Becoming a Philadelphian for the Day
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, “The City of Brotherly Love”, is a must-visit city on the East Coast that everyone needs to explore at least once in their lives. Located in the southeast corner of the state, Philadelphia is a popular day trip for residents of the Greater Philadelphia area and southern New Jersey suburbs. When in “Philly”, it’s easy to hit your typical tourist stops such as the Liberty Bell and LOVE statue. However, there are so many underappreciated parts of the city that only a local would know to check out. Here’s a list we compiled of just a few (of the many) of these underrated spots:
Cheesesteaks
You absolutely cannot go to Philadelphia without eating the city’s most famous food, cheesesteaks. You really can’t go wrong with any cheesesteak place in the city itself and even various on its suburban outskirts, but there are specific restaurants a few Philadelphians would suggest. Now Philly’s popular cheesesteak rivalry is between restaurants just across the street from each other— Geno’s and Pat’s. However, many city and suburban locals would tell you to try others who don’t get the same amount of hype but just may, in actuality, be even better… Locals suggest cheesesteaks from either Jim’s South St. (400 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147), Chubby’s (5826 Henry Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19128), or Dalessandro's (600 Wendover St, Philadelphia, PA 19128). The combination of steak, cheeses, and various toppings is truly every sandwich lover’s dream and a Philly must-have.
Magic Gardens
Philadelphia is a city full of rich and unique arts and culture. Located at 1020 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19147, Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens is a mosaic masterpiece by founder and artist Isaiah Zagar. Let’s go into a little bit about the artist because without him this magical place wouldn’t exist. As a Philadelphia native, Zagar’s work can be spotted on 200 walls throughout Philly as well as across the globe. Most of his work is heavily inspired by his travels and the people he met along the way. As a result, the gardens are incredibly unique. They comprise both indoor and outdoor art galleries— all from vibrant mosaic and inspiring ceramic materials. The mosaics are designed with anything from kitchen tiles, to china plates, to bike wheels. To top it all off, this spot makes a backdrop like you’ve never seen before.
Magic Gardens is open for the public every day except Tuesdays, and visitors are welcome between 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. It will reopen for the season on April 1st.
Spruce Street Harbor Park
When you think of visiting a city, an urban beach probably is not the first thing to come to your head. Located at 301 S. Columbus Boulevard, Philadelphia, PA 19106, the Spruce Street Harbor Park is a free seasonal park on the Delaware River waterfront. Whether it’s frolicking with friends by the water, relaxing on hammocks, participating in one of its life-sized games like giant Jenga, or grabbing a drink from its beer garden (if you’re of age of course), there is always something to do at the Spruce Street Harbor Park. Additionally, the park offers a wide variety of traditional Philly foods— cheesesteaks, Federal donuts, and Chickie and Pete’s crab fries just to name a few. The park will reopen in the summer months of 2021, and COVID guidelines—masks and social distancing— will be required.
If you ever find yourself wandering around the beautiful city of Philadelphia, make sure to tag @theedgemag in your photos!