One More Thing

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
that's completely unique. It's where the Declaration of Independence was signed.
Everybody should know that Rocky Balboa ran up the steps

(00:21):
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 Philly so special,

(00:44):
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, located just fifteen

(01:06):
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 for
some hustle and bustle. What if you want to visit

(01:28):
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 of these trains.
They are very, very, very ride or friendly. The station

(01:51):
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 seventy six,
making it an easy road trip destination for East Coast travelers.

(02:13):
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 compact downtown area.
It's an old city, so those streets are tiny, so

(02:34):
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, especially when
you're in the historic area. Ladies, no heels. Philly's historic

(02:58):
and iconic landmarks are 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. And of course,
you know that Philadelphia was the first capital of the
United States. So let's go to Independence Hall and the

(03:21):
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 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

(03:46):
inhabited street in America. This cobblestone gem is full of
charm and colonial era houses and a 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

(04:08):
must see when in Philadelphia. Dive deeper into the country's
founding with interactive exhibits and fascinating artifacts. 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.

(04:30):
It offers a glimpse into prison reform and the lies
of its infamous inmates like al Capone. 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

(04:54):
I must see. Most of these historic sites are in
Old City, so you can eat easily. 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

(05:16):
Steaks versus Gino Steaks is a legendary battle of the
cheese steak. But don't overlook favorites like John's Roast 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.

(05:39):
They are iconic. Grab one from a street vendor or
visit City Center pretzel company. You will 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

(06:02):
shop and ask for a sub, They'll know you're not
from Philly. Reading Terminal Market a food lover's paradise. 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.

(06:27):
My dad actually worked for Tasty Cake, so we had
plenty of them as kids. But cool off with water
ice like Italian ice and indulge in 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

(06:48):
all over the city, So stretch your comfort zone and
go try something different. Arts and culture and movies in
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,

(07:10):
you can run up the iconic Rocky Steps. Unfortunately, the
Rocky statue was taken down off of the steps several
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

(07:32):
largest private art collections. If you don't know about the
Barnes Art Collection, you must research it. It is absolutely
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

(07:55):
many beautiful performance centers in Philadelphia, like the Kimmel Sun
for the Performing Arts and the historical Walnut Street Theater.
You can see ballets, modern dance, Broadway shows, symphony. It
is just the possibilities are endless, so go check out

(08:18):
a show while you're in Philadelphia. Of course, Rocky was
filmed in Philadelphia, but another very famous movie, The Sixth Sense,
also made use of Philadelphia Ya's streets. Don't forget silver
Lining's playbook for more modern cinematic moments. Okay, let's talk

(08:39):
about shopping in Philadelphia. If you're in the mood to shop,
Philly has plenty to offer. Writtenhouse Row in Writtenhouse Square
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 local boutiques that you cannot find in

(09:02):
any other city and high end designer stores. And it's
very walking friendly. So I would spend a day 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,

(09:25):
record stores, you can find some old classic records here,
and quirky fines. The shops at Liberty 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

(09:48):
some final thoughts. I'm visiting Philadelphia. Firstly, if you can
get outside of the city and drive into the beautiful
countryside of Pennsylvania. I would highly seg just it. It's
one of the most beautiful states in our nation, with
rolling hills and beautiful old hardwood trees, especially in the fall.

(10:10):
Try to get to little areas like Bucks County. There's
Peddler's Village, which is an outdoor shopping mall, and 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

(10:32):
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 city of contrasts,
where cobblestone streets meets skyscrapers and history meets innovation. Whether
you're biting into a cheese steak, standing in the room

(10:54):
where America was born, or catching a live show Phillies
energy contagious, you will go, and you will visit, you
will fall in love with the people, and it will
not be your last time visiting Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Thank you
for listening.