Three must-see sites in Philadelphia

Taken from the steps of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, this nighttime city scene includes the bronze and granite Washington Monument, the culture-heavy Benjamin Franklin Parkway, the iconic City Hall and the towering Comcast Center. (G. Widman for GPTMC)

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The Philadelphia Museum Art crowns the city’s culturally rich Benjamin Franklin Parkway. (Photo by B. Krist for GPTMC)

Located at the bottom of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps—triumphantly scaled by fictional character Rocky Balboa—is a life-size statue of the champion boxer. (Photo by G. Widman for GPTMC)

Philadelphia, the largest city in Pennsylvania, is an inspiring combination of preserving the past and living in the moment. From the showcases of modern art to the preservation of landmarks and famous movie moments to well-known cheesesteak rivalries, Philly has more character and charm than most cities. To fully enjoy your visit, here are three must-see sites.

Independence Hall
A trip to Philadelphia would not be complete without visiting its American landmarks. On the top of the list is Independence National Historical Park on Chestnut Street. This is where you will find Independence Hall. At this site, George Washington was declared commander in chief of the Continental Army, the Declaration of Independence was adopted, the design of the American flag was created, and the Constitution of the United States was drafted. The Liberty Bell is currently in the park as well. If you’re an American history buff, you already know how essential Independence Hall and the Liberty Bell were in the shaping of the nation. You owe it to yourself to stand in the presence of such fundamental sites.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art
The “Rocky Steps” in front of the Philadelphia Museum of Art have attracted their fair share of tourists. In the Sylvester Stallone film "Rocky," the protagonist famously ascended the steps in a moment that inspired many. The bronze statue of Rocky that was unveiled in "Rocky III" is just northeast of the steps and attracts many visitors itself. The Philadelphia Museum of Art is one of the nation’s largest museums filled with priceless works of art. The eclectic collection spans many different forms: painting, ceramics, film and manuscripts. If you’re interested in art in any way, the Philadelphia Museum of Art shouldn’t be missed.

Philadelphia cheesesteaks
You can find mouthwatering cheesesteaks almost everywhere in the city, but general consensus boils the competition down to two places in south Philadelphia: Pat’s King of Steaks and Geno’s Steaks. Pat Olivieri founded Pat’s King of Steaks in 1930 and is credited with inventing the cheesesteak a few years later with his brother Harry. Geno’s Steaks is located across the street. Joe Vento started Geno’s in 1966, claiming that if he wanted to sell steaks, he should go where people were already eating them. Both eateries have their loyal customers. Try both to see which you think is truly the king of the steaks.