7 Best Sights in Northern Liberties and Fishtown, Philadelphia

A move to a former warehouse in central Fishtown helped elevate Philadelphia Distilling’s popularity and grow the following of its high-quality spirits. Today, its tasting room, shop, distillery—which is open for tours—and private-event space are all housed on East Allen Street mere steps away from the Fillmore and Punchline Philly. The bar is the focal point, with cocktails expertly made by experienced bartenders using Philadelphia Distilling’s own Bluecoat American Dry Gin, Penn 1681 Vodka, Bluecoat Elderflower Gin, and more. The drink menu features cocktails rooted in ingredients like bitters and citrus, and elderflower and lavender. The food complements the inspired drink list with options like cheese boards, brisket grilled cheese, and snackable veggies.

One of America's most original writers, Edgar Allan Poe (1809–49), lived here from 1843 to 1844; it's the only one of his Philadelphia residences still standing. During that time some of his best-known short stories were published: "The Telltale Heart," "The Black Cat," and "The Gold Bug." You can tour the three-story brick house; to evoke the spirit of Poe, the National Park Service displays first-edition manuscripts and other rare books and offers interactive exhibits as well. An adjoining house has exhibits on Poe and his family, his work habits, and his literary contemporaries; there's also an eight-minute film and a small Poe library and reading room. A statue of a raven helps set the mood. The site is five blocks north of Market Street and just a stone's throw away from Spring Garden Street. SEPTA bus 47 travels on 7th Street to Green Street, where you should disembark.

In Northeastern Philly, a neighborhood not known for its tourist attractions, is a bug lover's heaven. Revel in this ugly-yet-beautiful collection of thousands of creepy crawlers—tarantulas, giant centipedes, assassin bugs, and metallic beetles that look like pieces of gold jewelry. Started by an exterminator, the museum is home to more than 50 live species and mounted insects from around the world. The 5,000-square-foot space has one of the largest butterfly and moth collections in North America, a working beehive, a man-made (and kid-sized) spider web, and a kitchen teeming with live cockroaches. It's definitely a place for screaming kids, but it's hard not to enjoy at any age. It's easier to drive here than to take public transportation. By public transit, take the Market-Frankford subway to the end (Frankford Transportation Center); transfer to SEPTA bus 66 to Welsh Road.

Built in 1885, the brewery building originally housed the Weisbrod & Hess Oriental Brewing Company.  Since 2001, the brewery has been the headquarters of the Philadelphia Brewing Company, which produces year-round beers like Pennsylvania Pale Ale and Newbold IPA, as well as seasonal and specialty brews. For non-beer drinkers, there's the Phizzie hard seltzer. Free brewery tours are offered every third Saturday at noon and 2 pm; reservations are recommended. 

The first phase of The Rail Park is a quarter-mile trail that turned an abandoned, elevated train line into a public park lined with greenery and offering stunning views of the city. The project is envisioned to eventually span 3 miles from near the Art Museum into Northern Liberties. While the open part of the park is small, it's a lovely way to understand the future of the city's unused spaces. There are swings for children, bike racks, and lots of native plants.

A craft brewery with a social mission, Triple Bottom strives to be a positive community partner. They pour lagers, pale ales, IPAs, and seasonal and special releases. Happy hour is offered Wednesday through Friday and Sunday, 3--6 pm, and there are trivia nights and drag shows.

Yards is the oldest continuously operating craft brewer in the city, and runs a sprawling brewery and taproom. Guided tours ($10, 40 minutes) are offered daily for those 21 and over and include a beer sample, a full “walk-about” beer, and a souvenir. The bar features 20 taps of their signature beers—Loyal Lager, Philadelphia Pale Ale, Love Stout, to name a few—as well as limited releases only available in the taproom. The kitchen includes classic pub fare as well as Philly favorites like the Yards IPA Pretzel and cheesesteak egg rolls.