On a recent trip to Philly, the City of Brotherly Love, I found myself enamored with the stunning architecture, historic buildings and photo-friendly parks. I thought instead of writing an extensive travel feature, I would just highlight 5 of the best spots to take a selfie. I had less than 24 hours to explore the city, so all of these attractions are within walking distance of each other and are Instagram worthy destinations. Liberty Bell The bell that was later named the Liberty Bell was initially used to call the Pennsylvania Assembly to meetings. It was soon adopted by abolitionists, suffragists, Civil Rights advocates, Native Americans, immigrants, war protesters and others as their symbol. Visitors can tour the Liberty Bell Center for free year-round. The Liberty Bell Center is part of the U.S. National Park Service and Independence National Historical Park.
Independence Hall In Independence Hall in 1776, the Founding Fathers came together to sign the Declaration of Independence and, 11 years later, write the U.S. Constitution. Guided tours of the hall are available to visitors year-round. Free, timed tickets are required and can be picked up at the Independence Visitor Center at 6th and Market streets. Tours can sell out before noon, so plan accordingly. Independence Hall is part of the U.S. National Park Service and Independence National Historical Park.
The Rocky Statue One of Philadelphia’s most famous pieces of public art is a bigger-than-life boxer… literally. Originally created for Rocky III, the sculpture is now a real-life monument to a celluloid hero. The fictional Rocky Balboa of Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky movies was immortalized in bronze in 1980. After filming for the movie completed, Stallone donated the statue to the City of Philadelphia. The statue is located at the bottom of the stairs at the Philadelphia Museum of Art, so be sure to get a photo with Rocky Balboa himself.
Philadelphia Museum of Art As famous as the statue itself is, the stairs leading to the East Entrance of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, aka “The Rocky Steps,” may be even more famous. In fact, they’ve been declared the second most famous movie filming location in the entire world. Making the iconic trip up the steps is regarded as a symbol of perseverance and determination — and a must-do on your visit to Philadelphia.
AMOR/LOVE Sculpture Robert Indiana’s LOVE sculpture has been removed for renovation while the sculpture’s home — Philadelphia’s iconic John F. Kennedy Plaza, better known as LOVE Park — gets an overhaul ahead of its re-opening in late November 2017. The sculpture will undergo restoration, including being repainted, over the next several months, and will be restored and reinstalled in its original location at LOVE Park in late November 2017. In the meantime, the AMOR sculpture is still on display at Sister Cities Park, a short walk from LOVE Park.
