You can get a downloadable map of this itinerary here.

BEST TIME TO TRAVEL: September-Early November. Philadelphia is particularly beautiful as the leaves change to welcome in fall, and if you time your trip right, you will be able to experience some Philly-fandom at an Eagles game. I’d recommend avoiding coming during the winter, as the weather can be way too cold to enjoy any outdoor activities.

WHERE TO STAY: Rittenhouse Square. The neighborhood tends to be on the pricier side, but is perfectly central to anywhere you want to visit on the trip.

friday.

Settle in to your hotel and make a reservation for the evening at Double Knot. It is an Asian-fusion restaurant, and arguably (but actually, indisputably?) the BEST restaurant in the city. Make sure you request to be seated on the lower level! If you don’t make a reservation in advance, the wait can be quite long. If this is the case, put your name down and relax next door at Graffiti Bar. The fishbowl will take you a while to drink. When you are seated at Double Knot, my favorite items on the menu are the Robatayaki, the pork bao bun, and the signature cocktail.

saturday.

Start your morning with brunch at The Dandelion. It is a cute British style restaurant, and each room has a different theme, so feel free to walk around. Also, it’s a mistake not to order the Bloody Mary. If you want to get your day started and opt for something quicker, Spread Bagelry and Federal Donuts are both Philly staples.

Next, head to the Philadelphia Art Museum. Apart from having an INCREDIBLE museum that is designed to mirror the countries that the art is from, you can also find the Rocky statue and footprints here at the top of the steps. Afterwards, if you have time, stroll along the river down Boathouse Row.

For a nice pre-dinner, late-afternoon activity, walk nearby to the Rodin Museum. Pick up some snacks and drinks on the way so that you can have a nice picnic in the entrance garden. It’s a relaxing and beautiful spot that I wish I would have found sooner.

For a more relaxed dinner, head to Mission Taqueria. All the tacos are AMAZING, and I recently just discovered their amazing green juice margarita. Alpen Rose is also an INSANELY DELICIOUS option if you prefer steak. Afterwards, head across the street to Harp & Crown and once again ask to grab a drink downstairs–there is a hidden bowling alley and cocktail bar.

sunday.

Start your morning at Reading Terminal, before it gets too busy. The place is too large for me to provide any educated recommendations, but this might be a start. I can personally say that the Cajun Café and Beiler’s Donuts are both great (but Beiler’s is unfortunately closed on Sunday’s).

Next, head to Constitution Hall and the Liberty Bell. If you are traveling during peak season, you will need to make reservations in advance to tour the two attractions. Also, if you feel like you need a quick pick-me-up, Philadelphia’s own La Colombe is right on the corner (with the original location in Fishtown). Get the draft latte.

Obviously most of my recommendations revolve around food, so to continue on trend, head to Franklin Fountain. Luckily, you’ll get to walk Philadelphia’s cute cobblestone streets on the way. My favorite flavor is peanut butter, but most people also love the hydrox cookie flavor.

If there is time, take a quick ride over to Magic Gardens. It is a BEAUTIFUL mosaic garden with an amazing history. If you have time to walk around the area, there are similar mosaics to be discovered. I also recommend checking the event calendar because they sometimes host evening concerts here.

Finally, if it is summer or early-fall, end your day at Spruce Street Harbor. Here, you’ll find food trucks, outdoor games, and arcade, and hammocks to spend the perfect evening relaxing in. If you’re traveling outside of this time, I recommend ending your evening at Audrey Claire. Note that it’s BYOB (with no corkage fee) and cash-only.