Culture, Food and Travel

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Hello, everybody. From a Philadelphia girl, let's talk about visiting
Philly for the first time. Philadelphia is a city that
blends history, culture, and amazing food in a way that
complete that's completely unique. It's where the Declaration of Independence
was signed. Everybody should know that Rocky Balboa ran up

(00:21):
the steps of the Art Museum and where you'll find
some of the best cheese steaks in the world. And
if you're from Philadelphia, you know that this is a
long standing battle between two cheese steak manufacturers. Whether you're
planning your first visit or just curious about what makes

(00:42):
Philly so special, this episode is packed with everything you
need to know, from iconic landmarks and cultural highlights to
the best food and tips for getting around. So let's
dive in. First of all, getting to Philadelphia easy easy,
easy flying. Philadelphia International Airport PHL is the main airport,

(01:04):
located just fifteen minutes from downtown. It's well connected with
public transit and ride shares uber all that stuff very easy.
The airport is not the friendliest and it can get very,
very very busy, so when you land, just be prepared

(01:25):
for some hustle and bustle. What if you want to
visit by train. Amtrak's thirtieth Street station is a major
train hub, making it easy to arrive from cities like
New York, Washington, d C, or Boston. Lots of people
travel every day from Philadelphia to New York or Philadelphia
to Boston on a daily basis, so don't be afraid

(01:47):
of these trains. They are very, very, very ride or friendly.
The station itself is a beautiful historic building worth admiring,
and even if you don't travel by train, it's a
place to go visit driving. Let's drive into Philadelphia. Philadelphia
sits at the intersection of I ninety five and I

(02:07):
seventy six, making it an easy road trip destination for
East Coast travelers. Once you're in the city, public transportation
is abundant. You can jump on a Septa bus Philly's
public transit system, which includes buses, trolleys, and the subway.
Walking and biking are also great options for exploring the

(02:28):
compact downtown area. It's an old city, so those streets
are tiny, so bikes are a really great wait to
get away round Philly's grid layout. The street grid layout
is super easy to navigate, plus the historic district and
most main attractions are walkable, so comfortable shoes are a must,

(02:51):
especially when you're in the historic area. Ladies, no heels.
Philly's historic and iconic landmarks that are there, so many
of them, so I'm just going to touch on a few.
But Philadelphia is a living, breathing history lesson. Here are
the musty spots for history buffs and curious visitors alike.

(03:12):
And of course you know that Philadelphia was the first
capital of the United States. So let's go to Independence
Hall and the Liberty Bell. Step back in time where
Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution
were debated and finally signed, and the nearby Liberty Bell

(03:33):
is an enduring symbol of freedom and just so cool
to see the big crack in the bell where it
was rung so many times. Let's talk about Alfress Alley,
the oldest continuously inhabited street in America. This cobblestone gem
is full of charm and colonial era houses and a

(03:55):
perfect place to put on your walking shoes and go
for a stroll to really get the idea and the
feel of the history of the city. Museum of the
American Revolution I must see when in Philadelphia. Dive deeper
into the country's founding with interactive exhibits and fascinating artifacts.

(04:16):
And this one is always cool to go. Visit the
Eastern State Penitentiary, a former prison turned museum. It is very,
very spooky. Lots of ghost TV shows and stories have
been told here. It offers a glimpse into prison reform
and the lies of its infamous inmates like al Capone.

(04:38):
The Betsy Ross House. Learn about the legendary seamstress who
stitched our first flags, the first American flags. It's all
about her life and the history and the production of
the first flag. Definitely I must see. Most of these
historic sites are in Old City, so you can ease

(05:00):
visits several of them in one day. Again, pack your
walking shoes. Let's talk about Philly's food scene. Philly knows
how to eat cheese steaks. Here is the rivalry we
talk about. Pat Steaks versus Gino Steaks is a legendary
battle of the cheese steak. But don't overlook favorites like

(05:24):
John's Rose Pork or Tony Luke's. And if you're from
Philadelphia or you know anything about the cheese steak, it's
all about the role the Amorosa role. You've gotta get it.
Philly's soft pretzels, they are iconic. Grab one from a
street vendor or visit City Center Pretzel company. You will

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not be sorry. And of course hogies, yes, we call
sub sandwiches hogies in Philadelphia, Philly's version of a sub sandwich,
loaded with fresh ingredients and local flavor. Don't walk into
a Hogi shop and ask for a sub, They'll know
you're not from Philly. Reading Terminal Market a food lover's paradise.

(06:12):
This market is home to Beealer's Donuts, Denix Roast Pork sandwiches,
and so much more. Go to the Terminal for lunch
and find your favorite place. Water ice and Tasty Cakes.
My dad actually worked for Tasty Cake, so we had
plenty of them as kids. But cool off with water

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ice like Italian ice and indulging Tasty cakes a local
sweet treat. Philly's food scene goes way beyond these classics.
You'll also find amazing Ethiopian, the Vietnamese, and Italian spots
all over the city, So stretch your comfort zone and
go try something different. Arts and culture and movies in

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Philadelphia are synonymous with the city. Philly isn't just about
history and food. It's also a vibrant cultural hub. The
Philadelphia Art Museum is home to an impressive collection, and yes,
you can run up the iconic Rocky Steps. Unfortunately, the
Rocky statue was taken down off of the steps several

(07:18):
years ago and placed in another location in the city.
But you can still run up the steps and trust me,
you will be out of breath when you get to
the top. The Barnes Foundation features one of the world's
largest private art collections. If you don't know about the
Barnes Art Collection, you must research it. It is absolutely

(07:41):
one of the most iconic and largest private art collections
in the world, and it's quite controversial right now. So
it's something to read about live performances. There are so
many beautiful performance centers in Philadelphia, like the Kimmel Center
for the Performing Arts and the historic Walnut Street Theater.

(08:04):
You can see ballets, modern dance, Broadway shows, symphony. It
is just the possibilities are endless, so go check out
a show while you're in Philadelphia. Of course, Rocky was
filmed in Philadelphia, but another very famous movie, The Sixth Sense,

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also made use of Philadelphia Ya's streets. Don't forget silver
Lining's playbook for more modern cinematic moments. Okay, let's talk
about shopping in Philadelphia. If you're in the mood to shop,
Philly has plenty to offer. Writtenhouse Row in Writtenhouse Square

(08:48):
is a beautiful area with very high end shopping. There's
a mix of high end boutiques, department stores and trendy
cafes and of course low boutiques that you cannot find
in any other city, and high end designer stores. And
it's very walking friendly. So I would spend a day

(09:11):
in Rittenhouse Square and go to Rittenhouse Road to shop.
And of course South Street. South Street's a little different,
it's funky, has a colectic street line with vintage shops,
record stores, yes, record stores, you can find some old
classic records here, and quirky fines. The shops at Liberty

(09:32):
Place perfect for mainstream shopping in the heart of city
center I'm sorry, Center City and the Reading Terminal Market.
More than just food, you'll find unique gifts, local crafts,
and handmade goods. So some final thoughts. I'm visiting Philadelphia. Firstly,
if you can get outside of the city and drive

(09:55):
into the beautiful countryside of Pennsylvania. I would highly suggest
it's one of the most beautiful states in our nation,
with rolling hills and beautiful old hardwood trees, especially in
the fall. Try to get to little areas like Bucks County.
There's Peddler's Village, which is an outdoor shopping mall, and

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the river, the Delaware River. There's a little town called
New Hope right on the Delaware River. And on the
other side of New Jersey is Lambertville. And you can
walk over little footbridges, you can walk along the river,
and the scenery and the nature is spectacular. But if
you can only stay in the city, Philadelphia is a

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city of contrasts, where cobblestone streets meets skyscrapers and history
meets innovation. Whether you're biting into a cheese steak, standing
in the room where America was born, or catching a
live show, Philly's energy is contagious. You will go, and
you will visit, You will fall in love with the people,

(11:06):
and it will not be your last time visiting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Thank you for listening.