by Colette Georgii

Created on: June 19, 2008   Last Updated: December 05, 2008

PHILADELPHIA'S MOST UNIQUE NEIGHBORHOODS

Philadelphia has a great many neighborhoods all with a distinctive cultural flavor. Let's look at a few of them. There are others, but these are probably the best for site seeing and finding good food.

FAIRMOUNT

Fairmount is located at Corinthian Ave and Fairmount Ave. at the edge of Philadelphia's downtown. It is called the Art Museum area. The cultural attractions in Fairmount are The Philadelphia Museum of Art, Fairmount Park, Spring Gardens, the historical Eastern State Penitentiary (no longer a prison, but a tourist attraction).

CHINATOWN

I like Chinatown because I just like Chinese restaurants and Chinese food. Chinatown is located at 10th and Race St. The arched Dragon entrance is located at 10th and Arch St. and surrounded on three sides by the Pennsylvania Convention Center, Gallery Market East, and Independence National Historical Park. Also close to the Reading Terminal Market and Trailways Bus Terminal.

It is one of the smallest Chinatowns in America but packed full of everything oriental with the Fo Shou Buddhist Temple, stores in the Shanghai Bazaar, and a subterranean Asia Supermarket.

Here I often ate lunch with my grandchildren and their parents in a cozy little Vietnamese Restaurant that offered a truly ethnic cuisine and atmosphere. It was always our favorite restaurant in Philadelphia.

OLD CITY

Old City is located at N. 2nd and Race St. and consists of the oldest historical sites in Philadelphia - Historical buildings along the banks of the Delaware that were built by William Penn and the Quakers in the late 17th century.

There is the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, Independence National Historical Park, the Betsy Ross House, Franklin Court (home of Benjamin Franklin), Benjamin Franklin's grave, are all part of this neighborhood. Also a little street called Elfreth's Alley is the oldest continuously occupied street in the United States. It is a popular tourist attraction.

SOUTH PHILLY

South Philly is a colorful and lively place with many shops containing wigs and African musical instruments and lively people walking the sidewalks. I enjoyed coming to South Philly and looking for bargains in the many shops here.

Here there are also ethnic neighborhoods such as the Italian Market area along 9th St. from Fitzwater St. in the North to Wharton St. in the South. This neighborhood was settled by Italian immigrants in the late 19th century.

LOGAN CIRCLE

This area houses some great museums that are great fun for the children - I visited all these places with my grandchildren and family:

1) The Please Touch Museum. For ages 7 and under and their parents.
2) The Academy of Natural Sciences Museum.
3) The Franklin Institute of Science Museum/Fels Planetarium, and IMAX theater.

The Moore College of Art is also located here.

Try this neighborhood - great for home schoolers.

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