111 Places in Philadelphia That You Must Not Miss

Brandon Schultz is a world traveller, author, writer, and water ice lover who grew up in Greater Philadelphia. He currently travels year-round but is based in Brooklyn, New York. Lucy Baber is a Philadelphia-based photographer and small business owner. In addition to photography, Lucy is also a Mindset Coach, podcast host of Midlife Plot Twists, and mum to two boys. Known for her social justice photo project, "100 Black Dads”, Lucy uses photography to capture meaningful connections and to give back to the local community.

• Adrian Balboa’s GraveA real grave for a fictional character | 10Albert Einstein’s PipeYou’ve seen it in photos, now see it in person | 12America’s Best BathroomIt’s just outside Philadelphia, and it’s alive | 14AssemblyThe swankiest rooftop in town | 16Baleroy MansionMaybe a little too haunted | 18Barnes FoundationBlack culture among the impressionists | 20Bartram’s GardenColonial America’s first garden | 22Batalá PhillyPhilly’s most inclusive musical act | 24BioPondA shockingly secluded secret garden | 26Black Vulture GalleryArt for your skin, art for your walls | 28BOKVintage cheese, anyone? | 30Buist SophoraA beloved tree that defies destruction | 32Burlesque AcademyGet your Gypsy Rose Lee on | 34Carmen’sWhere Obama went for a cheesesteak | 36Cave of KelpiusWhere America’s first mystic cult awaited Doomsday | 38Charles Dickens’ DeskNot his only, but his last | 40Cherry Street PierAn abandoned space turned community inspiration | 42Cherry Street TavernIs that a urinal trough along the bar? | 44Cira GreenA complete park in the sky | 46Circadium School of Contemporary CircusThe first state-accredited program for circus arts | 48The Clay StudioLearn, create, and “clay it forward” | 50The Colored Girls MuseumA curated collection in a private home | 52Congress HallMove over, Independence Hall | 54Curtis InstituteFree education and free concerts | 56DeLong BuildingA stunning model of urban fire history | 58Dirty FranksEye-popping dive with serious heart | 60Discovery CenterFrom forgotten reservoir to city treasure | 62Dream GardenA masterpiece nearly lost | 64Earliest US Serial KillerThe devil in the white city met his end in Philadelphia | 66East MarketA full community in a single block | 68Edgar Allan Poe’s HouseThree stories and one creepy basement | 70Eiffel Tower of PhillyIt’s a milk bottle, but close enough | 72Emmy the MannequinA local celeb hawking inside jokes | 74Eternal PerformanceSome seats come with an extra show | 76Fairmount GrootAn enduring fixture in an evolving garden | 78Fairmount Water WorksA hands-on learning center in a historic location | 80FDR Skate ParkWhere community and government agree | 82First Antislavery ProtestAn early petition against hypocrisy and injustice | 84First Person ArtsWhere Philadelphians take center stage | 86Fitler Square Farmers MarketA delicious secret in a picturesque square | 88Fletcher Street Urban Riding ClubPhilly’s urban Black cowboys | 90Four Seasons Total LandscapingA political disaster and a business boon | 92George Washington’s ApronFor ceremony, not for kitchen messes | 94Germantown White HouseAmerica’s oldest surviving presidential residence | 96Giant OttersPhiladelphia’s cutest “first” | 98Giant Wood SlideBig fun for the little ones | 100Graffiti PierPhilly’s most photographed illegal art | 102The Gross ClinicSo gross it couldn’t be displayed | 104HalloweenFind the store, find a treasure | 106Hamilton GardenA rooftop within a rooftop | 108InsectariumThe only cockroach kitchen you’d pay to see | 110Irish MemorialA waterfront homage to those who came and went | 112Jazz AttackLindy Hop or Philly Bop, it’s your call | 114Jim Loewer GlassBlow your own masterpiece | 116John E. Freyer MarkerA small testament to a monumental shift | 118King’s Highway BridgeBuilt for Penn, used by Washington | 120LGBT Community CenterA local resource of national proportion | 122Lydia Darrah SchoolModerne building honoring a Revolutionary spy | 124Magic GardensThere’s a secret among the murals | 126Maillardet’s AutomatonThe future, according to the past | 128Manayunk Canal TowpathRecreation among the remnants of industry | 130Mask and Wig ClubhouseA long tradition of musical-comedy wit and whimsy | 132Mount Moriah CemeteryIs Betsy Ross still in this unowned cemetery? | 134Mummers MuseumYour chance to be a Mummer, if only for a moment | 136Neon MuseumRepresenting the “Workshop of the World” | 138Octavius V. Catto MemorialEnormous impact from a short life | 140Ohio State HouseThe last state house from the first World’s Fair | 142Old St. Joseph’s ChurchA hidden church, then and now | 144Oneida DebateTwo revolutions in one | 146Original Pumpkin SpicePhilly was into pumpkin spice before it was basic | 148Painted BrideIncubating a city’s underserved communities | 150Patti LaBelle WayA permanent home for a Philly legend | 152Philadelphia IndependentsPhilly-centric, Philly-made, Philly-proud | 154Philadelphia Stars Memorial ParkA small tribute to a major contribution | 156Prison SynagogueThe first in the nation | 158Pulse FountainThe train timetable you didn’t know existed | 160Quince StreetThe most charming, among alleys | 162Rail ParkIt’s even greener than you think | 164Random Tea RoomShopping, sipping, and co-working in serenity | 166Rittenhouse ChessMake your move, make a friend | 168River HammocksBeach vibes at the riverfront | 170The RosenbachA literary wonderland | 172The RotundaA literal arts sanctuary | 174Sedgley Woods Disc GolfAn older course for a newer sport | 176Sesame PlaceThe country’s original Sesame Street theme park | 178Shrek BoxLeave an ogre, take an ogre | 180Sidewalk PretzelA beloved symbol of the city | 182Singh CenterAn architectural jewel | 184Sister Cities ParkWhere Philly is the center of everything | 186Skew Arch BridgeBetter below than above | 188Southeast Asian MarketAn enormous market you’ve somehow missed | 190St. Albans PlaceFrom Devil’s Pocket to romantic courtyard | 192St. John Neumann’s BodyA holy body permanently on display | 194Star DoorsPhilly’s most coveted glass | 196Surgical AmphitheaterYou’ve seen them on TV, now see one in person | 198Taller PuertorriqueñoThe cultural heart of El Barrio | 200Tea for Few at StentonThe hot drink wasn’t for everyone in early Philly | 202Thaddeus Kosciuszko National MemorialSmallest national park site, big dose of history | 204Thirsty DiceEat, drink, play, and propose? | 206Thunderbird SalvageBargaining for local treasures | 208Tomb of Empress Ana MaríaFinal resting place of Mexico’s first empress | 210Urban FishingCountry fun in the city | 212W Hotel WET Deck BarHave a drink with a couple of legends | 214Wagner Free InstituteFree science lessons in a Victorian museum | 216West Laurel HillWhere America’s best came to rest | 218Whispering BenchesShare your secrets in public | 220Wildlife RefugeGo birds! | 222William & Letitia Still HouseHarriet Tubman stood here – and slept here, too | 224WonderspacesA nearly indefinable space | 226Wood Street StepsStep into the past and toward Utopia | 228World Café LiveAn independent stage for everyone | 230