Weekend Getaway: Philadelphia — WEEKEND GETAWAY

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Sometimes you just need a little getaway. A lot of people in New York go Upstate, to the Hamptons, or to Miami but these can either be to much work to get to by air or not have the city atmosphere you are looking for. One place that is easy to get to, inexpensive, and has a great city energy is Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

I recently made this quick trip for less than 36 hours, but crammed in a lot in this short period of time. Here are a few places I loved on this and past trips.

Saxbys

Grabbing a coffee at one of the what seems like 100 locations in the city is a must during your stay. The coffee is fantastic and it is a great spot to grab a bite. (They also have “London Fogs” which is one of my favorite winter drinks)

Devon

Another favorite restaurant in the city, Devon is known for their signature honey biscuits that they serve as bread and a great selection of seafood. A great spot for brunch, lunch and dinner with options for every diet (even a plant based eater like myself).

The Love.

One of the new restaurants popping up around the Rittenhouse Square area, The Love is a great place for that special dinner. The staff and food were excellent and that atmosphere was cool while approachable and warm. FUN FACT: the plates in this restaurant are designed by Ellen DeGeneres (yes, that one.)

Boyd’s

This department store, which has been around since the 1930’s, just underwent a $10M renovation and it shows. With a similar feel to Bergdorf Goodman in NYC, this store houses both very big name brands but also smaller international designers who make some amazing pieces. Jeremy and I had an amazing sales associate named Jon Segal who I recommend you ask for. He knew EVERYTHING about all the brands, both big and small, and was a great conversationalist during our time shopping. Oh, did I mention there is no sales tax on clothing in Pennsylvania!

Barneys New York

Located right in the heart of Rittenhouse Square across from the park, this location of Barneys is small but has a great selection of pieces for a breadth of different style tastes. The layout of the store is also really nice to browse if you are in the area.

Rittenhouse Square

Arguably the Upper East Side of Philadelphia, Rittenhouse Square contains designer shops, world-renowned restaurants and a beautiful park. Like Dilworth, it attracts people from all walks of life to enjoy the open space and city skyline views. It can be compared to New York’s Washington Square Park at about 2/3 of the size.

AKA Hotel

The only hotel I have stayed at in Philly (and honestly the only one I ever will). One of a chain of AKA hotels throughout the US and London, these extended stay rooms are the equivalent of staying in a brand new furnished apartment with all the amenities of a hotel. With two locations in the Philadelphia area (both only a 10 min walk from each other), these are great options if you want a modern hotel but don’t want to give up space or convenience in the process.

Old City

For a blast of the past, visit Old City. Visit the many museums on Independence Mall to learn about the American Revolution, Constitution, Liberty Bell, Declaration of Independence and American Jewish History. Some of the best restaurants are also in the area including Buddakan, Morimoto, FARMiCiA, and Zahav. Make sure to stop by (with cash on hand) one of the best ice cream parlors in the country, Franklin Fountain.

SoulCycle

Does this one even need a description… One of my favorite things to do in New York has two locations in great areas of the city. If you are taking classes I would recommend Denita and Nick Turk, they will definitely kick your ass but you will be having a dance party while they are doing it.

Barnes Foundation

Having recently relocated to Philadelphia’s Museum Mile from the suburbs, the Barnes Foundation contains hundreds of lesser known works of Van Gogh, Matisse, Cézanne and many other Impressionist, Post-Impressionist and Modernist artists. In his will, Albert Barnes left specific instructions of where to hang each piece of art. The architecture of the museum reflects this, having exactly recreated the original museum on the interior with a modern shell.

Philadelphia Museum of Art

A 15-minute walk from the Barnes Foundation is a Greek Temple at the end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway. The museum is currently undergoing a $196 million expansion spearheaded by the architect Frank Gehry. The museum also contains beautiful gardens cascading down the hillside to the Schuylkill River, boathouse row and the Fairmount Water Works.

Dilworth Park

Located at the geographical center of the city, Dilworth Park is a three-year old plaza in front of Philadelphia City Hall. A great place to sit with a coffee and people watch, the park attracts families with kids running through the fountain in the summer and ice skating during the winter.

Schuylkill River Trail

At a length of 60 miles, the trail connects Philadelphia to towns along the Schuylkill River. Bikers, runners and people just enjoying the sunshine flock to the riverside trail during sunny days.

13 Things To Do In Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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