A Budget Day Trip to Philadelphia

I had never really even thought about Philadelphia until my friends started complaining about it. They had been sent there by work for a couple months last summer as soon as the weather in New York got nice. (To be honest, I would have been annoyed too.) They were on the bus back to New York almost every weekend.

It can’t be all that bad, I mused after a particularly scathing rant by my friend about the sketchiness-boredom trap of Philly. But the last time I had been there I was probably 8 years old with my family and all we had seen was the historical sights, so I thought it was time to give it a fair, grown-up shot. My goal was to see if I could pull of an interesting and budget solo day trip to Philadelphia.

So this spring, as soon as the weather got bearable, I hopped on the Megabus and napped my way to Philadelphia.

Guys, Philadelphia is a bit weird. It’s a bit sketch and a bit WTF (just wait for it)… but I had a wonderful day! I’m all about Philly. It’s great for a day trip escape from New York City, but it’d be just as easy to make a weekend out of it too. Here’s how to fill a cheap day in the City of Brotherly Love.

Donuts

Is anyone really surprised that this is how my day started?

I stepped off the bus and immediately plugged Federal Donuts into my phone. A donut and fried chicken Philly institution, it was already a little low on donuts when I got there in the late morning. But the donuteers were putting the final touches on fresh batch of strawberry shortcake donuts just as I walked in. Nothing beats a still-warm, sweet and tangy, crumbling cake donut to energize you for a day of exploring.

Philadelphia’s MAGIC GARDENS

My next stop was the Philadelphia’s Magic Gardens, which is not in fact a garden at all but rather an empty lot artist Isaiah Zagar took over for a vast mosaic mini-maze.

To say that Isaiah was… inspired when he created these murals would be, I think, an understatement. The lot is completely covered in shards of glass, broken tiles, empty wine bottles, and the occasional clay figurine. There were several families there with small children (which seemed like a huge safety hazard) but an art activity started shortly after I arrived, which allowed me some breathing space to wander, take pictures, and examine the mosaics more closely.

It’s not huge, but after learning a little about Isaiah’s process, I was impressed by the sheer size of the installation. It you’re into weird art, I’d definitely recommend it.

Reading Terminal

Confession: I didn’t get a Philly cheesesteak. Maybe that makes me a terrible traveler, but a friend had recommended a couple places in Reading Terminal that sounded way more interesting to me.

Reading Terminal is a great place. Crazy and chaotic, full of diverse eateries and stores. From Cajun food to Amish pies to homemade ice cream to an oyster bar, you can find whatever you’re craving there. I grabbed a pork and provolone sandwich from Dinic’s and headed out.

I almost picked up my second donut of the day from the Pennsylvania Dutch, but since it was a Sunday their booths were closed. Next time!

PENN’S LANDING

I took my sandwich and went for a looong walk to Penn’s Landing. Even though it’s on the Delaware River, the waterfront itself isn’t particularly inspiring. Luckily, there was an art fair going and the place was packed.

Speaking of Philly weird… One artist was selling embroidered wood. Another had beer and wine soap. You could make your own printed t-shirt by choosing a design and powering the machine by riding a bicycle. What? There was a lot of pretty jewelry, but I forced myself to stay low budget.

Historical Philadelphia

While I wouldn’t necessarily recommend Penn’s Landing unless there’s an event happening, hiking out all that way did take me right next to the historical district. I passed by Christ Church, built in 1695 and attended by many revolutionary leaders, including George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Betsy Ross. Franklin and several signers of the Declaration of Independence are buried there.

Next was Elfreth’s Alley, the oldest residential street in the country. People still live in the historical houses, though I found it amusing that at the end of the street was a four-story modern apartment building where a kid’s pirate-themed birthday party was going on.

This is one thing that I really think is special about about Philadelphia (and Boston). History really happened there. Sure, DC has a lot of memorials and museums, but if you want to visit sites of actual instigation and rebellion, you’d have better luck in Philadelphia or Boston.

MURAL ARTS PROGRAM

As a big fan of street art, I was super interested in touring Philadelphia’s Mural Arts Program, an initiative when the city contracted graffiti artists to create murals celebrating Philly’s history and culture.

I couldn’t download the audio guide onto my phone, unfortunately, but I followed the map around the north murals. Some of them were fantastic, and some were very 80s. I really liked this one, “How to Turn Anything into Something Else.”

Philadelphia continues to be a little trippy.

The Long Walk

At this point my departure time was close. I took a long, round-about walk towards the bus stop, breezing by the Art Institute (and Rocky statue), walking on the paths along the Schuylkill River, and passing through the train station (recommended if you like train stations!). Then I was back on the bus and on my way home to Brooklyn.

Philadelphia, you’re a little bit out there. Part history, part trippy art, part hipster, and so much more that I didn’t even get to see! I thoroughly enjoyed my day trip to Philadelphia and can’t wait to check more of what the city has to offer.

Have you been to Philadelphia? What would you recommend for my return visit? I’m using Pinterest to collect ideas, so leave a comment with a suggestion!

Roundtrip bus tickets from New York to Philly can start around $15. Mine were about $32, but I bought them just a few days before. The Magic Gardens cost $7 for unguided admission. The only other money I spent was on food, water, and coffee, making Philly an easy budget getaway for New Yorkers.