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Eri_Barrister is a regular Philadelphia man about town. He lives in Philly and wants to share all his secrets with you to maximize your fun during Championship Weekend.
Memorial Day Weekend is almost within reach and we at College Crosse couldn't be happier! Man, though, can't live on lacrosse and backyard cookouts alone (YET!). So, here is Part I of College Crosse's "What Should We Do Today" series about fun things to do in and around Philly.
Museum District
Main starting point: Philadelphia Museum of Art, 2600 Benjamin Franklin Pkwy, Philadelphia, PA 19130.
Get some culture in your life! Philadelphia's Museum District is home to some of the finest museums in the country. From the Philadelphia Museum of Art to the Barnes Foundation to the Franklin Institute, there are literally hundreds if not thousands of things to see before you should even think about taking a selfie in front of a statue of a movie character. (Seriously, please don't do that. Don't be a "that tourist." For the love of all that is holy, class it up and take one on top of the Art Museum steps and get the whole city behind you at least.)
Independence Mall
Main starting point: National Constitution Center, 525 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19106.
You can have your cute yellow line and your iced tea harbor, Boston. America was born in Philadelphia! After you check out the Constitution Center, take a stroll down Independence Mall and check out everything else. From the Liberty Bell, to Independence Hall, to the original White House -- when it comes to historic American treasures, Philly's got racks on racks on racks of 'em.
Philadelphia Zoo
3400 W Girard Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19104. Website.
The Philadelphia Zoo is America's first zoo and definitely a fun place to check out with your family or knucklehead friends.
Reading Terminal Market
51 N 12th St, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Website.
It is difficult to describe Reading Terminal, but imagine taking 80-plus distinct merchants and shops and stuffing them all into a former railroad station. A THUNDERDOME! of food, if you will. Reading Terminal Market is the nation's oldest continuously operating farmers market and the diversity of choices will make your head spin. Plus, it's home to DiNic's, home to the best sandwich in the city.
Boathouse Row
1 Boathouse Row, Philadelphia, PA 19130. Website.
Boathouse Row is one of the most beautiful areas of the city and another National Historic Landmark in Philadelphia (#NotHumbleBrag). If you are into crew, this is pretty much the East Coast Mecca of crew racing, as Boathouse Row hosts numerous major rowing regattas.
Rittenhouse Square
Rittenhouse Square can be found off Walnut St. between 18th and 19th St.
Want to see celebrities? Like people watching? Careen over to Rittenhouse Square. Rittenhouse Square is a nexus point and one of the most active and vibrant sections of the city, a great place to relax and take in all the sights and sounds of Philadelphia.
Rittenhouse's cousin, Washington Square, is also off Walnut St. and is located between 6th and 7th St. While Washington Square is not as active as Rittenhouse Square, it is a beautiful resting stop in one of Philly's toniest areas.
Fairmount Park
Given its sheer size, it is difficult to give one location for Fairmount Park. Encompassing over 9,000 acres of open space, hills, and trails, Fairmount Park is one of the largest urban park systems in the country (there are over 63 different parks). A good place to start is this breakdown. After you're done that, check out this City of Philadelphia Parks and Recreation page about Fairmount Park's origins.
Kelly Drive
Kelly Drive is the best place in the entire city to go for a morning run or bike ride. Kelly Drive runs for about four miles along the Schuylkill River and is a very beautiful and quiet area of the city. If you are staying in Center City, Kelly Drive is definitely a great place to walk/jog/run in the morning before all the craziness and excessive eating begins.
Love Park
Between 16th & JFK Blvd, Philadelphia PA 19102. Website.
No trip to Philly is complete without visiting Love Park. Right across the street from City Hall, Love Park is one of the most popular destinations in the city. With the iconic LOVE statue in front of a massive fountain, Love Park is the entryway onto Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Furthermore, it's one of the best places in Philly to take a selfie, as the Philadelphia Museum of Art is in the background.
Best way to get around the city
Indego Bikes, Philadelphia's official bike-sharing program. Located: Everywhere. Website.
In April of this year, Philly launched its new bike-share program. With over 60 stations positioned throughout the city, Indego Bikes are extremely popular. Visitors can use these bikes as all you need is a credit card to get some wheels. Philadelphia is a bike-friendly city and the Indego Bikes are a very affordable and fun way to get around the city.
Best Philly Twitter Follow
Uwishunu Philly. Website
With close to two million people in the city and the immediate suburbs, there's an infinite number of possibilities to stack a weekend. That's where @Uwishunu comes in. @Uwishunu provides you with information on all the cool things going down in Philly. Trust me, if something's going down in Philadelphia, @Uwishunu knows about it and has a link letting you know what's good. Follow them and then thank me later.