Unique Things To Do In Philadelphia

An Overview of Philadelphia

Philadelphia is the largest city of Pennsylvania, notable for it’s illustrious history as a birthplace for ideas and delegations which eventually resulted in American independence and law. The city is notorious for hosting the iconic Liberty Bell, as well as Independence Hall where the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed. Philadelphia was a influential region long before European colonials arrived on North American shores, with the notable Lenape hunter-gather tribes ranging through the region around 8000 BCE. In the modern era, Philadelphia is a preeminent historical city with numerous historic neighborhoods, excellent eateries, large shopping centers and famous art venues. The city is often shorthanded as “Philly” and also bears the title “The City of Brotherly Love.” There are many unique things to do in Philadelphia.

Unique Things To Do In Philadelphia

Philly Cheesesteak

This cheesesteak sandwich, which is made from thinly-sliced pieces of beefsteak and drenched in melted cheese, is the signiture meal of Philadelphia. It remains a popular regional fast food.

Shane Confectionery’s Clear Toy Candies

This unique shop has been serving specialized traditional candies since 1911, offering chocolates and other sweets from a historic building. The traditional candies, which are made in various, well-defined shapes such as trains, ships, children or animals, are a German-Pennsylvania tradition. The idea behind the hard candies was that children could play with them prior to eating them.

The Mütter Museum at The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

This is a strange and unusual museum which contains a large collection of anatomical and pathological specimens, including diagrams, wax models, antiquated medical equipment and more, all in a 19th-century “cabinet museum” setting. The museum is especially famous as the home of Albert Einstein’s brain. (Admittedly, the acquisition of the brain was highly controversial, as Thomas Harvey, who performed the autopsy, didn’t have permission. It had been Einstein’s wish to be totally cremated.)

Mount Moriah Cemetery

Considered one of the nation’s grand, rural cemeteries, the Mount Moriah Cemetery is a historic cemetary established in 1855. The cemetary is largely abandoned despite it’s famous heritage, with the arches crumbling and the nearby forest gradually eating up the graveyard. Much of the cemetary has been restored by the nonprofit organization Friends of Mount Moriah Cemetery, though much of the site remains overgrown.

Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens

These Magic Gardens allow guests to wander through an amazing folk art environment, exploring gallery spaces created by mosaic artist Isaiah Zagar. The venue requires a ticket to be booked in advance online or by calling ahead. This is one of the most popular and unique things to do in Philadelphia.

Shofuso Japanese House and Gardens

This traditional, 17th-century Japanese-styled estate and garden is located within Fairmont Park. The beautiful, free entry outdoor gardens are accented by swaying trees, a peaceful lake and narrow walking trails.

Cave of Kelpius

Hidden in a remote portion of Fairmont Park, this stone-framed “cave” is built into the side of a hill. The cave is tied up in an old and pervasive legend which states mystic and scholar Johannes Kelpius used the site during his doomsday preparations. After an elaborate interpretation of the Biblical Book of Revelation, Kelpius convinced a sizeable group of “monks” to live with him in the wilderness until the imminent end of days. The world didn’t end, and the group eventually disbanded after Kelpius’s death in 1708.

The Dream Garden

Occasionally called the Tiffany Glass Mural, this gorgeous mural based on a Maxfield Parrish landscape was made entirely from hand-blown glass. The exquisite and unique artwork can be found sitting in the lobby of The Curtis Center in downtown Philadelphia.

Philadelphia City Hall

Located in the downtown area of Philadelphia, the City Hall is the largest municipal building in the United States. The building is known for it’s various historical treasures both inside the building and on the exterior. The statue of William Penn atop City Hall is one of the most iconic landmarks in Philadelphia.

Elfreth’s Alley Museum

This is a historic pedestrian street with 32 gorgeous houses built between 1703 and 1836. The alley is registered as a National Historic Landmark and named for blacksmith and property owner Jeremiah Elfreth. The street was the historic home for artisans and tradespeople and remains an exceptional example of early United States structures.

Rocky Statue

No mention of Philadelphia would be complete without mentioning the landmark statue of Rocky Balboa, the fictional boxer played by Sylvester Stallone. The statue is one of Philadelphia’s most famous pieces of public art. It can be found at the The Philadelphia Museum of Art, adjacent to the famous “Rocky Steps.” There are frequently lines near the statue with people waiting to take a photo with the “The Italian Stallion.”

Franklin Square

This is one of the five open-space parks planned by William Penn when he was planning out the core structure of Philadelphia. The park is known as a relaxing place to stroll, with fountains and shady places to sit. The Square is centrally close other popular attractions in Philly. Originally, the square was called “North East Publick Square,” but it was renamed in honor of Benjamin Franklin in 1825. There are many shows and events in the Square, especially during the holiday seasons.

Wagner Free Institute

This is an deeply interesting museum which is one of the rare, preserved examples of a Victorian-styled naturalist museum. The museum’s fantastic exhibits were largely collected by William Wagner, the “gentleman naturalist” and famed biologist Joseph Leidy. The result was a massive passion project which was organized according to Darwin’s Theory of Evolution. The museums showcases exhibits of taxidermy, skeletons, sea life and how evolution as a young theory applied to them all. The museum hasn’t been changed since Leidy’s last rearrangement in 1891, making the Wagner a rare sight into cutting-edge science and beauty of its era. This is one of the most unique things to do in Philadelphia.

Grip the Raven

This taxidermized raven can be found in the Free Library of Philadelphia Rare Books Department. Grip, who was the pet raven of Charles Dickens, makes an appearance in Barnaby Rudge, one of Dickens’ lesser-known stories. Grip was professionally taxidermized and mounted after his death, going on to inspire Edgar Allen Poe’s “The Raven.” The inspirational bird’s full name is often extended to honor his inadvertanly large contributions to literature. He is also known as Grip the Clever, Grip the Wicked, Grip the Knowing.

Graffiti Pier (Pier 18)

This is an old coal loading dock which has been converted into an outdoor street artwork gallery. The pier is private property, but it can be visited by guests during daylight hours, easily reachable through an open gate. The area is to be eventually converted into a public park.

Valley Forge National Historical Park

Valley Forge is the famed third winter encampment of George Washington’s Continental Army during the American Revolution. Seeped deep in the nation’s founding, the park contains historical buildings, recreated encampment fortifications, numerous memorials and several museums. The park also provides several hiking and biking trails, which are connected to a much large regional trail system.

The Neon Musuem of Philadelphia

This musuem hosts the numerous glowing signs that were gradually retired from Philly’s shops and streets. The signs are located within the makerspace warehouse NextFab. Icons of Philadelphia’s business and culture can be found within, such as McGillin’s Olde Ale House, Bookbinder’s and more.

The Franklin Institute

Dedicated to the notorious scientist and statesman, the Franklin Institute is a compelling science museum focused on education and research. The museum hosts the Benjamin Franklin National Memorial.

Spruce Street Harbor Park

This is a large urban park found near Penn’s Landing in Philadelphia. The park is built along the Delaware River and remains a popular place for holidays and festivals. There are multiple pubs, eateries and lounges found in the area. The park is known to host the Art Star Pop Up Market, where local artist sell ceramics, art pieces, soaps, unique trinkets, candles and more.

Longwood Gardens

Located to the South of Philadelphia, this is a large and gorgeously designed botanical landscape full of manicured gardens, quiet woodlands, large meadows and horticultural displays. The gardens are found in Brandywine Creek Valley and often host performances, events and seasonal attractions. The gardens can be reached by driving for roughly an hour from Philly’s city center.

Woodmere Art Museum

The Woodmere Art Museum can be found in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia. This museum is home to paintings, sculptures and photographs created by established artists from the Delaware Valley area.

Boathouse Row

This is a historic site in Philadelphia found on the banks of the Schuylkill River just north of the Fairmount Water Works. Boathouse Row is home to 15 boathouses, each at least a century old. The area is considered a relaxing and unique place to visit.

Benjamin Franklin’s Grave

Benjamin Franklin, one of the most compelling founding fathers of the United States, has his final resting place at the Christ Church Burial Ground in Philadelphia.

The Liberty Bell

Previously named the State House Bell or the Old State House Bell, the Liberty Bell is one of the most enduring symbols of American independence, liberty, freedom and values. The bell was cracked during a test strike and needed to be recast twice, resulting in the iconic fissure running up the side. The bell gained national significance when abolitionists adopted the bell as a symbol to end slavery throughout the United States.

The Whispering Bench

Found in Fairmount Park, this bench is linked to the giant arch commemorating Pennsylvania’s Civil War heroes. The impressive monument, also known as the Smith Memorial Arch, contains a secret feature. At the base of the monument, the stone bench accesses the arch’s unique form to project sound a great distance. A person whispering on one side of the bench can hear a person on the opposite end without trouble. Testing out the bench is one of the most unique things to do in Philadelphia.

The Philadelphia Insectarium

This large museum dedicated to education about insects is home to many live insects, mounted specimens and a large butterfly pavilion. The museum is largely targeted towards children.

The Stoogeum

The Three Stooges, Moe, Curly and Larry, are possibly America’s most famed comedy team, active from 1922 to 1970. They were beloved for their short films which capitalized on slapstick humor. The Stoogeum is a by-appointment-only museum containing close to 100,000 pieces of Stoogeabilia.

Read more about unique things to do in Philadelphia and seeing the world by visiting Leftfade Trails Blog.

Affiliate Disclosure: Leftfade Trails contains affiliate links, so using services or products through these links supports the website, at no extra cost to the user. All links are to tested services and products designed to aid travelers on their journeys. Some links specifically connect to Amazon. As an Amazon Associate this website earns from qualifying purchases.