I visited Philadelphia – the home of Rocky & the birthplace of the USA, full of fascinating history & incredible food

Scottish Sun

2 days ago

PHILADELPHIA is a city that punches way above its weight - and I'm not just talking about the iconic Rocky statue that looks out over the classy metropolis.
The 'City of Brotherly Love' is the birthplace of the United States and is packed full of rich history, art, culture and fantastic cuisine from around the world.
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Philadelphia skyline
Credit: Getty
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Our man at the Rocky statue
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Philadelphia - a classy city on Amerca's east coast
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The Philly skyline with the William Penn statue atop City Hall
You can stroll from one side of town to the other in around an hour - before running the final 48 steps up the famous Philadelphia Museum of Art stairs immortalised by Sylverter Stallone in the 1976 movie.
Known as Philly to the locals, you can now fly direct from Scotland for the first time in six years with American Airlines.
I wasted no time in taking up the opportunity to immerse myself in the city that is extremely proud of the warm welcome it gives visitors, along with a cultural experience to rival anywhere in the world.
Philly is sometimes known as the 'City of Firsts'. It was the first capital of the United States and the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were both signed at Independence Hall.
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It's also home to America's first skyscraper, the PSFS tower built in 1932 - now transformed from a bank into the luxury Loews Hotel, my base for the week.
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The luxury Loews Hotel is now in the historic PSFS building
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Many of the rooms at Loews have panoramic views over the city
It's an art deco masterpiece and retains all the charm of the 1930s while incorporating modern touches to satisfy the most exacting of clients.
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From your well appointed room, with all mod cons and lots of comfy pillows, you can plot your day's adventures with a panoramic view across the city.
My first port of call was the hotel's classy eaterie Bank & Bourbon.
The signature cocktails were a knockout and the menu, a mix of American and fusion flavours, was equally fab.
The spa was also particular favourite of mine with a sauna and steam room to relax and invigorate weary travellers.
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Just across the road from the hotel was the absolute must-visit for foodies - the Reading Terminal Market.
Around 80 different vendors from all over the world ply their trade in the former railway warehouse and it is quite simply magic.
I arranged a guided tour with City Food Tours to make sure I didn't miss anything.
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Foodies heaven Reading Terminal Market
Credit: Daniel Knoll
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There's American cuisine like cajun and gumbo, pancakes, burgers and the famous Philly cheesesteaks.
But they also have Central American, Chinese, Greek, Italian, Moroccan, Japanese…and an Irish pub called Molly Molloy's. There's always an Irish pub!
My guide said that food brings people together and that's what Philadelphia was all about, it's not called the City of Brotherly Love for nothing.
Speaking of Irish pubs, the city's oldest bar, McGillan's, was just around the corner from the market.
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McGillan's Old Ale House
Opened in 1860, the legendary watering hole even survived prohibition and was absolutely bouncing when I arrived - probably because the local baseball team, the Phillies, were playing.
The cool funky vibe was maintained in every restaurant I visited.
Jim's on South Street was a rite of passage for a cheesesteak while the Harp and Crown was a classy dinner joint for a Friday night.
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Chris' Jazz Cafe was like going back in time. I had the jambalaya while the live band entertained us with exceptional tunes, both new and old.
Talking of going back in time, no visit to Philly is complete without checking out Independence Hall, the birthplace of the nation.
The building has been lovingly maintained from the days in 1776 when America came into being and broke away from the British Empire.
Across the road, the Liberty Bell is one of the most recognisable symbols of freedom across the globe.
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Gordon, the Liberty Bell and Independence Hall in the background
It became a powerful sight during the abolition of slavery and, despite cracking over the centuries, has stayed a massive part of the American identity.
Nearby, the Museum of the American Revolution is another must-visit part of Philly.
The immersive experience brings the fight for independence to life and is a fascinating walk through the tumultuous time.
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It was heartening to see so many schooltrips there to help the kids understand where they had come from and the struggles their forefathers had to create their own nation.
History buffs will also love the tour of City Hall and the William Penn statue which towers above downtown.
Penn was granted the land now called Pennsylvania and the monument in his honour was created by Scot Alexander Calder.
There is also the story that the city's sports teams began losing when skyscrapers taller than Penn's statue were built.
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So the story goes that a builder put a miniature Penn statue atop the new Comcast Tower in 2017 - another fine place to take in the view and enjoy a drink at the Skyhigh bar.
The following year, the Philadelphia Eagles won their first Superbowl - and they won it again this year.
GO: PHILADELPHIA
GO: PHILLY
GETTING THERE: American Airlines flies daily direct from Edinburgh to Philadelphia until October 5. See aa.com for best fares.
STAYING THERE: For best room rates at the 5H Loews Philadelphia Hotel. See loewshotels.com.
MORE INFO: See discoverphl.com for all you need to know to visit the city.
For art aficionados, the city has a dazzling array of galleries that would grace any city in the world.
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is absolutely enormous and packed with valuable pieces, some of them hundreds of years old.
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You could spend days exploring the three floors and not get bored.
Just a few minutes walk away, the Barnes Foundation is another treasure.
There are Picassos, Renoirs and fantastic art that can't be seen anywhere else in the world.
On the other side of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway is a museum dedicated to the man himself.
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He was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States and was a scientist among many other things, including being a signatory to the Declaration of Independence.
The building that bears his name, the Franklin Institute, is an awe-inspiring celebration of cutting edge science and technology, delivered in an easy-to-understand way.
As if that wasn't enough art, the South Philly Art Tour by WeVenture is another must.
The two hour wander around the funky neighbourhood is illustrated by street art by Isaiah Zagar.
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His mosaics that cover entire building walls and lanes tell stories about the people who stay in the area - some alive and some as a tribute in death - along with his views on historic events.
It's a lifetime's work that surrounds you and it's incredible stuff to see.
On my walk home, I decided to have a seat at Dilworth Park, just outside the City Hall.
An impromptu live gig was taking place with Motown classics being played while a local councillor was dancing with a delighted citizen.
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Everyone was smiling and chatting in the sun, no matter their race or background.
That will be my abiding memory of Philadelphia - a city for all and an experience for all to enjoy.