8 Experiences In Philadelphia That Don’t Scream, “Tourist!”

The Liberty Bell didn’t make the cut.

My college roommate and I used to go to La Colombe, a coffee shop in the northeast that has a few stores in Philadelphia to blow off steam. Our ritual was such: we would get mochas and sandwiches that were overpriced and came on fancy little dishes.

We would sit on the fancy little wooden chairs and enjoy our escape from the demands of college life as we watched tourists stream by.

The line for the Liberty Bell was never-ending- did these people know that there was a place you could look in on the Bell, avoiding the line? I always wondered that.

Meanwhile, double-decker buses and horse-drawn carriages groaned under the weight of humans, parading them around 10 blocks that would maintain the romantic mirage they had of this historic city of liberty.

We knew better. We laughed at those tourists, in the way that 20-year-old girls who believe they’ve got it all figured out laugh.

We would then leave to get our eyebrows waxed or go shopping or get an impulse piercing because we definitely did not have it all figured out.

Today, let me take you to my Philadelphia, the city I lived in and loved for 5 years. It’s gritty, dirty, and beautiful.

#1: Taqueria La Prima+ RIM Cafe (The Italian Market)

I have been going to Taqueria La Prima since 2018! It is a narrow, hectic taqueria in the center of the Italian Market which is a part of Philadelphia heavily populated with Latinx immigrants. Everything on their menu is amazing. I strongly recommend getting the cup of horchata that is 36 oz. Fair warning: you will probably get sick because it is so heavy. Worth it? Yes.

After your taco venture, head down the street to RIM Cafe. A South Philly institution, the owners of RIM Cafe were good friends with the original owners of Pat’s AND Geno’s- neither of which will be on this list.

Pat’s and Geno’s are the most popular places to go for a cheesesteak in Philly, and are especially popular with tourists.

RIM Cafe actually has a booth from Geno’s in it. They serve cannoli, the best hot chocolate on earth, and other amazing pastries.

If neither of these strikes your fancy, enjoy the Italian Market! The food is always good. You can drive and try and find parking- which may take you to experience #2- or walk down from South Street or the Ellsworth-Federal Station on the Broad Street Line.

#2: Get ticketed by the PPA

I never said these would all be fun experiences! If you don’t live in Philly, you don’t have to pay it off.

Maybe you’re thinking, I’ll park legally. Even if it takes hours. I’ll pay ridiculously high parking fees to not get ticketed.

That’s great for you! I’m proud of you. A for effort.

Everyone falls at the hands of the Philadelphia Parking Authority(PPA). They pop up the second you turn your head and ticket you. It’s their job. They are always prowling. Don’t believe me? Ask any Philadelphian.

I once got ticketed sitting in my car.

Nothing is more authentic an experience than getting a ticket from the PPA.

#3:Rittenhouse Square Park

Rittenhouse Square itself has a reputation for being posh. The same people that are often seen lunching outdoors at Parc or any of the other restaurants nearby that are not as good as Parc also summer in the nice parts of the Jersey Shore, like Avalon.

If you see someone outside on their balcony at Rittenhouse Square, know they are paying 2500/month at minimum to live in an apartment that is probably the size of a large walk-in closet.

The park, on the other hand, is a fabric of people from all walks of life. People flock to Rittenhouse Square Park year-round to enjoy the beautiful “nature” and the vibrant people-watching scene.

There is often live music, mini farmers markets, and other vendors on nice weekends.

Rittenhouse Square Park has something for everyone. Sit back and watch life unfold. If you get bored, you’re in Center City. Hop on the subway and go to #4.

#4: Spruce Street Harbor Park/Race Street Pier/Cherry Pier

Spruce Street Harbor Park is a beautiful light show/hammock park in the summer and transforms into the Delaware River Rink in the winter.

Infamous for being a romantic spot for dates year-round due to the proximity of nice restaurants and the certain aura of romance around mildly unclean water, take your latest love interest to Spruce Street Harbor at any time of year to win them over.

Race Street Pier is a quieter spot to look out on the river, and hosts free community yoga classes during the warmer months. The subway passing over really adds to the city ambiance 😉

Cherry Street Pier hosts art studios and a flea market and suitably rests between Spruce Street and Race Street Pier.

To optimize your Delaware River Experience, walk up 2nd or 3rd Street from Market Street until you get to Race Street. This allows you to hit all of the cute shops and grab a coffee. Then, make your way over to Race Street Pier and go down from there.

When you’re ready, you can snag a bite at one of the riverside bars Spruce Street Harbor Park or Cherry Street Pier boasts, although I would advise heading back towards Market Street for some more high-quality grub.

#5: Go to a Philly AIDS thrift disco party while a little too high

And/or- go to a Philly AIDS Thrift block party(usually in the fall)or Tattooed Mom. Whether or not you alter the state of your mind is your choice.

Philly AIDS thrift is a Philadelphia-specific experience and I encourage you to fully embrace it. You may find furnishings for your home or the next summer wardrobe here.

Don’t stop at Philly AIDS thrift- walk down the rest of South Street and the roads that run behind it. This is a fun area to exist in.

You may find yourself caught in a Mardi Gras parade, and that is simply something you cannot plan or plan for. Kind of like being a little too high.

#6: Take your car for a spin on Lincoln Drive and I-676

I won’t say you haven’t fully appreciated life until someone has almost pushed you into the Schuylkill on Kelly Drive. You’ll have to discern that for yourself. Put some music on. Roll the windows down. Go at the pace of traffic or risk death. Enjoy the scenic routes(construction detours).

#7: Wawa

It is not just a gas station. Wawa is the bread of life. It is the one-stop for a cheap, decent meal. It is simply quintessential. You have options: the biggest Wawa right now is on 6th and Arch, so you should have that experience. Anywhere you go, Wawa will follow you. My personal favorite is the hazelnut coffee with hazelnut creamer. For food, I love their meatball subs and mac and cheese.

You do you. Enjoy your Wawa.

This recommendation may be last, but it is not the least. If you have time for nothing else, go to Wawa.

#8: Chinatown

Here’s what you do. Go to Bubblefish and/or Spice-C. Ideally, you should try both. Be aware Chinatown often has high card minimums. Spice-C is BYOB. After you enjoy your delicious meal, go get a massage.

In Chinatown. It will be great, trust me. Then, go to Frozen(rolled ice cream) or T-Swirl(rolled up crepes with lots of toppings) for a wonderful dessert experience. You can also go get bubble tea!

There are so many more things to try in Chinatown, but this is my ideal afternoon here.

A few more ideas

In case you want some other ideas, here are a few more experiences to be had that are not dripping in tourism.

• Schuylkill River Walk
• Learn how to pronounce Schuylkill
• Go to Books To Be Read on 40th and Locust and visit Lester, the resident cat.
• Visit the array of museums Philly has to offer-lots have discount days
• Visit Manayunk! I love that little town. You can take regional rail there. Go to Volo Coffeehouse. I can’t believe I didn’t put Manayunk on this list.
• Go to Rita’s water ice.
• Take a class at 3 Queens Yoga.
• Go to Dilworth Park and watch people struggle to get up and down the short stairs.
• Go to the Happy Sunshine Lunch Truck on 33rd and Arch! Get your sandwich with salt, pepper, and ketchup, and go relatively early to beat all of the hungover college kids.

Final Thoughts

If you’re a visitor to Philly, I hope you do whatever you would like and really enjoy the city. It’s a very special place to me and a microcosm of social inequity in the world.

Even on my list, I didn’t really recommend anywhere too far away from Center City except a few places in South Philly.

I never thought I would have enjoyed Philadelphia as a tourist. However, I loved my time living there. Even the most mundane things came alive in the tapestry of a city filled with people from every corner of the world, every walk of life.

I hope you can learn to see it that way if you go.

Song of the Day

John Coltrane + Johnny Hartmann: My One and Only Love

John Coltrane used to live in Philadelphia! I lived down the street from his old house at one point 😃

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