Philadelphia: Places to Explore

Alive with colorful flowers, flags, and fountains, the Benjamin Franklin Parkway stretches northwest from John F. Kennedy Plaza to the Kelly (East) and West River drives. This 250-foot-wide boulevard is... Read more

For a grand introduction to the heart of the downtown area, climb the few steps to the plaza in front of the Municipal Services Building at 15th Street and John F. Kennedy Boulevard. You'll be standing... Read more

Stretching from the edge of downtown to the city's northwest corner, Fairmount Park is the largest landscaped city park in the world. With more than 8,500 acres and 2 million trees (someone claims to have... Read more

Any visit to Philadelphia, whether you have one day or several, should begin in the city area that comprises Independence National Historical Park. Philadelphia was the birthplace of the United States... Read more

In 1683, at the founding of Germantown by German settlers, the county encompassed present day Germantown, Mount Airy, and Chestnut Hill. It played an important role in the nation's founding: during the... Read more

Gentrification continues to transform the Northern Liberties neighborhood from a light industrial area to a hipster artist enclave and popular center for nightlife, restaurants, and shopping. Still, the... Read more

In Colonial days the rich folks in residential Society Hill whispered of those who lived "north of Market," for this area, between Front and 5th streets and Chestnut and Vine streets, was the city's commercial... Read more

The spot where William Penn stepped ashore in 1682 is the hub of a 37-acre riverfront park that stretches from Market Street south to Lombard Street. Walk along the waterfront and you can see scores of... Read more

Two of the city's most interesting neighborhoods lie south of South Street—Queen Village (also known as Southwark) and South Philadelphia. Queen Village, stretching from Front to 6th Street and from... Read more

Rittenhouse Square, at 18th and Walnut streets, has long been one of the city's swankiest addresses. The square's entrances, plaza, pool, and fountains were designed in 1913 by Paul Cret, one of the people... Read more

During the 18th century Society Hill was Philadelphia's showplace. A carefully preserved district, it remains the city's most photogenic neighborhood, filled with hidden courtyards, delightful decorative... Read more

University City is the portion of West Philadelphia that includes the campuses of the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University, and the Philadelphia College of Pharmacy and Science. It also has the... Read more