distilling 25 E. Allen Street MUSEUMSThe Barnes Foundation 2025 Benjamin Franklin ParkwayPenn Museum 3260 South StreetColored Girls Museum 4613 Newhall StreetJohnson House Historic Site 6306 Germantown Ave FOODHarp & Crown 1525 Sansom StreetFederal Donuts701 N. 7th StreetMax’s Cheesesteaks 3653 Germantown AveVista Peru 20 S. 2nd StreetTasties1214 N. 52nd StreetUncle Bobbie’s Coffee & Books 5445 Germantown Avenue

As always, thank you for reading!

Josie ♡

** This post was sponsored by Visit Philly - All opinions are my own.